NFL Draft 2015: Top 10 Wide Receiver Prospects
By Rob Hill
Nov 29, 2014; Tuscaloosa, AL, USA; Alabama Crimson Tide wide receiver Amari Cooper (9) catches a touchdown pass past Auburn Tigers defensive back Johnathan Ford (23) in the third quarter at Bryant-Denny Stadium. Mandatory Credit: John David Mercer-USA TODAY Sports
#2 Amari Cooper, Alabama Crimson Tide
Ok, clearly I’m off my rocker here, I don’t have White or Cooper #1? Don’t get me wrong, Cooper is big bodied wide receiver with great quickness and elite route running ability. He has good hands and a great ability to make tough catches. He reads defenses better then any WR in this class and is elite at setting up his defender. He has a knack for making the first man miss though he doesn’t have elite quickness or strength.
I’m not knocking Cooper for his spike in production despite going from 45 catches in 2013 to 124 in 2014 as that was a difference in Alabama’s offense (mainly quarterback) more then it was Cooper’s abilities. He also had a toe injury through much of 2013 which I feel many “experts” are giving him a pass on. My knock on Cooper is he seems to randomly have the unexplainable drop. It’s doesn’t seem to be situational based or psychological, he just seems to drop the ball out of no where.
Cooper is going to be a very good wide receiver in the league. He’s not the big play receiver Julio Jones was coming out of Alabama a few years ago, but paired with a guy like that at the NFL level, you are going to have yourself an elite duo. I really feel Coop needs himself a partner in crime to take the top off of a defense, but there’s plenty of guys who can do that in the league. There aren’t as many that can do what he does well, and that’s run good routes and rack up receptions.
Next: #1