We covered earlier this week how Jets rookie Omar Cooper Jr. might be in danger of Isaiah Williams passing him on the depth chart. Friday's preseason opener turned that into reality. Cooper played zero snaps with the starting offense, while Williams played seven of the 11 and ran five routes. That put him narrowly behind top-two WRs Garrett Wilson and Adonai Mitchell. They each played all 11 snaps and ran seven routes.
What They're Saying: Rare Playing Time ... in a Bad Way
Kyle Dvorchak of NBC Sports: "Omar Cooper was on the field for the Jets' sixth offensive drive tonight. The last time a first-round rookie of any non-QB skill position was on the field that late into a preseason game was Treylon Burks in 2022."
2026 Fantasy Football Impact: Tough Road for First-Rounder
We're still in the time of year where depth charts can change quickly and rookies often start low and need to prove themselves. But it's not a good sign that the Jets avoided getting Cooper on the field earlier. That's especially true because the starting QB for this game was fourth-round rookie Cade Klubnik.
Cooper and Klubnik obviously face very different circumstances. Klubnik filled in because Geno Smith was dealing with foot soreness, not because he earned a promotion. (Though it's good for him that he's ahead of Brady Cook and Bailey Zappe for the backup job.)
The guy keeping Cooper out of the No. 3 WR spot, however, is Williams, a 25-year-old former undrafted free agent who's with his fourth NFL team and has just 28 career catches (26 of those for last year's Jets).
Williams isn't a young guy worth a shot. He's a mediocre vet who takes the field when you don't yet trust the younger guy you just drafted in Round 1.
None of this dooms Cooper's chances of becoming a 2026 factor, but it sure lengthens those odds. Combine that with an unexciting Jets offense that sports Wilson and Mitchell as the clear top two at WR, and there's little reason to bet on Cooper in redraft this year.
Other Winners & Losers: Mitchell Gets More Stable
Mitchell's the biggest winner here. He already looked like the leader for No. 2 WR duties since the spring, and Friday night's playing time only strengthens that case.
Mitchell makes plenty of sense as a late-round option in redraft. Just don't hit September expecting immediate contributions. He has flashed upside through his first two seasons but remained a highly inconsistent player.
Dynasty Impact: Don't Worry ... Yet
I have my reservations about Cooper as a long-term prospect as well, but you shouldn't let this Isaiah Williams development make you give up on Cooper if you believed at rookie-draft time.
There's plenty of potential volatility to the Jets' depth chart and coaching staff over the next few years, all of which could quickly change Cooper's opportunity.
