Cooper DeJean, Kool-Aid McKinstry's Top Landing Spots After Day 1 of 2024 NFL Draft

The top cornerbacks in the 2024 NFL draft had to be patient during Thursday's opening round, as nobody from the position was selected until the Philadelphia Eagles chose Toledo's Quinyon Mitchell at No. 22 overall.

He was the first of three cornerbacks taken, with Alabama's Terrion Arnold and Nate Wiggins of Clemson going to the Detroit Lions and Baltimore Ravens at Nos. 24 and 30, respectively.

Fortunately for teams looking for depth at the position, there are still multiple high-end prospects available.

Iowa's Cooper DeJean and Alabama's Kool-Aid McKinstry certainly fit the bill and could hear their names called during Friday's second round.

With that in mind, here is a look at some potential landing spots for each.

DeJean is someone who could have been taken in the first round, as B/R's NFL Scouting Department ranked him as the 27th-best overall player and fourth-best cornerback in its latest big board ahead of the draft.

Perhaps there was some concern about his health considering he suffered a broken fibula in November, but ESPN's Adam Schefter reported on April 2 that he sent a letter to teams revealing he was medically cleared for all football activities.

That gives the following teams the opportunity to get something of a steal in the 21-year-old:

• Indianapolis Colts
• Jacksonville Jaguars
• Las Vegas Raiders

The Indianapolis Colts may have to face C.J. Stroud and Trevor Lawrence in the AFC South for years to come, so bolstering the pass defense would be ideal.

Cornerback was a position of need coming into the draft with plenty of speculation that Indianapolis could use a first-round pick on a secondary piece, but it drafted pass-rusher Laiatu Latu at No. 15 overall.

However, selecting DeJean in the second round would mean the team addressed multiple levels of its defense.

Elsewhere in the AFC South, the Jacksonville Jaguars could use a cornerback after losing Darious Williams to free agency. He played well last season with 19 passes defended and four interceptions, one of which he returned for a touchdown, so the Iowa product could help make up for that lost production.

After all, DeJean had seven interceptions in his final two seasons with the Hawkeyes.

The Las Vegas Raiders also lost a cornerback to free agency in Amik Robertson and could use more high-ceiling depth at the position for division games against the likes of Patrick Mahomes and Justin Herbert.

While DeJean is a notable player, B/R's NFL Scouting Department is actually higher on McKinstry.

It ranked him as the 15th-best overall player and third-best cornerback on its big board. It also listed him as the most versatile player among the cornerbacks, although both DeJean and McKinstry made plays as punt returners in college in addition to their work in the secondary.

So, who might take a chance on the Alabama product in the second round?

• Houston Texans
• Denver Broncos
• Los Angeles Chargers

The Houston Texans have a star at cornerback in Derek Stingley Jr., but there are question marks in the depth department. Jeff Okudah, who has dealt with health concerns at times in his career, could be the second starter, but a high-ceiling rookie like McKinstry would likely challenge for that role.

And while Houston doesn't have to worry about facing its own star quarterback in the division, it still has to deal with the likes of Lawrence and Anthony Richardson.

Like the Texans, the Denver Broncos have a star at one cornerback spot and some uncertainty elsewhere on the position's depth chart. Patrick Surtain II is among the best in the league, but it was clear they needed more playmakers at the position coming into the draft.

While Denver doesn't have a second-round pick, it may see an opportunity to land a first-round talent in McKinstry and trade up.

The Broncos aren't the only team in the AFC West that could use a cornerback, as Gavino Borquez of USA Today noted the Los Angeles Chargers "need a starting nickel and depth on the outside."

The B/R Scouting Department highlighted McKinstry's versatility, which would work well for new coach Jim Harbaugh in that situation, as he could theoretically play all over the field.