The Green Bay Packers' strong linebacker corps was a key part of their defensive success last season, especially with the rise of Edgerrin Cooper. While Cooper made just four starts -- all with Quay Walker sidelined -- his impact was undeniable.
The second-round pick in the 2024 NFL Draft was impressive enough that he has now joined Walker and Isaiah McDuffie atop the Packers' linebackers depth chart. His work in his rookie season was also enough for All-Pro running back Josh Jacobs to compare him to star linebacker Fred Warner.
"He kind of reminds me of Fred. Just the way that he moves. Fred is so instinctual and smart as a football player," Jacobs told Kay Adams on Up & Adams.
"The way that he plays, how quick he reacts to things and how he can catch the ball, get bendy on a tackle or offensive lineman, he has that. So, he definitely reminds me of that. I think he needs to clean up a little bit more of the way he hits, but the way he attacks them, pretty much the way he moves, yeah for sure."
Packers RB Josh Jacobs likens Edgerrin Cooper to Fred Warner
Warner has been one of the NFL's premier linebackers since the San Francisco 49ers selected him in the third round of the 2018 NFL Draft. He has recorded 897 total tackles, 569 solo tackles, 36 tackles for loss, 10.0 sacks, 30 quarterback hits, 10 interceptions, 15 forced fumbles, six fumble recoveries, 53 passes defended, and two defensive touchdowns.
He has earned four All-Pro selections and four Pro Bowl nods in his seven-year career and appears to be on a Hall of Fame trajectory.
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Cooper has a long way to go before he enters discussions as one of the best linebackers in the league, but he put together an impressive rookie season.
Despite making just four starts and missing three games entirely, he finished with 87 tackles, 57 solo tackles, 13 tackles for loss, 3.5 sacks, seven quarterback hits, one interception, one forced fumble, two fumble recoveries, and four passes defended. Cooper finished sixth in Defensive Rookie of the Year voting.
The Packers linebacker could be in store for a big season.