It’s an exciting time to be an NFL fan. For Steelers fans, a lot of information is swirling around and speculation season is in full swing with Free Agency and the NFL Draft around the corner.

Speaking of corner, the Steelers could really use one. Or, you know, maybe even two or three.

They could also use a dynamic safety to pair with superstar Minkah Fitzpatrick, who was often forced to play out of position out of sheer necessity due to injuries and a lack of production at other important spots within the secondary.

Fortunately for the Steelers, there is one player in this Draft class who could help them in a multitude of ways on the back end. That player is Iowa Defensive Back Cooper Dejean.

DRAFT PROFILE

DB COOPER DEJEAN
JUNIOR | IOWA
HEIGHT: 6’1″ | WEIGHT: 207 | AGE: 21
PRO COMP – MINKAH FITZPATRICK

DeJean has some of the smoothest tape of any DB in this class. He’s an elite athlete with the speed, tenacity, and toughness to handle whatever role a team could throw at him, even as a Rookie. At Iowa, he played a multitude of positions and was easily the teams most dynamic defender no matter where he was lined up. Ironically, he reminds me a lot of our very own Minkah Fitzpatrick.

As a boundary corner, DeJean displays exceptional mirroring skills in man coverage and great vision in zone. His fluidity helps him stick with receivers at every level. While he isn’t the twitchiest player ever, he plays with good anticipation and leverage, allowing him to get ahead of the route and force WRs into making contested catches even if the opposing QB dares toss the rock in his direction.

DeJean can even slide inside to nickel, where he excels as a big, physical cover man capable of knocking smaller receivers off their routes and shutting down bigger wideouts and tight ends from the slot. For a team that has struggled at times to contain good receiving TEs, the former Hawkeye could be the eraser the Steelers need in that role.

Despite his abilities as an outside defender, DeJean might be at his best as a versatile strong safety, where he plays with the tenacity of a linebacker while possessing elite coverage skills. He might be the best tackling DB in the draft alongside Terrion Arnold from Alabama, making him a menace in run support. As a former high-school quarterback, his instincts and field vision are off the charts.

The Steelers have shown they value high-level underclassmen and at just 21 years old, Cooper DeJean could be the start of a youth movement the Steelers desperately need on Defense. Having a player of DeJean’s caliber, who can play at a high level at multiple positions, would give the team a lot of flexibility to field a really good secondary in 2024.

If the Steelers could bring in a top-tier CB2 to play opposite Joey Porter, Jr. in Free Agency, I envision an elite safety tandem between Minkah Fitzpatrick and DeJean which would allow Teryl Austin to disguise coverages and confuse offenses with all the versatility on the backend. DeJean could also slide down into the nickel/box safety role, freeing up Minkah to return to his more natural role as the team’s rangy free safety.

In the Steelers effort to retool the secondary this offseason, Cooper DeJean could be a lynchpin piece to the puzzle. If the Steelers make him their selection in the 1st Round of the 2024 NFL Draft, he could quickly become a favorite of Steelers Nation.

Note: DeJean has opted to not participate in workouts at the NFL Scouting Combine as he continues recovery from a leg injury suffered near the end of the 2023 season. He plans to work out for teams at his pro-day.