Eagles trade up to select DB Cooper DeJean in the NFL draft’s second round

The Eagles continued revamping their secondary on Friday, trading up 10 spots in the second round to take Iowa defensive back Cooper DeJean with the 40th overall pick.

DeJean, widely considered a first-round prospect going into the draft, played primarily as an outside cornerback with the Hawkeyes but has the versatility to play slot cornerback or safety. The Eagles moved up to ensure they got the 21-year-old, sending picks No. 50, No. 53, and No. 161 to the Washington Commanders in exchange for picks No. 40, No. 78, and No. 152.

» READ MORE: The Eagles stink at drafting defensive backs, but they have to trade up and take Cooper DeJean

Eagles general manager Howie Roseman said DeJean was one of the players they considered with their first-round pick, which helped justify moving up to get him even though the price to do so with Washington was perhaps steeper than traditional trade value charts would suggest it should be.

“He was a first-round player for us,” Roseman said “You know, [Eagles owner Jeffrey Lurie] said this tonight. It’s rare for us to be picking in the 20s and to get two first-round players. You know, both those guys were first-round players for us. We didn’t have 32 first-round guys.

“Obviously we made the trade here with a team in our division. We probably didn’t win on any of those charts that are going around on the internet for sure, but we felt like it was the right thing to do for us and our team.”

DeJean was a two-year starter for Iowa and finished his career with seven interceptions, 20 pass breakups, and 120 total tackles. The 6-foot, 203-pound prospect had three interception returns for touchdowns in 2022 and was also an impactful punt returner throughout his career. He won Big Ten return specialist of the year last season as well as the conference’s award for the top defensive back.

His versatility was apparent at Iowa, where he’d sometimes line up in the slot to match up with tight ends. He spent some time as a box safety as well and said the Eagles talked to him about playing all three spots during the predraft process, which would make sense, considering new Eagles defensive coordinator Vic Fangio’s tendency to deploy defensive backs from multiple alignments in the secondary to help disguise coverages.

“They talked to me about all three positions,” DeJean said. “I don’t have a preference. I’m a football player. If you put me on the field, I’m going to go play football. Whether it’s inside, outside, at safety, wherever it is, this is a 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.”

Eagles coach Nick Sirianni added, “You figure that out as you go, but we also know this guy has high football IQ. We’ll see what he can handle and we’ll see where he falls.”

» READ MORE: Eagles get the most versatile player in the NFL draft by trading up for Iowa DB Cooper DeJean

DeJean’s versatility aside, his physical traits and college production suggest he has a chance to stick as an outside cornerback. Although he missed the last four games of last season with a fractured fibula that also held him out of the combine, DeJean had promising athletic testing at a private workout earlier this month. An all-state sprinter in Iowa as a high schooler, DeJean ran a sub-4.5-second 40-yard dash and a 10-foot broad jump according to several media reports.

Still, DeJean may find an easier path to getting on the field as a safety/nickel hybrid. The team has Reed Blankenship and C.J. Gardner-Johnson on the back end but Fangio’s track record suggests a third safety who can double as a slot cornerback could still get significant playing time.

“I think whatever he does he’s going to do at a high level,” Roseman said. “Obviously we’ll get him in here, and like everything else on this team, see how the pieces fit.”

DeJean was considered a first-round prospect in the lead-up to the draft but slid along with the rest of the cornerback class. It’s worth noting the Green Bay Packers, another team in need of secondary help, traded out of the 41st pick after the Eagles took DeJean. The Eagles’ selection was also followed by three consecutive cornerbacks going off the board.

“There was a little frustration yesterday, but I’m excited with where I’m at,” DeJean said of falling out of the first round. “Being able to play for a great organization, I’m excited to get started there and get out there and get rolling and get back to playing football. I was getting tired of this predraft process. I’m just excited to get back to playing football.”

» READ MORE: Cooper DeJean an ideal fit for Eagles’ defense among a deep group of cornerback prospects

The Eagles, who broke the defensive back drought on Thursday night by selecting Toledo corner Quinyon Mitchell No. 22 overall, now have two potential building blocks in the secondary sitting atop their 2024 draft class.

DeJean said he messaged Mitchell on Thursday night to congratulate him on getting drafted, although the two didn’t interact much during the predraft process.

“It’s crazy now that we’re teammates,” DeJean said. “He’s a great player. He does things the right way; he’s really dynamic. I’m excited to get to know him and get to play with him along with the other guys that are already there.”