The Jets had the No. 2 and No. 16 picks in the first round of the 2026 NFL Draft…but they weren’t done, trading back in late in the round to select Indiana WR Omar Cooper Jr. at No. 30.
In the deal, the Jets gave up their second-round pick at No. 33 overall and No. 179 at the end of the fifth-round to move up and make the pick at No. 30.
Cooper, who helped No. 1 pick Fernando Mendoza lead the Hoosiers to the national title, was Second Team All-Big Ten after posting a team-high 69 catches, 937 yards, and 13 receiving TD – a total that tied for third in the FBS – as well as one rushing score.
With the pick, the Jets added two playmakers for new QB Geno Smith (TE Kenyon Sadiq was taken at No. 16), and a potential WR2 opposite Garrett Wilson on opening day.
This marks the second time in five years the Jets had two first-round picks, including a Top 5 selection, and then traded back into the round a third time; that last happened in 2022, but only No. 10 pick Wilson remains on the team from that haul, as No. 4 pick Sauce Gardner and No. 26 pick Jermaine Johnson have both been traded.
Here is Cooper’s scouting report from the NFL Draft & Combine capsules:
Big, strong target whose two-year rise is bolstered by translatable tape. While he was a full-time slot receiver in 2025, Cooper has played outside, as well. He can stem and drive past press with his strength. He has potent early acceleration to climb past nickelbacks into top position to challenge deep. His routes lack polish and he has average in-and-out quickness at break-points, but he’s rugged once the ball is in his hands. His ability to add yards after contact could earn Cooper more carries than we saw from him at Indiana. Fighting for catch space and blocking for the running game are areas where he needs improvement. Cooper is an ascending slot bully with Day 2 value.
