2015 NFL Draft Prospects: The Top-10 Most Pro Ready

Oct 18, 2014; Tuscaloosa, AL, USA; Alabama Crimson Tide wide receiver Amari Cooper (9) catches a pass for a touchdown against the Texas A&M Aggies at Bryant-Denny Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Marvin Gentry-USA TODAY Sports

No 3: Amari Cooper

Amari Cooper was too pro-ready for the defensive backs that tried to cover him in 2014. That’s because Cooper wasn’t just pro-ready, he was a pro playing in college, that’s how he got so wide open. The young man has every aspect of the pro game down and it just didn’t seem right watching college corners try to cover him.

Impact and Production

In 2014, he was the winner of the Biletnikoff Award, for the nation’s most outstanding receiver and was a finalist for the Heisman Trophy. Cooper was a unanimous first-team All-American and was SEC Offensive Player of the Year. He led the nation with 124 catches and was second with 1,727 yards and 16 touchdowns.

Ability

Cooper is 6’1″, 211 pounds, with 31 1/2-inch long arms for good size and length with huge, 10-inch hands. And to go with that size, he has tremendous speed as he ran a 4.3 40 at the 2015 NFL Scouting Combine. He also had an impressive 6.71 3-cone drill time and 3.98 short shuttle time to show his acceleration out of his breaks.

Understanding

Cooper runs every route at top speed to get defenders leaning before putting his foot in the ground and exploding in the other direction. He’s able to use his short-area burst and shakes to get a clean release against press coverage. He also knows how to set cornerbacks up and comes from the West Coast offense so he will always know where to be for his quarterback.

Next: No. 2