Indiana expert lets Jets fans in on what they're really getting with Omar Cooper Jr.

After two months of waiting, the New York Jets finally added a new wide receiver to the team on Thursday night, trading up into the back of the first round to land Indiana's Omar Cooper Jr.

The Jets sent their fifth-round compensatory pick (No. 179) to the San Francisco 49ers to move up from 33 to 30, jumping the Buffalo Bills for Cooper's services. The fact that the Bills traded down right after New York made their pick speaks volumes.

Now, the Jets have a decent trio of wide receivers in Garrett Wilson, Adonai Mitchell, and Cooper, and that's not to mention their one-two punch at tight end in 16th overall pick Kenyon Sadiq and second-year tight end Mason Taylor.

But what will Cooper bring to the table individually as a football player that should make Jets fans excited to have him?

Indiana expert breaks down new Jets WR Omar Cooper Jr.'s game

Hoosier State of Mind's Connor Grootenhuis believes Jets fans should be ecstatic about adding Cooper to their wide receiver ranks, citing his athleticism and yards after catch ability.

"Omar Cooper Jr. put together an impressive junior season in which he led the Hoosiers with 69 catches and 936 receiving yards. He also finished 2nd on the team with 13 receiving touchdowns. Cooper impressed scouts by running a 4.43 40-yard dash at the combine in Indianapolis, and he possesses an elite ability to rack up yards after the catch."

Connor Grootenhuis

Cooper's production made a massive leap in 2025, nearly doubling all of his receiving totals from the 2024 season except for one category, and that's yards per reception.

In 2024, the Indiana wideout caught 28 passes for 594 yards, giving him 21.2 yards per reception. That's an insane number for a guy whose biggest strength is catching the ball and running for big chunk plays.

With both Cooper and Sadiq now in the mix, the Jets have built themselves a decent array of pass catchers after the first round of the 2026 NFL Draft.

Geno Smith has plenty to work with, and new offensive coordinator Frank Reich can move his playmakers around like chess pieces to maximize the Jets' offensive potential.

Having a wide receiver like Cooper just adds another dimension to what should be, at minimum, a league-average offense.

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