The Green Bay Packers have a chance to become a legit Super Bowl contender just two seasons after they traded away future Hall of Fame Quarterback Aaron Rodgers. Jordan Love and his extremely young but talented group of weapons put the league on notice in 2023.
This off-season will be focused on getting the defense up to championship caliber. New defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley brought an entirely new defensive coaching staff to Green Bay. One that will expect more from the defense than what we’ve seen in recent years.
There is one addition floating around that could help the defense do exactly that.
The Green Bay Packers Pegged To Leapfrog Multiple Rivals To Acquire Defensive Back
Brad Spielberger of Pro Football Focus highlighted how the Packers could steal Cooper DeJean from multiple rivals:
GREEN BAY PACKERS TRADE UP TO NO. 21 WITH THE MIAMI DOLPHINS FOR IOWA CB COOPER DEJEAN
Trade terms: Packers receive Pick No. 21; Dolphins receive Pick Nos. 25 and 169 and a 2025 third-round pick
The Packers leapfrog some defensive back-needy teams in the Philadelphia Eagles at No. 22, the Minnesota Vikings (who currently hold the No. 23 overall pick) and the Dallas Cowboys at No. 24.
Packers general manager Brian Gutekunst has traded up in the first round for defensive backs twice already in his young career, adding cornerback Jaire Alexander and safety Darnell Savage.
Here, Green Bay acquires arguably the most versatile defensive back in the class. DeJean could step in and push for the starting outside cornerback job opposite Jaire Alexander with health questions surrounding 2021 first-round cornerback Eric Stokes.
He could also provide insurance if Alexander pushes for a trade elsewhere, which doesn’t seem like an impossibility, or he could line up at safety next to free-agent splash acquisition safety Xavier McKinney.
DeJean is a tier-one athlete, with Iowa entrusting him with some return duties in 2023. DeJean had a beautiful punt return for a touchdown against Minnesota, fielding the ball off a bounce, spinning out of a tackler’s grasp and taking off for what would’ve been a walk-off game-winner if not for a penalty.
As a defender, DeJean allowed completion percentages below 50% and passer ratings when targeted below 50.0 in each of the last two seasons, with seven total interceptions.
Cooper DeJean returned the punt for a touchdown but it was ruled back because he called for a fair catch 🤯pic.twitter.com/oJ4XWfMDxR
— NFL Retweet (@NFLRT) October 21, 2023
The Packers Secondary Would Get A Massive Boost From Cooper DeJean
Adding a young, versatile weapon like Cooper DeJeanw would be huge for the Packers’ defense. Jaire Alexander and Xavier McKinney are two of the best in the game at their positions. Adding DeJean into the mix, learning from those veterans, and bringing that type of versatility is exactly what new defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley needs.
Taking him away from the Minnesota Vikings, Philadelphia Eagles, and Dallas Cowboys would just be a plus.
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