Cooper DeJean: 5 Shocking 2025 Predictions You Must See
Is Cooper DeJean the NFL's next superstar? We dive into 5 shocking predictions for his 2025 season, from positional changes to scoring touchdowns. You won't believe #5.
Alex Carter
Lead NFL analyst and draft expert with over a decade of experience.
The dust has barely settled on Cooper DeJean's stellar rookie campaign, and the football world is already buzzing. We saw the athleticism, the instincts, and the ball skills that made him a first-round talent. He wasn't just a cornerback; he was a solution. But if you think you've seen the best of the Iowa standout, you might want to sit down. The 2024 season was just the appetizer.
The 2025 season is where the Cooper DeJean legend truly begins to take shape. We're moving beyond the standard "he'll get more interceptions" talk. We're diving into the game-altering, paradigm-shifting potential simmering just beneath the surface. Get ready, because these aren't your typical offseason hot takes. These are the five shocking predictions for Cooper DeJean's 2025 season that you absolutely must see.
Prediction 1: He Won't Just Play Cornerback—He'll Redefine "Hybrid"
In his rookie year, the Eagles smartly eased DeJean into the NFL, primarily using him at outside corner where he could rely on his raw talent. In 2025, the training wheels come off. Forget thinking of him as just a cornerback. Think of him as a defensive queen on the chessboard.
Defensive coordinator Vic Fangio is known for his complex, position-fluid schemes, and DeJean is the perfect weapon to unlock its full potential. We're predicting he spends less than 50% of his snaps at traditional outside corner. Where will he be the rest of the time? Everywhere.
The DeJean "Nomad" Role
- Slot Corner: Matching up against shifty receivers and tight ends, using his physicality to disrupt routes at the line.
- Safety: Playing deep half or robbing the middle of the field, using his quarterback-like vision to read plays and anticipate throws.
- Moneybacker: Creeping into the box on run downs or blitzing off the edge, a role similar to how the Cowboys use Micah Parsons to create chaos.
This isn't about finding a position for him; it's about creating mismatches all over the field. His football IQ is too high to be confined to one spot on the gridiron. In 2025, he becomes the ultimate defensive weapon, a player offenses have to identify on every single snap.
Prediction 2: He Scores in Two Different Phases of the Game
This is where we start getting bold. Impact players make impact plays, and nothing is more impactful than putting points on the board. In 2025, Cooper DeJean will find the end zone not once, but twice—and he'll do it in two different ways.
"You can't coach the kind of feel he has with the ball in his hands. It's just natural." - An anonymous NFC scout
First, the defensive touchdown. With his increased role and aggressive play style, a pick-six feels almost inevitable. He has a knack for jumping routes and the athletic ability to outrun everyone once he has the ball. We're penciling him in for at least one house call on defense.
But the real shocker? A punt return touchdown. The Eagles were understandably cautious with their first-round pick on special teams as a rookie. In year two, with his value firmly established, they'll unleash him. We all saw what he could do at Iowa, where he was arguably the most dangerous returner in college football. In a key divisional game, he'll find a seam, make one man miss, and take it to the house, electrifying Lincoln Financial Field and cementing his status as a true three-phase player.
Prediction 3: DeJean Becomes Philly's Premier Ballhawk
Darius Slay is a legend and C.J. Gardner-Johnson has a nose for the football, but in 2025, Cooper DeJean will officially take the crown as the Eagles' interception king. While quarterbacks may have avoided him as a rookie, his new, versatile role will bait them into making mistakes. They won't always know where he is, and that hesitation is a defensive back's best friend.
We're not just talking about a modest team lead. We're predicting a number that puts him in the conversation for the league lead. His film study and instincts will be at an all-time high in his second year in the same defensive system.
Projected 2025 Eagles INT Leaders
| Player | Predicted 2025 Interceptions |
|---|---|
| Cooper DeJean | 6 |
| Darius Slay | 3 |
| C.J. Gardner-Johnson | 3 |
| Reed Blankenship | 2 |
A six-interception season, combined with his versatility and touchdown-scoring ability, leads directly to our next prediction...
Prediction 4: The League Takes Notice (Hello, Pro Bowl)
This might seem like a safe bet, but a Pro Bowl nod for a defensive back in their second year is a significant achievement. It requires not just great play, but national recognition and a compelling narrative. DeJean will have all three.
The splash plays—the touchdowns, the timely interceptions—will make him a weekly feature on highlight reels. The national media will fall in love with the story of the do-it-all weapon from rural Iowa. By mid-season, his name will be mentioned alongside established stars like Sauce Gardner and Patrick Surtain II. While a First-Team All-Pro selection might be a year away, a Pro Bowl invitation and a spot on the All-Pro Second Team are well within reach. He'll transition from being a "promising rookie" to a certified NFL star.
Prediction 5: The Ultimate Shock—He Takes an Offensive Snap
Here it is. The prediction that will have you calling us crazy. In a high-stakes, must-win game, Nick Sirianni and Kellen Moore will reach deep into their bag of tricks. And they'll pull out #3.
Remember, Cooper DeJean wasn't just a defensive back in high school; he was a star quarterback who put up ludicrous numbers. That muscle memory doesn't just vanish. We predict that in a goal-line or short-yardage situation, DeJean will trot onto the field with the offense. It won't be as a receiver; it will be in the backfield.
Imagine the scene: It's 3rd and 1 from the 4-yard line against the Cowboys. Jalen Hurts lines up at receiver, and Cooper DeJean takes the direct snap in a wildcat formation. The defense is in disarray. Does he run? Does he throw a jump pass? This single play, whether it works or not, will be the most talked-about moment of the week. It's the ultimate testament to his unique athleticism and the coaching staff's trust in him. It's a one-off, a special package, but it's the kind of move that defines a player's legend.
The Takeaway
Cooper DeJean is more than just a great cornerback in the making. He's a glimpse into the future of NFL defense—a positionless player with an endless motor and a sky-high football IQ. While these predictions are bold, they are all rooted in the rare combination of skills he possesses. The 2025 season will be his official coming-out party, the year he transforms from a promising young player into a household name.
So, what do you think? Are we crazy, or are we just seeing the inevitable? Let us know your boldest prediction for Cooper DeJean in the comments below!