Tyler Cooper OG Minnesota | NFL Draft Profile & Scouting Report
Tyler Cooper OG Minnesota
NFL Draft Profile & Scouting Report
| SUB-POSITION: Left Guard | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Last Updated: 02/05/2025 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Draft Year: 2025 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 40 time: 5.40 seconds (32%*) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| SUB-POSITION: Left Guard | |
| Last Updated: 02/05/2025 | |
| Draft Year: 2025 | |
| 40 time: 5.40 seconds (32%*) | |
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SHARE THIS PROFILE:
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| Overall Rating: | 82.7 / 100 | |
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| Average rating of opposition Defense player has faced | ||
| Defense Rating: |
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76% |
| Click the links below to view how player ranks vs other prospects. | ||
| Pass Blocking: |
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73% |
| Run Blocking: |
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75% |
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DRAFT PROJECTION:
5th
Overall Rank:
#173
Position rank:
#31
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| College Games: 27 College Snaps: 1325 | ||
247 RATING: 80/100
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RIVALS RATING: 5.4 (89%)
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| Player Comparison* (Similarity level) | ||
|---|---|---|
| Zak Zinter - Michigan |
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91% |
| Walter Rouse - Oklahoma |
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84% |
| Henry Bainivalu - Washington |
|
83% |
Draft Profile: Bio
Tyler Cooper entered the Minnesota program as an unheralded two-star recruit from Saint Croix Falls, Wisconsin, where he earned WFCA Small School All-State honors and was a semifinalist for the prestigious Joe Thomas Award. The 6'6", 310-pound interior lineman showed remarkable patience during his developmental years, transforming from a practice squad contributor into a key piece of the Gophers' offensive front.After redshirting in 2019 and playing sparingly his first three seasons, Cooper seized control of the left guard position in 2023. He started 11 games that year, helping power a ground attack that accumulated 2,264 rushing yards while providing protection for a passing offense that generated 16 touchdowns. His senior campaign saw him earn All-Big Ten Honorable Mention honors while starting 10 games, though nagging injuries forced him to miss two contests.
Cooper's academic excellence paralleled his on-field growth, earning Academic All-Big Ten recognition in five consecutive seasons. His final year showcased his development as he helped anchor an offense that averaged 26.15 points per game and demonstrated improved consistency in both run and pass protection across 1,325 offensive snaps.
Scouting Report: Strengths
- Superior length for an interior lineman, using his 6'6" frame masterfully to establish early contact and maintain separation from defenders in pass protection
- Exhibits outstanding mental processing when handling stunts and twists, consistently passing off defenders and maintaining pocket integrity against complex pressure packages
- Runs his feet on contact in the run game with genuine nastiness, showing the ability to create vertical movement against base fronts
- Demonstrates exceptional recovery skills when initially beaten, using his length and lateral mobility to redirect rushers past the pocket
- Shows advanced understanding of leverage points despite his height, consistently working to get his hands inside on shorter defenders
- Brings reliable technique in pass protection, rarely overextending or lunging while maintaining a solid base through engagement
- Displays natural instincts as a pulling guard, taking proper angles to targets and breaking down effectively in space
- Steady improvement trajectory over his career suggests significant untapped potential with proper NFL development
Scouting Report: Weaknesses
- Struggles to generate consistent movement against powerful interior defenders, particularly when asked to drive block in short-yardage situations
- Limited starting experience with only 21 games as primary starter raises questions about readiness for immediate NFL contribution
- Below-average athletic testing numbers (5.40 forty) manifest on film when working to second level or executing reach blocks in space
- Injury history over past two seasons requires thorough medical evaluation, having missed multiple games in both years as starter
- Can play too high through contact, allowing defensive tackles to get under his pads and compromise his anchor in pass protection
Scouting Report: Summary
The tape shows a technically sound guard who wins with length and leverage rather than raw power or elite athleticism. Cooper excels when asked to pass protect in confined spaces, routinely steering rushers wide of the pocket while maintaining his base. His football mind shows up repeatedly against stunts and delayed blitzes, where his quick recognition and efficient movement stand out even against top Big Ten competition.In the run game, Cooper's best moments come on down blocks and double teams where he can work vertically and use his frame to create movement. The Minnesota offense featured him heavily on power concepts, where his ability to pull and locate targets in space hints at untapped potential. His effectiveness diminishes significantly when asked to reach block or execute zone concepts - limitations that showed up consistently against quicker defensive tackles.
A gap/power scheme maximizes Cooper's strengths while minimizing his athletic shortcomings. His tape against Michigan and Penn State revealed a player who holds up well in pass protection against NFL-caliber defenders but needs technical refinement and added strength to consistently move people in the run game. Give him a year of development focusing on his anchor and hand placement, and you're looking at a potential starter by year two in the right system.
Tyler Cooper percentiles vs other Offensive Guards (NFL Combine historically - higher value represents better perfomance)
How other scouting services rate Tyler Cooper (Overall Rank)
All Scouts AverageOverall Rank
161.3
All Scouts AveragePosition Rank
40.0
*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.