Eagles’ $90,000 gamble was a long shot. Now he’s a breakout candidate: ‘I’m going to be a dog’
· Yahoo Sports
PHILADELPHIA — Running toward the back of the end zone, Eagles wide receiver Darius Cooper looked to quarterback Andy Dalton, and once he saw him pull his arm back, Cooper positioned himself for a contested catch.
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Dalton threw toward Cooper. Surrounded by defensive backs, Cooper snagged a one-handed catch in the end zone. Eagles fans cheered, and Cooper’s teammates embraced him, but the referees ruled that Cooper did not get both of his feet inbounds.
Cooper’s touchdown catch was ruled incomplete, but it was a reminder that the second-year undrafted free agent is an ascending talent.
Cooper, who played at small-school Tarleton State, is still learning the nuances of playing wide receiver in the NFL. Cooper’s one-handed grab was an impressive feat that demonstrated his upside, but Cooper is not celebrating the moment. Instead, he is determined to complete the catch next time.
“The catch is going to happen, but it’s like what you do after that,” Cooper said after Wednesday’s practice. “Do you get your foot in? Do you get on your back? Do you do the fundamentals? That’s what I’m focused on.”
Cooper made Philadelphia’s 53-man roster as a rookie last year after making plays every day during training camp, and after one week of his second training camp, he looks like an improved player who could make a bigger impact this year.
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Cooper is not considered a roster lock but is heading in that direction, especially as he continues to make standout plays.
He made a diving catch across the middle in a practice last week. Quarterback Jalen Hurts launched the ball with great velocity and Cooper made a great adjustment to reel the pass in. Hurts trusts Cooper to make those plays and feels comfortable with him playing on offense.
“Darius Cooper has done a really good job,” Hurts said on NFL Network Wednesday. “He’s always been a big body, physical, strong hands guy. But just to see how he’s transitioned going into Year 2, definitely excited for him. Along with the rest of them.”
Cooper, who is 5-11 and 210 pounds, finished with nine catches for 92 yards and played 26% of the offensive snaps in 2025.
As the fourth wide receiver, he served as an extra blocker on the perimeter. His block on Chargers safety R.J. Mickens in Week 14 sprang Eagles running back Saquon Barkley into the open field for a 52-yard touchdown.
“Still got to do the dirty work, got to block on the perimeter,” Cooper said about his role this season. “Still got to have that mentality on special teams as well. I’m in the same mindset. Nothing is changing for me. Of course, sharpening my things on offense as well with my routes and everything like that. But still in that same mindset as last year, like, ‘Hey, I’m going to be a dog on the offense and be a dog on special teams.’ That’s what I’m going to do.”
The Eagles only gave Cooper $90,000 guaranteed as a rookie, which ranked sixth among the Eagles’ undrafted free agent class, trailing safety Maxen Hook, running back Montrell Johnson Jr., offensive lineman Hollin Pierce and defensive backs B.J. Mayes and Brandon Johnson. Outside of Cooper, Pierce is the only player still on the Eagles, and he spent all of last year on the practice squad.
Cooper was a long shot entering training camp last summer — even in comparison to those UDFAs. But this year, he is coming into his own as a wide receiver and looks like a hidden gem.
“Just having that chip on my shoulder, coming from a smaller school, an undrafted free agent,” Cooper said. “That’s kind of been my life for my whole football career, coming from smaller schools and things of that nature, but still making a name for myself.”
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