The Pittsburgh Steelers didn’t mask their priorities at the 2026 NFL Scouting Combine. They are actively seeking a high-end wide receiver to pair with DK Metcalf, and multiple early draft picks could be devoted to upgrading the position. One of their reported favorites—and a fast riser in the process—is Indiana WR Omar Cooper Jr.
He met with the Steelers formally at the 2026 NFL Scouting Combine and likes the idea of playing alongside Metcalf.
“I feel like me and him would be able to complement each other really well,” Cooper said during his Combine media session. “DK Metcalf is a really great player, and so just being able to learn from him and grow, I feel like that’d help my football career a lot. And just to see how special of an athlete he is, it’s been fun to watch him.”
When the Steelers met with him, the conversation was casual in nature and more of a getting-to-know-you session than talking football.
“They just wanted to really know about me. They was asking questions about myself, how I go day to day throughout the week preparing for a game, and just how I grew up,” he said. “It was a great conversation to have with them.”
One thing that defined Cooper’s collegiate career was being open to trying new things and learning them quickly. That was never more evident than in 2025 when he played 591 snaps in the slot after playing just 75 there in the three prior years combined.
“I played outside until this year, and so this year it was just me trying to understand it and just how different it is from outside. My coach did a really good job at teaching me and just continuing to help me grow in that area,” he said.
That move inside paid off with 1,011 scrimmage yards and 14 total TDs, both career highs by a good margin.
“You need toughness. You’re gonna get hit no matter what, but just playing the slot, sometimes you gotta go in there and block the linebacker, and I’m willing to do that for my teammates,” Cooper said. “It’s kind of a love for the people that help me, so I’m helping them back out.”
A big part of his game is maximizing his yards-after-the-catch opportunities, something he credits to his instincts and competitive nature. He averaged a healthy 7.3 yards after the catch over the last two years combined.
“I would say it’s probably just really instincts,” Cooper said. “My mindset was just to run hard every time I got the ball and try to get as many extra yards as I can to help my team be successful.”
Growing up with two basketball players for parents, competition and love for sports were engrained in him from an early age.
“You’ve just gotta make sure you’re having fun while you’re doing it,” Cooper said.
If you had to sum up one play to define Cooper’s season, it’s hard to find a better option than his viral game-winning catch against Penn State. At risk of their first loss, Cooper went vertical and fully extended his body to secure a tough catch and get his feet in bounds.
“After the game, Fernando [Mendoza] had told me, he said it didn’t matter what defense they were in. He said that ball was coming to you. So that was a great feeling to hear from him,” Cooper said.
That kind of trust in a big moment speaks volumes of Cooper, and the athleticism and body control required to make the play speaks for themselves.
To sum it up, here’s the kind of player he says the NFL team that drafts him will get.
“A guy that’s going out there, showing how passionate and loving I am towards this game. Someone who dedicates football almost over everything except one thing [faith], and then just a guy that will do whatever it takes to help my team win,” he said. “Whether that’s getting my running backs the long run, or whether that’s making a play intermediate or down the field. And just someone who is willing to grow and develop and learn from others.”
Maybe those others, as he mentioned, could be DK Metcalf with the Steelers.
Check out our full Omar Cooper Jr. scouting report below.
Recommended for you