Iowa's Cooper DeJean selected by Philadelphia in 2024 NFL Draft: What are Eagles getting?

Iowa football defensive back Cooper DeJean has been selected by the Philadelphia Eagles in the second round of the 2024 NFL Draft. He is the 40th overall pick.

DeJean slipped out of the first round, making him a high-value pick on day two since he initially wasn’t widely expected to be available that late.

Former Iowa tight end Sam LaPorta was selected in the second round of last year’s NFL Draft and went on to have a fantastic rookie season.

"All I wanted was an opportunity to play," DeJean told reporters Friday. "Obviously, there was a little of frustration yesterday but I'm excited with where I'm at. Being in Philadelphia, being able to play for a great organization. And I'm excited to get started there, get out there and get rolling. Get back to playing football.

DeJean's highlights, journey to NFL Draft

DeJean is a homegrown success story. He attended OABCIG High School in Ida Grove, Iowa, where he was a four-sport phenom. He was not, however, a highly sought-after recruit.

DeJean blossomed into a star at Iowa. After having a minimal role as a freshman, DeJean broke out in demonstrative fashion in his second season with the program. DeJean recorded five interceptions, three of which he returned for touchdowns. DeJean has a knack for making plays around the ball, a skill that was on display during a Willie Mays-like pick he made against Rutgers in 2022.

Major expectations followed DeJean leading into the 2023 season, and he came through. DeJean delivered an iconic moment at Kinnick Stadium when his punt-return touchdown gave Iowa the lead against Michigan State. In similar circumstances, DeJean nearly did it again against Minnesota, but his return was called back due to an invalid fair call — a ruling that became ultra-controversial.

DeJean's 2023 season — and subsequently his time as a Hawkeye — came to a frustrating end. He suffered a fractured fibula during a practice leading up to a November matchup with Illinois and was forced to miss the final four games of the season.

Still, DeJean was honored as the Big Ten's Tatum-Woodson Defensive Back of the Year and the Rodgers-Dwight Return Specialist of the Year.

"If you asked me three years ago if I'd be in this position, I'd tell you no," DeJean said in December while he was still weighing his future. "To be honest, when I first committed here and got here, I didn't even know if I could play at this level, coming from a small-town school in Iowa. But I've just tried to come in and work my hardest, and I have great coaches and teammates around me who've helped me learn the game on a deeper level."

What DeJean brings to the Philadelphia Eagles

One of the major benefits of drafting DeJean is that he has been a key part of some dominant defenses at Iowa and played for an incredibly well-respected position coach. Phil Parker, the 2023 Broyles Award winner and Iowa's defensive coordinator, also serves as the defensive backs coach, meaning that he worked extensively with DeJean. Iowa has sent a handful of defensive backs to the NFL under Parker, including Geno Stone, Desmond King and Dane Belton.

"I just know he's a good football player," Parker said recently of DeJean. "I know that wherever he goes, he's going to be successful, and I think the opportunity, the way these guys study the game of football kind of helps them out in their further career, and I think they've seen that with other guys that went through this program and are playing in the league right now."

DeJean is so electric with the ball in his hands that he even briefly appeared on offense for Iowa last season. That doesn't come as a surprise, however, as he showcased his playmaking skills as a quarterback in high school. DeJean has garnered some interest as a punt returner in the NFL. There has also been some chatter about whether he projects in the NFL at cornerback or safety, but only time will tell where he fits in best at the next level.

"I don't have a preference (what position I play in the secondary),” DeJean said Friday. “I'm a football player. So you put me on the field, I'm going to go play football. Whether it's inside, outside, at safety, wherever it is. It’s the game I love to play. As long as I'm on the field out there, I'll be happy and I'm going to give it my all every time I step on the field."

DeJean's stats

• Career stats with the Hawkeyes: 120 tackles, seven interceptions, one punt-return touchdown.
• His most productive season defensively came in 2022, when he tallied 75 tackles and five interceptions.
• 2023 stats: 41 tackles, two interceptions.
• At the 2024 NFL Combine, he was measured at 6-0 1/2, 203.
• "Playing in the Big Ten, it's a pretty physical game and that's what I love about the game of football --- how physical it is," DeJean said Friday. "Being able to go out and hit people each and every down. And having those matchup on the outside, as well. But also being able to come downhill and being an impact in the run game, as well. So I think playing at Iowa has prepared me well for the next level."

DeJean player comparison

• Jevon Holland, according to Cory Giddings.
• C.J. Gardner-Johnson, according to Charlie Campbell.
• Christian Gonzalez, according to DraftDive.
• "There's probably not a position on the perimeter he couldn't play," Ferentz said of DeJean in 2022. "You'd have to change your offense if he was your quarterback. But I'm pretty sure he could be a pretty good running back, I know he could be a really good receiver, and you think about the four positions on defense in the back end plus the nickelback, the slot guy, so there's five right there.
• "It's just an unusual skill set, if you will. Micah Hyde probably the closest thing maybe we had, maybe Desmond (King), but Micah is probably the better reach there. Then the most amazing part is (DeJean) wasn't recruited, especially in this day and age where there's no secrets. On top of it, he's a great young guy and just a great team member."

Follow Tyler Tachman on X @Tyler_T15, contact via email at ttachman@gannett.com