NFL Draft expert gives Bengals exciting option to further strengthen the best part of their team, but the cost would be high

Cincinnati, OH — With free-agency priorities tilting heavily toward repairing a defense that surrendered too many big plays a year ago, the Bengals’ front office has spent March scouring the market for help at every level of that unit. Yet one of the draft’s most respected evaluators believes the franchise could still justify spending a premium selection on the side of the ball that already carries the roster’s greatest star power.

NFL Media analyst Daniel Jeremiah, speaking on the Cincy Jungle podcast, endorsed Indiana wide receiver Omar Cooper Jr. as the prospect most capable of replicating the reliability and chain-moving presence the Bengals once enjoyed from veteran slot man Tyler Boyd. The catch: acquiring Cooper would almost certainly require the club’s second-round pick, No. 41 overall, a capital-intensive move for a team still listing defensive holes atop its off-season checklist.

“Put a master plan together and hand me pick 41,” Jeremiah told host Anthony Cosenza. “I’m sprinting Omar Cooper Jr.’s card to the podium.”

Jeremiah’s enthusiasm stems from more than Cooper’s 2024 production. The 6-foot, 205-pound pass-catcher has drawn praise for a playing style Jeremiah labels “Ramsiest,” a nod to Los Angeles’ physical brand of receiver play. Scouts inside the Bengals’ building value his low-center-of-gravity strength, secure hands, and ability to stay grounded through contact—traits that allow yards-after-catch opportunities without exposing the ball to defenders.

Character evaluations have only enhanced the profile. Sources describe Cooper as “elite off the charts” in the meeting room, a trait Cincinnati’s personnel department has historically weighted heavily when investing early picks on offense.

The concept of drafting any receiver inside the top 50 has already sparked internal debate. Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins remain entrenched as outside pillars, while 2023 sixth-rounder Andrei Iosivas enters a contract year after an uneven apprenticeship as the primary slot. Although Iosivas flashed in spurts, coaches believe the position’s impact could expand with a more polished route-runner—precisely the void Cooper would fill.

A to Z Sports’ Ryan Roberts reported earlier this month that several clubs view Cooper as a potential first-round sleeper, making Jeremiah’s projection at 41 optimistic. Should the Hoosier last into the early portion of Friday night, Cincinnati would face a philosophical crossroads: continue fortifying a defense still under construction, or add another blue-chip weapon to an offense already viewed as one of the league’s most explosive.

The answer will hinge on how effectively the Bengals navigate the remainder of free agency. Plugging gaps at linebacker, along the interior defensive line, and in the secondary before the draft would free decision-makers to target value rather than need. If those boxes remain unchecked, using a top-50 choice on a fourth receiver figures to be a tough sell inside the war room.

For now, the idea at least has a high-profile champion. “Sign me up for that,” Jeremiah said of pairing Cooper with Chase and Higgins. Whether the Bengals ultimately share that enthusiasm may determine how bold they’re willing to be when the clock starts on pick 41.