The Green Bay Packers go into 2026 with expectations of being a Super Bowl contender and believe they have the pieces to do so. The best teams in the league have stout defenses, which is what Green Bay believes they have.
Micah Parsons is the best player on that side of the ball, but the Packers also have tremendous faith in linebacker Edgerrin Cooper. And people around the league also see the kind of player he is.
ESPN's Jeremy Fowler released an article in which he surveyed league executives, scouts, and coaches regarding off-ball linebackers heading into 2026. Cooper came in at number nine on the list, indicating that people around the league believe he's a top 10 linebacker, which is what people in the Packers building already know.
"He has the size, speed and run-and-hit ability that few have. He can really go," a veteran NFL defensive coach said.
And these rankings give fans another reason why the Packers decided to let Quay Walker depart in free agency.
Latest Edgerrin Cooper rankings make Packers Quay Walker decision look brilliant
Back in March, Walker and the Las Vegas Raiders agreed on a three-year, $40.5 million deal. He landed a nice deal from Las Vegas after leading the Packers in total tackles for the last four years. While he found his way around the football consistently, Walker was a liability in coverage. That led to teams attacking him in the middle of the field, and instead of paying him, they let him walk, in large part due to their faith in Cooper.
In his rookie year, Cooper played 55 percent of the defensive snaps but jumped to a whopping 99 percent of the defensive snaps in 2025. Through 30 games, Cooper has logged 205 total tackles, 17 TFLs, 10 QB hits, eight pass breakups, three forced fumbles, and one pick. In 2025, he posted a career-high 118 total tackles. And his advanced grades on Pro Football Focus have been better than Walker's since entering the league.
Season | Edgerrin Cooper Overall Grade | Edgerrin Cooper Run Defense Grade | Edgerrin Cooper Coverage Grade |
|---|---|---|---|
2024 | 84.0 (4th among 83 graded LBs) | 78.6 (20th among 83 graded LBs) | 73.5 (9th among 83 graded LBs) |
2025 | 75.7 (16th among 88 graded LBs) | 69.0 (39th among 88 graded LBs) | 76.5 (7th among 88 graded LBs) |
Season | Quay Walker Overall Grade | Quay Walker Run Defense Grade | Quay Walker Coverage Grade |
|---|---|---|---|
2024 | 57.4 (65th among 83 graded LBs) | 67.7 (45th among 83 graded LBs) | 48.8 (65th among 83 graded LBs) |
2025 | 48.5 (74th among 88 graded LBs) | 54.5 (74th among 88 graded LBs) | 44.9 (70th among 88 graded LBs) |
As these numbers suggest, Cooper was a more effective player than Walker, which made the decision to let Walker leave in free agency easier. Cooper is just 24 years old, and his best days in the league are ahead of him.
It also works in his favor that he has two years left on his rookie deal. The Packers knew that and understood that they'd have to pay Cooper down the line. Instead of paying Walker, then having to do the same with Cooper in the near future, they let Walker sign with the Raiders. And it's due to their faith in Cooper.
These rankings are just another example of that and help show why the Packers made that decision.
Add us as a preferred source on Google