The early noise around Omar Cooper Jr. has been easy to overread, but the Jets don’t seem to have any reason to sound the alarm just yet.
Through camp in Florham Park, N.J., the first-round rookie hasn’t exactly been the loudest wideout in the building. Isaiah Williams has been the one turning heads, and in the Jets’ preseason opener, he was the starting slot receiver in 11 personnel. Cooper Jr. didn’t get into the game until the backups took over.
That kind of usage has naturally sparked some nervous chatter among fans. But the reality is a lot less dramatic than the reaction suggests.
Cooper Jr. is not the kind of receiver who always pops on a practice field. His game is built around what happens after the catch, where he can make defenders miss in space and turn routine throws into chunk plays. At Indiana, that showed up in a big way: he forced 27 missed tackles last year, fourth-most among FBS receivers, and he forced missed tackles on 39% of his receptions, the best mark among receivers in this year’s draft class.
That style can be tough to judge in camp, especially for a rookie trying to carve out snaps behind veterans who are also demanding targets.
The Jets, since Aaron Glenn took over, have made it clear that young players have to earn their spots. The first unofficial depth chart in 2025 had second-round tight end Mason Taylor behind Jeremy Ruckert, but Taylor still ended up starting the season opener.
Cooper Jr. also gave the Jets a reasonable first look in the preseason opener. He caught two of his three targets for 31 yards, including a 26-yard catch and run that showed exactly the kind of playmaking he brings.
While Williams opened Friday’s game with the starters and Cooper Jr. worked with the second unit, Williams wasn’t targeted at all.
So yes, Williams has had a strong camp. No, that doesn’t mean the Jets’ first-round pick is in trouble. Friday night fit the larger picture: Cooper Jr. is still settling in, but he’s not doing anything that should set off panic.
There’s still plenty of time for New York to sort out its receiver rotation, and the clearest picture won’t come until the regular season arrives. For now, Cooper Jr. has been fine - nothing more, nothing less.
He hasn’t been the summer’s standout the way No. 2 overall pick David Bailey has, and Williams has absolutely earned the attention he’s getting. But Cooper Jr. hasn’t given anyone a real reason to worry, either.
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