IOWA CITY, Iowa — The NFL Draft begins in four weeks, and it’s likely Iowa will celebrate its 14th first-round selection and seventh since 2019 under coach Kirk Ferentz.
Cooper DeJean, who left school after his junior season, should become the first Iowa defensive back taken in Round 1 since Tom Knight in 1997 and just the third overall. Despite Iowa’s tradition of sending defensive backs to the NFL — DeJean will make it 19 under defensive coordinator/DBs coach Phil Parker — it seems like a head scratcher that no Parker protégé has landed in the first round. That should change on April 25.
A few draft-related notes:
- Unofficially, the Chicago Bears have sent the most scouts and team personnel (16) to Iowa games in the last three seasons combined. Other franchises with high attendance over that three-year period include the New York Giants (11), Green Bay Packers (10), Minnesota Vikings (9), San Francisco 49ers (9) and New York Jets (9).
- Of Iowa’s 26 previous first-round selections, Detroit and Green Bay are tied at the top with five apiece. The Packers have drafted the most Hawkeyes overall (22) and under Ferentz (7). Detroit ranks second overall (17) and is tied for third with Minnesota for the most Ferentz products (5). Denver has drafted six Iowa players since Ferentz took over in 1999.
Iowa-NFL update: 35 players on active rosters and 6 who are free agents. pic.twitter.com/cpuuapCZu8
— Scott Dochterman (@ScottDochterman) March 27, 2024
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Here is a look at the six Iowa players set to be either draft picks or priority free agents next month.
DB Cooper DeJean
Size: 6-0, 203
Combine results: Did not participate because of injury.
Most recent mocks: The Athletic’s Dane Brugler (No. 20, Pittsburgh); ESPN’s Matt Miller (No. 23, New England through trade); NFL Network’s Daniel Jeremiah (No. 30, Baltimore); ESPN’s Mel Kiper Jr. (No. 23, Minnesota)
Rankings: The Athletic consensus (No. 25 overall, No. 4 CB); The Athletic’s Dane Brugler (No. 23 overall, No. 3 CB); Pro Football Focus (No. 8 overall, No. 1 CB); Pro Football Network (No. 25 overall, No. 1 safety); CBS Sports (No. 41 overall, No. 7 CB); NFL Network’s Daniel Jeremiah (No. 28 overall, No. 4 CB); ESPN’s Mel Kiper Jr. (No. 18 overall, No. 3 CB).
Upside comparison: Seahawks DB Earl Thomas
Possibilities based on fit: Indianapolis Colts (No. 15), Los Angeles Rams (No. 19), Pittsburgh Steelers (No. 20), Philadelphia Eagles (No. 22), Green Bay Packers (No. 25), Detroit Lions (No. 29)
Projection: First round, No. 21 overall to the Lions (trade with Miami)
Analysis: DeJean is one of the draft’s most electrifying and polarizing prospects. Teams will spend plenty of resources trying to decide whether DeJean fits at cornerback, nickel or safety. The answer is yes to all three. In 2022, DeJean started at both cash (a nickel/safety hybrid) and cornerback and shifted between the two positions depending on the situation. That year, he returned three interceptions for touchdowns, and in his most impressive game, DeJean tallied 11 tackles and an end-zone interception against Iowa State.
Last year, DeJean largely stayed outside. He didn’t allow a touchdown pass and gave up only one completion exceeding 15 yards. He has good twitch, is a sure tackler and boasts the best ball skills of any defender in the class. DeJean is an elite punt returner with two touchdown returns (one of which was called back in controversial fashion) last year. A late-season broken leg while practicing on offense prevented him from working out at the combine or at Iowa’s pro day, but he will stage his own workouts on April 8, according to The Athletic’s Dane Brugler. His speed should be in the 4.4 range.
DeJean’s arm length (31 1/8 inches) combined with his compact build could deter a few teams from seeing him as a cornerback. His strengths would shine brightest in a zone-based defense or one that encourages versatility. The Colts and Rams were among the NFL’s highest zone-coverage defenses, while Green Bay plays a mixture of both. DeJean’s best fit would be in Detroit, where Lions defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn incorporates diverse schemes and matchups.
The Lions finished 29th in pass defense and 23rd in scoring defense and recently released cornerback Cam Sutton. Although Detroit drafted a pair of Hawkeyes last year, there’s nothing to stop the organization from adding to its “Liowans” with DeJean.
P Tory Taylor
Size: 6-4, 223
Mocks: Sixth round, No. 217 overall, Los Angeles Rams (ESPN’s Matt Miller)
Rankings: Pro Football Focus (No. 315 overall, No. 2 P); Pro Football Network (No. 368 overall, No. 2 P); CBS Sports (No. 214 overall, No. 1 P); ESPN’s Mel Kiper Jr. (No. 1 P).
Upside comparison: Texans P Cameron Johnston
Possibilities based on fit: New Orleans, Cincinnati, Chicago, Washington, Buffalo, Green Bay
Projection: Fifth round, No. 150 overall, New Orleans Saints
Analysis: Taylor became one of the most decorated punters in NCAA history during his four-year career. In 2023, he set the set the NCAA record with 4,479 yards, breaking a mark set in 1938, and won the Ray Guy Award as the nation’s top punter. He was named a first-team All-American three times, and he holds the Big Ten record for career average (46.3 yards per punt).
What makes the Australian so effective is his placement. Last year he landed 32 punts inside the 20-yard line and 23 inside the 13. That’s on top of 40 punts of 50-plus yards. Taylor also punted through all four seasons, including game days with 50 mph wind gusts (Purdue), below-zero wind chills (Minnesota) and snow (Iowa).
The Saints employed rookie punter Lou Hedley last year and finished last in the NFL in gross average and 26th in net punting. Plus, Hedley will cost New Orleans only a $1,000 cap hit if he’s cut.
DL Logan Lee
Size: 6-5, 281
Combine results: Bench — 25 reps, eighth among defensive linemen; 40-yard dash — 5.05 seconds, 11th; Vertical jump — 31.5 inches, sixth; Broad jump — 114 inches, fifth; 3-cone drill — 7.16 seconds, first; 20-yard shuttle — 4.37 seconds, first.
Mocks: Fifth round, No. 173 overall, Kansas City Chiefs (ESPN’s Matt Miller)
Rankings: Pro Football Focus (No. 147 overall, No. 15 DL); Pro Football Network (No. 207 overall, No. 20 DT); CBS Sports (No. 285 overall, No. 30 DT)
Upside comparison: Denver DE Derek Wolfe
Possibilities based on fit: Any
Projection: Fifth round, No. 156, Cleveland Browns
Analysis: Lee originally came to Iowa as a tight end, then flipped over to defensive tackle and started 41 consecutive games. Lee played a two-gap role against the opponent’s interior in which his first step was lateral rather than forward. It didn’t lead to many statistics (18.5 career tackles for loss, nine sacks) but he was part of a defense that led the nation in yards per play allowed in 2022-23.
At the Shrine Bowl and the NFL combine, Lee displayed quickness and burst while showing the requisite strength. He generated 10.5 tackles for loss and six sacks the last two seasons. His best positions are head-up on the opposing guard in a 4-3 or as the five-technique end in a 3-4.
Cleveland remains tight against the salary cap and needs a youth infusion. According to Spotrac, the Browns’ six highest-paid defensive linemen are at least 29 years old. Of the $44.9 million allocated to that group, 44.8 percent is directed toward all-world edge rusher Myles Garrett. The Browns need someone tough, versatile and cheap to eat up snaps and blockers to spring Garrett. They would get that in Lee.
TE Erick All
Size: 6-4, 252
Combine results: Did not participate because of injury.
Mocks: Sixth round, No. 209 overall, Los Angeles Rams (ESPN’s Matt Miller)
Rankings: Pro Football Focus (No. 103 overall, No. 3 TE); Pro Football Network (No. 171 overall, No. 8 TE); CBS Sports (No. 264 overall, No. 12 TE); ESPN’s Mel Kiper Jr. (No. 6 TE)
Upside comparison: Colts TE Dallas Clark
Possibilities based on fit: Any
Projection: Fifth round, No. 172, Philadelphia Eagles
Analysis: All’s one-year stint at Iowa ended way too early after tearing his ACL against Wisconsin. He played in only seven games but caught 21 passes for 299 yards and three touchdowns, leading the Hawkeyes in the latter two categories. Counting his Michigan tenure, All finished with 75 catches for 864 yards and five scores.
All’s last two seasons were cut short by injury; he lost most of his 2022 campaign at Michigan to a herniated disk. That hardly means he’s injury-prone. On his ACL tear, he stretched high for a pass across the middle, and Wisconsin linebacker C.J. Goetz plowed through his knee.
It’s hard to say how much All can contribute this year, but he has immense talent. All quickly developed into a better blocker at Iowa, and by his second year in the NFL, he could become a solid No. 2 for most teams.
DT Noah Shannon
Size: 6-0, 285
Pro day results: Bench — 21 reps; 40-yard dash — 5.32 seconds; 10-yard split — 1.76; Vertical jump — 27 inches; Broad jump — 102 inches; 3-cone drill — 7.00 seconds; 20-yard shuttle — 4.22 seconds
Rankings: Pro Football Network (No. 403 overall, No. 34 DT)
Upside comparison: Packers DT Mike Daniels
Possibilities based on fit: Preference on 4-3 defenses
Projection: Free agent, Chicago Bears
Analysis: After starting 28 games from 2020 to ’22, Shannon opted for an extra year of eligibility. He needed a shoulder repair, and it took eight months to get medically cleared. But Shannon placed a small bet on the Iowa women’s basketball team during last year’s Final Four, and the NCAA banned him for the 2023 season. Shannon instead worked as a student assistant during the season.
Shannon’s frame likely will keep him from getting drafted, but his technique was among the best Iowa had as a two-gap defensive tackle. His strength would come as a one-gap penetrating tackle, as he showed with his 10-yard split and agility drills.
Chicago would be a strong suitor for Shannon because of its lack of draft capital (only two picks after the first round). Under Matt Eberflus, the Bears employ a 4-3 that requires quality play from its three-technique tackle. Shannon, a Chicagoland native, could help on a rotational level.
DE/FB Joe Evans
Size: 6-1, 246
Pro day results: Bench — 24 reps; 40-yard dash — 4.67 seconds; Vertical jump — 41.5 inches; 3-cone drill — 6.98 seconds; 20-yard shuttle — 4.11 seconds
Upside comparison: San Francisco FB Kyle Juszczyk
Possibilities based on fit: Offense with a fullback/3-4 defenses
Projection: Free agent, Dallas Cowboys
Analysis: At a program with a premium on character, Evans ranked among the best in that department. Evans, a former walk-on, became a team captain and capped his career with four sacks in the Citrus Bowl. He finished with 29 career sacks, ranking fourth in program history.
Evans posted tremendous numbers at his pro day, starting with a 41.5-inch vertical jump. Had he been invited to the NFL combine, that mark would have tied for seventh among all participants. His shuttle and 3-cone drills were faster than any edge performer at the combine. About half the teams want Evans at edge, while the other half want him to play fullback. Evans has the ability and mindset for a position change, and he can play on every special teams unit.
(Photo of Logan Lee: Kirby Lee / USA Today)
2024-03-28 17:09:28
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