When the 2026 NFL Draft rolls around in April, the Indiana Hoosiers are expected to be well-represented. Coming off an incredible 16-0 National Championship season, Indiana set a program record by sending nine players to the NFL Combine in Indianapolis last month. Fernando Mendoza is garnering plenty of attention as the overwhelming favorite to be selected 1st overall by the Las Vegas Raiders, but several other Hoosier playmakers are slated to hear their names called early on.
Indiana's 2026 win total projection shows the Hoosiers are here to stay
One Hoosier entering April's draft with plenty of hype is WR Omar Cooper Jr. After leading all Indiana receivers with 69 catches and 936 receiving yards while ranking second on the team with 13 receiving touchdowns, Cooper is projected to be a late first round or early second round selection later this spring.
3. Houston Texans (2nd round, 38th overall pick)
The Houston Texans are in need of receiving depth, as Christian Kirk is now a free agent and Tank Dell has been battling injuries throughout his career. Nico Collins is a bonafide No. 1 target, and he racked up 1,117 yards this past season. Jayden Higgins was next on the stat sheet with 525 yards, and adding some WR depth to help out Collins could be advantageous for C.J. Stroud and the Houston offense.
The Texans own the No. 28 and No. 38 overall picks, and either spot would make sense for Cooper. If they don't take him at No. 28 and he slips out of the first round, Houston could still grab him at No. 38.
2. Denver Broncos (1st round, 30th overall pick)
One area where Cooper excels is in racking up yards after the catch. Cooper averaged 7.1 yards after the catch this season, and those skills could be extremely beneficial in Sean Payton's offensive scheme.
The Broncos have struggled to find reliable wide receiver depth behind Courtland Sutton, who will be entering his age 31 season in the fall. Troy Franklin, Marvin Mims, and Pat Bryant have failed to put a stranglehold on the WR2 spot in Denver, and Cooper could fill that void nicely.
1. Pittsburgh Steelers (1st round, 21st overall pick)
Cooper heading to Pittsburgh to join the Steelers would be a solid fit for many reasons. Cooper's skill set would bring some youth and be a nice compliment to a veteran-led WR room that features DK Metcalf, and Marquez Valdes-Scantling. Calvin Austin also recently signed with the Giants, and Cooper could be a nice replacement.
Furthermore, going to Pittsburgh would reunite Cooper with a former Indiana coach. Steelers WR coach Adam Henry was in Bloomington for the 2022 season where he served as Indiana's co-offensive coordinator and wide receivers coach. He recruited Cooper to IU, and the pair have an established relationship that could make Cooper's transition to the NFL a little more seamless.