Cooper DeJean was viewed by many as one of the best cornerbacks in the 2024 NFL Draft. He was a staple in the first round of mock drafts, and the expectation was he would be among the top defensive players selected Thursday.
Instead, DeJean lasted until the draft’s second day. He once again had to wait a while before the Eagles selected him with the 40th overall pick to end his slide.
DeJean’s slide wasn’t massive, but it was noticeable enough that many were wondering if something was fueling DeJean’s drop from first-round consideration to Philadelphia’s pick at 40.
Here’s how DeJean landed with the Eagles and why he didn’t quite make it into the first round of the 2024 NFL Draft.
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A few factors fueled DeJean’s slide out of the first round and into the lap of the Eagles.
First, DeJean wasn’t healthy during the pre-draft process. He was recovering from a broken leg he suffered playing for the Hawkeyes in November, and that caused him to miss the NFL Combine. DeJean still worked out in front of scouts at a pro day in April, but other cornerbacks were given more opportunities to endear themselves to NFL decision-makers in person.
Elsewhere, there are questions about what position the hyper-versatile DeJean will play at the NFL level. He has the talent needed to play cornerback, but some teams may view him as a better fit in the slot than as a true outside starter.
DeJean can still play any position in the secondary, including safety, which should help him as he looks to stick in the NFL, but if any teams had concerns about his ability to hold up outside the numbers as a high-end starter, that may have moved him further down draft boards than most thought possible.
But the main factor fueling DeJean’s slide? Few cornerbacks were selected early in the 2024 NFL Draft. The first 14 players chosen in Round 1 were offensive players. That pushed top defenders down the board in general, and only three cornerbacks were taken in the first round. The first of those cornerbacks, Quinyon Mitchell, wasn’t selected until the No. 22 overall pick by the Eagles.
DeJean lasted until the 40th pick, but he was just the fourth cornerback selected overall. His selection prompted a run of four cornerbacks that also included Kool-Aid McKinstry (another potential first-round pick), Kamari Lassiter, and Max Melton.
So, while DeJean went about 15 picks later than many believed he would, it wasn’t for any particularly sinister reason. Cornerbacks were just devalued a bit in 2024 thanks to an offense-heavy first round.
