Edgerrin Cooper was drafted in the middle of the second round of the 2024 NFL Draft by the Green Bay Packers. Cooper now slides into a solid opportunity to become the team’s LB2 for the season, which means he could be one of the top rookies sought after based solely on his opportunity alone. Don’t get it twisted; Cooper can ball. He hits like a truck and has elite athleticism, which assists him in bringing down the ball carrier behind the line of scrimmage and pressuring the quarterback.
Cooper has played some special teams in his collegiate career; however, I think he immediately competes for the LB2 role as a starter on the side of current LB1 and green dot carrier Quay Walker. Fellow rookie linebacker Ty’Ron Hopper was drafted in the third round to compete for the starting job and as a role player to fill depth. The Pack carried over Eric Wilson and Isaiah McDuffie from the 2023 season, losing former linebacker De’Vondre Campbell to the San Francisco 49ers. McDuffie was the pre-draft favorite to assume LB2 duties, as he participated in 560 snaps last season and will be heading into his seventh season with the Packers. Since he has a firm grasp of the defensive system, he is looking for McDuffie to still compete for the early season LB2 role as Cooper learns the system.
With Edgerrin Cooper being the first player in the NFL Draft drafted in his position, I feel comfortable drafting him amongst the Top 7 rookie defensive players. Cooper is a name to watch in redraft formats in deeper leagues, but for the most part, I’m not drafting rookie linebackers early until there is confirmation that a starting role has been solidified.
| Height | Weight | College |
|---|---|---|
| 6’2″ | 230 | Texas A&M |
Strengths
Can lay the lumber when delivering big hits with intensity
Reads the offense well pre/post-snap
Elite athleticism
Weaknesses
Loses visual of the ball behind the line of scrimmage
Takes blocks with high pad level
Can become a loose cannon in pass-rush and take himself out of the play entirely
College Stats
2023: 12 Games, 84 Tackles, 17 Tackle For Loss, 8 Sacks, 2 Pass Deflections, 2 Forced Fumble, 1 Fumble Recovery
2022: 11 Games, 61 Tackles, 8 Tackle For Loss, 1 Interception, 5 Pass Deflections, 1 Forced Fumble, 1 Fumble Recovery
2021: 12 Games, 58 Tackles, 5.5 Tackle For Loss, .5 Sacks, 1 Interception, 1 Pass Deflection
2020: 2 Games, 2 Tackles
Highlights
Player Comparison
Devin Lloyd : Lance Zierlein (NFL.com)
IDP Rookie Ranking
Edgerrin Cooper is RPO Football’s Rookie LB1 – The complete list can be found here: IDP Rookie Rankings
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And make sure you check out my Dynasty Linebacker Rankings