A 6-4, 241-pound hybrid destroyer who plays like he's been shot out of a cannon on every snap. Reese is the rare linebacker prospect who can legitimately set the edge against NFL tackles, then flip to off-ball and pursue sideline-to-sideline with closing speed that makes veteran backs flinch. The pass-rush toolbox is still under construction — he wins with athleticism and violence right now, not technique — and his coverage instincts in zone are a genuine developmental concern, with too many reps covering grass against play-action. But at 20 years old with one season of starter experience, the growth curve is steep and the physical ceiling is Micah Parsons-adjacent. He's the kind of prospect a defensive coordinator builds an entire schematic identity around — if you're willing to accept Year 1 turbulence for Year 3 dominance.
- Elite closing burst and sideline-to-sideline range at 241 pounds — ran a 4.46 at the combine with a 1.58 10-yard split
- Devastating play strength and physicality at the POA; physically overwhelms tight ends and can jolt 300-pound linemen backward
- Violent, explosive block-shedding with a deep toolkit of disengage moves (rips, long-arms, hammer, throw-by)
- Reliable tackler with outstanding finishing — just four missed tackles on ~70 stops in 2025
- True positional versatility as an LB/EDGE hybrid who can rush, spy, set the edge, and drop into short zones
- Coverage is the clear developmental gap — PFF coverage grade of 55.6, bad eyes in zone, late to get depth against play-action
- Pass-rush repertoire is raw: wins with burst and power but lacks refined counters when his initial move is stalled
- Only one year of starting experience; production sample is thin relative to his draft position
- Run diagnosis and angles of attack graded as 'average' by Zierlein — processing speed lags behind his physical speed
Multiple analysts (Sikkema, PFF, others) drew this comp directly. Similar athletic profile — rangy, explosive hybrid linebacker with speed-to-power conversion, developing coverage instincts, and the versatility to rush or drop. Cooper's excellent rookie year in Green Bay (85.6 PFF grade) represents the realistic floor/median outcome for Reese, with Reese being even bigger.