Jets finally address major need with OL prospect who has one glaring flaw

Another aggressive trade up.

Charlie Baduini

Miami Hurricanes offensive lineman Anez Cooper / Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images

The New York Jets are addressing the offensive line with their sixth-round pick, and they got aggressive to get it done. New York shipped picks No. 199 and No. 242 to the Seattle Seahawks to move up to pick No. 188.

With that draft pick, the Jets selected Miami guard Anez Cooper, a massive human being who has a chance of developing into a potential starter sometime down the road.

Cooper stands at 6-foot-6 and weighs in at 334 pounds. A four-year starter at Miami, the 22-year-old senior was always positioned as a right guard. According to Pro Football Focus, he was the 91st-best guard in college football last season among 686 qualified players.

After the Jets lost Alijah Vera-Tucker and John Simpson in free agency, they needed to add someone who could wait in the wings and develop as a long-term replacement.

Jets draft pick Anez Cooper has one major problem with his game

There's a lot to like about Cooper as a prospect. In 2025, he allowed only one pressure and zero sacks protecting Miami quarterback Carson Beck, according to ESPN's Rich Cimini.

On the other hand, his athleticism leaves a lot to be desired. He ran a 5.52 40-yard dash and struggles to move laterally. He's going to need some work if he wants to be an NFL starter.

Canes Warning's Patrick Previty provided some insight on the type of player Cooper was during his time at Miami.

"Cooper is experienced, sturdy and battle-tested. He started all 13 games at right guard in 2024, had already made 30 career starts at Miami entering 2025, and then finished 2025 as a second-team All-ACC selection. The skepticism is mostly about his movement skills. While he stands at 6-foot-6 and weighs 334 pounds, trouble handling twists/rushers crossing his face, and limited foot quickness are noticeable. "
Patrick Previty

Cooper is very unlikely to see the field in 2026, barring an array of catastrophic injuries to the Jets' interior offensive line. But he may have a chance to start later down the road.

Newly signed guard Dylan Parham earned a two-year deal in free agency, but the contract structure suggests the Jets could move on from him next offseason for little penalty.

Maybe Cooper can refine his game enough throughout his rookie season to prove he deserves a shot to compete as a starter in 2027.

Charlie Baduini

Charlie Baduini covers the New York Jets as a site expert for The Jet Press and FanSided. He is a sports journalist based in Northern New Jersey with a wide variety of sports reporting experience in print and broadcast journalism. Baduini’s byline can also be seen on Heavy and The Sporting News, where he covers several teams across the NFL and NBA. His work has been featured in Heavy, Athlon Sports, The Sporting News, Yahoo Sports, MSN, and Yardbarker. He also serves as a seasonal intern for ESPN, working as a production assistant for the Heisman Trophy Ceremony every year since 2022. Baduini has been a Jets fan for as long as he can remember, with his family's fandom dating back to the 1960s when his grandfather, Louis, became a season ticket holder. His family has since held on to the tickets to this day. He is an avid fan of the New York Knicks and New York Mets.