From now until the 2026 NFL Draft, we will scout and create profiles for as many prospects as possible, examining their strengths, weaknesses, and what they can bring to an NFL franchise. These players could be potential top 10 picks, all the way to Day 3 selections, and priority undrafted free agents. Today, a scouting report on Slippery Rock offensive lineman Joe Cooper.
#78 JOE COOPER/ OT, SLIPPERY ROCK (RS SENIOR) – 6063, 323 pounds.
Pro Day Measurements
Player Ht/Wt Hand Size Arm Length Wingspan
Joe Cooper 6063/323 10 31 3/4 81
40-Yard Dash 10-Yard Dash Short Shuttle 3-Cone
5.54 1.87 4.68 8.08
Broad Jump Vertical Bench Press
8’8” 28 1/2 23
The Good
— Very good height and weight
— 3-year starter playing left and right tackle
— Good snap quickness and balance
— Solid hand placement to steer the rusher up the arc
— Good anchor versus power rushers
— Effective on quick sets to lock on and use his strength
— Good awareness and execution on stunts and twists
— Solid agility on screens
— Good push on down blocks, solid on double teams
— Agility to pull in either direction
— Excellent timing and technique on cut blocks
The Bad
— Adequate arm length to stick at tackle
— Lateral footwork to match speed up the arc
— Change of direction to cut off rushers moving from inside to outside
— Will be a waist bender and overextend on some pass plays
— Run block sustain and leg drive consistency
— Executions on second-level blocks
— Moving defenders on base blocks
Stats
— 43 games/38 starts
— Career: 24 starts at left tackle, 14 at right tackle
— 1 carry, 1 yard, 1 TD
— 2025: Consensus All-America honoree by the AP, AFCA, D2CCA, Walter Camp Football and Don Hansen Football
— All-PSAC West (2023, 2024, 2025) and D2CCA All-Region accolades (2024, 2025)
— Team Captain
— Gene Upshaw Award finalist for best lineman, offensive or defensive, in NCAA Division II
— 2024: Second team AP All-American honors
— East-West Shrine Bowl Invitee
Injury History
— 2025: Left game vs IUP (knee rolled up)
Background
— Birthday: March 16
— Played at Bermudian Springs in East Berlin, PA
— Lettered three times in football
— Lettered twice in track & field
— Two-year starter at both offensive tackle and defensive end
— Majoring in Physical Activity and Fitness Management
Tape Breakdown
Joe Cooper is an offensive tackle of very good height and weight with good hand size and adequate arm length. The multiyear winner of All-American accolades has been a two-year starter at left tackle. They occasionally had him line up at tight end on some running plays and previously he had started for a year a right tackle.
As a pass blocker, he has good snap quickness along with good balance and solid pad level in his kick slide. He uses solid hand placement to steer outside rushers. Against power rushers, he uses good play strength and anchor to shut down attackers.
On quick sets, he has good hand placement and can lock on to defenders.
Facing stunts and twists, he displays good awareness to pass off and pick up the looper.
On screen plays, he displays solid agility and a good radar to identify his target and get contact.
As a run blocker, he displayed good push on down blocks and solid work on double-team blocks. He displayed solid agility to pull in either direction to lead the runner. On base blocks, he displays good strength to wall off and torque defenders. For a man his size, his cut block timing and technique were very good.
And who doesn’t love a big man touchdown?
Speed rushers and those with good change of direction gave him the most trouble. When pass rushers delay their rush, he will bend at the waist when reaching for the defender. Rushers who jab inside before moving outside can beat him around the edge. Versus outside speed rushers, his footwork is adequate to mirror up the arc.
His ability to sustain blocks was adequate, and he didn’t always finish his blocks to the whistle. Pad level and leg drive were adequate on base blocks. His climb to the second level showed adequate timing and marginal angles to cut off linebackers. Lateral agility and change of direction to mirror defenders were adequate as well, allowing smaller defenders to slip around him.
Conclusion
Overall, Cooper is of very good size with adequate arm length. He is an experienced, three-year starter and a decorated player. His snap quickness is good; he plays with good balance in pass protection and has a good anchor. He is best in quick sets, processes stunts and twists well, and shows solid execution on screens. As a run blocker, he uses his size well, can pull in either direction, gets good push on lateral blocks and was excellent on cut blocks.
Areas to improve are his lateral footwork to mirror pass rushers, handling side-to-side pass rushes, and eliminating waist-bending/overextending in pass protection. More consistent leg drive and improving second-level blocks will help him as well.
Cooper is a mountain of a man and fairly nimble. There are good traits to work with; his experience is invaluable. Arm length may be an issue when it comes to playing tackle at the NFL level. His best opportunity would be to kick inside and play guard. His best fit would be in a power or gap scheme.
For a player comp, I’ll go with Gareth Warren. He was a small-school tackle with valuable experience as he tried to make the jump to the NFL. He too, I felt, would be better at guard and he spent some time with Pittsburgh last preseason.
NFL Projection: Late Day Three/UDFASteelers Depot Grade: 5.3 Fringe Roster PlayerGrade Range: 4.6 – 5.6Games Watched: 2024 Vs California (Pa), 2025 – Vs Shepherd, Vs Clarion (highlights), Vs IUP (highlights)
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