Rival NFL executive reveals why Packers rising star can be a defensive building block for years to come, and it’s not what you’d think at first
Edgerrin Cooper made ESPN’s top 10 list at his position for the first time, and there are multiple reasons to justify his spot.
The Green Bay Packers have a rising defensive star in off-ball linebacker Edgerrin Cooper, and the rest of the NFL is starting to take notice. ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler released his off-ball linebacker rankings on Tuesday after polling executives, coaches, and scouts around the league, and Cooper landed at No. 9 overall. One voter even placed the Packers linebacker as high as No. 4. For the 25-year-old entering his third NFL season, it marks the first time he’s cracked the list.
Cooper’s physical tools have never been in question. A veteran NFL defensive coach praised exactly that dimension of his game.
“He has the size, speed, and run-and-hit ability that few have. He can really go,” the coach said, via ESPN’s Fowler.
The mental edge
The more revealing evaluation came from a high-ranking AFC official who pointed to something beyond Cooper’s athleticism.
“It’s his mind. He sees it and can anticipate,” the official said, via ESPN’s Fowler.
That distinction matters because the linebacker position has become one of the hardest to play in today’s NFL. Offenses are designed to exploit linebackers who can’t process what they see, and that was one of the reasons the Packers moved on from Quay Walker. Walker had the physical profile that justified his first-round selection, but he didn’t possess the same ability to read and anticipate the way Cooper does.
Cooper, a second-round pick two years ago, has shown he can combine both the physical and mental sides of the position. That’s why a player drafted a round later than Walker has surpassed him in terms of long-term defensive value for Green Bay.
Production backs up the praise
Cooper generated 12 pressures and allowed a 94.1 passer rating when targeted in 2025, a solid mark for an off-ball linebacker. He also recorded 45 stops across 1,046 defensive snaps, showing the type of consistency that comes with a larger role and increased trust from the coaching staff.
Cooper took a step forward in his second season, taking on more responsibility within the Packers defense after a strong rookie year, even if his shiny rookie year was impressive.
The rising star still has two years remaining on his first NFL deal, which gives Green Bay cost-controlled production at a premium position. Having a linebacker who can blitz, defend the run, and hold up in coverage because of his processing ability is the type of foundational piece a defense needs. And his perception around the league now matches what the Packers have seen firsthand.