Houston Texans Select Texas A&M's Edgerrin Cooper in Latest NFL Mock Draft

The Houston Texans could address the linebacker position in the upcoming NFL Draft

Sep 23, 2023; College Station, Texas, USA; Texas A&M Aggies linebacker Edgerrin Cooper (45) / Maria Lysaker-USA TODAY Sports

The Houston Texans are set to have an interesting NFL Draft later this month.

Without a first round pick in their pocket, and an extremely active free agency period, there are a number of approaches that the Texans could take to their strategy.

One of the more popular strategies across the NFL mock draft landscape has the Texans going the linebacker route, pairing a talented young defender next to up-and-coming star Christian Harris.

And in the latest mock draft from the Athletic's Bruce Feldman, that is exactly what they did, selecting Texas A&M Aggies star Edgerrin Cooper with the No. 42 overall pick in the second round.

Sep 23, 2023; College Station, Texas, USA; Texas A&M Aggies linebacker Edgerrin Cooper (45) / Maria Lysaker-USA TODAY Sports

"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.”