The Green Bay Packers may consider moving Edgerrin Cooper to full-time pass rusher. You might think that’s crazy because Cooper is Green Bay’s best off-ball linebacker in the last decade. That’s where he will likely spend the rest of his career.
However, after watching Cooper rush the passer in 2024, I couldn’t help but wonder if he could make a full-time transition to edge rusher.
According to Pro Football Focus, Cooper finished 2024 as the second-highest-graded off-ball linebacker in pass-rush grade. He recorded more sacks than Lukas Van Ness and posted the second-highest pass-rush win rate among Packers players with at least 30 pass-rush attempts, trailing only Brenton Cox Jr.
Cooper excels at shooting the gaps on tape and pressuring the quarterback. On January 2, a reporter asked Jeff Hafley whether Cooper’s success in shooting gaps is a prescribed element of the defensive scheme or if Hafley encourages him to trust his instincts and attack when he identifies an opportunity.
“He’s an instinctual player,” Hafley said.
Most of the time, he’s where he’s supposed to be, but if he sees an opportunity to shoot a gap and make the play before it reaches his assignment, he’ll take it. We’ve pressured him a lot, which helps because he’s excellent at getting to the football. For the most part, though, he’s in the right spot. Sometimes, his instincts allow him to react quicker than most players. You know what I mean?
I totally understand what people see. If you watch the TV copy of him, you could make a 12-play cut-up, and it’s just like, “Whoa.’” The way he tracks people down, weaves through gaps, and shows up behind the line of scrimmage – it’s impressive. There are plays where it looks like the ball is heading in one direction, but somehow, he dives inside, beats it, and makes the tackle before it develops. He’s got a lot of natural ability, and he’s improving every week.
In the same press conference, Hafley hinted at a special package for Cooper featuring something that had yet to appear on film. I’d imagine he wants to build around Cooper’s strengths, allowing him to be an instinctive rusher and make plays in the backfield.
There’s an important distinction between Hafley using Cooper as a gadget player on simulated pressures and him making a complete transition to the edge. Cooper’s ability to shoot the gaps is impressive, but we haven’t seen him display a deep arsenal of hand-fighting moves. If Cooper transitions to a full-time pass rusher, he would need to spend most of the offseason refining his technique and developing that skillset to consistently win against offensive tackles.
If Cooper transitions to a full-time pass rusher, adding weight would be a crucial part of the process. At 6’2″, 229 lbs., he’s lighter than some top edge rushers. People often see Micah Parsons as undersized for the role, and he weighs 245 lbs.
Moreover, shifting Cooper to the edge would create a gap at inside linebacker. With Quay Walker entering the final year of his rookie contract, Isaiah McDuffie and Eric Wilson hitting free agency, and Ty’Ron Hopper logging just 18 snaps last season, the Packers must first ensure they have the right personnel at linebacker before contemplating a move for Cooper.
Cooper is too valuable as an off-ball linebacker, a position where Green Bay has struggled to find consistent talent over the past decade, to make him a full-time edge rusher. The Packers have enough cap space and draft capital to address the pass rush through free agency and the draft. Still, Cooper is an instinctive player who could transition into a pass-rushing role with time and development.
Green Bay has transitioned off-ball linebackers into pass rushers before. In 2024, Clay Matthews moved from pass rusher to an off-ball role. While Matthews wasn’t thrilled about the change, they did it to help improve a run defense that was one of the worst in the league.
Cooper could follow a reverse trajectory to Clay Matthews‘ career. However, if they make that shift, it shouldn’t be anytime soon. Cooper is by far Green Bay’s best off-ball linebacker, and there’s no real benefit in moving him to another role. His 2024 season demonstrated that he has the potential to become a superstar at linebacker, and that’s where the Packers should focus his development for the foreseeable future.
