ESPN's Field Yates: believes Jets struck gold with Omar Cooper Jr.

Some moves are about value. Others are about conviction. The New York Jets’ decision to trade back into the first round for Omar Cooper Jr. was clearly the latter, and it’s already earning national recognition.

Legends love the selection. So does the national media.

ESPN’s Field Yates recently named his favorite picks from every round of the 2026 NFL Draft. Cooper got the nod as one of his favorite Day 1 picks, pointing to a combination of fit, production, and long-term upside.

It stands to mention that the selection of David Bailey could have made the cut if not for one nugget. Yates focused on picks made outside the top ten. Cooper's acquisition was a wise decision. For a team looking to reshape its offensive identity, that kind of endorsement only reinforces what the Jets believed when they made the move.

He's built for today's NFL. His value doesn't need much explanation. He’s the kind of receiver modern offenses are built around. He's physical after the catch. He's instinctive with the ball in his hands and is tough enough to handle the dirty work that often goes unnoticed.

Omar Cooper Jr. and the New York Jets are a perfect pairing.

Cooper's ability to break tackles, create extra yardage, and turn short gains into explosive plays makes him a constant threat. Still, there’s so much more to his game than the individual highlights.

He blocks, competes, and shows up in big moments. Those traits matter, especially for a team trying to establish consistency on offense. The fit in New York is obvious. He and Garrett Wilson paired together give the Jets a complementary duo that can stress defenses in multiple ways. Wilson brings polish and route-running precision. Cooper brings physicality and run-after-catch ability.

Together, they create balance and problems. That’s the goal because, for all the attention on quarterbacks and scheme, offensive success often comes down to having players who can make something happen when the ball is in their hands. Cooper is one of those players.