It’s always fun to be ahead of the curve.

Anytime you can call a player’s rise to stardom, and then watch it happen in real time, I highly suggest doing so; not often do you get the opportunity to be smug about things that are so relatively pointless.

Packers fans know this well with Edgerrin Cooper.

Cooper, who was one of the best players on Green Bay’s defense during his rookie season last year, still found a way to fly under the radar for much of the year, only finishing sixth in Defensive Rookie of the Year voting.

He figures to, of course, be a major part of Jeff Hafley’s group once again this year, and from the look of all these pre-season awards lists and predictions that he’s showing up on, his time as the hipster Packers fan’s favorite player might be coming to an end.

The rest of the NFL is just realizing how good Edgerrin Cooper really is

When The Athletic is talking about you (in a good way), you’ve made it.

“Cooper can rush the passer and cover, and he should hardly come off the field when healthy after battling injuries and learning defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley’s system last season,” writes Matt Schneidman of The Athletic. “Cooper is up 20 pounds since he arrived in Green Bay to 240 because he wanted to ‘feel powerful’ while still keeping his explosiveness. He said almost 100 percent of the weight he gained is muscle.”

Twenty pounds! That’s … notable? I think? It sure does sound like he’s in the best shape of his life. You know Green Bay is bullish on Cooper when they decided to trust that he’ll have more than 3.5 sacks this season instead of, you know, making a move for any of the elite pass-rushers that were available (supposedly) at points during the offseason.

Cooper might make his first Pro Bowl this season, or better. But remember: you called it first. You knew way before everyone else. And that’s what’s most important here.