Seattle Seahawks 3-Round 2024 Mock Draft: Adding the core for a Super Bowl run

1st Round, pick 24 - Cooper DeJean, defensive back, Iowa

I know what you're thinking, and yes I actually agree with you. I would probably not take a defensive back in the first round of back-to-back drafts, but I do think Seattle’s leadership sees it differently.

Devon Witherspoon was one of the best and most physical defensive backs to come out of college. He was a monster in the run game, a potential shutdown corner, and someone who can cause chaos from the nickel position. With DeJean, Seattle may see a guy who can be a monster in the run game. A potential shutdown corner, someone who can be otherworldly as a safety (especially in Mike Macdonald’s three safety system), and can be a Pro Bowl-caliber punt and kick returner with the new rules.

When you lay it all out like that, it sounds a lot better than some corner from Iowa.

DeJean is a premier athlete. The 6 ½ ft 202 lbs twenty-one-year-old was recently recovering from a broken leg, but looked healthy and absolutely shined in his pro day on April 8th. The Hawkeye ran a 4.42 40-yard dash, a 10-yard split of 1.55 seconds, and a vertical jump of 38.5 inches. A scout told Albert Brewer of NFL Network that considering DeJean was only cleared a month ago, he looks in great shape and looked great in position drills.

If healthy, Seattle could be adding one of the more unique stars in all of college football. As a sophomore, DeJean totaled 75 tackles with 5 interceptions (3 for touchdowns) and 8 passes deflected. While Big Ten offenses avoided him like the plague this season, he still managed 41 tackles, 2 INTs, and 5 passes deflected in just 10 games.

As a punt returner, DeJean averaged over 13 yards per return and scored a touchdown. He also had a remarkable and what looked like a game-winning punt return for a touchdown against Minnesota, but it was called back after the refs controversially decided that DeJean had called for a fair catch before his epic return.

While I would like to see a 1st round pick go to the trenches, this guy has everything that Mike Macdonald could want. He's a unique blend of Kyle Hamilton and Brian Branch and could be Macdonald’s ultimate chess piece with his first Seahawks pick as head coach.