65 Days Until NFL Draft: Daniel Jeremiah Mocks Cooper DeJean to Packers

NFL.com’s Daniel Jeremiah published his second mock draft on Tuesday morning. Which star defensive back would be headed to the Packers?

GREEN BAY, Wis. – In his first mock draft, NFL.com’s Daniel Jeremiah went with a Green Bay Packers-style offensive lineman with Duke’s Graham Barton. In his second mock draft, which published on Tuesday, he went with a Packers-style defensive back with Iowa’s Cooper DeJean.

“DeJean just feels like a Packers player,” Jeremiah wrote. “He could play any position in the secondary. The speed and athleticism are legit, as we will see at the NFL Scouting Combine.”

The Packers have potential holes throughout the secondary. At cornerback, do they feel good enough about Carrington Valentine’s potential or Eric Stokes’ health opposite Jaire Alexander? In the slot, will they re-sign Keisean Nixon or try to upgrade? At safety, all but about 300 of last year’s defensive snaps are headed to free agency. The group of Darnell Savage, Rudy Ford and Jonathan Owens wasn’t good enough anyway.

In 2023, most of DeJean’s snaps came as a perimeter cornerback. According to Pro Football Focus, he allowed 20-of-46 passing for 194 yards and two interceptions. In 2022, he played mostly at corner but also about 230 snaps in the slot and as a box safety. He turned in a career-high five interceptions.

A game-changer of the highest order at Iowa, DeJean had three pick-sixes in 2022 and a punt-return touchdown in 2023. On 31 career punt returns, he had a 13.1-yard average.

While Jeremiah has DeJean listed as a cornerback, he also compared him to former Chargers star safety Eric Weddle.

“His production … speaks for itself,” Jeremiah wrote as part of his top-50 scouting report. “He has enough speed to carry vertical routes, but he will panic on occasion and get grabby at the catch point. He's an outstanding blitzer, displaying timing and burst to close in a hurry. He is very willing in run support, and he's a dependable tackler.”

DeJean was the last of five cornerbacks in Jeremiah’s first-round projection.

Who did the Chicago Bears pick to bolster the offense with their top two picks? Did the Minnesota Vikings get their next quarterback? And who landed with the Detroit Lions? Find out by reading the full mock.

Mock Draft Database: Consensus Mock

If you love mock drafts – and you’re here, so of course you do – then check out Mock Draft Database. It has a consensus mock draft, which takes into account the multitude of mocks around the Internet.

With Iowa DB Cooper DeJean landing with the Chargers at No. 19, the aforementioned Duke offensive lineman Graham Barton becomes the choice for Green Bay.

Barton is an excellent prospect. But where is his home in the NFL and will it align with the needs of the Packers?

Underdog Network: Clemson CB Nate Wiggins

Hayden Winks listed defense as four of the team’s five greatest areas of need, including slot corner second and perimeter corner fourth.

Wiggins had three interceptions and 22 passes defensed during his final two seasons. Two of the picks came against North Carolina’s Drake Maye, a projected top-five draft pick. Listed at 6-foot-2, he is expected to put up superb testing numbers at the Scouting Combine.

Draft Countdown: A Receiver?

Yes, somebody had to do it. The Packers haven’t drafted a receiver in the first round since the Jurassic, even during years when receiver was a big need. Receiver is not a need for Green Bay this year, not with Christian Watson, Romeo Doubs, Jayden Reed, Dontayvion Wicks and Bo Melton.

But Brad Menendez sent LSU receiver Brian Thomas to Green Bay. Listed at 6-foot-5 by the school, Thomas caught 68 passes for 1,177 yards and 17 touchdowns in 2023. According to Pro Football Focus, he ranked third nationally with 15 catches on passes thrown 20-plus yards downfield.

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