Philly Leader

The Philadelphia Eagles have secured the services of Cooper DeJean, a promising defensive back from Iowa, by signing him to a four-year rookie contract. The team selected DeJean in the second round of the 2024 NFL Draft after trading up with Washington.

DeJean's college career at Iowa was marked by notable achievements. In 2023, he was named the Big Ten Defensive Back of the Year and was a finalist for the Jim Thorpe Award, which honors the nation's top collegiate defensive back. His performance in coverage has been exceptional; according to Pro Football Focus, he allowed only 0.3 percent of his targets to result in explosive passes over 15 yards last season.

"The guy has every tool in his body," said Howie Roseman, Executive Vice President/General Manager of the Eagles. "He is an elite athlete, elite competitor...his ability to make big plays in big moments of a game."

DeJean's skills extend beyond defense. He did not allow a touchdown in coverage last season and tied for the FBS lead with three interceptions returned for touchdowns in 2022.

His athletic prowess was evident even during high school at Odebolt-Arthur-Battle Creek-Ida Grove Community High School, where he excelled in multiple sports including baseball, basketball, and track. As a senior, he became an Iowa Class 2A Track and Field State Champion in both the 100-meter dash and long jump.

"Yeah, I think each sport that I played helped the other," DeJean remarked about his multi-sport background. "A lot of it translates over to football."

In addition to his defensive capabilities, DeJean made significant contributions as a return specialist at Iowa. He earned recognition as the Big Ten Return Specialist of the Year in 2023 with impressive punt return statistics.