Given the Cincinnati Bengals’ issues on defense the past couple of years, it’s a foregone conclusion that they will do what they can to give defensive coordinator Al Golden enough to succeed in his second season with the team. However, with such a heavy offensive identity, that doesn’t mean the team won’t look to add to that side of the ball this spring.

I was recently privileged enough to be on a recent NFL media conference call with NFL Network’s draft expert Daniel Jeremiah and was able to ask him something regarding the Bengals’ plans. While it’s fairly obvious the team will lean defense at No. 10 overall, might they be looking to add to their immensely talented wide receiver group?

While the question sounds a bit crazy on its head, Cincinnati could use a true slot receiver this year. When this offense operated at its best in 2021-2022, Tyler Boyd manned that spot, with Trenton Irwin also showing capability in role.A tough, sure-handed and shifty guy inside of Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins would be a commodity and potentially take this star-studded offense to the next level.

When I asked Jeremiah about these potential options ahead of the NFL Combine, I was personally thinking more about in rounds 3-5. However, the NFL Network draft guru had another guy in mind a bit earlier in the class.

Here’s the transcribed rundown of our exchange:

“I know it’s going to be a defensive-heavy offseason for the Bengals this year, but looking maybe, mid-rounds for some sort of slot receiving option…just another ancillary option for that offense,” I queried.

“If I can scheme—if I can put a master plan together, and you told me I could use pick No. 41 to get that accomplished (Bengals’ current second-round spot), I would run Omar Cooper, Jr.‘s name up to the podium,” Jeremiah responded. “I tweeted out the other day that I think he is ‘The Rams-iest receiver in the draft’ as a compliment—just someone that is SO incredibly tough and strong—like, we use the term ‘crowded through the catch’, your cleats are in the ground, you have confidence in your hands…you’re not leaving your feet and corralling the ball with your body, which gives you opportunities after the catch.”

A portion of my initial question specifically touched on Tyler Boyd, who was one of the Bengals’ best receivers and was a key to the team’s championship window a few years ago. Since both he and Irwin have left, Cincinnati has drafted three options to potentially fill that void over the past few years to varying degrees of success (Andrei Iosivas, Charlie Jones, and Jermaine Burton).

While Iosivas has flashed, he seems like more of a boundary/red zone option, and Jones has been relegated to special teams return duties (at which he’s been solid). Burton isn’t with the team anymore, so Cincinnati may need another versatile weapon to extend drives and take attention off of both Higgins and Chase. As it currently stands, Cooper, Jr. is Jeremiah’s No. 19 overall prospect.

The Indiana Hoosiers exploded on the college football scene this year, winning the National Championship. Heisman Trophy winner Fernando Mendoza appears to be the No. 1 overall pick to the Raiders, but his security blanket was Cooper, Jr. In 2025, Cooper, Jr posted 69 receptions for 937 yards and 13 receiving touchdowns. While playing outside for the first three years of his Hoosiers career, he moved inside as a Swiss Army-type of weapon for Indiana in 2025.

“He’s got a really strong lower body. Everyone is going to highlight the game-winner over Penn State and the incredible catch. I saw a catch against Illinois; he got drilled that I thought was even more impressive,” Jeremiah continued. It’s no secret that Zac Taylor prioritizes character in the Bengals’ locker room, and that’s also a calling card from the former Hoosier wideout.

“And then, all of the stuff you hear about him from a character standpoint is elite, off the charts. So, if I can put Omar Cooper, Jr. in that offense, with those two wide receivers—Chase and Higgins—yeah, sign me up for that”.

Cooper, Jr.’s pre-Combine weigh-ins were at 6’0” and 204. And, even though he seems a little shorter than that, his running back-esque style with the football may have teams overlooking any height deficiencies, should they rear their heads in Indianapolis.

If you can blend both the strengths and weaknesses of past Bengals (especially slot) wide receivers like Boyd, Andrew Hawkins, and TJ Houshmandzadeh, a machine may spit out something like Omar Cooper, Jr. And in an offense with Joe Burrow, Ja’Marr Chase, Tee Higgins, Chase Brown, and Mike Gesicki, that wouldn’t be a bad thing.

What do you think about the Bengals potentially using their second-round pick on Indiana’s Omar Cooper, Jr.?