Don't look now, but the 2026 NFL Draft is just under two months away. After a historic National Championship winning season in 2025, plenty of Hoosiers expect to hear their names called. Fernando Mendoza is the headliner, as he is projected to be the No. 1 overall pick in just about every Mock Draft out there.
One NFL coach isn't sold on Fernando Mendoza as a lock for the No. 1 overall pick
But Indiana's Heisman-winning QB isn't the only Hoosier projected to go in the First Round. WR Omar Cooper Jr. put together an eye-popping junior season, and is now projected to be a Day 1 pick when April's NFL Draft gets underway on Thursday, April 23 in Pittsburgh.
Latest Mock Draft has Omar Cooper Jr. reuniting with a former IU coach
In the latest NFL Mock Draft from Saturday Blitz, Cooper is projected to be selected with the 21st overall pick by the Pittsburgh Steelers. He is the fourth wide receiver off the board, following Ohio State's Carnell Tate (8th overall to the Saints), Arizona State's Jordyn Tyson (11th overall to the Dolphins), and USC's Makai Lemon (16th overall to the Jets).
The move to Pittsburgh would be a great fit for Cooper for multiple reasons. The Steelers have a great track record of drafting and developing elite wide receiver talent, and Cooper could be the next in line.
Secondly, the Steelers already have a bonafide No. 1 receiver in DK Metcalf, so Cooper wouldn't be expected to carry the Pittsburgh receiving core in his rookie season. Calvin Austin and Marquez Valdes-Scantling are also solid veteran receivers, so Cooper's skill set could prove to be a nice compliment to Pittsburgh's existing receiving core.
In addition, Cooper already has an established relationship with Pittsburgh WR coach Adam Henry. Henry was in Bloomington for the 2022 season where he served as Indiana's co-offensive coordinator and wide receivers coach. Henry recruited Cooper to IU, and a potential reunion in the NFL could produce great results.
Cooper's solid Combine performance boosts his draft stock even more
Cooper saw his production increase in each of his three seasons in Bloomington. He led the Hoosiers with 69 catches and 936 receiving yards this past season, and was second on the team in receiving touchdowns with 13.
Cooper also put together a stand-out performance at the NFL Combine in Indianapolis last week, running a dazzling 4.43 40-yard dash time that raised eyebrows among NFL executives.
.@IndianaFootball WR Omar Cooper Jr. improves his time with a 4.43u in front of the home crowd.
— NFL (@NFL) February 28, 2026
2026 NFL Combine on @nflnetwork
Stream on @NFLPlus pic.twitter.com/KSxOHtmTWd
He continues to draw significant interest from NFL teams, and even met with a whopping 17 teams on February 25 alone.
Cooper has the potential to make an immediate impact at the next level, and landing in Pittsburgh might just be the perfect fit. But no matter where he ends up, Hoosier fans are sure to be cheering him on throughout his NFL career.