@FLPACKER posted:Kitchens from Miami was vying to be the first safety taken but probably dropped to the third round with his dreadful athletic scores, which included a 4.65 forty, and a RAS of 2.
But can he play football?
He may be able o play football, but there is a certain athletic threshold that players must have to play it well in the NFL.
@Chongo posted:Ack...Bortolini's arms measured 31 and 1/2"
May take him off Packers board....
I hope not. Much less of an issue for a center.
Well his arms need to be long enough to get the ball back to the QB on the snap. 
From Drew Boylhart via The Huddle Report
Cooper DeJean CB/DB Iowa
STRENGTHS
Cooper has been a play-making machine for his team in the backfield and on special teams. He is very smart and shows excellent communication and leadership skills on the field. Cooper has excellent hands to intercept the ball, as good as most receivers in this draft. He is adept at tricking quarterbacks into interceptions. He does a solid job when tackling and supporting the run. Cooper has played a lot of snaps in a match-up zone, off the line of scrimmage, type of defense and has been an impact defensive back for his college team. What he brings to the next level is a high football IQ and excellent leadership skills for the team that selects him.
CONCERNS
Cooper is lacking the athletic ability to play in any style of defense. He is tight in the hips and lacks the passion to tackle although he does get the job done when it is needed. He also lacks the fluidity and burst needed to cover unless the play is in front of him.
BOTTOM LINE: 3.17
The truth is that Cooper is more of a safety than a corner. That’s not because he is white, it’s because he lacks the needed athleticism to play corner unless it is in zone coverage.
His ability to play corner in zone coverage and in a match-up zone coverage backfield is strictly related to his high football IQ in that style of system and not because of his athleticism.
Moving him to safety is the logical progression for him unless he goes to the combine and shows that he has the athletic talent and can cover man-to-man. Right now, I see solid straight-line speed.
Nevertheless, if he becomes a more aggressive tackler he could easily be moved to safety, or if he adds a few more pounds and bulk even be moved to a weakside linebacker position in the future and flourish. His high football IQ and leadership skills make me think that he can become a coach on the field if Cooper becomes flexible in what position is the best for him at the next level.
In the right system and with the right coach, and if he is willing to move to safety, I can see Cooper becoming a fan favorite and an impact player but the stars will all have to be aligned and he has to be willing to be moved to safety.
I think that scouting report is pretty accurate, and if it is: 1. Does he drop to #25 2. What does Hafley think of him.
@FLPACKER posted:I think that scouting report is pretty accurate, and if it is: 1. Does he drop to #25 2. What does Hafley think of him.
In a few recent mocks I have done, DeJean is off the board before the Packers pick at 25. In two mocks, he was gone at #24. As you said, if he falls to the Packers pick, it all depends on what Hafley thinks of him. If you are looking for a Slot CB, you may want to take a look at Mike Sainristil out of Michigan.
All indications seem to be that this year's first round will be flush with WR and OL.
Throw in a #4 or #5 QB and guys like DeJean could fall.
If he wants a player, he'll go get him...
Gutey knows
Don't care terribly much about DeJean's athleticism shortcomings...he makes a ton of plays. You can never have too many of those guys. Savage is probably the most athletic S ever drafted by the Packers. But he can't catch a cold.
Josh Jackson made a ton of plays in college. No more Iowa zone DBs, especially in a press man heavy scheme.
If you want Iowa players, stick to the trenches. Those are the guys that consistently pay off.
The "highlight" video underwhelmed me. I saw more poor QB play than DeJean making plays, and his punt returns were nothing special (he looked more like he was playing to not get hurt than attacking the return). On some of the interceptions, he was able to undercut the WR because the ball was delivered late or behind the WR. On the tackles in the open field, those guys were sitting ducks but he still didn't unload on them. He is in the right spot, and I can see him becoming a coach, but I don't think he can hang as a CB and I'd worry about him taking over Savage's spot.
@Herschel posted:Josh Jackson made a ton of plays in college. No more Iowa zone DBs, especially in a press man heavy scheme.
If you want Iowa players, stick to the trenches. Those are the guys that consistently pay off.
Jack Campbell panned out pretty well...not a trench guy.
Not gonna punish DeJean for JJ's sins.
Look back at #7 Overall in 2018 NFL Draft
This resurfaced clip of #Bills fans when they drafted Josh Allen 😂😭 pic.twitter.com/9MgJ12H1BN
— uSTADIUM (@uSTADIUM) March 3, 2024
@Fandame posted:The "highlight" video underwhelmed me.
Opinions vary.
Go to the punt at the 4:30 mark.
He makes 6 of 11 guys miss and snags a decent return. What they're coached to do is secure the (1st) 1st down for the offense ( get 10+ yards on the return)
I think an ST coach would look favorably on that one given the coverage
Go to the 4:56 mark, it looks like its a called return to his left. DeJean first steps right to make all the coverage guys hesitate, then he gives another little fake to the right to set up his blockers and make it easier for them to wall off their guy.
It is soooo hard to alter your line when running at full speed - so returners are taught to use that momentum against the coverage guys. And he did.
That's textbook work on a PR. Nice to see that one on the All-22 look.
Cooper shoulda made that last guy miss, but he made that return a success with his footwork and athleticism. Good stuff.
Fandame, you might be right. So I sent your post to all of the GMs drafting between 12 - 24. I hope it works. 
Here's PFN mock I did:
GB
25.
Graham Barton OG Duke
41.
Tyler Nubin S Minnesota
58.
Max Melton CB Rutgers
88.
Calen Bullock S USC
91.
Braden Fiske DT Florida State
127.
MarShawn Lloyd RB USC
168.
Tykee Smith S Georgia
204.
Rasheen Ali RB Marshall
216
Andru Phillips CB Kentucky
243.
Anthony Gould WR/Returner Oregon State
251.
Devin Leary QB Kentucky
I didn't say he was better I said he was "probably," the "most athletic."
There is combine speed and there is game football speed.
@ilcuqui posted:There is combine speed and there is game football speed.
100% this.
On defense, reaction time is so vital, it absolutely trumps any measured metric at the combine. How fast does the football player recognize his responsibility and react accordingly. He beats the block to hole or beats the WR to the spot with instinct and reaction, not pure speed. Some guys do it before the play even starts, Chuck Wood, and some guys never do it and the play just comes to them.
DeJean will be an outstanding second round pick for the Pack
@DurangoDoug posted:As I understand it Williams and Harrison do not have agents, and have remaining college eligibility. Is it possible that they can say screw you and return to college if they do not like who drafts them? Maybe some quiet, behind the scenes conversations telling teams they do not want to be on that if you draft me it's a wasted pick as I'll go back to school and get lots of NIL $.
"Participating in the Draft means that an underclassman loses his remaining eligibility: If he is not selected by an NFL team, he will not be able to play another college season and he will not be able to improve his draft standing for the following year’s draft."
@"We"-Ka-Bong posted:DeJean will be an outstanding second round pick for the Pack
Hopefully they trade down to the bottom of the round to nab him. Sorry folks I’m not sold on the kid
@FinnLander posted:"Participating in the Draft means that an underclassman loses his remaining eligibility: If he is not selected by an NFL team, he will not be able to play another college season and he will not be able to improve his draft standing for the following year’s draft."
I heard that the possibility lies in suing the NCAA to return. Seeing as the NCAA is like 0-942 in athlete lawsuits lately, Harrison and Williams probably win. But I don't see it happening.
They probably just don't need an agent right now - they've been getting endorsements for years, are guaranteed to go #1 overall and first non-QB picked, respectively, and draft contracts are so standard there isn't really any negotiation to be had. May as well pocket the agent fee then hire one for the second deal.
If I was about to get drafted, I wouldn't have an agent either
Bob McGinn traditionally has one of the best predictions for top 100 players in the draft. He's usually right on 97/100. It's impressive but he talks to a lot of scouts so he has the Inside info.
So the @BobMcGinn top 55 based on his conversations with scouts has an incredible 32 offensive players in it.
— Peter Bukowski (@Peter_Bukowski) March 6, 2024
This is not the draft to need anything on defense other than CB.
FYI....drafting a CB would not hurt my feelings