Indiana wide receiver Omar Cooper Jr.'s combination of consistency and spectacular playmaking have made him one of the top receiver prospects in the 2026 class. He ranks 22nd on The Athletic's draft big board by Dane Brugler.

Recent mock drafts from NFL.com and many others have the Rams selecting Cooper with pick No. 13 in the 2026 NFL Draft. Out of the 1,442 mock drafts aggregated by Grinding the Mocks, the Rams have selected Cooper in around 3% of them, making him their third-most drafted receiver in those projections. If that were to happen, it would be the first time general manager Les Snead has selected a wide receiver in the first round since he took Tavon Austin No. 8 overall in 2013.

This is not an endorsement of Cooper by the Rams, nor is it an indication that they are targeting him. This is simply a reflection of external media linking Cooper to Los Angeles in the 2026 NFL Draft.

Here's a scouting report on Cooper and what he could bring to the Rams offense:

Scouting Report

After leading the national champion Hoosiers in receptions (69) and receiving yards (937) in 2025, Cooper solidified himself as a first-round talent. That momentum really took off when he made the game-winning touchdown catch against Penn State, a play that displayed his high-point ability, strong hands and body control.

Those are three of Cooper's biggest strengths, and he continued to put them on display throughout his best college football season in 2025. He also excels at manipulating leverage and breaking tackles. He can blaze down the field, too, but he doesn't rely on that to get open. Many have suggested he could also be a Deebo Samuel-like weapon in the run game, able to break off big runs on jet sweeps and pop passes.

"Cooper plays with above-average strength, athletic coordination and competitiveness at the catch point," wrote The Athletic's Dane Brugler. "He opens his stride to create windows for his quarterback and shows a savvy awareness for his surroundings to secure the ball mid-air. His run-after-catch skills will help separate him on draft boards."

Cooper played primarily in the slot in 2025, but he's played outside in the past and his skill set can translate to both spots at the professional level. At 6-foot, 199 pounds, Cooper has the build of a versatile NFL receiver, and his 4.42-second 40-yard dash at the combine definitely gave front offices confidence that his speed will translate.

"Big, strong target whose two-year rise is bolstered by translatable tape," wrote NFL.com's Lance Zierlein. "... 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."

Cooper didn't run a robust route tree and the Rams are big on getting in and out of breaks quickly, so those are areas that would need to be improved upon for him to contribute immediately with the Rams. Lucky for him, Cooper could learn from two receivers that he shares similarities with in Puka Nacua and Davante Adams, and potentially become an immediate contributor on a team with Super Bowl aspirations.

Fit

Cooper not only has the skill set, but the grit and character to be a great Ram. The Los Angeles offense values yards after the catch, fearlessness over the middle and the ability to manipulate leverage against man and zone coverage. Cooper can provide all of that from the slot of the outside. Plus, he's been lauded as a great teammate and leader on the best team in college football last year.

If the Rams were to use Cooper in the run game, as they have with Nacua in the past, the frequent pre-snap motion in this offense would put defenses on edge even more so than they are now. And with wide receiver Tutu Atwell signing with the Dolphins in free agency, the Rams could use a more regular dose of speed in their offense.

One of the few starting spots that the Rams could definitely improve at is WR3 after a rotating cast of characters served in that role last season. Cooper could be a short- and long-term solution at the wide receiver position, as Adams is set to become a free agent after the upcoming season.

While reviewing film, NFL Network lead draft analyst Daniel Jeremiah tweeted "Looking at my Omar Cooper Jr notes- He's the Ramsiest WR in the draft."

"I remember that viral interaction Sean McVay had with Les Snead ahead of the selection of Puka Nacua back in 2023, and Cooper registers many of the same qualities that got the Rams' brass so excited," wrote NFL.com's Rhett Lewis in a recent mock draft. "He's not as physically imposing as Puka, but Cooper's body control and ability to break tackles and make guys miss should be immensely appealing."

No. 13 overall may seem a bit high to draft Cooper compared to his projected draft stock, but another NFL.com mock draft predicted the Rams to trade down with the Lions and then take Cooper at 17th overall. Everyone knows how much the Rams love to trade first-round picks (they did it this offseason once already to acquire cornerback Trent McDuffie). If the Rams have their eye on someone and think they can get additional assets to trade down and still get their guy, they will always entertain that option.

If the Rams go the receiver route, Ohio State's Carnell Tate, USC's Makai Lemon and Arizona State's Jordyn Tyson are all higher on most analysts' boards. But if there's an early run on receivers or the Rams choose to trade down, Cooper is a very realistic target.