Starting linebacker Edgerrin Cooper has been selected by Pro Football Focus for the Green Bay Packers “secret superstar” for the 2024 season.
PFF defines a secret superstar as “unheralded stars who fly under the radar” and are considered underrated due to “how good their seasons were compared to the broader conversation.”
Cooper, a second-round draft pick out of Texas A&M, struggled with injuries in his rookie season but still emerged as a legitimate quarterback for first-year defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley, and his final month of the 2024 season was as good as any running back in college football .
According to PFF’s overall ratings, Cooper finished the regular season as the Packers’ second-best defender (behind Xavier McKinney) and best overall defender if you count the team’s playoff run. Over the final four games of the 2024 season, Cooper earned the highest overall grade among NFL defensive backs.
Los Angeles Rams’ Jared Verse will run away with the NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year honor, but Cooper – who actually received one All-Pro vote – has a mighty case for second place.
Cooper finished the game with 13 tackles for loss – second most among off-ball linebackers in the NFL – despite playing in just 14 games. He also added 3.5 sacks, an interception, a forced fumble and two recoveries. Cooper was named NFC Defensive Player of the Week in Weeks 8 and 15 and NFL Defensive Rookie of the Month in December/January.
According to PFF, Cooper finished second among defensive rookies in overall rating (84.0) and first in stops (35) or a tackle for loss on offense. He graded him 70.0 or better in rushing, rushing and coverage. His only weakness was missed tackles – Cooper missed 13 for a 15.9 miss percentage, which was a bit too many misses and too high for a linebacker.
Fast, decisive, destructive and brutal, Cooper meets all the requirements of a current off-the-ball NFL linebacker. If he can build on his rookie season as a second-year player in 2025, he could become one of the next stars in the league.
