The Pittsburgh Steelers have two established outside wide receivers in D.K. Metcalf and Michael Pittman Jr. However, the club is missing a dynamic playmaker to line up somewhere in between them, like Indiana standout Omar Cooper Jr., whose stock is rising.
Much to the dismay of the Steelers, Cooper has been gaining steam ahead of the 2026 NFL Draft. The New York Jets appear to be zeroing in on him, but they may not be the only ones vying for his services. He comes in as the 20th-ranked prospect on FanSided's Big Board, which spells trouble for a Pittsburgh squad holding this year's No. 21 overall pick.
Cooper has been identified as a first-round option for the Steelers (more than once), and understandably so. He profiles as an ideal complement to the aforementioned Metcalf/Pittman duo. Alas, Pittsburgh's hopes of landing the Hoosiers star are ostensibly dwindling.
The Pittsburgh Steelers could be watching Omar Cooper Jr. dream become a nightmare in real time
Pittsburgh didn't bring Cooper in for a visit, which is notable because the franchise typically selects players it hosts. Of course, that doesn't mean he's off their radar, though not doing the due diligence on an electrifying prospect could ultimately prove futile. Nevertheless, for what it's worth, there's still hope of him falling to the Steelers.
Lest we forget, there's a new sheriff in town in head coach Mike McCarthy, so history may not be an indicator of the future. The Steelers' interest in Cooper has been reported; they like him "a lot," according to Gerry Dulac of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette ($). That's another sign that Pittsburgh is operating differently than it has under Mike Tomlin for the past 19 seasons.
It also shouldn't be overlooked that the two sides met at the annual Scouting Combine and have a strong pre-established connection. Steelers offensive assistant Frank Cignetti Jr. is the younger brother of Indiana head coach Curt Cignetti. Moreover, Pittsburgh wide receivers coach Adam Henry was the Hoosiers' co-offensive coordinator in 2022 and helped recruit Cooper; talk about a small world.
Perhaps the Steelers already have everything they need to know about Cooper. Or maybe Pittsburgh just isn't expecting him to be available when it's their turn on the clock. Either way, his combination of speed, explosiveness, and playmaking ability would be an ideal fit in McCarthy's scheme, which calls for more three-receiver sets.
Across 16 games for the National Championship-winning Hoosiers in 2025, Cooper caught 69 passes for 937 yards and 13 touchdowns. He was the go-to guy almost whenever Indiana quarterback and presumed No. 1 selection Fernando Mendoza was in trouble or needed to make something happen.
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