The Green Bay Packers didn't have the best pass rush excluding Micah Parsons last season, and with the All-Pro working his way back from a serious injury, new defensive coordinator Jonathan Gannon will need to get very creative as he tries to whip up a viable pass rush that can last until their big trade acquisition can work his way back from injury.
Gannon's latest innovation isn't promoting younger players or reuniting with Josh Sweat via trade. Instead, he's taking advantage of one of the best linebackers in the league in Edgerrin Cooper, as the latest starting lineups at Packers OTAs suggest that Cooper might be gearing up for a position change for the early parts of the 2026 season.
Cooper has been deployed as one of the top edge rushers in the Packers' initial extra defensive back packages at OTAs. This is not only a creative way to get extra defensive backs on the field, but it could be a way to help Cooper evolve from a quality linebacker into a true defensive force multiplier who changes the Green Bay defense.
Packers reportedly deploying LB Edgerrin Cooper as pass rusher during OTAs
Cooper has been one of the Packers' best Day 2 picks in recent memory, as he finished sixth in Defensive Rookie of the Year voting in 2024 and put together one of the finest seasons any NFC linebacker had in 2025. His speed and quick diagnosis skills have helped him succeed where disappointing first-rounder Quay Walker failed.
On one hand, it make sense to put Cooper here. In obvious passing downs, the Packers can get more defensive backs on the field and take advantage of Cooper's rocket-like burst off the snap. Even when Micah Parsons comes back, this deployment could be very appealing.
However, this could be a situation of Gannon trying way too hard to make up for an obvious roster hole that Brian Gutekunst and the front office need to address. Green Bay needs to hope that either Lukas Van Ness or rookie Dani Dennis-Sutton breaks out in 2026. Without it, the Packers may be leaning on a converted linebacker as their No. 2 pass rusher.
Time will tell if Cooper lining up at edge rusher is a wrinkle that will give this defense a bit more spice or a long-term fix that is brought about due to some poor use of resources from the front office.
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