Jets officially make Omar Cooper Jr. prophecy come true on draft night (with a twist)

Unsurprisingly, the New York Jets took standout Indiana wide receiver Omar Cooper Jr. in the 2026 NFL Draft. However, he joins the club differently than expected.

Many projected the Jets to choose Cooper No. 16 overall, but they ultimately went in a different direction (Oregon tight end Kenyon Sadiq). It was a bit shocking when his name wasn't called, frankly. Yet, New York evidently never took their eyes off the prize.

The Jets made sure to get their guy. They pulled off a trade with the San Francisco 49ers for a third first-round pick, which turned out to be Cooper.

Jets snag Indiana WR Omar Cooper Jr. later than expected in 2026 NFL Draft trade with 49ers

Better late than never, we suppose! New York sent the Nos. 33 and 179 selections to the 49ers for the right to bring in Cooper. He gives the Jets another dynamic young pass-catcher for veteran quarterback Geno Smith (and whoever the long-term signal-caller is).

It doesn't matter how Cooper ended up with the Jets; what's important is that he's here now. His versatility, speed, explosiveness and playmaking make him an exciting addition.

Cooper has shown an ability to win inside and out. He led the Big Ten in yards per reception (21.2) while running 90.3 of his routes from out wide in 2024. The Hoosiers then leaned on him to carve up opposing secondaries almost exclusively in the slot last season, which paid dividends for all parties involved.

Indiana relied on Cooper as the focal point of their passing en route to claiming its first National Championship in program history in 2025. His 69 receptions and 937 yards led the team and were each top five in the conference. He and this year's top pick, Hoosiers star passer Fernando Mendoza, had a mind-melding connection.

New York suddenly has an intriguing crop of wideouts who complement each other nicely. Franchise cornerstone Garrett Wilson and Cooper can be used interchangeably and move around the formation. Meanwhile, rising third-year pro Adonai Mitchell looked the part of a dangerous deep threat, thanks to his high-end quickness and athleticism.

Note: Advanced metrics courtesy of Pro Football Focus' premium stats ($).

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