Omar Cooper Jr. WR Indiana |
NFL Draft Profile & Scouting Report
| Jersey: #3 ROLE: Multi-Role Receiver | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Last Updated: 03/23/2026 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Draft Year: 2026 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| FORTY time: 4.42 seconds (79%*) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Age: 22.7 DOB: 12/14/2003 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Jersey: #3 | |
| ROLE: Multi-Role Receiver | |
| Last Updated: 03/23/2026 | |
| Draft Year: 2026 | |
| Forty time: 4.42 seconds (79%*) | |
| Age: 22.7 DOB: 12/14/2003 | |
| Overall Rating: | 86.1 / 100 | |
|---|---|---|
| Average rating of opposition Defense player has faced | ||
| Defense Rating: |
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79% |
| Click the links below to view how player ranks vs other prospects. | ||
| QB Rating When targeted: | 139.0 | |
| Hands: |
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81% |
| Short Receiving: |
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88% |
| Intermediate Routes: |
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90% |
| Deep Threat: |
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91% |
| Blocking: |
|
70% |
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DRAFT PROJECTION:
2nd - Early
Overall Rank:
#35
Position rank:
#7 (WR)
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| College Games: 37 College Snaps: 1388 | ||
ESPN RATING: 78/100
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247 RATING: 88/100
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RIVALS RATING: 5.9 (97%)
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| Player Comparison* (Similarity level) | ||
|---|---|---|
| Kadarius Toney - Florida |
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91% |
| Chris Olave - Ohio State |
|
84% |
| Jermaine Burton - Alabama |
|
84% |
Drafted: ROUND: 1 - Pick Number: 30 (NYJ)
Draft Profile: Bio
Omar Cooper Jr. came out of Lawrence North High School in Indianapolis as a four-star Rivals recruit ranked No. 155 nationally. He finished his prep career with 132 catches for 2,856 yards and 22 touchdowns, earned two-time IFCA Top 50 all-state honors, and helped Lawrence North win its first sectional title since 1990. After a redshirt year on kickoff return duty in 2022, he caught 18 passes for 235 yards and three touchdowns across nine games in 2023.His 2024 sophomore season was a breakout: 28 receptions for 594 yards and seven touchdowns, with a conference-best 21.2 yards per reception. Twenty-four of those 28 catches went for a first down or score. But inconsistency and availability issues kept him out of the starting lineup most weeks, and head coach Curt Cignetti publicly questioned his dependability.
Cooper moved to the slot in 2025 after Indiana lost its primary inside receivers to the NFL and injuries. Through eight games he caught 37 passes for 581 yards and seven touchdowns with a catch rate above 82 percent, just one drop, and strong yards-after-catch production. His four-touchdown game against Indiana State tied a program record. Against Michigan State, he posted eight catches for 113 yards and a score in his most complete Big Ten performance.
Scouting Report: Strengths
- Outstanding ball skills with reliable hands in traffic and off his frame
- Catches the ball away from his body and secures it quickly through contact
- Natural feel for finding soft spots in zone coverage underneath
- Runs hard after the catch with good contact balance and tackle-breaking ability
- Dangerous with the ball in space on screens, crossers, and designed touch passes
- Improved focus and availability in 2025 after well-documented maturity concerns
- Combine workout confirmed real speed and explosiveness to complement his YAC ability
- Willing blocker who competes on run plays and doesn't take reps off in that area
Scouting Report: Weaknesses
- Route technique still developing, particularly at the stems and at the top of breaks
- Relies on athleticism more than craft to win against press and tight man coverage
- Limited sample of sustained production as a primary target, only eight games in that role
- History of availability and effort concerns that drew public criticism from his coaching staff
- Lacks agility testing data from the combine, leaving questions about short-area quickness
Scouting Report: Summary
Cooper's best path to the NFL is as a slot receiver in a scheme that gets him the ball early and lets him create after the catch. His combine workout answered one of the lingering questions about his game: the speed is real. Pair that with his hands, toughness, and contact balance, and the translation to quick-game concepts, RPO designs, and crossing routes over the middle is straightforward. He is at his best when the offense puts him in motion, gives him room, and trusts him to make the first man miss. That skill set, now backed by verified athleticism, carries more weight than it did on tape alone.The maturity questions are worth monitoring. Cignetti did not mince words about Cooper's reliability in 2024, and while the 2025 season has been a real step forward, eight games is not a full body of work. Teams will want to talk to people in the building at Indiana to understand how much of that growth is permanent. The on-field talent is real, but so is the track record of inconsistency that preceded this year's production.
In the right system, Cooper can be a productive complementary piece who moves the chains and creates chunk plays after the catch. The combine speed opens up the possibility of some perimeter work, though the slot remains his most natural home. He fits best alongside a boundary receiver who draws top coverage, allowing Cooper to work against nickel corners and linebackers from the inside. If you want a tough, competitive receiver with real juice after the catch will find plenty to like on his 2025 tape.
Omar Cooper Jr. percentiles vs other Wide Receivers (NFL Combine historically - higher value represents better perfomance)
How other scouting services rate Omar Cooper Jr. (Overall Rank)
All Scouts AverageOverall Rank
32.8
All Scouts AveragePosition Rank
6.0
*Percentile Ranking in Player's Position Group (NFL Combine Historical Data): This percentile reflects how a player's specific statistics rank
in comparison to historical performances at the NFL Combine, specifically within their position group. A higher percentile indicates a better performance.
For instance, being in the 90th percentile for a particular stat means the player outperformed 90% of their peers in that category.
*Similarity Percentage: This percentage is calculated based on a comprehensive analysis of various factors, including height, weight, 40-yard dash times, on-field performance statistics, and overall player rating. The analysis is conducted against our database of draft prospects from 2021 to 2023. This similarity score helps in evaluating how closely a current prospect aligns with past prospects. It is important to note, however, that this score reflects similarities based on college production and attributes, and does not account for eventual success or performance in the NFL.
*Similarity Percentage: This percentage is calculated based on a comprehensive analysis of various factors, including height, weight, 40-yard dash times, on-field performance statistics, and overall player rating. The analysis is conducted against our database of draft prospects from 2021 to 2023. This similarity score helps in evaluating how closely a current prospect aligns with past prospects. It is important to note, however, that this score reflects similarities based on college production and attributes, and does not account for eventual success or performance in the NFL.