Steelers Receive Harsh Warning About First-Round Cornerback Prospect Cooper DeJean

The Pittsburgh Steelers are in dire need of cornerback help. Joey Porter Jr. is expected to turn into a legitimate number one at the position, but aside from Donte Jackson, who came to town in the Diontae Johnson trade, there is little to no support otherwise. Pittsburgh will likely make the area a priority at the end of April when the 2024 NFL Draft occurs. The class is extremely deep when it comes to the cornerback position, which means General Manager Omar Khan could elect to wait until day two to target one. However, selecting one in the first round is absolutely a possibility.

Of the top cornerback prospects, the Steelers have consistently been linked to University of Iowa standout, Cooper DeJean. The defender is a bigger body and stands about 6'1" with about 200 pounds of weight. During his final season for the Hawkeyes, quarterbacks had a rating of just 40.6 when targeting a pass-catcher who was guarded by DeJean.

Unfortunately, football guru Greg Cosell is cautioning teams about selecting DeJean. Cosell recently appeared on the Ross Tucker Podcast, hosted by none other than former NFL player Ross Tucker. Cosell isn't so sure that DeJean will translate as a corner at the next level, which should immediately turn the Steelers off based on current needs.

"There will be a lot of teams that see him as a safety. He's a little stiff and it shows up on tape. Even when he plays press. I mean, he struggles a bit," Cosell said.

The Steelers are known for selecting the best player available when they are on the clock, but using a first-round pick on a guy who may end up shifting to safety doesn't make sense for Pittsburgh based on how their roster currently looks. Minkah Fitzpatrick, Damontae Kazee and DeShon Elliott will handle those duties in 2024. Beyond that, safety remains a question, but drafting a cornerback in round one should only be done if the player will remain there.

DeJean's athleticism will certainly be desired by NFL teams, but if Pittsburgh is looking for a true cornerback to pair with Porter for the next 10 seasons, DeJean might not make sense based on how he could fit into a professional defensive system. Cosell compared DeJean to his former teammate, Riley Moss, who plays for the Denver Broncos.

"In fact, I could easily make the argument that the corner a year ago from Iowa, Riley Moss, who was drafted by Denver, if I remember correctly in the third round, is a better corner prospect than Cooper DeJean. Some may even see him as a big nickel safety. Some may see him as a star playing in the slot... There's just a stiffness to him that concerns you a little bit when you see him as an outside corner."

Cosell has been studying football tape for years, so his analysis is something to pay attention too, especially when it is revolving around one of the players who has consistently been mocked to the Steelers. A guy like Nate Wiggins, Quinyon Mitchell or Terrion Arnold might make a heck of a lot more sense when thinking of a guy to put opposite of Porter.

Steelers Arguably Have More Pressing Needs Than Cornerback

Khan could decide to draft a cornerback in round one, but it appears as if the offensive line may be more of logical move. Pittsburgh needs help at center and tackle with several questions surrounding the positions. Porter and Jackson aren't a horrible one-two punch to begin the 2024 campaign, and a corner can be found later on in the draft. DeJean is a name to keep an eye on, but Cosell's comments aren't exactly reassuring.

Do you want the Steelers to draft DeJean? Let us know in the comments below!

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