GREEN BAY \u2014 Edgerrin Cooper has had a few brief conversations with two of the people who you could argue will have the greatest impact on the Green Bay Packers third-year linebacker\u2019s performance this season.\u00a0<\/p>\n
One is new defensive coordinator Jonathan Gannon, who takes over for Jeff Hafley after Hafley became the Miami Dolphins head coach earlier this season.<\/p>\n
The other is veteran linebacker Zaire Franklin, who was acquired in a player-for-player trade with the Indianapolis Colts for defensive tackle Colby Wooden in March. Franklin becomes Cooper\u2019s new primary runningmate at linebacker after the team watched four-year starter Quay Walker leave in free agency and join the Las Vegas Raiders.<\/p>\n
Alas, to hear Cooper tell it, those discussions have been, well, brief.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe chatted a little bit, but [there\u2019s] a lot going on right now,\u201d Cooper said as he, team president\/CEO Ed Policy and some alumni players departed Lambeau Field on a bus for the annual Tailgate Tour last week. \u201cI\u2019m just letting everybody settle in. Once we talk into these doors, that\u2019s when the business is going to happen.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s a fresh start and I\u2019m really looking forward to what\u2019s going to happen.\u201d<\/p>\n
Exactly how different things will be on Cooper\u2019s side of the ball with Gannon in charge is hard to know. Gannon does apparently plan to switch from Hafley\u2019s 4-3 to a 3-4 base system, although like Hafley he prefers to adjust to his personnel and runs sub packages about 80% of the time.<\/p>\n
And evidently Cooper, whose impact plays dropped from a boffo rookie year (3.5 sacks, an interception, one forced fumble, two fumble recoveries, four pass breakups) to a solid Year 2 with very few splash plays (118 tackles, but no interceptions and just a half-sack), didn\u2019t really talk about many specifics with Gannon.<\/p>\n
\u201cSeemed like great people already,\u201d Cooper said of Gannon. \u201cI\u2019m just excited. Once he\u2019s here and I\u2019m here, I\u2019m ready to show him more of what I can do.\u201d<\/p>\n
A new defensive coordinator isn\u2019t the only change. A Cooper-Walker tandem seemed like general manager Brian Gutekunst\u2019s long-term plan at the position, with the Packers offering Walker an extension early in the season that Walker chose not to sign.<\/p>\n
The Packers continued to work toward a deal as free agency approached in March, but Walker ultimately opted for the Raiders and sounded like he felt he was miscast in Green Bay in both Joe Barry and Hafley\u2019s schemes.<\/p>\n
Enter Franklin, an All-Pro selection in 2024, when he led the NFL in tackles. He not only crossed paths with Gannon in Indianapolis, but Gutekunst had actually had his eye on him for years.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe’ve like Zaire for a while, quite frankly. Back when he was not starting in Indy in his first few years, he was a really good special teams player [and] we tried to acquire him then,\u201d Gutekunst said at the annual NFL Meetings in Arizona.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe\u2019s been a really good player for a long time. Obviously a very good leader as well, [having been a] captain there. So, as we realized it was going to be really tough to get Quay back, I wanted to make sure we had an answer at middle linebacker, particularly one that might have some veteran presence. And I think we were excited to accomplish that.\u201d<\/p>\n
As a result, the linebacker position is in flux as the offseason program kicks off on Monday.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s a part of the business. You never know what to expect,\u201d Cooper said. \u201cIt\u2019s sad seeing those guys leave, but it\u2019s part of it. It\u2019s the business. It happens with everyone. We\u2019re going to go forward.\u201d<\/p>\n
Packers depth chart<\/p>\n
44\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Zaire Franklin\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 6-0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 235\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 29\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 9\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Syracuse<\/p>\n
56\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Edgerrin Cooper\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 6-2\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 229\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 24\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 3\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Texas A&M<\/p>\n
58\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Isaiah McDuffie\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 6-1\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 227\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 26\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 6\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Boston College<\/p>\n
59\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Ty’Ron Hopper\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 6-2\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 228\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 24\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 3\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Missouri<\/p>\n
54\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Kristian Welch\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 6-3\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 240\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 27\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 7\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Iowa<\/p>\n
31\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Nick Niemann\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 6-3\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 234\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 28\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 6\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Iowa<\/p>\n
Best in class | Sonny Styles, Ohio State.<\/p>\n
The 6-foot-5, 244-pound Styles started his college career as a safety, and his potential versatility at the next level has NFL teams thinking he\u2019s worth taking with a first-round pick even in a league where fewer and fewer off-the-ball linebackers are taken on Day 1.<\/p>\n
A first-team All-American for the Buckeyes last season, when he registered a team-high 82 tackles along with a sack, a fumble and an interception, Styles is good in space and has an excellent football IQ to go along with strong instincts.<\/p>\n
That combination should make him an immediate contributor as soon as he arrives at the next level.<\/p>\n
\u201cA lot of teams, I think they want to know and I want to show them that I am aware what I need to get better at. I want to show them I\u2019m an intelligent player, I\u2019m not just a guy out there running and hitting,\u201d Styles said. \u201cThat\u2019s part of the game, too, but you\u2019ve got to be a smart football player, especially in the NFL. And then, I\u2019m a very versatile linebacker. I think I can do a lot for a defense.\u201d<\/p>\n
Next men up | Jacob Rodriguez, Texas Tech; CJ Allen, Georgia; Jake Golday, Cincinnati; Anthony Hill Jr., Texas; Josiah Trotter, Missouri.<\/p>\n
Pick to click | TJ Quinn, Louisville.<\/p>\n
The 6-foot-1, 230-pound Quinn may not even get drafted, but the Packers felt he merited using one of their 30 allotted pre-draft visits on him. He led the Cardinals each of the past three seasons, was twice an All-ACC selection and played nearly 2,200 career defensive snaps.<\/p>\n
Like Styles, he started out as a safety but transitioned to linebacker.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat stands out the most about my film is you will see some of everything in it,\u201d Styles, who finished his career with 289 tackles, five sacks and 15 tackles for loss, told NFL Draft Diamonds. \u201cI am a versatile player who makes plays sideline to sideline. I am an eraser and whenever there is a mistake I am there to fix it. I am someone who can make plays in all parts of the game.\u201d<\/p>\n
History lesson | Gutekunst\u2019s selection of Walker at No. 22 in 2022 represented a clear shift in how the Packers view the linebacker position \u2014 even before transitioning to the 4-3 defense under Hafley in 2024.<\/p>\n
Walker\u2019s selection marked the earliest pick the Packers had used on a true linebacker \u2014 not a 3-4 edge rusher like Clay Matthews or Rashan Gary \u2014 since Gutekunst\u2019s predecessor, Ted Thompson, took Ohio State\u2019s A.J. Hawk with the No. 5 overall pick in 2006.<\/p>\n
Two years after taking Walker, Gutekunst doubled down in the 2024 draft, taking Cooper in the second round and Hopper in the third. And knowing that Walker was likely to depart after turning down an in-season contract extension offer, he acquired Franklin in a trade.<\/p>\n
With eight picks to work with as of now, it\u2019s hard to imagine Gutekunst coming out of the draft without having added at least another linebacker to the mix.<\/p>\n
PACKERS 2026 NFL DRAFT PREVIEW SCHEDULE<\/p>\n
Sunday, April 12 \u2014 QUARTERBACKS<\/p>\n
Monday, April 13 \u2014 RUNNING BACKS<\/p>\n
Tuesday, April 14 \u2014 WIDE RECEIVERS<\/p>\n
Wednesday, April 15 \u2014 TIGHT ENDS<\/p>\n
Thursday, April 16 \u2014 OFFENSIVE LINEMEN<\/p>\n
Friday, April 17 \u2014 DEFENSIVE LINEMEN<\/p>\n
Saturday, April 18 \u2014 EDGE RUSHERS<\/p>\n
Sunday, April 19 \u2014 LINEBACKERS<\/p>\n
Monday, April 20 \u2014 CORNERBACKS<\/p>\n
Tuesday, April 21 \u2014 SAFETIES<\/p>\n
Wednesday, April 22 \u2014 SPECIALISTS<\/p>\n
Thursday, April 23 \u2014 DRAFT DAY PREVIEW<\/p>\n
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