Rookie Profile: DJ James, Cornerback, Seattle Seahawks
Welcome to the Rookie Profile: DJ James, a cornerback out of Auburn. He is from Mobile, AL, and was a 3-star recruit for Spanish Fort High School.
James began his collegiate career at Oregon with two seasons as a part-time player. He appeared in 13 games through his first two years with mediocre results. He posted a combined 19 tackles, 7 assists, and 2 passes defended during these two seasons.
In his final season at Oregon, he became a full-time player for the first time. In 12 games, he posted 34 tackles, 12 assists, 2 interceptions, and 4 passes defended. After that season, he transferred to Auburn.
In two years with Auburn, he posted elite numbers, although slightly lower than in his last year at Oregon. He posted 55 tackles, 20 assists, 3 interceptions, and 18 passes defended during those two years before declaring for the 2024 NFL Draft.
Measurables
Draft Capital & Landing Spot
Draft Capital- Round 6 Pick 192
- This draft capital is far short of ideal, it would indicate that James is viewed as more of a developmental or project cornerback. He could one day develop into a starting nickel and certainly has plenty of talent, but you are going to have to play the long game with him.
- He may one day find his way to a starting job and may one day become fantasy-relevant, but as I said above, you’re going to have to be in for the long haul if you use a rookie pick on DJ James.
Landing Spot- Seattle Seahawks
- The Seahawks are a mixed bag for a landing spot. They have some aging veterans who are set to move on in the immediate future, and they have some recently drafted youth who are blossoming in front of us.
- For the time being, James is going to see a rotational role at best and is going to need to earn his playing time either through injury or a veteran moving on.
Team Depth Chart
Expected Role: Depth Cornerback
Depth Chart via Fantasy Pros
Fantasy Impact
James’s slender build and debatable long-range speed might necessitate a move to the inside, where his ability to match patterns and his agility in short spaces could be beneficial. He exhibits exceptional body control and meticulous footwork, maintaining his position in coverage consistently. While he shows an instinctual knack for quick movements, his ball production hasn’t quite matched expectations given his abilities.
He is adept at both zone and man coverage, although he may struggle against larger opponents. His subpar run support is likely to be exploited by offensive coordinators, which might be a factor for some teams. Nonetheless, James possesses the athletic prowess and coverage talent to potentially become a starting nickelback within a few years.
Check out our 2024 Rookie Rankings Page for a full breakdown of this rookie class.
