The Green Bay Packers' defense is entering the 2026 season with a soft reboot, with Micah Parsons scheduled to miss at least the first month of play and the cornerback position going through a reshuffling.
Linebacker Edgerrin Cooper, however, is one player who has already proven he's capable of providing consistent defensive output, and his third season might be his best yet.
Leading the team in solo tackles last year, Cooper made his mark, allowing Green Bay's front office to feel comfortable enough to allow Quay Walker to leave in free agency. The addition of veteran Zaire Franklin signals that Cooper will be the lead linebacker and have more opportunities to exercise his speed as he chases down opposing ball carriers.
Edgerrin Cooper is poised for his best season yet under Jonathan Gannon
Cooper took a step back as a pass-rusher, recording just half a sack compared to 3.5 in 2024, but the presence of Parsons played a big factor. Cooper saw only a 25 percent increase as a pass-rusher, despite a near 100 percent increase in total defensive snaps.
This signals that with a Parsons-boosted line, coordinator Jeff Hafley found Cooper to be more useful in coverage. That decision could be reversed by new defensive coordinator Jonathan Gannon. With Parsons missing the start of the season, Cooper may be brought in on blitz packages to fill in the gaps.
At 6-foot-2, 230 pounds, and capable of running the 40-yard dash in 4.51 seconds, it's Cooper's versatility that makes him hard for opposing offenses to deal with.
When he crashes toward the line of scrimmage, he can stop running backs in their tracks or put quarterbacks on their back foot. In coverage, his speed allows him to track down receivers, limiting explosive plays. The 24-year-old allowed just 164 more receiving yards compared to his rookie year, while playing 300 more snaps in coverage.
With the seventh-highest coverage rank among linebackers, according to PFF, Cooper is poised to announce himself as a superstar this season.
Backed up by Franklin and Isaiah McDuffie, the young linebacker will be a full-time starter, hopefully making the most of Gannon's new defensive scheme.
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