Cooper DeJean???

finfanatic wrote:The Phins brought a Safety in from TCU to visit I believe. His nickname was Nook IIRC??

I still like Kinchens or the Safety from FSU.

JMP wrote:DeJean could be the pick, but I doubt he'd be at the top of anyone's board at 21.  He'd be more likely for the Phins in a trade down, IMO.

Safety is definitely a need, especially because Weaver likes to use 3 safeties.  I would expect Ramsey to play some safety this season, as he did with the Rams, and I also think we could see more of Elijah Campbell as well.  But yeah, we will be adding another safety at some point.

I'd also keep an eye on free agency after the draft, as there are still several good veteran safeties available - like Justin Simmons, Quandre Diggs, Eddie Jackson, Keanu Neal, etc.

HalCHorn wrote:FWIW he's usually there at 21 on the PFF drafts, along with Newton.  Occasionally Latu and Murphy, but Newton and DeJean are 1-2 on the board at 21 on most mocks there.

My two cents, I wouldn't have a problem with taking him as I feel he's sure to work out at either S or CB long-term with his skills.

DolFan 316 wrote:

I took a peek at the list and all I see is a big bunch of meh.

JMP wrote:

DolFan 316 wrote:

I took a peek at the list and all I see is a big bunch of meh.

Yeah, not stars - but solid veterans that can definitely serve as a #3 safety for us.

JMP wrote:The more I think about the safety position, the more I think you don't need to spend big money or use a high draft picks to get a good one.  I'm in favor of a day 3 pick and a cheap FA.

And yes, that means I'm not giving Holland a huge deal when the time comes.  I love the guy, but he's just not worth the money he'll get on his next contract.

JMP wrote:My issue with Holland was that I expected him to be great - and he's not.  He's been good - at times very good - but he's not the playmaker and difference-maker I thought he'd be. He'll be difficult to replace, but he simply isn't worth top dollar. He shows up and does his job every game, and does it well, but that's not worth a massive contract to me.

mercury22nathan wrote:

JMP wrote:My issue with Holland was that I expected him to be great - and he's not.  He's been good - at times very good - but he's not the playmaker and difference-maker I thought he'd be. He'll be difficult to replace, but he simply isn't worth top dollar. He shows up and does his job every game, and does it well, but that's not worth a massive contract to me.

he initially seemed to be on that trajectory.  just for conversations sake, is it possible the switch in D-coordinators hurt him (he did complain about Fangio) and Weaver might getting him back on that path to stardom?

The team’s depth at safety is also a disaster. Jevon Holland is a top tier free safety who is likely due for an extension (hopefully later this summer after Howard’s cap clears in June) and Jordan Poyer is a fantastic bang-for-your-buck get who will mostly play strong safety. Behind them, though, the Dolphins only have Elijah Campbell. Campbell is fine as depth, but only $355,000 of his one-year deal is guaranteed, so his roster spot is hardly set, and he’s been nothing special over his three years in the league. More importantly, as of writing the Dolphins don’t have a single safety rostered in 2025. While it’s likely that we extend Holland, Poyer and Campbell are both playing on one year deals and there’s no guarantee that they’ll be back next year.

This all leaves the Dolphins in what I see as a pretty awkward place in the secondary. The team has an absolute glut of players who can perform well at slot corner. At minimum, I expect that we’ll see Ramsey, Fuller, and Kohou all play meaningful snaps lined up as a slot corner. We should also feel confident in our starting depth outside with Ramsey and Fuller and at safety with Ramsey and Holland. The problem is the depth behind them, especially if we’re going to be moving Ramsey and Fuller around (like we should).

The hope is certainly that Cam Smith can step up into a meaningful role at outside corner in his second season, but that doesn’t help the dismal depth at safety. It could be given the depth we have at slot corner that the Dolphins move safeties to the slot less (it’s certainly never been a big part of either Holland’s or Poyer’s games). There is another potential solution that I think the Dolphins could strongly consider.

Draft Cooper DeJean at 21. I know that defensive back isn’t where most people are focused as far as the Dolphins team needs, but our depth situation means it probably should be. DeJean specifically is a compelling option because of his positional flexibility. Perhaps the best trait DeJean has is that while he’s played mostly on the boundary in college, many project him to be a top safety or slot corner in the NFL. DeJean also potentially solves problems in both the short and long term.

In the short term, he can rotate between safety, boundary corner, and slot corner as the need arises. He can move outside when Ramsey or Fuller move inside. He can split reps in the box with Poyer. He didn’t play deep much in college, but it certainly figures like he can play there as well in rotation with Holland and Poyer.

In the long term, there’s the point I already mentioned about our lack of safeties committed in 2025 and beyond, but Fuller and Ramsey are also both free agents in 2026, half way through DeJean’s contract. While we hope that Smith steps up to replace one of them, that leaves another opening on the boundary. Even Kader Kohou will be an unrestricted free agent in 2026. Whether DeJean develops as a safety, outside corner, or slot corner, there’s a long-term place for him on this team.

Even if we don’t go for DeJean in the first, the Dolphins need to figure out an answer for additional depth at outside corner and safety in 2024. Killing two birds with one stone with a do-everything player in the secondary seems like a good way to get your first round pick playing meaningful snaps across the roster.

DolFan 316 wrote:I'd much rather have DeJean at 21 than Amarius Mims, that's for sure.

mercury22nathan wrote:

DolFan 316 wrote:I'd much rather have DeJean at 21 than Amarius Mims, that's for sure.

absolutely.  that shouldn't even be a question.