Much of the talk for the upcoming 2024 NFL Draft has been on the offensive side of the ball. However, there is a lot of talent on the defense, and former Texas A&M linebacker Edgerrin Cooper is one of those standouts.
Cooper is a guy who could possibly hear his name on Thursday night, but he is expected to go before the end of the second round.
How Tall Is Edgerrin Cooper?
Cooper stands at 6’3″, which is in the 68th percentile for his position. That means he is definitely above average, but he doesn’t have elite height, either.
While he isn’t the tallest, he makes up for it with 34” arm length (95th percentile) and 80 1/4” wingspan (88th percentile). Those dimensions give him the ability to frequently knock down passes and play taller than he actually is.
How Much Does Cooper Weigh?
Cooper played at linebacker in college, despite the fact he weighs in at only 230 pounds. That puts him in the 17th percentile among his peers, definitely on the smaller side for his position.
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There are safeties who aren’t too far away from being 230 pounds, so Cooper could be at a disadvantage. However, he has attributes that allows him to make up for a potential weakness. He ran a 4.51 40-yard dash, which puts him in the 93rd percentile.
His athleticism and speed is going to allow him to make up for some size issues and could also allow him to play more spots on the field.
How Old Is Cooper?
Born on Nov. 17, 2001, in Covington, La., Cooper will turn 23 late in his rookie season. Compared to the other linebackers in this class, he is in the middle when it comes to age.
Age isn’t a worry for Cooper, though, and it certainly won’t be a reason for teams not to draft the former Texas A&M star.
What School Did Cooper Go To?
Cooper left Louisiana and went and played his collegiate football at Texas A&M.
He was a big-time prospect coming out of Louisiana, as he was a four-star recruit and a top-12 outside linebacker prospect in his class.
Cooper was a highly sought-after prospect coming out of high school, as other schools such as Oklahoma, Florida State, LSU and Miami were among those recruiting him.
Revisiting Cooper’s College Career
After recording only two tackles in his first season, Cooper began to make his presence felt for the Aggies.
In his sophomore season, he had 58 tackles and one interception. He added 61 tackles and one interception as a junior. He proved to be a solid college linebacker in those two seasons, but it was his senior season where he cemented himself as an NFL prospect.
Last season, he had 83 tackles, including eight sacks. He had only 0.5 sacks in his first three years, but the combination of elite speed and relentless effort helped showcase his potential last season.
His motor helped Texas A&M boast one of the best pass rushes in the country, as the Aggies were eighth last season with 42 sacks.
Cooper’s Potential in the NFL
The fact he stands at 6’3” and only 230 pounds may scare some teams off from taking Cooper in the first round, as he may have trouble getting off blocks.
However, teams love speed, and he can flat out fly with a 4.51 40-yard dash and a 1.54 10-yard split. He is great combination of speed and quickness, and his ability to fly all over the field makes him an intriguing prospect.
Cooper has all the tools to be great, but he does have some things to fix. PFN NFL Draft Analyst Ian Cummings said that he needs to work on both improving his play strength and his coverage consistency, but adds that Cooper has a chance to be an immediate contributor next season.
“Cooper — who’ll turn 23 years old in November — still has room to refine his game overall. While his instincts in congestion are solid, his take-on technique is inconsistent, which can cause him to give up leverage and control against second-level blocks. And his non-elite play strength at just 230 pounds can exacerbate the issue.
KEEP READING: Ian Cummings’ Full Edgerrin Cooper Draft Profile
Going further, Cooper has room to improve in coverage as well. While his athleticism and length are traits that translate well, he experiences lapses in eye discipline at times and can sharpen his technique while getting depth. If his eyes aren’t in the right spot, NFL offenses will take advantage.
Regardless, Cooper has a lot of upside, and at his size should translate well as a versatile attacking WILL linebacker. Improving his play strength and coverage consistency will be key, but Cooper should be an instant playmaking threat with his explosive range and has impact starter upside at his peak.”
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