Cooper DeJean saw his 2023 season cut short with an unfortunate injury, but Iowa’s star defensive back could still be one of the top cornerbacks available in this year’s draft class.

During the 2022 season, DeJean made his ascent onto the national scene with 3 pick-6s for the Hawkeyes. His overall numbers dipped during the 2023 season, but that was a byproduct of teams opting to avoid DeJean’s coverage altogether when on the field.

As DeJean prepares for the NFL Draft, ESPN’s Mel Kiper Jr. unveiled his first mock draft of the cycle on Tuesday. He slotted DeJean as a top-20 pick, going to the Jacksonville Jaguars at No. 17 overall.

In particular, DeJean’s versatility is a big point of Kiper’s analysis:

DeJean, who was having an All-America season before he broke his leg in November, allowed just 3.5 yards per attempt as the nearest defender in coverage this past season. He had seven interceptions from 2022-23, including three pick-sixes. He could play in the slot or outside, making him a nice complementary corner with Darious Williams and Tyson Campbell.

After limited playing time as a true freshman, DeJean delivered 7 interceptions, 3 pick-6s, 13 pass breakups and 116 total tackles his past two seasons with the Hawkeyes. He also served as a dynamic punt returner while averaging 13 yards per return with a touchdown and having another touchdown called back upon review.