Guy is making a big splash in training camp and is turning heads. Still, training camp is one thing - games are another. I remember another training camp wonder by the name of Na Brown. Will Cooper turn heads this season, or is he destined to not see much of the field?

He will do very well. Is the real deal. He will have to live with the UDFA label his entire career. People would be super excited if he had been a 3rd round pick in 2025.

He had a good showing in camp last year and then didn’t really have his number called much once the season started. But being in a run first offense and quite a few bodies ahead in the pecking order (Brown, Smitty, Goedert, etc) not really surprising. Add to that a crap scheme and what appeared to be quite a bit of frustration by the key players on offense. Will be interesting to see if he has more opportunities now with what seems to be a legit coordinator (TBD on that) and the most frustrated of the players gone.

1 hour ago, time2rock said:

He had a good showing in camp last year and then didn’t really have his number called much once the season started. But being in a run first offense and quite a few bodies ahead in the pecking order (Brown, Smitty, Goedert, etc) not really surprising. Add to that a crap scheme and what appeared to be quite a bit of frustration by the key players on offense. Will be interesting to see if he has more opportunities now with what seems to be a legit coordinator (TBD on that) and the most frustrated of the players gone.

QB seems to be endorsing him a bit which can only mean he is making the roster. Made some great catches in training camp so far, bro seems to be summoning his inner AJ Brown as far as catching goes ( the good AJ that is)..

The difference was Na Brown sucked in games when given an opportunity. Cooper has played well in his limited opportunities as a rookie.

Cooper should be a good rotational receiver this season

Nice contested catch, ala AJ Brown style. I like Cooper and think he will make the 53. But man, trying to hype up him and Wicks is eerily reminiscent of when we had Smith paired with JJ Arcega-Whiteside and Greg Ward (and Jalen Reagor starring as Makai Lemon).

As for Cooper himself though, I think he definitely has a role and we may see that early in the season given Lemon's lack of health and development.

Darius Cooper is flipping the Eagles' WR depth chart on its head

With DeVonta Smith and Makai Lemon sidelined in camp, Darius Cooper keeps making himself an option for Jalen Hurts.

By Nick Tricome
PhillyVoice Staff

Bill Streicher/IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

Darius Cooper started to turn heads last preseason, and only seems to be turning more of them with this summer's Eagles training camp.

Darius Cooper broke ahead of two defensive backs, then jumped up to grab a Jalen Hurts loft over both of their heads for a huge gain.

And it felt like the former undrafted receiver was everywhere else in between.

On Monday, Cooper turned in easily his best practice of an already strong Eagles training camp for him down at the Jefferson Health Training Complex.

Running with the first-team offense, Cooper kept working himself open, even against tougher coverage assignments like Riq Woolen and Cooper DeJean, and Hurts kept feeding him the ball for consistent completions.

The Eagles already know what the top of their wide receiver depth chart looks like, or at least want it to look like: DeVonta Smith is the star No. 1 at the top, and Makai Lemon is the rookie first-rounder they want to bring up as the No. 2 option.

But both have been sidelined for about a week now with hamstring issues.

In their place, Cooper has stepped up, and so have offseason signing Elijah Moore and trade acquisition Dontayvion Wicks.

Ideally, the Eagles would probably want these guys operating no greater than three downward on the depth chart. But because offensive coordinator Sean Mannion's new scheme is expected to put more of an emphasis on Hurts throwing the ball and spreading it around more, maybe these guys are pushing their way into roles much larger than initially thought.

Cooper has put himself at the forefront of that charge.

 "It's just having that chip on my shoulder," Cooper said last week. "Coming from a smaller school, [as an] undrafted free agent, that's kind of been my life for my whole football career, coming from smaller schools, things of that nature, but still making a name for myself. Really just staying humble, keeping my faith in everything like that and putting the work in, and God will handle the rest."

Cooper had that chip last year, when he first signed with the Eagles out of Tarleton State, and then started to raise a few eyebrows during the preseason, which earned him a roster spot for 2025.

But that chip is still there, Cooper added, knowing that the NFL hardly ever carries any guarantees.

"Look, last year's in the past, you know?" Cooper said. "This is a new year. Be where my feet are. I have the same mentality for sure."

And right now, his feet are chopping and turning into sharp cuts that are offering Hurts a quick outlet with the football, and it keeps working.

Cooper was everywhere on Monday, adding on to a camp where his No. 80 has been constantly noticeable, and always for something good.

The 24-year-old will probably move back down the depth chart once Smith and Lemon can get back on the field, but he might have already proven himself way more useful to the Eagles' first-team offense than the team, and many fans, than originally thought.

Play 10/10, but still gotta work on the landing pic.twitter.com/jb9dFpqhgg

— Philadelphia Eagles (@Eagles) July 30, 2026

https://www.phillyvoice.com/eagles-training-camp-darius-cooper-wide-receiver-depth-chart-stock-up-jalen-hurts/

He’s WR3, IMO.

He provides physicality that is missing a little with our other WRs. He also seems (in practice) to have the trust of Jalen which we know is a big big thing for Jalen. So yeah I think he’ll probably play a lot as the X receiver? Smitty will be the WR1 of course and then I think Lemon will play mostly in the slot. So yeah they’ll use Hollywood to stretch the field and Cooper heavily mixed in.

51 minutes ago, UK_EaglesFan89 said:

He provides physicality that is missing a little with our other WRs. He also seems (in practice) to have the trust of Jalen which we know is a big big thing for Jalen. So yeah I think he’ll probably play a lot as the X receiver? Smitty will be the WR1 of course and then I think Lemon will play mostly in the slot. So yeah they’ll use Hollywood to stretch the field and Cooper heavily mixed in.

Forgetting Wicks? Hard to think he won't be in one of the starting spots early on.

49 minutes ago, UK_EaglesFan89 said:

He provides physicality that is missing a little with our other WRs. He also seems (in practice) to have the trust of Jalen which we know is a big big thing for Jalen. So yeah I think he’ll probably play a lot as the X receiver? Smitty will be the WR1 of course and then I think Lemon will play mostly in the slot. So yeah they’ll use Hollywood to stretch the field and Cooper heavily mixed in.

Funny thing about Hollywood is he has never been a field stretcher for as fast as he is. His best season in yards per reception was his 2nd year he had 13 y/r. He never developed into a true deep threat.

3 minutes ago, Bwestbrook36 said:

Funny thing about Hollywood is he has never been a field stretcher for as fast as he is. His best season in yards per reception was his 2nd year he had 13 y/r. He never developed into a true deep threat.

I'm not saying I disagree with Brown not becoming a "field stretcher" but stats can be misleading. Tyreek Hill only averaged slightly more over his career (13.7 y/r) and he was widely considered the best at that for some time.

I think Smitty is more of a field stretcher for us (and he too only averages 13.1 y/r over his career).

I admittedly am the furthest thing from an NFL scout, but Cooper seems like a legit pro talent. To me he feels like an upgraded version of Greg Ward. And Ward had a nice career for us as a role player.

2 hours ago, time2rock said:

I'm not saying I disagree with Brown not becoming a "field stretcher" but stats can be misleading. Tyreek Hill only averaged slightly more over his career (13.7 y/r) and he was widely considered the best at that for some time.

I think Smitty is more of a field stretcher for us (and he too only averages 13.1 y/r over his career).

True, I guess we will see. His career average is 11.7, I'm just saying just because a guy is fast doesn't make him a deep threat and I don't recall brown ever being that guy since he came into the league ( not that I followed him that closely) . I know last year for the Chiefs he mostly caught short to intermediate passes

I hope he will end up being a solid #4 receiver once Lemon is again healthy and acclimates.

Well, with Lemon turning out to be a lemon thus far, I hope the other WR step it up.

Time to worry about the WR corps when a 2nd year UDFA is being hyped in training camp.

5 hours ago, Talonblood said:

Well, with Lemon turning out to be a lemon thus far,

Always had that fear on the back of my head, when I first heard the name Lemon called up as the draft pick..

On 8/12/2026 at 11:29 AM, time2rock said:

Forgetting Wicks? Hard to think he won't be in one of the starting spots early on.

Very good point! It’s not that I forgot Wicks I think he’s has a very good camp. I guess though over the course of the season it’s maybe better if Cooper wins that battle? As he’s probably going to be cheaper to keep?

23 hours ago, eagle45 said:

Time to worry about the WR corps when a 2nd year UDFA is being hyped in training camp.

That doesn't worry me at all. In fact, I think worrying about that would be stupid. All I care about is that the best players make the team and the best players play.

We have had a few of these guys in the past who looked good in TC and even in regular season games who ultimately didn’t pan out. Maybe Cooper is the one who finally makes it, but I’m personally I don’t want to make judgement just yet.

Well, I think we could put the Darius Cooper theme to rest dude was horrible tonight no separation. What did he have one or two meaningless catches?

On 8/14/2026 at 9:04 PM, brkmsn said:

That doesn't worry me at all. In fact, I think worrying about that would be stupid. All I care about is that the best players make the team and the best players play.

Cooper will be a very good player this year and into the future. Like I said before, he unfortunately will have to carry the UDFA label even if he has a ten year career. That label never leaves.

Nasty Nate