Big NFL Draft News at Safety for Packers

The Green Bay Packers figure to look to the draft for their second starting safety. There were key developments from Cooper DeJean and Jaden Hicks on Wednesday.

Author:
Bill Huber
Mar 27, 2024

In this story:

NFL Draft

Green Bay Packers

Jaden Hicks

Cooper DeJean

GREEN BAY, Wis. – While Green Bay Packers general manager Brian Gutekunst wouldn’t rule out signing another safety in NFL free agency, he indicated this week that Xavier McKinney’s sidekick might come through the draft.

“If there becomes a player that fits what we’re looking for – not only as a player but financially, as well – then we’ll consider it,” Gutekunst told reporters at the NFL Annual Meeting on Monday. “We can do that, but I do think there’s ramifications to that.”

Those financial ramifications could send Gutekunst to the draft to find his second starting safety. From that perspective, there were two noteworthy developments on Wednesday.

First, The Athletic’s Dane Brugler reported Iowa’s Cooper DeJean has been “fully cleared” medically from last year’s broken leg and will work out for teams on April 8.

DeJean suffered a broken fibula at practice in November. He did not test for scouts at the Scouting Combine or at Iowa’s recent pro day.

DeJean was a star cornerback for the Hawkeyes. At 6-foot-1 and with elite athletic skills, as shown by his play on defense and as a punt returner, he’s got the physical tools to play corner in the NFL. Shorter-than-desired arms could move him to safety, especially if he winds up in a press-coverage scheme like the one new Packers defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley is expected to run.

“I’ve proven that I can play outside and inside,” DeJean said at the Scouting Combine. “Obviously, I haven’t played safety in college. But I feel like I have the ability to play multiple different positions in the back end.”

DeJean had five interceptions in 2022, including three that he returned for touchdowns. In 2023, he had two picks and allowed just 20 completions out of 46 targets, according to Pro Football Focus. He returned one punt for a touchdown and had a second waved off following a controversial illegal fair catch.

“I love to challenge myself, really,” DeJean said. “I’m a competitive guy. I compete in everything I do. We can be racking weights on a bar, and I’m still trying to be the fastest one to do it. That’s just how I grew up, how I am, playing all four sports in high school. That really drove my competitive nature, want to win, and do everything to the best of my ability.”

If DeJean is the preferred choice by the Packers to be the other starting safety but is off the board at No. 25 of the first round, Washington State’s Jaden Hicks could be Plan B in the second round, where the Packers own picks No. 41 and 58.

At WSU’s pro day on Wednesday, a source at the workout said the scouts’ stopwatches had Hicks as fast as the low 4.4s in the 40-yard dash with a consensus time of 4.47. That could put him in the running to be the top pure safety in the draft following sluggish workouts by the likes of Minnesota’s Tyler Nubin and Miami’s Kamren Kinchens.

With McKinney being an elite deep safety, Hicks would provide a perfect complement. At 6-foot-1 7/8 and 211 pounds at the Scouting Combine – he was up to 215 for pro day – Hicks has the size to thrive in a close-to-the-ball role. The numbers support that contention. In 2023, he had 79 tackles along with 2.5 sacks, six tackles for losses and two interceptions. Of his 788 defensive snaps last year, 456 came in the box, according to Pro Football Focus.

Hicks, who’s drawn comparisons to Derwin James, had a formal interview with the Packers at the Combine.

“Being disciplined with my eyes,” he said at the Combine of last season’s improvement. “I started my role as a younger guy, but growing into that role and being a safety you have to have disciplined eyes, keeping my eyes correct.”