Scouting Report: Edgerrin Cooper (LB) - Texas A&M
Sales Pitch: "Aggressive downhill LB with speed and size to make impact splash plays. Is at his best flowing sideline to sideline as a point and shoot player. Outside of being a productive blitzer lacks much of a third down profile due to stiffness in his middle half."
Athletic Profile
Height: 6’ 2 1/8”
Weight: 230 lbs
Arm Length: 34”
Hand Size: 9 3/4”
40 Yard Dash: 4.51
10 Yard Split: 1.56
Vertical: 34.5”
Broad Jump: 9’ 10”
Short Shuttle: 4.27
3-Cone: 7.20
Age: 21
Relative Athletic Score: 9.13 / 10.00
Statistics
Career: 111 TKL - 30.5 TFL - 8.5 SK - 2 INT - 8 PBU - 3 FF
2023: 39 TKL - 17 TFL - 8 SK - 0 INT - 2 PBU - 2 FF
Strengths
Plus size and length for a modern LB
Good straight-line athlete who can open it up in the open field
Aggressive downhill run defender who creates splash plays
Stopping power as a tackler in the hole
Elite tackling range due to good speed and elite arm length
Sideline to sideline speed to chase down perimeter runs and screens
Size and athletic ability to carry TEs vertically and on crossers
27 Pressures and 10 Sacks in 2023
Speed and size make him an impactful blitzer
Weaknesses
Stiff upright athlete with a thin frame
Prone to over aggression as a backside run defender and coverage player
Fails to get off blocks at the point of attack
Struggles to navigate traffic as a run defender
Quicker ball carriers give him trouble in the open field
Poor spatial awareness as a zone defender
Routinely falls victim to play action fakes, leaving crossers open behind him
Cannot cover RBs and WRs 1 on 1 in space
Limited ball production in college
Third down profile is relegated to being a designated pass rusher
Summary
Edgerrin Cooper is an explosive downhill backer with excellent pass rush ability. The former 4-Star from the state of Louisiana was an All-American and All-SEC honoree in 2023. He is at his best when asked to attack downhill and create splash plays. Cooper has the speed and burst to chase down run plays and screens that attack the perimeter. As well as the size and strength to stop ball carriers in between the tackles. He will need to play in a system that has defensive lineman in front of him that can keep him clean, as he struggles to get off blocks at the point of attack. Cooper is an aggressive player always hunting for splash plays but his aggression is a double edged sword, one that leads to big plays but also big mistakes. He will bite on misdirection and can easily be sucked up by play action. Cooper is a good downhill athlete but possesses stiff hips when asked to play in space. He lacks the redirect ability to get back into the play after an initial misstep. He struggles to corral quicker ball carriers in space despite impressive tackling range due to issues dropping his hips. His lack of lateral movement skills also limit his coverage ability. Cooper displays poor spatial awareness in zone coverage, often drifting out of position and lacks the lateral quickness to close on throwing lanes. While he has the size to carry TEs up the seam, he struggles to mirror quicker players in man to man coverage. Cooper’s best role on third down is usually as a blitzer, a role that allowed him to accumulated 10 sacks in 2023. Cooper projects best as an off-ball WILL in a gapped up defense. Being allowed to play as a point and chase player on early downs and a pass rush specialist on third down is his best route to success. Cooper should find himself as a late Day 2 pick with a floor of special teams standout and the athletic gifts to be a quality starter down the road.