No one on the Philadelphia Eagles really knew what they had when the team selected Iowa defensive back Cooper DeJean in the second round of the 2024 draft.
Some analysts believed the team could use him as a safety similar to how Malcolm Jenkins and Brian Dawkins were used during their careers in Philly. Others believed he would be an outside cornerback to replace Darius Slay when the veteran inevitably left after the 2024 campaign.
DeJean's role was in question even at the start of training camp when a hamstring injury cost him the majority of practice time in August.
Despite the set-backs, defensive coordinator Vic Fangio had an idea of where he wanted the versatile defender - as a nickel cornerback.
And surprise … Once he was inserted into the starting lineup in the slot, DeJean helped turn around the Eagles defense into the best in the league. And he had legends on the roster lauding the young corner's skill set.
Brandon Graham, the longest-tenured player in Eagles history, detailed what DeJean's rookie season was like, and how proud he is to see him excel going into his sophomore campaign.
"In training camp we didn't get to see him much because he got hurt. The work that he put in all year. The stuff that we did together every Monday. I see why it ended the way it did," Graham said. "To see your draft and to know how much you were hurt about going on the second day. I'm so happy they did that because we wouldn't even be talking about this right now you ending up on my team.
"I'm proud of you man. Just wanted to tell you that. You made history. They are always going to remember you."
DeJean did not record an interception until his pick-six in Super Bowl LIX that put the Eagles up 17-0. The score would not get as close again for the rest of the way as Philadelphia toppled the Kansas City Chiefs, 40-22.
Graham's heroics as a legend on the Eagles is unquestioned. DeJean is hoping he can have a career even close to what the edge rusher once had in Philadelphia as well.