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Former Miami offensive lineman Anez Cooper running through a drill during the 2026 NFL Combine.

The New York Jets got aggressive.

Gang Green traded a 2026 sixth rounder (No. 199 overall) and a 2026 seventh rounder (No. 242 overall) to the Seattle Seahawks in exchange for a 2026 sixth rounder (No. 188 overall).

The Jets moved up to select Miami offensive lineman Anez Cooper.

Cooper, 22, is listed at 6-foot-5 and weighs 334 pounds. Dane Brugler of The Athletic described Cooper as someone with a “Hulking body type with long arms, thick legs and proportionate mass.”

Notes on Jets Newest Player

ESPN’s Rich Cimini revealed some fascinating nuggets that he dug up on Cooper:

“[He] only allowed 1 pressure in 518 pass blocking plays in 2025 (0.2%), the 4th-lowest pressure rate in FBS (min. 500 snaps at guard),” Cimini posted.

“[He] did not allow a sack in 518 pass blocking plays in 2025, the 2nd-most pass blocks in the ACC without allowing a sack last season after Cal’s Tyson Ruffins (523),” Cimini added.

“A three-and-a-half-year starter at Miami, Cooper entrenched himself at right guard in offensive coordinator Shannon Dawson’s balanced scheme. Together, he and Francis Mauigoa formed one of the better right sides of an offensive line in college football. Cooper logged more than 3,000 offensive snaps in college and earned All-ACC honors each of the past three seasons,” Dane Brugler of The Athletic wrote in “The Beast.”

How Do the Jets Plan on Using Him?

Cooper played almost exclusively (98.5% of his snaps) at right guard during his collegiate career. The more you can do, the more valuable you are. Is that all he can do? Or was that all he was asked to do?

Joe Tippmann is currently the Jets’ starting right guard. He was set to start at center last season, but a devastating season-ending injury to Alijah Vera-Tucker forced the team to play musical chairs with the depth chart.

The Jets need interior offensive line depth, so maybe he is just the backup to Tippmann in a best-case scenario. If he can flip to the left side, then he will have a chance to compete for a potential starting gig at left guard.

Some Major Red Flags to Monitor

Before we reveal some concerning factors, it should be noted that he was selected in the sixth round for a reason. There are no perfect players left at this stage of the draft.

With that being said, Cooper had some concerning penalty issues last year. Brugler revealed that he had six false starts, which was a “surprisingly high number … considering his experience.”

Last season, the Jets had the 11th most penalties in the NFL. They do a good enough job on their own, shooting themselves in the foot; they don’t need any help.

Another concerning factoid is his weight. Brugler revealed that during his senior year of high school, he “weighed more than 400 pounds.” Brugler said the weight issue “needs to be monitored moving forward.”

The Jets went through that with Mekhi Becton, and it was a disaster. The good news is Becton was the No. 11 overall pick in the first round, and Cooper went in the sixth round. Expectations are different between a first-round pick and someone from day three, and so is your level of investment.