Omar Cooper
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Indiana University wide receiver Omar Cooper at the NFL scouting combine.
If the Philadelphia Eagles actually pull the trigger on sending NFL All-Pro wide receiver A.J. Brown elsewhere in a trade, no matter how much spin they put on it there’s going to be a vacuum of talent and production created that might be impossible to replace.
One way the Eagles might be able to stem that bleeding would be by using their 1st round pick in the 2026 NFL draft — No. 23 overall — on a wide receiver.
To that end, they seem like they might already be making contingency plans to do so after they hosted star Indiana University (not University of Indiana!) wide receiver Omar Cooper for an official Top 30 visit.
“Source: The Philadelphia Eagles will host Indiana WR Omar Cooper Jr for a (Top) 30 visit,” NFL reporter Ryan Fowler wrote on his official X account on Tuesday. “One of the premier wideouts in the class could be a target at 23.”
Cooper, 6-foot and 199 pounds, led the Hoosiers with 69 receptions for 937 yards and 14 total touchdowns in 2025 as his team went 16-0 and won the first national championship in program history.
Omar Cooper Draws Comparison to NFL All-Pro WR
Few people know as much about the draft as longtime NFL draft analyst Lance Zierlein, so when he makes a comparison, most people sit up and listen.
In Cooper’s case, Zierlein doled out some high praise in comparing Cooper to free agent wide receiver and former NFL All-Pro Deebo Samuel in his pre-draft evaluation.
Cooper did his part by showing up at the NFL scouting combine and running the 40-yard dash in 4.42 seconds, firmly placing him in the conversation to be a 1st round pick, although he’s a borderline Day 1/Day 2 player at this point.
“Big, strong target whose two-year rise is bolstered by translatable tape,” Zierlein wrote. “While he was a full-time slot receiver in 2025, Cooper has played outside, as well. He can stem and drive past press with his strength. He has potent early acceleration to climb past nickelbacks into top position to challenge deep … he’s rugged once the ball is in his hands. His ability to add yards after contact could earn Cooper more carries than we saw from him at Indiana. Fighting for catch space and blocking for the running game are areas where he needs improvement. Cooper is an ascending slot bully with Day 2 value.”
Positive Reaction to Philly Hosting Omar Cooper
If the reaction on social media tells us anything, Philadelphia Eagles fans would love having Omar Cooper in the fold if Brown were to actually head elsewhere in a trade.
The Eagles last drafted a wide receiver in the 1st round in 2021, when they took Heisman Trophy winner DeVonta Smith. Through his first 5 seasons with the Eagles, Smith has 385 receptions for 5,109 yards and 31 touchdowns.
“(Cooper) is so dope man, he’d be a fan favorite in Philly for a while,” Draft Day Trade’s Jake Rabadi wrote on his official X account.
“Eagles getting their AJ Brown replacement scouted,” Fox Fellas Pod’s Pete Collins wrote on X.
“Omar Cooper Jr. is a really good player, especially after the catch he is so dangerous,” NJ.com Eagles reporter Cayden Steele wrote. “He would be a fun addition.Eagles looking at first-round wide receiver prospects. Preparing for the potential exit of A.J. Brown? I expect them to bring in other early-round wideouts for pre-draft visits.”
“Cooper Jr. is going to make whoever drafts him very happy & I hope it is not the Eagles,” Cowboys reporter Zach Wolchuk wrote on X.