The Philadelphia Eagles selected cornerback Cooper DeJean out of Iowa with the No. 40 overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft. DeJean was widely regarded as one of the top cornerbacks in the draft, yet an unfortunate leg injury caused his stock to decline.
Prior to DeJean transforming the Eagles’ defense in Philadelphia, he turned heads at Iowa with his impressive speed and athleticism. Let’s revisit DeJean’s pro day performance and blazing 40-yard dash time.
Cooper DeJean’s Impressive Iowa Pro Day Performance
In November 2023, DeJean suffered a season-ending lower leg injury during practice at Iowa. Yet, despite the injury, he still declared for the 2024 NFL Draft.
While the talented cornerback was unable to participate in the NFL Scouting Combine and Iowa’s official pro day as a result, DeJean showcased his athleticism during a private pro day once he was fully cleared to return to the field.
Made for the moment.@cdejean23 x #Hawkeyes pic.twitter.com/jH2RexCcV9
— Hawkeye Football (@HawkeyeFootball) April 8, 2024
DeJean recorded a 38.5-inch vertical jump and 10’4″ broad jump during his private pro day at Iowa. His vertical jump would have tied for sixth-best among all cornerbacks in attendance at the 2024 NFL Scouting Combine, and his broad jump would have for 11th-best at the position.
How Fast Is DeJean?
Many questioned DeJean’s speed and ability to flip his hips in coverage during the evaluation period ahead of the 2024 NFL Draft. However, he put those questions to rest with his impressive 40-yard dash at his private pro day.
DeJean ran a 4.43 in the 40-yard dash, which would have ranked eighth-best among all cornerbacks in attendance at the 2024 NFL Scouting Combine.
4.4 40 time. 38.5" vert. 10'4" broad jump. Don't let @cdejean23's athleticism sneak up on you 😳
(via @HawkeyeFootball) pic.twitter.com/xWselUwjxz
— NFL (@NFL) April 8, 2024
How Old Is DeJean?
Born on Feb. 9, 2003, DeJean is currently just 21 years old. He is currently one of the youngest starting cornerbacks in the NFL, according to StatMuse.
DeJean is significantly younger than several other cornerbacks who were selected in the 2024 NFL Draft, including his current teammate, Eagles cornerback Quinyon Mitchell. DeJean is nearly two years younger than Mitchell, who was born on July 18, 2001 and is currently 23 years old.
Revisiting DeJean’s College Career
DeJean endured a relatively quiet freshman season at Iowa, appearing in seven games and recording four total tackles. Ye, he made a massive leap as a sophomore in 2022 and emerged as one of the best defensive players in college football.
That year, DeJean appeared in 13 games, recording 75 total tackles, three tackles for loss, and five interceptions for the Hawkeyes. Of his five interceptions, he managed to return three of them for touchdowns, showcasing his unique playmaking ability.
Cooper DeJean is such a dynamic talent for @HawkeyeFootball. 💥#WinningWednesday x @cdejean23 pic.twitter.com/zQVk8tztA1
— Iowa On BTN (@IowaOnBTN) June 21, 2023
DeJean also emerged as a dangerous punt returner in his second season at Iowa. He returned 10 punts for 165 total yards, averaging 16.5 yards per return.
Heading into his junior season at Iowa, DeJean was widely regarded as one of the best cornerbacks in college football. And prior to suffering his season-ending injury, he was certainly living up to the hype.
In 2023, DeJean appeared in 10 games and recorded 41 total tackles, two tackles for loss, and two interceptions. Although he didn’t return any interceptions for scores in his final college season, DeJean did have one punt return touchdown.