Green Bay Packers rookie linebacker Edgerrin Cooper produced an astonishing 13 tackles for loss across 14 games and only 489 snaps during his first NFL season in 2024.
In doing so, Cooper joined a rare and noteworthy list of rookies to produce at least 13 tackles for loss in a season.
Here are the last 25 rookies to produce at least 13 tackles for loss in a season in the NFL, via pro-football-reference.com:
1. Edgerrin Cooper, 2024: 13 tackles for loss
2. Micah Parsons, 2021: 20 tackles for loss
3. Nick Bosa, 2019: 16 tackles for loss
4. Maxx Crosby, 2019: 16 tackles for loss
5. Bradley Chubb, 2018: 14 tackles for loss
6. Joey Bosa, 2016: 17 tackles for loss
7. Aaron Donald, 2014: 18 tackles for loss
8. Khalil Mack, 2014: 16 tackles for loss
9. Lavonte David, 2012: 20 tackles for loss
10. Von Miller, 2011: 19 tackles for loss
11. Aldon Smith, 2011: 13 tackles for loss
12. JJ Watt, 2011: 13 tackles for loss
13. Muhammad Wilkerson, 2011: 13 tackles for loss
14. Ndamukong Suh, 2010: 13 tackles for loss
15. Clay Matthews, 2009: 17 tackles for loss
16. Brian Orakpo, 2009: 13 tackles for loss
17. Kamerion Wimbley, 2006: 13 tackles for loss
18. DeMeco Ryans, 2006: 13 tackles for loss
19. DeMarcus Ware, 2005: 15 tackles for loss
20. Jason Babin, 2004: 13 tackles for loss
21. Kevin Williams, 2003: 15 tackles for loss
22. Dwight Freeney, 2002: 20 tackles for loss
23. Kendrell Bell, 2001: 23 tackles for loss
24. Shaun Rogers, 2001: 15 tackles for loss
25. Darren Howard, 2000: 15 tackles for loss
That’s a list of some of the greatest and most disruptive front-seven defensive players of the last two decades.
Most of the players on the list were either edge rushers or interior defenders. Cooper, an off-ball linebacker who missed three games to injury and was a part-time player early in the season, didn’t have the volume of snaps or pass-rushing opportunities to pile up the tackles for loss, making his journey to 13 all the more impressive.
In fact, the only true rookie off-ball linebackers on the list are Cooper, David and Ryans. David is a three-time All-Pro. Ryans made two Pro Bowls and an All-Pro team.
Another rookie linebacker who produced at least 13 tackles for loss? Hall of Famer Brian Urlacher, who had 16 as a full-time player in Chicago during his rookie season in 2000.
It’s tempting to imagine how many disruptive plays Cooper would have created had he played the entire season. He didn’t play over 40 percent of the defense’s snaps until Week 6, and he missed three games with a hamstring injury. Only twice over 14 games did Cooper play 75 percent or more of the defense’s snaps.
Compare to David’s rookie season, for instance. David was on the field for 1,059 defensive snaps, so he produced one tackle for loss for every 53 snaps, roughly. Cooper, however, produced one tackle for loss for every 38 snaps.
Cooper’s 13 tackles for loss ranked second among all off-ball linebackers and tied for 19th overall in the NFL in 2024. Only New York Jets linebacker Quincey Williams, who played 1,138 snaps, had more tackles for loss (14) among true off-ball linebackers.
One other amazing fact to know on Cooper’s rookie season: He produced nine tackles covering kickoffs. He was one of seven rookies with at least eight tackles on special teams, and he did it on only 94 total special teams snaps. The other seven rookies with at least eight tackles played at least 240 special teams snaps.
