After striking a deal with the Washington Commanders for the 40th pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, the Eagles selected defensive back Cooper DeJean.

Full Trade Details

Eagles get: Pick 40 (Round 2), Pick 78 (Round 3), and Pick 152 (Round 5)

Commanders get: Pick 50 (Round 2), Pick 53 (Round 2), and Pick 161 (Round 5)

The defensive back became the second consecutive secondary player selected by the Eagles in this year's draft after they took cornerback Quinyon Mitchell with the 22nd pick in Round 1.

"It's amazing," said DeJean when asked about being drafted by the Eagles in his virtual press conference. "This a place I wanted to be. I had a great visit there during the draft process. Great coaches there, great team, great organization.

"This is something you dream of as a little kid. I'm excited to bring my talents there, get in, get to work, learn from the vets that are there right now, and go win some football games."

"The guy has every tool in his body," said Eagles Executive Vice President/General Manager Howie Roseman in a press conference on Friday night. "He's an elite athlete and elite competitor. He has done everything on the football field. He's just got football instincts. He's the type of guy that wherever you put him, he's going to play really well. He's got great character, just excited to have him."

DeJean (6-0, 203 pounds) is viewed as a versatile defensive back who can play inside and outside cornerback, and safety, and has experience as a punt returner. The Odebolt, Iowa native stayed close to home for college, spending three years at the University of Iowa (2021-23).

The 21-year-old was touted as one of the best defensive backs in college football last season and his stats back that up.

Career Stats

• 30 Games played
• 120 Tackles
• 7 Interceptions
• 3 Interceptions returned for touchdowns
• 13 passes defended
• 5 tackles for loss

Per Pro Football Focus, DeJean did not allow a touchdown in coverage last season. In 2022, he finished the year tied for the FBS lead with three interceptions returned for touchdowns. DeJean wasn't just effective in the secondary. The Big Ten Return Man of the Year returned 31 punts for 406 yards and one touchdown.

"I'm a football player," DeJean said. "So, you put me on the field, I'm going to go play football. Whether it's inside, outside, at safety, or whatever it is, this is a game I love to play. As long as I am on the field, out there, I'll be happy, and I'm going to give it my all every time I'm on the field."

DeJean dominated the tough competition in the Big Ten, being named the Big Ten Defensive Back of the Year. He was also a finalist for the Jim Thorpe Award, recognizing the nation's top collegiate defensive backs.

Accolades

• 1st-Team AP All-American at CB (2023)
• Big Ten Defensive Back of the Year (2023)
• Big Ten Return Specialist of the Year (2023)
• 2nd-Team All-Big Ten Conference (2022)
• Music City Bowl MVP (2022)

He was also quite the athlete in high school. At Odebolt-Arthur-Battle Creek-Ida Grove Community School District, DeJean lettered in baseball, basketball, and track. As a senior, he was an Iowa Class 2A Track and Field State Champion in the 100-meter dash and long jump.

DeJean is excited to get back to football after missing the end of his senior season at Iowa with a lower-leg injury that also prohibited him from working out at the NFL Scouting Combine.

"Physically, I'm good," DeJean said. "If there is a game played today, I'd be ready to go."

What Director of Scouting Brandon Hunt said: "We love the fact that he's explosive and he has the ability to be versatile. When you're building a defense, with the way that the game has gone with the passing game, the ability to get a player that can cover multiple positions at corner, in the slot, or at safety – it's pivotal. You want to compile athletes, just like we did with drafting Sydney Brown last year.

"This guy can make plays on the ball from a number of spots on defense and he can make plays in the return game as well. He's also a guy that we identified early in the process. When you look at players, sometimes they jump off the film. Last year Iowa had a cornerback and it was the guy on the other side (DeJean) who showed up. He was a flip-card turner. 'Hey, who is THAT guy?', and it was Cooper, so we knew we'd look for him next year. Sure enough this fall, all of that stuff showed up on tape again. Lastly, he's just an ultimate competitor. You're going to see highlights. You're going to see tackling. You're going to see toughness. You can look up and find his basketball highlights. This guy hasn't lost at anything he's ever done. That's what you're going to get with him. He fits the identity of this city."

Scouting Report

• Explosive, powerful athlete for a 200-pound defensive back.

• Speed to carry vertical routes with no issue.

• The Hawkeyes matched him up in coverage on third down, often allowing him to travel into the slot against opposing No. 1 receivers.

• Good feel for routes developing around him in zone coverage and plays to his help well.

• One of the best run defenders and tacklers at cornerback in college football. Extremely tough, competitive football player.

• Really productive player with a knack for making the big play.

• Offers legitimate punt return skills and has been a starter on both the kickoff and punt coverage teams in his career.

Key Numbers

• Reportedly ran a 4.44 in the 40-yard dash at a private Pro Day after rehabbing a foot injury but reportedly was more in the 4.3-range in offseason training a year ago.

• Has a nose for the end zone, with three pick-sixes in 2022 and added a punt return touchdown this year as a junior.

• PFF has charted 267 corners drafted in the last decade, only two of them were credited with giving up fewer explosive passes of 15-plus yards than DeJean, who gave up a catch that long on just 0.3 percent of his targets in 2023.