Former NFL executive sees All-Pro potential in Packers LB Edgerrin Cooper
Former NFL personnel executive Marc Ross believes Green Bay Packers linebacker Edgerrin Cooper has All-Pro potential as he enters a highly anticipated second season in 2025.
Ross, who worked for both the Philadelphia Eagles and New York Giants in personnel and scouting and now contributes for NFL Network and NFL.com, picked Cooper among his "guaranteed risers" who will produce more in 2025 than in 2024.
From Ross: "Despite being banged up in training camp and missing three games during his rookie season, it was easy to see why Cooper was my favorite player coming out of the 2024 NFL Draft. He collected 3.5 sacks, 13 tackles for loss, an interception and 77 tackles while playing just 45 percent of the team's defensive snaps last season. He was an absolute menace, and that was before adding about 10 pounds of muscle this offseason. Think of what Cooper -- who looks as explosive as ever, per head coach Matt LaFleur -- can do in a full-time role for Jeff Hafley's unit. He has the ability to become an All-Pro player and should take the defense to the next level in his second season if he can stay healthy."
Cooper has all the ingredients necessary for a legitimate breakout season in 2025. He proved he could produce and showcased elite playmaking ability as a rookie, and he's combining his obvious talent with physical and mental development as a second-year professional player. Mix all that in a bowl with increased opportunity -- Cooper played under 500 snaps as a rookie -- and the final product could be something special.
Adding extra weight could help Cooper better withstand the tough work involved with playing off-ball linebacker across 17 games during an NFL season. As a rookie, Cooper was a situational player early and later missed time with an ankle injury. Along the way, he was the NFC Defensive Player of the Week in both Week 8 (at Jacksonville Jaguars -- 9 tackles, 1 sack, 1 forced fumble, 1 pass breakup over 34 snaps) and Week 15 (at Seattle Seahawks -- 7 tackles, 1 sack, 1 interception, 2 QB hits, 1 pass breakup over 34 snaps) and ended up on the PFWA's All-Rookie Team.
After returning from an ankle injury in December, Cooper produced 35 tackles and an NFL-high 8.0 tackles for loss over the season's final four games while playing over 80 percent of the defense's snaps -- possibly providing a glimpse of what Cooper can do as a full-time player for Jeff Hafley in 2025.
Cooper actually received an All-Pro vote last year after finishing second among off-ball linebackers in tackles for loss. He could get many more in 2025 if he continues ascending as a playmaker and stays on the field as a second-year player.
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