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Omar Cooper Jr., the highly touted national champion wide receiver from Indiana University, officially signed with the New York Jets. Selected 30th overall in the 2026 NFL Draft in April, Cooper Jr. was drafted by the Jets hoping to add more explosiveness to the Jets offense. He was the second offensive player selected in the first round after New York drafted Oregon tight end Kenyon Sadiq. According to ESPN’s Rich Cimini, Omar Cooper Jr’s contract will be a four-year, $17.5 million deal. After leading the Hoosiers in receiving yards and touchdowns in 2025, Omar Cooper Jr is expected to make a large impact on New York’s offense long term.
After finishing last in the league for passing yards per game in 2025, the New York Jets offense needed a facelift just as badly as their defense. With four picks within the top 50, general manager Darren Mougey needed to succeed in providing head coach Aaron Glenn with impact talent. Starting with the second overall pick, New York selected Texas Tech edge rusher David Bailey. After finishing 2025 with only 26 sacks, the team expects the NCAA sacks leader to provide major impact on the defensive line. In addition, New York is optimistic that Bailey’s ability to interfere with opposing quarterbacks will lead to more interceptions.
After helping the defense with their first pick, the Jets decided to focus on their offense. As a result, the Jets selected Oregon tight end Kenyon Sadiq. The 2025 Big Ten tight end of the year had a great season after finishing with eight touchdowns and 560 yards on 51 receptions. While listed as a tight end, Sadiq lined up all over the field and will be a valued weapon in New York. As of now, Sadiq is recovering from hernia surgery; however, it’s not expected to keep him out of training camp.
Finally, the New York Jets made one last impact during the first round by trading up from the 33rd overall pick to the 30th overall and selected Omar Cooper Jr. After two quiet seasons in Bloomington, the Hoosier wide receiver had benefited greatly from working with new head coach Curt Cignetti. Over the last two seasons, Cooper became a featured weapon on Indiana’s offense. In 2025, Cooper Jr demonstrated great chemistry with new starting quarterback Fernando Mendoza. With Mendoza as the starter, Omar Cooper Jr finished 2025 with 69 catches for 937 yards and 13 touchdowns. Cooper Jr.’s efforts helped lead the Hoosiers to the school’s first national championship in school history.
As mentioned, the Jets passing game really struggled in 2025. This was due to the injury to star wide receiver Garrett Wilson and the poor play of then-starting quarterbacks Justin Fields and undrafted rookie Brady Cook. The Jets offense finished the season averaging 140.3 passing yards per game.
Thankfully, the team took active steps to improve in this area. After moving on from first-year offensive coordinator, the team opted for experience. They hired former Indianapolis Colts head coach Frank Reich as offensive coordinator, as well as bringing in veteran offensive coordinator Bill Musgrave to be their quarterback coach. Along with them, the team parted ways with Justin Fields and opted to trade for Las Vegas Raiders starting quarterback Geno Smith. Despite leading the league in interceptions, New York is optimistic Smith can spread the ball over the field with a better offensive line protecting him.
However, the key to maximizing Geno Smith’s passing is surrounding him with targets. A healthy Garrett Wilson will go a long way. Along with 2024 second-round pick Adonai Mitchell showing flashes of the playmaker he was at Texas. In addition, Kenyon Sadiq joining 2025 second-round pick Mason Taylor provides Smith with a playmaking duo at tight end. However, giving the wide receiver room, someone like Omar Cooper Jr gives them a great short-route target and someone who can thrive with yards after the catch. At Indiana, Omar Cooper Jr was efficient in the slot. This frees up Wilson to operate on the outside opposite Mitchell, giving Cooper Jr the chance to gain yards over the middle against linebackers and safeties.
However, there’s another underrated aspect of his game the Jets can exploit. Standing 6’0″ and 200 lbs, Omar Cooper Jr has good size and can absorb contact. This led to Indiana using him in the running game as well. While he had limited carries, Cooper Jr still finished 2025 with 74 rushing yards on only three carries. That’s an average of 24.7 yards per carry. He won’t be a threat to steal carries away from running backs Braelon Allen or Isiah Davis. But it does add a wrinkle to the offense that Frank Reich can utilize.
Omar Cooper Jr ran sub-4.5 in both of his 40-yard times at the NFL Combine. His speed will be crucial for the Jets success. If the Jets can utilize him as a poor man’s Deebo Samuel as a rusher, along with his abilities as a wide receiver, he can be in for a productive rookie season.
Main Photo: [Jess Stiles] – Imagn Images
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Jets Sign Their Third First-Round Pick, Omar Cooper Jr.
After finishing last in the league for passing yards per game in 2025, the New York Jets offense needed a facelift just as badly as their defense. With four picks within the top 50, general manager Darren Mougey needed to succeed in providing head coach Aaron Glenn with impact talent. Starting with the second overall pick, New York selected Texas Tech edge rusher David Bailey. After finishing 2025 with only 26 sacks, the team expects the NCAA sacks leader to provide major impact on the defensive line. In addition, New York is optimistic that Bailey’s ability to interfere with opposing quarterbacks will lead to more interceptions.
After helping the defense with their first pick, the Jets decided to focus on their offense. As a result, the Jets selected Oregon tight end Kenyon Sadiq. The 2025 Big Ten tight end of the year had a great season after finishing with eight touchdowns and 560 yards on 51 receptions. While listed as a tight end, Sadiq lined up all over the field and will be a valued weapon in New York. As of now, Sadiq is recovering from hernia surgery; however, it’s not expected to keep him out of training camp.
Finally, the New York Jets made one last impact during the first round by trading up from the 33rd overall pick to the 30th overall and selected Omar Cooper Jr. After two quiet seasons in Bloomington, the Hoosier wide receiver had benefited greatly from working with new head coach Curt Cignetti. Over the last two seasons, Cooper became a featured weapon on Indiana’s offense. In 2025, Cooper Jr demonstrated great chemistry with new starting quarterback Fernando Mendoza. With Mendoza as the starter, Omar Cooper Jr finished 2025 with 69 catches for 937 yards and 13 touchdowns. Cooper Jr.’s efforts helped lead the Hoosiers to the school’s first national championship in school history.
Omar Cooper Jr’s impact on the Jets
As mentioned, the Jets passing game really struggled in 2025. This was due to the injury to star wide receiver Garrett Wilson and the poor play of then-starting quarterbacks Justin Fields and undrafted rookie Brady Cook. The Jets offense finished the season averaging 140.3 passing yards per game.
Thankfully, the team took active steps to improve in this area. After moving on from first-year offensive coordinator, the team opted for experience. They hired former Indianapolis Colts head coach Frank Reich as offensive coordinator, as well as bringing in veteran offensive coordinator Bill Musgrave to be their quarterback coach. Along with them, the team parted ways with Justin Fields and opted to trade for Las Vegas Raiders starting quarterback Geno Smith. Despite leading the league in interceptions, New York is optimistic Smith can spread the ball over the field with a better offensive line protecting him.
However, the key to maximizing Geno Smith’s passing is surrounding him with targets. A healthy Garrett Wilson will go a long way. Along with 2024 second-round pick Adonai Mitchell showing flashes of the playmaker he was at Texas. In addition, Kenyon Sadiq joining 2025 second-round pick Mason Taylor provides Smith with a playmaking duo at tight end. However, giving the wide receiver room, someone like Omar Cooper Jr gives them a great short-route target and someone who can thrive with yards after the catch. At Indiana, Omar Cooper Jr was efficient in the slot. This frees up Wilson to operate on the outside opposite Mitchell, giving Cooper Jr the chance to gain yards over the middle against linebackers and safeties.
Can Omar Cooper Jr impact the running game, too?
However, there’s another underrated aspect of his game the Jets can exploit. Standing 6’0″ and 200 lbs, Omar Cooper Jr has good size and can absorb contact. This led to Indiana using him in the running game as well. While he had limited carries, Cooper Jr still finished 2025 with 74 rushing yards on only three carries. That’s an average of 24.7 yards per carry. He won’t be a threat to steal carries away from running backs Braelon Allen or Isiah Davis. But it does add a wrinkle to the offense that Frank Reich can utilize.
Omar Cooper Jr ran sub-4.5 in both of his 40-yard times at the NFL Combine. His speed will be crucial for the Jets success. If the Jets can utilize him as a poor man’s Deebo Samuel as a rusher, along with his abilities as a wide receiver, he can be in for a productive rookie season.
Main Photo: [Jess Stiles] – Imagn Images
Continue reading...
