2026 NFL Draft Prospect Debate: National champion saw massive rise after impressive playoff run
The 2026 NFL Draft has some fascinating prospects in the first round, especially at wide receiver. The top of the class is semi-controversial, with Indiana WR Omar Cooper Jr. playing excellent football.
The NFL Draft is less than two weeks away, and there are some interesting prospect debates.
While consensus is the best measure for each individual player, given the wisdom of crowds, being above or below consensus can highlight the positives and negatives of each prospect.
After the top three wide receivers, that’s when Indiana Hoosiers’ Omar Cooper Jr. comes into play. He currently ranks as WR5 and 25th overall on the A to Z Sports consensus board.
AJ Schulte and I, Tyler Forness, are split on many prospects. We’ve debated on Oregon Ducks safety Dillon Thieneman, and Makai Lemon, Cooper is the next among our biggest disagreements.
The case for Omar Cooper Jr.
AJ Schulte’s ranking: 23rd overall
Omar Cooper’s game really grew on me as time went on. What he is right now is a highly-effective flanker+slot option who can do plenty of damage after the catch and as a possession option. In many ways, there are some stylistic similarities to how Puka Nacua wins as a receiver with their physicality.
What makes me most intrigued is his upside as a route-runner to become more than what he is now. Unlike other “YAC only” receivers like Deebo Samuel and Malachi Corley, I think Cooper has the ability to be a real X wide receiver later on in his career. I think his explosive movement skills make him a really intriguing option there if he can continue to develop as a route runner.
He does have strides to make as a route runner if he wants to be an on-ball X receiver. I think he has the tools to beat press, but his nuance as a route runner in terms of pacing and selling routes needs work to beat top-notch corners. Even if he doesn’t improve as a route runner, I think the ability is there to be a high-end No. 2 receiver. If he hits his ceiling, there’s a No. 1 receiver in there, but he’ll need a few years of seasoning to get there, much like Brandon Aiyuk did in San Francisco.
The case against Omar Cooper Jr.
Tyler Forness’ ranking: 67th overall
When watching Cooper, it’s evident that he’s a good football player. His athleticism is evident when he’s running routes and having the ball in space, maximizing his movements consistently. In Indiana’s offense, Cooper was used in multiple ways for the national champion Hoosiers, often going deep and running RPO concepts.
Here’s where my hesitation lies. Cooper essentially has one year of production and wasn’t the best wide receiver on his team, with Elijah Sarratt being the WR1 and Charlie Becker hurting his production heavily in the College Football Playoff. His route running needs a little refinement, with the majority of his routes being Air Raid-inspired.
The biggest factor in his profile that many are excited about is how dynamic Cooper is after the catch. While he is good after the catch and forced 27 tackles this past year, I don’t see it as being transformative in the NFL. To me, Cooper profiles a good receiver to have in your room as a WR2/3 that you take at the end of round two, beginning of round three, not a major difference maker.
Previous debates
