The New York Jets found a way to sneak back into the first round to snag the wide receiver they wanted by taking Omar Cooper Jr. out of Indiana, with the 30th overall pick. Cooper Jr. becomes the fourth wide receiver drafted by the Jets in the last 30 years. On that list are Keyshawn Johnson (1996), Santana Moss (2001), and Garrett Wilson (2022). At Indiana, Cooper Jr. was a key factor in the Indiana Hoosiers’ national championship run, as he was Heisman winner Fernado Mendoza’s no.1 wide receiver. He led the Hoosiers in targets with 95, 69 receptions, and caught 13 touchdowns, which ranked 2nd in the Big Ten and third nationally.
Cooper Jr. was the wide receiver the Jets wanted all along, as they had him in for a top-30 visit and met with him multiple times. Many thought he would go no. 16 overall, but wound up sliding to the Jets at no. 30 overall as they traded back into the first round with the San Francisco 49ers, sending their second rounder, 33 overall, and a 5th rounder. 179 overall. At 6’0” and around 200 pounds with a 4.42 speed, he’s a well-built wide receiver who is tough as nails and is known for his run-after-the-catch ability.
With that being said, Omar Cooper Jr. should be a target for fantasy managers, especially in keeper leagues. He’s an explosive wide receiver with breakaway speed who is a threat for yards after catch. Last year alone, he forced 26 missed tackles on receptions. His versatility shouldn’t go unnoticed as he’s capable of playing both inside and outside, giving him a high floor. Last year, Cooper Jr. was used tremendously in the red zone; he put himself on the map when he made his signature game-winning touchdown catch against Penn State. Cooper Jr. could be a late-round selection, making him intriguing in keeper leagues for his potential.
In terms of being drafted to the New York Jets, it might take some time before fantasy managers see impact from Cooper Jr. Again, his potential is through the roof, but it will take some time for him to adjust to a pro-style offense compared to playing in a college offense that relied heavily on RPOs. He comes into a good situation with the Jets, as they have revamped the offense as a whole. The quarterback situation is a question mark, though, as they have a bridge quarterback in Geno Smith, and people are skeptical about him being under center. What they’re hoping for is that he’s a serviceable quarterback who will help spread the ball around much better than any Jets quarterback the previous season.
Adding Cooper Jr. to the wide receiver room is an upgrade for a room that is filled with playmakers all around. Garrett Wilson and Adonai Mitchell are the only two threats at the position. Last year was a down year for Garrett Wilson as injuries limited him to only 7 games, but he’ll be back healthier and looking to rebound after what was a lost season for him. Adonai Mitchell came over in the Sauce Gardner trade and played efficiently enough to become the No. 2 receiver opposite of Garrett Wilson. Mitchell is a wide receiver who has great vertical speed to beat defenders downfield. Besides that, the wide receiver room was lacking talent, but Omar Cooper Jr. gives Geno Smith another threat on offense.
In the short term, it might take time for Cooper Jr. to develop. Having to learn the pro-style offense and fix up his route running, it should take 4-6 games into the season before he’s up to speed. He’ll start as the wide receiver no. 3, where production could be limited. The Jets’ offensive production will depend on Geno Smith, and people will be hesitant about taking Jets players because the track record isn’t good, but that can change.
In the long term, Cooper Jr. can become one of the most explosive and clutch wide receivers in the league. He was dominant for the Hoosiers in their National Championship run last year and was Mendonza’s go-to player. He brings a fiery edge and knows what it’s like to play in playoff atmospheres. His (YAC) ability makes him a dynamic player who can take the top off defenses and is a red-zone threat who can help the Jets.
Geno Smith will be a serviceable bridge quarterback that will spread the ball around and give the position the juice that it didn’t have last year, which will benefit Cooper Jr. As the Jets drafted tight end Kenyon Sadiq, they’re building the offense not just for the present, but in the future as they look to find their franchise quarterback in next year’s draft.
