As we delve deeper into the 2024 NFL Draft, we focus on evaluating potential candidates who could significantly enhance the Dallas Cowboys roster. Today, we’re spotlighting linebacker Edgerrin Cooper from Texas A&M, a player whose skills and athleticism make him an intriguing prospect for Dallas.

Player Profile: Edgerrin Cooper
Position: Linebacker
Team: Texas A&M Aggies
Class: Senior
Rating: 4-star recruit
Height: 6’2”
Weight: 230 pounds
Hand Size: 9 3/4” (56%)
Arm Length: 34” (82%)
Wingspan: 80 1/4” (92%)

Recruitment and Early Career:
Edgerrin Cooper emerged as a top prospect from Covington High School, where he was recognized as a four-star recruit, ranking as the ninth-best linebacker in his class. He committed to Texas A&M in 2020, setting the stage for an impactful college career.

During his freshman season, Cooper primarily contributed on special teams, logging a solid 140 snaps. As a sophomore, he transitioned into a rotational linebacker role, participating in 339 defensive snaps. His performance included 7 quarterback pressures and a sack, showcasing his ability as a pass rusher. Notably, he recorded 58 tackles, including 6 tackles for loss, and made 2 pass breakups along with an interception, indicating his prowess in both run defense and pass coverage.

In 2022, Cooper secured the starting role at Sam linebacker for the Aggies. As a pass rusher, he recorded 14 pressures but did not register any sacks. In run defense, he tallied 61 tackles, demonstrating his continued development as a reliable defensive asset.

In his final collegiate season of 2023, Cooper excelled as the Aggies’ starting Will linebacker, participating in an impressive 609 defensive snaps. He accumulated 27 pressures and 8 sacks, leading the team in both categories. His run defense statistics were equally impressive, with 84 tackles and 17 tackles for loss, leading the team and ranking high in the SEC. His exceptional performance earned him All-American honors, capping off an outstanding college career.

2023 Performance Statistics:
Total Defensive Snaps: 609
Total Tackles: 84
Tackles for Loss: 17 TFL
Defensive Stops: 56
Quarterback Pressures: 27
Sacks: 8
Pass Breakups: 2 PBU
Forced Fumbles: 2 FF
Penalties: 0

Performance Metrics from NFL Combine/Pro Day:
10-Yard Split: 1.54s (91%)
40-Yard Dash: 4.51s (93%)
Vertical Jump: 34.5 inches (55%)
Broad Jump: 118 inches (56%)

Awards and Honors:
All-American (2023)
First-Team All-SEC (2023)

Performance Scorecard:
Overall: 88.1
Speed: 94
Acceleration: 91
Agility: 86
Strength: 80
Tackling: 81
Run Stopping: 89
Pass Rush: 86
Discipline: 98

Key Strengths of Edgerrin Cooper:

• Consistent playmaker with an impressive track record of production throughout his college career.
• Possesses elite speed and burst, particularly evident when playing as a spy or tracking down ball carriers to the outside.
• Exhibits excellent agility and change-of-direction skills, making him a dynamic presence on the field.
• Demonstrates quick reactions and strong play recognition, allowing him to respond effectively to offensive schemes.
• His burst and speed enable him to penetrate the backfield rapidly, making impactful tackles or securing sacks.
• Long arms help him disengage from blocks, allowing him to maintain pursuit of the ball carrier.
• Offers a wide tackle radius, increasing his effectiveness in defensive plays.
• Exhibits strong lateral movement and exceptional sideline-to-sideline speed, enhancing his overall defensive range.

Areas for Improvement:

• He has room to add bulk to his frame; however, this may impact his fluidity and speed, which are key attributes.
• Occasionally overruns plays due to his aggressive speed, particularly when patience is required, allowing savvy runners to evade him.
• Plays somewhat upright, which can result in missed tackles when facing ball carriers head-on.
• Lacks the strength necessary to effectively stack and shed blockers, which can hinder his performance in certain situations.

Strategic Fit for NFL Teams:
Edgerrin Cooper is an athletic off-ball linebacker, providing significant versatility across all three levels of defense. While he is ideally suited to play as a Mike linebacker in the NFL, he also possesses the skills to function as a standalone linebacker in the box or as a specialized edge player. His run-stopping ability and instinctive play recognition are already at a level suitable for the NFL, and he has demonstrated the potential to be an effective blitzing pass rusher in specific schemes.

Despite his strengths, he does tend to over-pursue plays, sometimes taking himself out of position by playing at full speed, which is particularly evident when he is outside the hash marks. His upright playing style contributes to a less stable center of gravity, making him prone to falling back during tackles or getting easily displaced when engaging with blockers. His lack of play strength when shedding blocks is an area requiring attention as he transitions to the NFL, making it a critical focus in his training regimen.

Cooper embodies the modern NFL linebacker profile, characterized by speed, agility, and the ability to cover effectively. He is well-prepared to take on the role of an all-down linebacker with a relatively shallow learning curve at this stage. Clearly, he stands out as the top off-ball linebacker in this year’s draft, and barring positional volatility, he could have been a first-round talent.

Comparison: Devin Lloyd, Jacksonville Jaguars

Projected Draft Grade:
Mid-second round grade

Consensus Ranking:
45th
(Consensus ranking based on the average ranking from 90 major scouting services)