The Green Bay Packers Would Be Insane To Overlook Cooper DeJean With The 25th Pick

The Green Bay Packers have several needs and wants heading into the 2024 NFL draft season. They’re bound to make some offensive additions, but with all their young talent on that side of the ball, they’ll be looking to bolster their inconsistent defense.

There are a million ways to skin a cat, and there are a million ways to fix a defense overnight. With new DC Jeff Hafley, the team will have to get new players to fit his 4-3 Cover 2 system. They already got Xavier McKinney, but there’s more they can do.

This typically requires at least some high-end talent in each area of the defense. The team will look to add multiple dynamic pieces to their defense, and they can do it with their first pick in the draft.

Who Is Cooper DeJean?

Cooper DeJean is a defensive back from Iowa. He’s projected to fall to the 20s, which is where the Packers are slated to pick. A lot of analysts have the Packers picking him if he falls all the way to their 25th spot, which is certainly possible. The Steelers and Eagles could pick him as well, but if enough defensive players fall DeJean might wind up in the Packer’s lap.

DeJean is a jack-of-all-trades type of DB. He can play outside corner, especially in zone coverage. He doesn’t have as much tape playing man coverage, but considering he lined up in the slot a lot and is physically built he could certainly play that style too.

With that being said, he’ll probably end up playing more often as a safety than as a cornerback. It fits his style of being a physical zone DB that Hafley can utilize any way he wants to.

Statistically, DeJean put up numbers such as 41 tackles and 2 interceptions in his senior year. His combine numbers were also pretty stellar, as he had a 4.5 40-yard dash. He’s definitely the real deal, and his tape is just as fantastic.

For any comparisons for who he COULD be, just look at Kyle Hamilton from the Baltimore Ravens. Similar height and weight, intelligence, and instincts. Both could be compared to Troy Polamalu, and for good reason.

Will The Green Bay Packers Select Cooper DeJean?

The Packers are always a team that’s hard to predict when it comes to what they do on draft day. They tend to zig when everyone else zags, which has garnered a lot of success. But it does definitely make it hard to predict as an outsider looking in.

The Packers can either go by need or by best player available. The front office has admitted to doing the latter more often, but once again, this team does need to focus hard on defense. With how great this year’s draft is for defensive players in every round, this would be a great year for the Packers to try to do both.