INDIANAPOLIS — Iowa defensive back Cooper DeJean resumed running full speed last week and his recovery from a broken fibula in November is on schedule.
But DeJean said at the NFL Scouting Combine on Thursday that he’s not ready for athletic testing or on-field position drills and plans to hold a workout for scouts “sometime before the draft.” He’s unlikely to be ready to participate in Iowa’s pro day scheduled for March 18.
DeJean played cornerback at Iowa but NFL teams are discussing a hybrid role with him that could intertwine responsibilities of a safety, cornerback and slot cornerback.
“I feel like I have the ability to play multiple different positions on the back end,” DeJean said.
Speed and suddenness are trademarks that made him one of the top playmakers for the Hawkeyes, and scouts expect him to test very well eventually in events such as the 40-yard dash, vertical, short shuttle and broad jump.
Where he goes in the 2024 NFL Draft might be dependent upon how the top of the draft shakes out. DeJean said he has met with the Arizona Cardinals, who have multiple first-round picks and another unique secondary weapon in Budda Baker, and the Pittsburgh Steelers among several others.
DeJean peppered Green Bay Packers 2023 first-round pick Lukas Van Ness and another former Iowa teammate, Broncos cornerback Riley Moss, about what to expect this week.
But Big Ten seasoning as a leader of a dominant defense at Iowa might have DeJean ready to step into a starring role immediately. He said the conference delivered big tests every Saturday, but one stands out as the most difficult.
“Marvin Harrison Jr.,” DeJean said of the Ohio State receiver and likely top-5 pick. “The name speaks for itself.”
–Field Level Media