Packers plan to lean on uniqueness of rising defender to unlock better results under Jonathan Gannon in 2026 season
Edgerrin Cooper had an up and down second season in the NFL, and the team expects the complex new defensive philosophy actually fits what the linebacker brings to the table.
It’s not a surprise that the Green Bay Packers was less exotic in 2025 in terms of defensive schematic approach and that linebacker Edgerrin Cooper somewhat regressed in his second year. The former second-round pick is a unique type of player, and the Packers plan to lean on that uniqueness to extract the most out of such an impactful piece.
“Edge is such a unique player,” general manager Brian Gutekunst said at the Annual League Meeting. “He is so versatile with his ability to play off the ball in the run game, to cover, to rush the passer. He’s really a complete linebacker.”
New partnership and new defense
Jonathan Gannon replaces Jeff Hafley as the Packers defensive coordinator, and he brings an exotic style of defense. It has 4-3/3-4 versatility and leans on blitzes and disguised coverages to make things harder for the opposing offense.
Having a player like Edgerrin Cooper in that scenario is particularly intriguing. Last year, the Arizona Cardinals generated 19 pressures with off-ball linebackers, including seven from Mack Wilson Sr. Now, in addition to learning the new scheme, Cooper will have to develop some chemistry with his new LB duo — the Packers traded for Zaire Franklin and allowed Quay Walker to leave in free agency.
“It’ll be interesting to see, obviously Quay and Edge had a nice working relationship,” Gutekunst explained. “It’ll be interesting to see how that evolves under Jonathan’s new defense.”
In his first two seasons in the NFL, Edgerrin Cooper generated 23 pressures, including four sacks, had 205 tackles and 80 stops. Cooper made the All-Rookie Team in 2024 even being a part-time player, and his role would inevitably grow in 2025. Now, the questions are how Cooper can develop to become an all-around linebacker, and how Jonathan Gannon may deploy him in the new defensive scheme. The idea is to make sure the promising player can actually be on the field what the high expectations over his game indicate.