Omar Cooper Jr. has announced his decision to declare for the 2026 NFL Draft. He was Indiana’s leading wide receiver in a season of firsts for the program. The school had its first undefeated season, national title, and Big Ten title.
Cooper Jr. made his announcement through a letter posted on his X account, in which the final two paragraphs read as follows:
“To Hoosier Nation, thank you for welcoming me and supporting me from the moment I stepped on campus. Growing up in Indianapolis, I’m proud to represent my city and my state, and these last four years in Bloomington have meant everything to me. This program pushed me, shaped me, and gave me memories I’ll carry forever. With gratitude for this journey and faith in what lies ahead, I am declaring for the 2026 NFL Draft.”
In the 2025 season, he recorded 937 yards (31st in the nation), with 13 touchdown catches on 69 receptions. His average yards per catch was a respectable 13.6 yards per catch. In the process, he earned a Second Team All-Big Ten selection.
He was also Indiana’s leading wide receiver in the national title game against Miami, with 71 yards on five receptions.
Omar Cooper Jr.’s NFL Draft stock
Omar Cooper Jr. isn’t expected to be the hottest commodity in the upcoming 2026 NFL Draft. According to experts, he will fall somewhere between Round 3 and Round 4 of the draft. That tracks with a career at the college level that never broke the 1000-yard ceiling.
2025 was by far his best season, with the previous seasons being in the 200s (2023) and 500s (2024) yards, respectively. Through three seasons in the FBS, Omar Cooper Jr. recorded 1,798 receiving yards, with 22 touchdown catches in 115 receptions.
He is hampered by a fairly good wide receiver class for the 2026 NFL Draft. Ohio State’s Carnell Tate, Arizona State’s Jordyn Tyson, USC’s Makai Lemon, and Washington’s Denzel Boston are likely to be picked above him.
The range of teams that could be interested in him is big, going from postseason contenders like the Buffalo Bills and the Pittsburgh Steelers to failing franchises like the New York Jets and the Cincinnati Bengals. The NFL Combine will probably be of much importance to him.
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