Cooper DeJean rejoins another Hawkeye first-rounder in ESPN’s latest NFL mock draft
The Iowa Hawkeyes‘ pipeline to the NFL is among the strongest in the nation. The program supplies talent to the NFL on a yearly basis, and it is often very high-performing talent.
That pipeline has some teams willing to dip into it more often than others and take a chance on players hailing from the Hawkeyes. The Green Bay Packers happen to be one of those teams willing to bet on Iowa players more than others.
Last year, the Packers used their first-round pick to draft defensive end Lukas Van Ness with the No. 13 pick. ESPN’s latest NFL mock draft calls for the Packers to use their first-round pick, No. 25, on Iowa’s Cooper DeJean.
There is a code-red need at cornerback for the Packers, and with new defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley joining the team, it’s imperative they land someone who can excel in press-man situations. DeJean can do it all; he’ll play outside corner, safety, nickel corner and even punt returner.
The 6-foot-1, 207-pounder grabbed seven interceptions in the past two years and ran three of them back for touchdowns (while also taking a punt back for a score). DeJean is a master in coverage, and he’s the kind of playmaker Green Bay doesn’t have in its current secondary. – Matt Miller, ESPN
The Packers were above average in terms of passing yards allowed (11th) and passing touchdowns given up (10th), but they struggled to take the ball away from teams. Green Bay was 31st in interceptions with just seven.
DeJean can take the ball away with his instinctual ball skills as shown time and time again at Iowa. He provides the Packers with an instant Hawkeye starter on the back end to pair with Van Ness supplying pressure up front.
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