2024 NFL Draft: Texas A&M star LB Edgerrin Cooper declares as potential first-round pick

Texas A&M linebacker Edgerrin Cooper has declared for the 2024 NFL Draft. The standout defender will skip the Aggies’ Texas Bowl showdown against No. 20 Oklahoma State to begin preparation for the draft process. Cooper announced his intentions via social media. He earned CBS Sports All-American honors 2023 after racking up a team-high 17 tackles for a loss and eight sacks. 

Cooper was one of just two SEC off-ball linebackers to finish with at least eight sacks this year. He also tied for second in the conference with two forced fumbles and his two pass breakups ranked third among linebackers.   

Cooper has long been an important figure on Texas A&M’s defense. He worked his way into the linebacker rotation as a redshirt freshman in 2021 and nabbed a spot on the SEC All-Freshman team with 58 total tackles, 5.5 for a loss, and one interception. Cooper became a consistent starter in 2022 and — despite missing some time due to injury — finished fourth on the team with 61 total tackles.

Cooper’s lofty pedigree dates back all the way to his high school days. He signed with the Aggies in 2020 out of Covington, Louisiana as the No. 115 prospect nationally and No. 9 outside linebacker. 

Cooper’s draft stock

Cooper is in line to be the second Texas A&M linebacker taken in the NFL Draft since 2014. The 2024 CBS Sports NFL Draft Prospect Rankings rank Cooper as the No. 75 player on the board and No. 5 linebacker, putting him squarely in third-round range. But in his most recent mock draft, Chris Trapasso projected Cooper to the Miami Dolphins with the No. 31 overall pick. 

“Cooper was a star in another disappointing year at Texas A&M, and the Dolphins would like more long-term stability at that second-level position.” Trapasso wrote. 

At…

Source link : https://www.cbssports.com/college-football/news/2024-nfl-draft-texas-a-m-star-lb-edgerrin-cooper-declares-as-potential-first-round-pick/

Author : Will Backus

Publish date : 2023-12-12 20:28:35

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