With the college football season through eight weeks of play, talk about the 2024 NFL Draft has heated up. ESPN’s Jordan Reid released his latest mock draft this morning, and he had the Steelers drafting Iowa’s Cooper DeJean at No. 21 overall. DeJean has primarily played cornerback for Iowa, where his stats include seven interceptions over the past two seasons, including five last season, but Reid notes that DeJean’s versatility makes him safety-capable. In fact, he’s the highest-rated safety on Reid’s board.
DeJean has good size, being listed at 6-1 and 207 pounds. He’s an explosive player, with three of his five interceptions in 2022 being returned for touchdowns. So far through 2023, he’s been named a midseason first-team All-American by Associated Press and ESPN among others.
DeJean is also capable as a returner, as he has 18 punt returns for the Hawkeyes this season after registering 10 last season. He’s a willing and capable tackler, with 75 total tackles including three for a loss last season. This season, he’s up to 38 tackles with 1.5 for a loss in eight games, as Iowa’s defense, led by DeJean, has carried the Hawkeyes to a 6-2 record.
Right in front of Pittsburgh at No. 20, Reid had the Minnesota Vikings take UCLA EDGE Laiatu Latu, who’s generated pressures on 22.3% of the snaps he’s played this season. After Pittsburgh took DeJean, the Seattle Seahawks selected Oregon EDGE Brandon Dorlus at No. 23. Dorlus has four sacks this season and his hand usage coupled with his athleticism could make him a talented NFL pass rusher.
Other names that have been linked to Pittsburgh in mock drafts weren’t available by the time the Steelers’ selection came around. Reid had the Tennessee Titans taking Clemson CB Nate Wiggins 10th overall, and Wiggins was a player that PFF had the Steelers targeting in a mock draft earlier this month. Alabama CB Kool-Aid McKinstry went eight overall to the Las Vegas Raiders in this scenario, while Penn State CB Kalen King was projected to go No. 17 overall to the Los Angeles Chargers.
Around the league, the Chicago Bears were projected to select USC QB Caleb Williams at first overall, while the Arizona Cardinals would take Ohio State WR Marvin Harrison Jr. at No. 2.
It wouldn’t be a surprise for the Steelers to be targeting a cornerback high in the 2024 draft. Patrick Peterson isn’t getting any younger, and Levi Wallace will be a free agent after this season. As the Steelers attempt to find a long-time partner next to Joey Porter Jr. in their cornerback room, the draft may be the way to go. Adding someone like DeJean who is also safety-capable and can learn alongside Porter and under Minkah Fitzpatrick and Peterson is definitely an exciting possibility, especially given that DeJean has shown a nose for the ball at Iowa.
We’re still too far away to know for sure who might rise up or fall down draft boards, but DeJean has consistently been a name mentioned among first-round prospects since before the season started, and his play this year has done nothing to change that. He’s definitely a guy to watch closely the rest of the season.
