The Seahawks selected D.J. James in the sixth round of the 2024 NFL Draft, the second cornerback from Auburn selected by Seattle on Saturday, having also picked Nehemiah Pritchett in the fifth round.
"It means a lot just knowing I'm going in there with someone I just played college football with," James said. "It means a lot, especially because he also plays the same position as me."
James began his college career at Oregon, spending three seasons there, including a 2021 season in which he started 11 games, making 46 tackles, two interceptions and four passes defensed. After a coaching change at Oregon, James, who is from Mobile, Alabama, transferred to Auburn for his final two seasons.
In two seasons at Auburn, James started 22 of 24 games played, tying for the team lead with eight passes defensed in 2022, and leading the team with 10 last season. He also totaled 75 tackles and three interceptions over those two seasons. With experience playing outside and in the slot, James said he'll bring versatility to the secondary.
"Going into the NFL, I'm ready to play whatever position they need me to play," he said. "If that's nickel, if that's outside corner, I can play them both. If they want me to play on special teams, I can do that too."
As for his former Auburn and now Seahawks teammate, Pritchett, James said, "He's going to be a great locker room player. He's going to bring the juice. He loves what he does, he loves playing cornerback. And he has fun doing it as well."
"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. 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."
The Seahawks selected Auburn CB D.J. James with the 192nd pick of the 2024 NFL Draft. Check out the best photos of the 6th rounder from his college playing days.
Auburn's D.J. James (4) defends during the first half of an NCAA football game against Mercer on Saturday, Sept. 3, 2022, in Auburn, Ala. (AP Photo/Stew Milne)
Auburn cornerback D.J. James returns an interception for a touchdown against Western Kentucky during the second half of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Nov. 19, 2022, in Auburn, Ala. (AP Photo/Butch Dill)
Auburn cornerback D.J. James lines up for a play against Massachusetts during the first half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Sept. 2, 2023, in Auburn, Ala. (AP Photo/Butch Dill)
Auburn cornerback D.J. James lines up for a play against Massachusetts during the first half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Sept. 2, 2023, in Auburn, Ala. (AP Photo/Butch Dill)
Auburn cornerback D.J. James (4) intercepts a pass in the end zone intended for California wide receiver Trond Grizzell, right, during the second half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Sept. 9, 2023, in Berkeley, Calif. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez)
Auburn cornerback D.J. James (4) warms up before an NCAA college football game against California on Saturday, Sept. 9, 2023, in Berkeley, Calif. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez)
Auburn cornerback D.J. James (4) prepares for the start of an NCAA college football game against California on Saturday, Sept. 9, 2023, in Berkeley, Calif. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez)
Auburn cornerback D.J. James, right, defends against California wide receiver Jeremiah Hunter during the first half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Sept. 9, 2023, in Berkeley, Calif. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez)
Auburn cornerback D.J. James plays against California during the first half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Sept. 9, 2023, in Berkeley, Calif. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez)
Auburn cornerback D.J. James warms before the first half of an NCAA college football game against Samford Saturday, Sept. 16, 2023, in Auburn, Ala. (AP Photo/Butch Dill)
Auburn cornerback D.J. James lines up for a play against Samford wide receiver Chandler Smith (5) during the second half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Sept. 16, 2023, in Auburn, Ala. (AP Photo/Butch Dill)
Auburn cornerback D.J. James lines up for a play against Samford during the second half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Sept. 16, 2023, in Auburn, Ala. (AP Photo/Butch Dill)
Auburn cornerback D.J. James warms up before an NCAA college football game against Mississippi, Saturday, Oct. 21, 2023, in Auburn, Ala. (AP Photo/ Butch Dill )
Auburn cornerback D.J. James lines up for a play during the first half an NCAA college football game against Mississippi State Saturday, Oct. 28, 2023, in Auburn, Ala. (AP Photo/ Butch Dill)
Auburn cornerback Jaylin Simpson, left, and cornerback D.J. James, right, celebrate a defensive stop against Vanderbilt in the second half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Nov. 4, 2023, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)
New Mexico State quarterback Eli Stowers (7) is tackled by Auburn cornerback D.J. James (4) after a reception during the first half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Nov. 18, 2023, in Auburn, Ala. (AP Photo/Butch Dill)
Auburn cornerback D.J. James warms up before an NCAA college football game against New Mexico State Saturday, Nov. 18, 2023, in Auburn, Ala. (AP Photo/Butch Dill)
Cornerback D.J. James executes a long jump during Auburn's NLF football pro day Friday, March 22, 2024, in Auburn, Ala. (AP Photo/ Butch Dill)
Cornerback D.J. James runs through drills during Auburn's NLF football pro day Friday, March 22, 2024, in Auburn, Ala. (AP Photo/ Butch Dill)
Cornerback D.J. James catches a pass during Auburn's NLF football pro day Friday, March 22, 2024, in Auburn, Ala. (AP Photo/ Butch Dill)
