The Packers’ defense enters the season with plenty of uncertainty, but there’s also a clear candidate ready to turn that noise into a bigger spotlight: Edgerrin Cooper.
Green Bay’s early defensive checklist starts elsewhere. Jonathan Gannon has to find enough pass rush to help offset the loss of Micah Parsons, and he also has to sort out the cornerback rotation. But at linebacker, the Packers may already have their next big name waiting to break through.
Pro Football Focus analyst Gordon McGuinness recently slotted Cooper as Green Bay’s breakout candidate for the 2026 season. His case is built on a strong start to Cooper’s NFL career and the sense that there’s still another level to reach.
“Linebacker Edgerrin Cooper has impressed since entering the NFL as a second-round draft pick in 2024,” McGuinness writes for PFF. “Earning PFF grades above 75.0 in both seasons.
In his first year as a full-time starter, he ranked 17th in the NFL with 45 tackles resulting in defensive stops during the regular season. Another strong campaign could put him firmly in the conversation as one of the league’s top linebackers, behind only Fred Warner of the San Francisco 49ers.”
That kind of leap would fit the profile Cooper already brings to the defense. His athleticism stands out, and his ability to freelance as a playmaker gives Green Bay a weapon that can change the shape of a game. That becomes even more valuable with veteran tackle magnet Zaire Frankln alongside him in Green Bay.
If the Packers are going to reach their ceiling in 2026, Cooper looks like one of the players most likely to help get them there.
In Other News...
Packers Guard Battle Took Shape With One Early Preseason Warning
The Packers guard competition is already taking on shape in August, and the early signs have been mixed. Rookie Jager Burton and third-year lineman Jacob Monk both got turns with the first group in team drills and again in a preseason game, giving Green Bay a real look at how each might fit if the job becomes available.
Monks night was especially revealing because of the way the line kept shifting around him, while Burton was trying to make his own case in live action. Neither player delivered the kind of clean, decisive outing that settles a battle this early, and the Packers now have at least one preseason warning to sort through before the evaluation gets any tighter. [Read more 🡒]
Packers Could Face An Unexpected Roster Twist From NCAA Lawsuit
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For Green Bay, the wrinkle is less about the headline names and more about the possibility that roster plans could get nudged by players suddenly weighing college over the pros. A Louisiana lawsuit involving 33 athletes has already put the issue on a bigger stage, and with other players getting temporary legal protection, the Packers have at least one more off-the-field variable to monitor as camp decisions start to matter more. [Read more 🡒]
Packers Rookie Absence At Camp Just Took A More Concerning Turn
The Packers Wednesday injury report offered another reminder that training camp can turn quickly from routine to worrisome, especially for a rookie trying to make a first impression. Green Bay listed players on the Physically Unable to Perform list and others who did not practice, and the attention naturally fell on edge rusher Dani Dennis-Sutton, whose recent absence had already made him a player to monitor as the preseason and regular season calendars keep moving.
Matt LaFleur offered the first real explanation for Dennis-Suttons missed time, saying the rookie was dealing with overheating and then an illness rather than anything tied to conditioning. The update helps narrow the focus for a player whose camp availability has become a point of concern, even if the full picture around his early August setback still leaves one important question hanging for the Packers as they work through the rest of practice. [Read more 🡒]