Before Micah Parsons became the conductor of the Green Bay Packers' defensive hype train, a lot of attention was pointed at second-year linebacker Edgerrin Cooper. Fans, analysts, and teammates all predicted he was in for a breakout season, and his first showing of the 2025 campaign delivered on the hype.
Of course, Parsons' arrival helps. He clearly made an impact that reverberated across the entire Packers defense. But Cooper's performance shouldn't be undersold just because of what the new guy brings to the table.
Last year's No. 45 overall selection in the draft finished the season opener against the Detroit Lions with 12 total tackles, which was the fourth most in Week 1. His eight solo stops were tied for first.
Edgerrin Cooper played like the star the Packers were waiting for
Of course, stats at the linebacker position never really tell the whole story. Plenty of guys come through the league and rack up a dozen tackles per week and never turn out to be particularly special. Packers fans already know that Cooper is capable of more than that from his rookie season. Last year, he had 3.5 sacks, a forced fumble, two fumble recoveries, four pass deflections, and an interception.
It's only a matter of time before Cooper fills his stat sheet in those other areas. Still, the takeaway from Week 1 for Cooper is how he displayed his instincts at the position while flashing the potential that was hyped up all offseason.
His efforts allowed the Packers to hold the Lions to just 46 yards rushing, their lowest total on the ground since Week 6 of the 2023 season.
The Lions have been one of the better rushing teams in the NFL for the past few years, and while they may be taking a step back just by losing offensive coordinator Ben Johnson, it's no less impressive to stifle their rushing attack with the talent they still possess offensively.
Last year, the Packers' run defense ranked No. 7 in the NFL. With Cooper playing at such a high level, plus the impacts of Parsons across the board, Green Bay could smell an opportunity to close 2025 with a top-five finish on the ground. It's still early, and plenty of tests remain, but Cooper's consistent — and fast — growth is as good a reason to be that optimistic anyway.
On the personal recognition side, a lot of eyes are on Cooper to make his first All-Pro selection this season. Such an honor would instantly put him in the conversation with Fred Warner among the top linebackers in the league, just as it did for Zach Baun in Philadelphia last year.
So far, Cooper is headed in that direction, and Packers fans are getting a front-row seat to his meteoric rise.