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Omar Cooper Jr., a wide receiver from the Indiana Hoosiers, is a top prospect for the New Orleans Saints in the 2026 NFL Draft. Following an impressive season, he has quickly risen on draft boards as the Saints look to strengthen their receiving corps.
As the 2025 NFL season wound down, it was clear that the New Orleans Saints lacked the necessary weapons at wide receiver. The Saints are expected to change that in the 2026 NFL Draft. Most expect them to address the position early on, likely in their first few picks. Wideout Omar Cooper Jr. of the national champion Indiana Hoosiers is one of several names that have been linked to the team.
New Orleans is expected to sign Chris Olave to a contract extension this offseason. Beyond Olave, Ja'Lynn Polk and Devaughn Vele have shown potential but are still largely unproven, and the rest of the depth chart has provided little. After an outstanding season with the Hoosiers, Cooper has ascended up draft boards rapidly.
A football, basketball, and track standout at Lawrence North High School in Indiana, Cooper was convinced to keep his talents close to home with the in-state Hoosiers. He'd redshirt as a freshman in 2022 and saw moderate action with 18 catches and 267 yards with 2 scores the following season. In 2024, Cooper had his first extensive action and responded with 28 receptions for 594 yards and 7 touchdowns, with his 21.2 yard average per catch leading the Big Ten conference.
Cooper had his breakout campaign with the undefeated national champs in 2025. He led Indiana with 69 catches and 937 yards, scoring 13 times to finish second in the Big Ten behind only teammate Elijah Sarratt. Those numbers earned Cooper 2nd Team All-Big Ten honors.
Omar Cooper Jr. stands 6 feet tall, weighs 199 pounds, has a 40-yard dash time of 4.42 seconds, a 10-yard split of 1.55 seconds, and a vertical jump of 37 inches.
The Saints are looking to enhance their wide receiver options after a lackluster performance in the 2025 season, and Cooper's outstanding season with the Hoosiers has made him a top candidate.
The Saints currently have Chris Olave, who is expected to receive a contract extension, along with Ja'Lynn Polk and Devaughn Vele, who are still developing.
The 2026 NFL Draft is scheduled to take place in April 2026, where teams will select new players to strengthen their rosters.
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A strong 2025 vaulted Cooper up draft boards to the point that he's getting some strong first round consideration. Cooper presents a possible major mismatch for defenses as a big slot receiver who can also perform from the outside. He has some nuances as a route runner to clean up, but has the abilities to contribute immediately and earn a starting role quickly.
Many like Cooper's Indiana teammate Elijah Sarratt better as an all-around receiver. However, Cooper has also shown that he can be a big-play threat as a runner. It might be a little too high for the Saints to take Cooper at number eight overall unless they're really enthralled by him. If Cooper slips to the second round and New Orleans passes on a receiver in the first, Omar Cooper has several traits that can quickly bolster their offense.
This article originally appeared on Saints Wire: 2026 NFL Draft: Indiana Hoosiers WR Omar Cooper Jr. scouting report