Cooper DeJean is considered Iowa’s top cornerback, the best player on an elite defense that has won 10 games even though its offense has allowed just 15.4 points per game, ranking 132nd in No. 133 FBS team. This elite athlete has captured many roles, including cornerback, kick returner and even offensive tackle. However, injuries pushed DeJean down the draft board and he fell to the Philadelphia Eagles with the 40th overall pick despite being rated the eighth-best player on the PFF Big Rankings. What makes this pick even more interesting is that the Eagles have selected a cornerback 18 times before in Toledo’s Quinyon Mitchell.

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A hamstring injury suffered in training camp limited DeJean’s preseason participation and may have contributed to him playing eight defensive snaps in his first four NFL games, including the win Week 3 for the Eagles against the Saints. DeJean primarily contributed on special teams during that time, often as a kick returner with moderate success. He returned the ball 12 times for 147 yards (12.3-yard average) and a PFF return grade of 71.8. DeJean finally got significant playing time in Week 6 against the Cleveland Browns after Philadelphia’s off week in Week 5 and hasn’t looked back. Since becoming a regular in the Eagles’ defense, DeJean has averaged 52 defensive snaps per game and has only once posted a PFF grade below 70.6 and a protection grade below 68.8. His best game came in Week 7 against the Giants, for whom he posted an 86.3 PFF grade, bolstered by an 87.4 PFF guard grade.