During their time as roommates at Jets training camp, Omar Cooper Jr. and Kenyon Sadiq had to master the art of sharing the spotlight. Fans of the Jets are eager to see how the team’s offense could change when these two rookie first-round draft picks — each with three 100-yard receiving games and several Offensive Rookie of the Week awards to their names — stop sharing the limelight.
“I know it’s going to come,” Cooper said. “There’s going to be a day when a few of us have a great day, so I’m really looking forward to that.”
This Sunday against the Raiders might be just the right moment for that to happen. Sadiq shone with seven receptions for 105 yards and one touchdown from Geno Smith in Week 3, while Cooper was sidelined due to a high ankle sprain. Now, back in action, Cooper has had two consecutive games with over 100 yards and a touchdown, while Sadiq’s production has tapered off, with just four catches for 21 yards in the last four games.
Meant to alleviate some of the pressure on Garrett Wilson and Breece Hall, the pair already makes up a third of the nine non-Wilson 100-yard receiving games recorded by the Jets since 2022, with Hall responsible for two others from the backfield.
“It’s only one ball, and Garrett has to get it, Braelon [Allen] has to get it, Sadiq has to get it, Mason [Taylor] has to get it,” explained head coach Aaron Glenn. “So every week brings its own set of dynamics. We’ve got other players who can contribute, too.”
Cooper has shown potential especially after overcoming a slow start in training camp, where he was losing first-team reps to Isaiah Williams, and an injury in Week 1. This kind of adversity can often derail rookie seasons throughout the league.
“I just focused on the game plan and being in the right place to be a dependable target, trusting that Geno would place the ball where it needs to be,” Cooper shared. “Throughout my recovery, I stayed positive, even when I missed playing time. I kept up with the playbook and really engaged in meetings to ensure I wouldn’t fall too far behind.”
Sadiq was touted as a versatile asset in the evolving landscape of NFL offenses that utilize multiple tight ends. He has been in various positions, including the backfield, inline, slot, and out wide, but has seen limited action with just 17 touches over seven games.
Despite suffering a concussion in Week 5, Sadiq missed no games. However, only two of his catches have come from deeper routes, those over 10 yards.
“I’ve always learned the entire offense and adapted from there,” Sadiq said. “My targets might not be high, but I see others excelling. Mason and Omar are doing great work right now.”
“I’m not complaining. It’s all about maintaining the flow of the offense; good things will follow for everyone.”
The Giants present a case study on how a receiver (Malik Nabers) and a tight end (Isaiah Likely) can collaborate effectively to confuse defenders. Maybe it’ll be Cooper and Sadiq, or perhaps it’s Wilson and Taylor working together.
“That’s certainly the goal for the future,” Cooper remarked. “We would be really excited to see that happen. I’m grateful to learn from the receivers around me and to have an experienced quarterback,” he added.
For the Jets, unlocking their star receiver Wilson, who has been limited to six catches in recent losses, might hinge on allowing the rookies to establish themselves as legitimate threats to opposing defenses.
“We’re making sure to support one another, checking in regularly,” Sadiq noted. “We genuinely want each other to succeed. It’s so important to celebrate each other’s achievements.”
The Jets are not scheduling snaps for their four tight ends based on how they were drafted — performance is what counts.
“We utilize a lot of three tight-end sets, which works really well for our strategy,” Glenn said. “I’m excited about how that group is evolving, and there’s so much versatility we can tap into with them.”
Cooper excels specifically against man coverage. He ranks second among NFL rookies with 121 receiving yards when faced with man coverage, leading all NFL pass catchers with a 12.2 percent explosive catch rate among those who have run at least 45 routes, according to NexGenStats.
As he prepares to face the Raiders, Cooper has some additional plans, including a jersey swap with his former quarterback from Indiana, the Raiders’ backup Fernando Mendoza. “I need that jersey,” Cooper chuckled. “It would be my first swap with a former Indiana player. Our connection has really helped us both get where we are today.”
