The Minnesota Vikings have nine picks going into the 2024 NFL Draft:
- First round, 11th overall
- Second round, 42nd overall
- Fourth round (from Detroit)
- Fourth round
- Fifth round (from Kansas City)
- Fifth round (from Cleveland)
- Sixth round (from Jacksonville)
- Sixth round (from Las Vegas)
- Seventh round (from Atlanta via Arizona)
To maximize these picks, the Vikings front office has a lot of homework to find who in this draft is a good fit for Minnesota.
With the questions in the secondary, a popular mock draft selection is Iowa cornerback Cooper DeJean. Let’s quickly look into his film and see if he fits Brian Flores’ vision for this Vikings defense.
Versatility
One of the consistent arguments for selecting DeJean is his athleticism and the versatility that comes with it. In this clip, DeJean is lined up over the slot receiver in a trips-bunch set with the motion man coming inside. As the receiver releases, DeJean stays in the hip pocket of the receiver, not allowing separation, even going so far as to grab the receiver’s hip as he gets to the top of his route.
DeJean’s potential to be used both in the slot as well as outside is one of the reasons he’s so highly touted.
Run Support
DeJean is also an asset in the run game, always willing to get his hands dirty. Here, he gets run off by the outside receiver but doesn’t allow that to hinder his ability to make the tackle downfield.
DeJean looks back, finds the ball carrier and doesn’t allow the receiver to get his hands on him for the block. What was most impressive was how DeJean put his helmet on the football during the tackle while also getting the ball carrier to the ground. Getting the helmet on the ball allows for a greater chance of a fumble and a back-breaking turnover for an offense driving down the field.
Man Coverage
There is no such thing as a perfect prospect.
There were a few things in DeJean’s film that caused concern. In this clip, he lines up in press-man, squared up over the receiver. When the receiver releases, no hands are put on the receiver as he stems outside. That lack of physicality allows the receiver to set up DeJean on his outside stem to work back inside, despite DeJean having initial inside leverage.
Every corner gets beat and these are things that DeJean will have to clean up as he transitions to the NFL.
Man Coverage
One more instance of the lack of physicality shows up here as Penn State’s KeAndre Lambert-Smith eats up DeJean’s cushion and forces him to respect the vertical shot into the end zone before he cuts the route short for an easy first down. DeJean is a patient defensive back, sometimes to his detriment.
Offenses take what the defenses give you, and sometimes, DeJean tends to give up a little too much in off-coverage.
Ball Skills
DeJean has a knack for getting his hands on the football. Last season, he had 13 pass deflections and five interceptions (three returned for touchdowns). With offenses staying away from him this season, he added seven pass deflections and two more interceptions.
In this clip, DeJean looks to be in cover three, but with no other immediate threats, he can key in on the lone receiver to his side a bit more. As the receiver stems inside, DeJean stays patient as the receiver’s route develops and pushes back outside. As the receiver starts to work to the outside, DeJean drops his hips, shoots underneath the route and forces the incompletion.
Playmaking
“Let me embrace thee, sour adversity, for wise men say it is the wisest course.” -William Shakespeare, Henry VI: Part III
The Wisconsin Badgers abused DeJean through the air with two explosives before the above clip, including a 42-yard bomb to start the drive. With it being fourth-and-short in the red zone, the defense had a chance to make a play and smolder any hopes of points for this drive.
When Wisconsin pulled both of their blockers in the backfield to the weak side, DeJean decided he was the man for the job. DeJean reads the run immediately, flies into the backfield and meets the ball carrier four yards deep in the backfield to make the stop.
Big-time players make big-time plays in big-time moments. DeJean kept his composure, lay in wait for his moment and made the play when it mattered most.
Patience
Earlier panels showed examples of DeJean’s patience backfiring on him. In the above clip, his patience kept him in the play, helping force a turnover in the red zone.
DeJean lines up on the outside in bail technique, so it looks like a cover three coverage. The outside receiver doesn’t have much chance as he runs a stutter-and-go into a cover three, especially when the corner is DeJean, who doesn’t remotely fall for the stutter. Despite that, the quarterback tries to make this a 50/50 ball for his receiver, which he airmails into the waiting arms of DeJean.
DeJean’s ability to keep his eyes focused on the quarterback, stay patient, let the play develop and allow the quarterback to make the mistake is why he got the opportunity for the interception on this play.
How he fits in Minnesota
In a Flores defense, the secondary has to be versatile. Seeing players like Byron Murphy, Mekhi Blackmon and Josh Metellus (who played everything) move inside and outside, covering receivers and tight ends confirms that.DeJean has the versatility and the football IQ to play in multiple spots in the secondary, from safety to nickel to outside cornerback. He’s fast enough to run downfield with receivers and strong enough to give quality support in the run game.
Add in the fact that he is a good punt returner, and DeJean can contribute on day one for the Vikings.
