Green Bay Packers linebacker Edgerrin Cooper has earned a strong ranking ahead of the 2026 season.
Green Bay Packers star linebacker Edgerrin Cooper will be a pivotal piece for their defense once again in the 2026 season.
In a recent ESPN article, NFL executives and coaches were polled and ranked Cooper as the ninth-best off-ball linebacker in the league.
"He has the size, speed and run-and-hit ability that few have," a veteran NFL defensive coach said. "He can really go."
Cooper has been an impactful player for Green Bay's defense in his first two seasons in the league. In Cooper's rookie campaign, he finished with 87 total tackles, 13 tackles for loss, 3.5 sacks, four pass deflections, an interception, a forced fumble, and two fumble recoveries.
He followed it up in 2025 by finishing with 118 total tackles, four tackles for loss, 0.5 sacks, four pass deflections, two forced fumbles, and a fumble recovery.
The 24-year-old is one of the best young linebackers in the league and will be a key piece for the Packers' defense moving forward.
Mark Hoffman/Milwaukee Journal Sentinel / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images"It's his mind," a high-ranking AFC official said. "He sees it and can anticipate."
Cooper has the ability to be effective in coverage while also being a run stopper. His speed and pursuit of a ball carrier make him a highly effective off-ball linebacker for Green Bay.
The Packers' defense will be without superstar Micah Parsons to begin the 2026 season as he recovers from a torn ACL. Parsons was highly impactful in his first 14 games with Green Bay, recording 41 total tackles, 12 tackles for loss, 12.5 sacks, a pass deflection, and two forced fumbles.
He is one of the best pass rushers in the league, and the Packers will miss him at the start of the season. Parsons and Cooper bring a lot of speed and pursuit to the team's defense, which will help them be a top unit in the 2026 season.
Green Bay is in their Super Bowl window, with Parsons and Jordan Love leading the show, putting more pressure on players like Cooper to continue developing in their pursuit of a Lombardi Trophy.
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