For a young player who constantly flashed big play ability amid his leaguewide top corner grade (86.3), a final ranking of #24 on the top 25 players under 25 per Pro Football Focus seems absurd.
My take: Philadelphia Eagles cornerback Cooper DeJean got robbed rankings-wise. But alas, snap count loomed large.
Just getting warmed up
The snap count is the key here, and I get that. He was battling injuries from camp and into the early stages of regular season action. That cost him in this ranking.
Once he was inserted into the lineup, though, fireworks began to go off within the youngest defense unit in the league. Plays were being made, the secondary shaped up and the front seven ramped their collective performance up a few notches.
Things began to click on both defense and offense. Heck, a 16 out of 17 win clip once DeJean suited up is certainly well worth mentioning.
Bring The Pain
We also all saw the massive hit he laid on the ever-imposing King Derrick Henry. His impact from the nickel spot (often shadowing in the slot) was omnipresent.
In fact, with him looming near the line of scrimmage and consistently exhibiting stout toughness and field awareness from that spot on the field, he’s a bit of a unicorn. Outside runs were swallowed up, and it wasn't just the highlight reel Henry played either.
Bottom line: He brings the pain ala Method Man in the run game.
Throw in the fact he returned punts points and certainly can man an outside corner spot, and again, the versatility of these young players on defense is on full display. A highest rated corner who does far more than just blanket opposing players is who DeJean truly is.
The intangibles he wields certainly bode well for a much higher ranking this time next off-season. He just has to get that snap count up thru a full regular season next time around.
Just getting started ~ Super Bowl Pick Six
Once that day comes, we could be looking at a top-10 or even top-five player under 25 years of age. The kid can play; the entire sports world saw it with that pick-six in the Super Bowl.
Just as the defense did once he was inserted, they all made plays on the biggest stage of all.
It’s only just begun when it comes to the legacy and contributions of the multi-faceted athlete out of Iowa, brandishing #33, Cooper DeJean.
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