Hawkeyes’ Cooper DeJean top CB on ESPN’s NFL draft big board, both Iowa TEs ranked
The NFL draft and the Iowa Hawkeyes have become a bit like peanut butter and jelly over the last decade. The Hawkeyes are a bit of an NFL pipeline pumping out first round draft picks along with depth guys found in the later rounds that have proven to blossom quite nicely into NFL-caliber talent.
The 2024 NFL draft class for the Hawkeyes appears to be set to send their next handful to the league. Led by star cornerback and likely first round pick, Cooper DeJean, the Hawkeyes are once again proving they develop talent with the best of them.
The proof is in previous draft classes and also in the current 2024 NFL draft big board by ESPN’s Mel Kiper. He has five Hawkeyes ranked among the top 10 of their positional groups as attention now turns to mock drafts and scouting.
Here is a look at who Kiper has ranked, where they rank, and how they have produced in their time at Iowa.
Cooper DeJean, CB
Position Ranking: No. 1
Overall Ranking: No. 13
2023 Stats: 41 tackles, 5 pass breakups, 2 INT, 11.47 yards per punt return, 1 punt return TD
Career Stats: 120 tackles, 13 pass breakups, 7 INT, 3 INT returned for TD
Cooper DeJean sits atop Mel Kiper’s NFL draft big board at the moment as the top cornerback in the 2024 draft class. His play, athleticism, and versatility all make him an extremely attractive prospect. He can cover, tackle, and has proven to be a great punt returner. In the NFL, with smaller rosters, this is even more vital. Despite his injury, DeJean should heal up rather quickly and not see much detriment to his draft stock.
Iowa’s defense produced two first-round picks (Lukas Van Ness and Jack Campbell) and a third-rounder (Riley Moss) in the 2023 draft, and yet it was DeJean who kept catching my eye when I went back through the 2022 film. He had five interceptions, including three that he returned for touchdowns. But it wasn’t just the big plays — I was impressed with his technique on a snap-to-snap basis. He played in the slot and out wide, showing off tremendous speed to stick to receivers. He’s just silky as a cover man.
DeJean has the physical tools to be the top corner in this class, but unfortunately his season has ended because of a lower-leg injury he suffered in practice in mid-November. He finished 2023 with two picks. – Mel Kiper, ESPN
Luke Lachey, TE
Position Ranking: No. 4
2023 Stats: 10 receptions, 131 yards
Career Stats: 46 receptions, 662 yards, 4 TD
Despite an early season leg injury that sidelined Luke Lachey for the entire season, he remains high among this tight end draft class. He has fewer receptions and numbers to go off of compared to other tight ends in his class, but that is a testament to how highly his potential is viewed.
Erick All, TE
Position Ranking: No. 9
2023 Stats: 21 receptions, 299 yards, 3 TD
Career Stats: 75 receptions, 864 yards, 5 TD
Erick All was blossoming into the top tight end in Iowa’s offense after the Lachey injury until he was also bitten by the injury bug with a torn ACL. All is currently rehabbing the injury, but Mel Kiper keeping him inside his top 10 positional rankings shows his NFL-caliber talent.
Hayden Large, FB
Position Ranking: No. 10
2023 Stats: 3 receptions, 19 yards
Hayden Large didn’t have a huge statistical output this season in his first year with the Hawkeyes, but his combination of height and weight has him among those who will get a shot at an NFL camp. Large is 6-foot-5 and weighs 250 pounds. Coming out of Iowa, NFL teams will give him a shot.
Tory Taylor, P
Position Ranking: No. 1
2023 Stats: 86 punts, 47.9 yards per punt, long of 67, 30 punts inside the 20 (34.9%)
Career Stats: 288 punts, 46.2 yards per punt, long of 70, 125 punts inside the 20 (43.4%)
The best punter in the nation, Tory Taylor, has declared for the NFL draft and it is rather likely he is selected by a team to become a field position weapon. Arguably Iowa’s best punter in school history, Tory Taylor is a fan favorite and sure to be playing on Sunday here soon.
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