The Packers moved back after missing out on one Cooper and grabbed another.
Throughout the early portion of round two of the 2024 NFL Draft, it appeared that the Green Bay Packers just might be able to land Iowa defensive back Cooper DeJean without trading up from the 41st pick. That dream ended one pick earlier, as the Philadelphia Eagles moved up to 40 to take DeJean.
After that pick came in and with the Packers on the clock, Green Bay elected to move back a few slots and pick up some additional day-three selections. The Packers traded with the New Orleans Saints, sliding back four spots from 41 to 45 and adding picks number 168 and 190 in the process.
Once on the clock at 45, the Packers did finally submit a card, and with that pick they have selected the “other” Cooper: linebacker Edgerrin Cooper out of Texas A&M.
Cooper becomes the first off-ball linebacker off the board in this draft, and it’s not hard to understand why: speed. The 6-foot-2, 230-pound Cooper ran a blistering 4.51-second 40-yard dash at the NFL Combine, matching the speed he shows on tape. Notably, the Packers brought Cooper in for an official pre-draft visit this month, perhaps to do some research on some off-the-field questions.
Look for Cooper to be a day-one starter as a run-and-chase weak-side linebacker, and the move likely ensures that Quay Walker will remain as the middle linebacker instead of moving to the Will spot himself.
The Packers will be back on the clock later in round two with pick number 58.
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