Had Edgerrin Cooper momentarily lost his concentration, he might have misinterpreted the cheers from the crowd as chants for his name when the Green Bay Packers selected him as the No. 45 overall pick. However, as the team’s representative approached the podium, it became apparent that the Packers weren’t particularly popular in Detroit, likely due to the enduring rivalry between the Lions and the Packers. This added an extra layer of excitement to Cooper’s introduction to the NFL.
As a former linebacker for Texas A&M Aggies, Cooper had earned his place in the second round of the draft, showcasing an impressive blend of size and speed during his tenure at College Station. Over his college career, he amassed 204 tackles, 8.5 sacks, three forced fumbles, and two interceptions. Throughout this journey, Cooper’s mindset remained fixed on executing his duties.
“We were just doing our job,” Cooper reflected after a noteworthy performance against the Auburn Tigers in the Aggies’ SEC opener. “That’s what coach always says. Don’t try to do anything extra. Just do your job. As long as you’re doing that, your plays will come to you.”
This philosophy distinguished Cooper at Texas A&M, and now he’s ready to embark on a similar path in Green Bay. The Packers officially confirmed on Thursday that they’ve secured Cooper.
At the age of 22, Cooper possesses significant talent, yet there’s still room for growth and experience before he attains veteran status—a point of importance for Green Bay’s management.
“I don’t think there’s a goal to be one of the youngest five teams,” remarked Packers GM Brian Gutekunst regarding their incoming draft class. “I think we want to be young, we want to be growing, we want to be getting better. We want to have young legs and to be fast. We’ll never shy away from being younger; I don’t think we’ll ever do that.”
Despite his youth, Cooper brings a versatile skill set to the Packers, a quality that the team recognized and appreciated in their decision to sign him. Now, Cooper’s objective is to prove that his abilities will indeed translate into success at the professional level.
