The Miami Dolphins are in the market for a potential Jaylen Waddle successor in the 2026 NFL Draft. They hold two first-round selections, one at No. 11 and another at No. 30 via the Denver Broncos. NFL analyst Albert Breer for Sports Illustrated believes Indiana Hoosiers’ Omar Cooper Jr. is the perfect Waddle replacement.
Is Omar Cooper Jr. the Dolphins’ Top Priority To Replace Jaylen Waddle?
At 6-foot and 199 pounds, Cooper could be a great option at the 11th overall pick for the Dolphins. A wide receiver with excellent burst and acceleration, the 22-year-old speedster recorded 4.42 seconds in the 40-yard dash at the 2026 NFL Combine.
Despite not having the physical traits, Cooper can run through arm tackles and can outrun the defense for a big touchdown. He spent four years with the Hoosiers and concluded his collegiate career with 1,798 yards and 24 total touchdowns.
“The one that sort of sticks out to me in that regard would be Omar Cooper from Indiana,” Breer said. “I think taking him at 11 would be a little rich. I’m not sure if he’ll be available at 30. But that’s what’s interesting about the spot the Dolphins are in, you know, now with the two first-round picks and seven picks in the first three rounds.
“And, you know, if you feel like, all right, like they’re going to be good receivers available in the second and third rounds, which I think there will be based on the depth of the class, that allows you to do other things with the 11th pick. I think Cooper would be kind of the one that would fit you know, what Bobby Slowik’s looking for. And probably from a program standpoint, what Jeff Hafley’s looking for um as he tries to build in year one.”
Jalen Tolbert and Tutu Atwell were signed in free agency by the Dolphins, and Miami could consider a move for the Indiana pass catcher in this draft. Other players like Denzel Boston, Jordyn Tyson, and Makai Lemon are also in the mix.
Cooper’s 2026 NFL Draft Scouting Report
According to the PFSN Big Board, Cooper ranks fourth among the wide receivers in the 2026 draft class. Last season, he ranked 10th overall in PFSN’s CFB WR Impact Metrics with an 83.0 Impact Score.
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PFSN noted, “Omar Cooper Jr. is one half of Indiana’s dynamic duo at WR, and like his teammate Elijah Sarratt, it’s entirely possible he’s off the board within the Top 100 picks in the 2026 NFL Draft. At 6’0”, 201 pounds, Cooper is a dense, compact pass-catcher with a low center of gravity and effortless explosiveness and vertical stretching.
“He can extend seams as a RAC threat with his range and contact balance, and he has the quickness and prying strength to work through adjacent contact — but he also flashes great salesmanship and tempo control as a route runner. Drops can be an issue on occasion for Cooper, and he has room to keep refining his route tree in the intermediate range, but overall, he’s a budding three-level threat with a particular affinity for RAC accumulation and vertical advances.”
