Jets may have found John Simpson's spiritual successor in the NFL Draft

Every offensive line has at least one guy who seems to enjoy football's physical side a little more than everyone else. That one guy who treats every snap like a personal grudge match. The kind of guy who talks trash before the whistle and keeps talking after it.

Day 25 of your 2026 New York Jets Camp Countdown belongs to the Meanest Man in Miami, the Dade County Destroyer, Gen Z John Simpson, and the Jets' newest trash-talk specialist...it's Anez Cooper.

Many fans expected the Jets to address the offensive line in one of the first few rounds of the 2026 NFL Draft. Instead, they waited all the way until the sixth round before selecting Cooper out of Miami.

What the Jets landed was one of the most experienced offensive linemen in the entire draft class — and someone who will immediately become one of the team's best trash talkers.

Cooper started 45 games across four seasons at Miami, earned All-ACC honors in three different years, and finished his college career with 43 consecutive starts. Availability was never an issue, and neither was toughness.

Cooper's overall refinement still needs work, which explains why he lasted until Day 3, but the foundation is there for the Jets to work with.

1. Where Anez Cooper stands entering Jets training camp
2. Anez Cooper brings an edge to the Jets' offensive line room
3. What would make 2026 a success for Anez Cooper
4. Recent 2026 Camp Countdown Breakdowns

Where Anez Cooper stands entering Jets training camp

Cooper enters training camp competing for a backup role on the interior of the Jets' offensive line. The Jets' starting five is essentially set in stone. Olu Fashanu and Armand Membou anchor the tackle spots, Dylan Parham takes over at left guard, Josh Myers returns at center, and Joe Tippmann will start another year at right guard.

That leaves Cooper battling with the likes of Xavier Newman and Max Mitchell for a depth spot behind the starters. The experience should help his case.

Few sixth-round offensive linemen arrive in the NFL with more than 3,000 career snaps under their belt. Cooper spent virtually his entire college career at right guard, starting alongside future top-10 pick Francis Mauigoa on the right side of Miami's offensive line.

Now, his positional versatility is still a work in progress. Cooper played over the aforementioned 3,000 snaps at right guard and only 18 snaps anywhere else. Expanding that flexibility will be one of the more important parts of his development this summer.

Still, adding another young interior offensive lineman made plenty of sense for the Jets. Depth behind the starters was thin, and Cooper gives offensive line coach Steve Heiden a developmental player with plenty of starting experience already on his resume.

Anez Cooper brings an edge to the Jets' offensive line room

The first thing people notice about Cooper is undoubtedly his size. At nearly 6-foot-6 and 342 pounds, he's already one of the largest players on the Jets roster. That's after losing more than 60 pounds since high school, when he reportedly weighed over 400 pounds entering his senior year.

The second thing people notice is probably his personality. Shortly after the Jets drafted Cooper, a video circulated from Miami's social media team asking players a simple question: Who was the biggest trash talker on the team?

The answer was almost unanimous. Anez Cooper.

That reputation as a gritty mauler shows up on film, too. Cooper plays with an edge. He finishes blocks. He looks for extra work. He seems to enjoy the physical confrontation that comes with playing offensive line.

John Simpson brought a similar mentality to the Jets over the last two seasons. Simpson is gone now, but Cooper arrives with some of the same fire and competitive energy.

The interesting part is that Cooper's reputation as a road-grading run blocker doesn't fully match the numbers. Pro Football Focus actually graded him higher in pass protection last season.

Cooper posted a 78.9 pass-blocking grade while allowing just one sack, two quarterback hits, and 12 total pressures. Penalties remain an issue after being flagged eight times, but his pass protection is better than many realize.

What would make 2026 a success for Anez Cooper

Cooper's rookie season will likely be spent on the sideline learning. The Jets have an established starting group and several veterans ahead of him on the depth chart. Offensive linemen selected on Day 3 are almost always brought in as developmental backups, at least to start their careers. Cooper is no different.

Training camp and preseason will give the Miami product opportunities to work at multiple positions and continue developing. The more versatility he shows, the easier it becomes for the coaching staff to keep him around.

A successful rookie season may not come with many offensive snaps. Earning a roster spot, continuing to improve his technique, and positioning himself for a larger role in future seasons would represent notable and tangible progress.

The Jets have several veterans on short-term contracts (Parham and Myers) along the interior offensive line. Cooper's opportunity may arrive down the road. For now, the focus is on development and proving he can become part of the organization's long-term plans.

Good teams find contributors throughout the draft, including on Day 3. The Jets are hoping Cooper can become the first late-round offensive line hit for the Jets in nearly a decade.

Recent 2026 Camp Countdown Breakdowns

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