If Iowa cornerback and return specialist Cooper DeJean is still available when the Baltimore Ravens are on the clock, they must take him. DeJean is considered by most to be the fourth-best corner in this draft class and a mid-to-late first-round prospect. While he may go as high as the early 20s in the first round, he could still be there for the Ravens at the 30th overall pick.
One of the top defensive and special team players in the nation before he suffered a season-ending injury on Nov. 15, he embodied what Ravens GM Eric DeCosta looks for in a draft prospect.
The Odebolt, Iowa, native can play either corner or safety and return punts in the pros. He had a 70-yard punt return for a game-winning score against Michigan State in a contest that perfectly embodied everything Iowa Hawkeyes football was about in 2023. The Hawkeyes played elite, top-notch defense, had little to no offense, and often found their scoring through special teams.
De Jean embodied that ideally, finishing the season with 41 tackles, two TFLs, two interceptions, and five pass breakups in 10 games. He also did not allow a touchdown pass in 388 snaps in coverage.
The consensus first-team All-American was also among the nation’s best as a punt returner, as he had a second touchdown return for a game-winning score called back due to an “invalid fair catch signal” against Minnesota. It was arguably the most controversial call of the college football season.
Whether you slot him at corner or safety, the Jim Thorpe and Bronko Nagurski Awards semifinalist brings a lot. As this site previously wrote, “his 6-1, 200-pound frame makes him an asset outside and in run support.”
DeJean is an intriguing prospect for another reason, however. Let’s go back to Iowa, which produced barely any offense and had results that looked like baseball scores.
Head Coach Kirk Ferentz, whose son Brian was the team’s woefully inept offensive coordinator and thus embodied the concept of “nepobaby” in sports, was asked in the preseason about potentially playing DeJean on offense (almost certainly at wide receiver).
“Cooper can play anywhere on the field, I think, on the perimeter, offense or defensive,” he responded.
“I believe that—any of the five DB positions. Probably I wouldn’t put him at fullback, but thought about quarterback. He’s that kind of athlete, really versatile, tremendous athlete.”
Interesting. So maybe the Ravens could draft a three-phase guy in DeJean? He could help fill needs at both WR and CB.
