NFL draft expert reveals what rookie Omar Cooper Jr. brings to the Jets

The New York Jets made a distinct lack of pass catcher additions in free agency, and once the 2026 NFL Draft rolled around, we learned why.

They invested two premium draft picks into two high-pedigree players, grabbing Oregon tight end Kenyon Sadiq and Indiana wide receiver Omar Cooper Jr.

There's plenty of reason to be excited about Sadiq, but Cooper is expected to play a decent-sized role for the Jets offense in 2026. Outside of Garrett Wilson and Adonai Mitchell, the Jets don't have many other wide receivers they can rely on.

But what exactly is Cooper bringing to the Jets offense? What did he show with the Hoosiers that made him a first-round draft pick?

Connor Rogers breaks down new Jets WR Omar Cooper Jr.'s game

NBC Sports draft analyst and co-host of the Badlands podcast, Connor Rogers, revealed which aspects of Cooper's game are going to translate to the NFL.

"He's gonna finish plays through traffic. He's tough, he gets hit and bounces back up. He can make contested catches. And when I say contested, it's different from Adonai (Mitchell) where his contested catches are like somebody trying to chop down on his arms in the middle of the field, and he can use a broader back and catch the ball and run through it."

Connor Rogers

Rogers essentially highlights the all-around solid player the Jets are getting in Cooper, and his physicality despite standing at only 6-feet and 200 pounds.

During Indiana's championship-winning season, Cooper was Fernando Mendoza's most reliable target, hauling in 69 passes for 937 yards and 13 touchdowns.

If you're an avid college football fan, you'll surely remember Cooper's ridiculous toe-tap touchdown to beat Penn State on the road.

That's the kind of clutch playmaking the Jets are getting in their new first-round wide receiver.

Cooper will have his work cut out for him heading into training camp. With Wilson entrenched as the Jets' No. 1 passing weapon, the rookie wide receiver will be competing with the likes of Mitchell, Kenyon Sadiq, Mason Taylor, and Tim Patrick for reps.

If he can set himself apart from the rest throughout the summer, he may find himself on the field sooner rather than later.

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