ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler has been running his annual top-10 series this month, where he asks executives, coaches, scouts and analysts who the best players at each position are. On Tuesday, he dropped his list of linebackers, which featured Green Bay Packer Edggerin Cooper as the 9th overall player on the list.
Here’s how the full top-10 breaks down:
- Fred Warner, 49ers
- Roquan Smith, Ravens
- Carson Schwesinger, Browns
- Zack Baun, Eagles
- Jack Campbell, Lions
- Azeez Al-Shaair, Texans
- Jordyn Brooks, Dolphins
- Nick Bolton, Chiefs
- Edgerrin Cooper, Packers
- Devin Lloyd, Panthers
According to Fowler, 8 of the 10 linebackers who made the top-10 list were unranked on at least one person’s ballot, with the exceptions being Warner (lowest:
5th) and Baun (lowest: 10th). I think that sort of paints the picture of the linebacker landscape in the NFL in general: It’s healthy Fred Warner and then everyone else.
Here is what Fowler wrote about Cooper:
When the Packers let Quay Walker hit free agency, they had another star linebacker around whom to build.
“He has the size, speed and run-and-hit ability that few have,” a veteran NFL defensive coach said. “He can really go.”
Cooper’s 17 career tackles for loss are the most for a Packers player over their first two seasons since Clay Matthews III had 35 in 2009-10. The 6-foot-2, 229-pound Cooper forced two fumbles and recovered a fumble in 2025, and his run stop win rate was 33%.
Cooper is a bullet in the open field. But his 4.51-second 40-yard dash time isn’t the only reason why he plays fast.
“It’s his mind,” a high-ranking AFC official said. “He sees it and can anticipate.”
For what it’s worth, the only player younger than Cooper (25) to make the top-10 is the Browns’ Carson Schwesinger (23), who was the defensive rookie of the year last season.
Beyond the top-10, the following players made the honorable mention list:
- Quay Walker, Raiders
- DeMarvion Overshown, Cowboys
- Patrick Queen, Steelers
- Demario Davis, Jets
The Packers let Walker hit free agency this offseason, and will likely be awarded a fifth-round compensatory draft pick in 2027 for allowing him to sign with the Raiders. Here was the quote on Walker just missing the top-10 cut:
“The light finally came on for him last year. I thought he diagnosed the run game better than in the past. He has always been fast, long and can hit.” — NFC assistant coach
Another Packer made the “also receiving votes” tier, linebacker Zaire Franklin, who should replace Walker in the Mike linebacker spot in 2026. Below are all of the linebackers “also receiving votes”:
- Tremaine Edmunds
- Frankie Luvu
- Bobby Wagner (how?)
- Foyesade Oluokun
- Ernest Jones IV
- Zaire Franklin
- T.J. Edwards
- Kaden Elliss
- Dre Greenlaw
- Jihaad Campbell
Hopefully, Cooper and Franklin can play well off each other and jump up the list in 2027.
