2015 NFL Draft Combine Profile: Alabama Wide Receiver Amari Cooper
By Connor Fulton
@ConnorFultonRS
Matthew Emmons-USA TODAY Sports
Look at any ranking of the 2015 wide receiver draft class and you will see the same name at the top: Alabama product Amari Cooper.
Cooper’s 2014 numbers are staggering: 1,727 yards and 16 touchdowns on 124 receptions. More often than not, Cooper broke the 100-yard mark, and that included a hat-trick of 200-yard efforts.
In addition to his video game stats, Cooper is a capable blocker and compares to a running back in the way he slices up the field after the catch. Cooper has his quickness and deft feet to thank for those strengths.
Drops and deviations from routes are the main downfalls of Cooper’s game. To earn significant playing time, Cooper will have to stick to the playbook and get off the Butterfingers.
It’s pretty difficult to not compare Cooper to last year’s receiving prospect darling, Sammy Watkins. The career trajectories of Cooper and Watkins have been eerily similar: each had standout freshman campaigns followed by injury-hindered sophomore seasons and concluded with exceptional junior years before declaring for the NFL draft.
Cooper has to be viewed as this year’s Watkins, and he should be treated as such in the first round of the 2015 draft. Don’t be surprised if a receiver-needy team trades up to nab Cooper, like the Buffalo Bills did to get snag Watkins a year ago.
You sort of have to feel for Cooper; he will be operating in the shadow of the stud 2014 wide receiver class. For better or for worse, Cooper’s rookie season will be measured in comparison to Watkins, Mike Evans, Odell Beckham Jr. and so on.
One final plug about Cooper’s potential to be a superstar is his pro-readiness. Since his freshman year, Cooper has been ensconced in a sophisticated West Coast offense, gaining experience that will be translatable to the NFL field.
The Oakland Raiders would be foolish not to take Cooper at No. 4 — that is, unless a team like the Cleveland Browns makes an offer they can’t refuse.
Connor Fulton is a Patriots and NFL writer for RantSports. Follow him on Twitter @ConnorFultonRS, or find him on Google.
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