Houston Texans pick Texas A&M Aggies Star LB Edgerrin Cooper in Latest Mock Draft

The Houston Texans are keeping Aggies linebacker Edgerrin Cooper in the latest NFL mock draft from the Athletic.

The Texas A&M Aggies may be down in terms of numbers in talent for the upcoming NFL Draft, but the players they do have, should make an serious impact.

The leader of the pack for the Aggies is linebacker Edgerrin Cooper, who is widely regarded as one of the top two players at his position in the entire class.

And in the latest mock draft from the Athletic's Bruce Feldman, it appears that Cooper could be staying in-state, with the Houston Texans selecting Cooper with the No. 42 overall pick.

Sep 23, 2023; College Station, Texas, USA; Auburn Tigers quarterback Payton Thorne (1) runs the ball

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"The hunch here is that the Texans grab (Cooper), who was a bright spot during a dismal 2023 season when he led the team with 84 tackles, 17 TFLs and eight sacks," Feldman wrote. "The 6-2, 230-pounder ran a 4.51 40 with a 1.54 10-yard split and vertical jumped 34 1/2 inches."

Cooper, who started two seasons after being recruited by new A&M coach Mike Elko, led the SEC in tackles for loss (17) and pressures. He led the Aggies in tackles (83) and sacks (8) while serving as the backbone of a 7-6 finish under Jimbo Fisher.

The Houston Texans - who are in need of linebacker help after the loss of Blake Cashman in free agency - would be a viable and intriguing landing spot for Cooper. That said, the Texans also signed former Titans linebacker Azeez Al-Shair this offseason, meaning that position may no longer be a primary need.

If the Texans end up going in another direction however, Cooper doesn't figure to stay on the board much longer after the No. 42 pick.

Either way, wherever Cooper ends up, he is ready to prove himself at the next level.

“Whoever wants me, I’m ready to put on a show,” said Cooper following Texas A&M’s Pro Day on Tuesday at the Coolidge Performance Center. “To just have everybody look at me as a great player who comes to work every day — that’s all I’m looking for.”