Seattle Seahawks select DJ James in sixth round of 2024 NFL Draft
The Seattle Seahawks have selected Auburn cornerback DJ James with the No. 192 overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft. James spent three seasons at Oregon before transferring to Auburn ahead of the 2022 campaign.
This past season, James made 12 appearances, tallying 38 tackles, 3.5 tackles for loss, 12 passes defended and two interceptions. James made a game-winning interception in the end zone of Auburn’s 14-10 win over California.
In his first season with the Tigers, James notched 37 tackles, one tackle for loss, nine passes defended and one interception. In three seasons at Oregon, James amassed 70 tackles, six broken-up passes and two picks.
For his efforts in the 2023 campaign, Phil Steele named James an All-SEC Third Team member. College Football Network selected James to its All-SEC Second Team. In 2022, James earned All-SEC Second Team honors from both the league’s coaches and media. He did not earn any all-conference honors while with the Ducks.
DJ James played high school football at Spanish Fort (AL), where he was a three-star prospect. He was the No. 621 overall recruit in the 2019 cycle, according to the On3 Industry Ranking, a weighted average that utilizes all four major recruiting media companies.
He was a Class 6A First Team All-State member under head coach Ben Blackmon at Spanish Fort High, recording 43 tackles, 6 interceptions, 16 passes defended as a senior. He also earned AL.com All-Coastal Region honors.
Following a standout season at Auburn, James received an offer to participate in the Reese’s Senior Bowl. Following the opportunity, James continued to wow scouts at the NFL Scouting Combine, recording a 4.42-second 40-yard dash with a 1.5-second 10-yard split.
What NFL Draft analysts are saying about DJ James
Ahead of the 2024 NFL Draft, NFL analyst Lance Zierlein provided an in-depth review of James’ strengths and weaknesses.
“A thin frame combined with questionable long speed could push James inside, where his pattern-matching and short-area athleticism should work to his advantage,” Zierlein wrote. “James plays with excellent body control and disciplined footwork and is rarely out of position in coverage.
“He’s instinctive with short-area twitch but has generated a little less ball production than expected for his traits. Both zone and man coverage comes naturally, but bigger bodies can give him trouble. Below-average run support will be targeted by play-callers, so that could come into consideration for some teams. James has the athleticism and coverage skills to become a starting nickel within a couple of years.”