SANTA CLARA, CA — The San Francisco 49ers are staring at a vacant wide receiver room, and the solution might be a 204-pound wrecking ball from Bloomington. Recent mock drafts from CBS Sports and NBC Sports Bay Area have the Niners locking in on Indiana’s Omar Cooper Jr. with the No. 27 overall pick to replace the departing Brandon Aiyuk.
The Perfect Shanahan Weapon
San Francisco’s depth chart is currently a ghost town. Brandon Aiyuk is essentially gone, while Jauan Jennings, Kendrick Bourne, and Skyy Moore are all sprinting toward free agency. That leaves Ricky Pearsall and Jacob Cowing as the only reliable names left. Enter Cooper. The Indiana product didn’t just play in 2025; he dominated, hauling in 69 receptions for 937 yards and a staggering 13 touchdowns. He was the engine behind the Hoosiers’ improbable 16-0 run to a national title.
Cooper’s 4.42 speed at the Combine turned heads, but his 1.55-second 10-yard split proved he has the elite acceleration Kyle Shanahan craves. He isn’t just a deep threat. Cooper moonlighted as a backfield option, adding 97 rushing yards and two scores on the ground. He plays with a physical edge that makes defenders rethink their career choices after the first contact. He’s a nightmare in zone coverage, where he posted a class-leading 88.2 PFF grade last season.
“The body control he has is crazy. He’s like a prime Deebo Samuel. He has great hands and can play any position on the field. To have him as a receiver that can be a gadget guy but also take it deep… he helped make me this year.”
— Fernando Mendoza, Indiana QB & Projected No. 1 Overall Pick
Filling the Aiyuk Void
Losing Aiyuk’s route running is a massive blow, but Matt Maiocco of NBC Sports argues Cooper is the “darn-near perfect fit” because of his temperament. The Niners need someone who can win at the line of scrimmage and block like a tight end in the run game. Cooper’s tape shows a player who thrives on the dirty work, mirroring the “Blue Chip” culture John Lynch has built in Santa Clara.
With the 2026 NFL Draft just weeks away in Pittsburgh, the smoke around Cooper and the 49ers is becoming a fire. If San Francisco stays at 27, they aren’t just looking for a replacement; they’re looking for the next evolution of their positionless offense. Cooper fits that bill better than anyone else in this class.
