Wait for the combine numbers to come out. If he is fully healed and shows his freakish athleticism he could be top 10.
I do not disagree that he has the potential to perform like a top 10 pick, I just do not see him going in the top 10. It appears that there is a schism between his actual and perceived athletic ability. For example, I see many mock drafts saying he could end up at safety or cornerback. I am not sure if that is code for white guys can't play cornerback in the NFL, but safeties by and large do not get drafted in the top 10. Looking back a few years, I do not think a safety was taken in the first round in 2023, or 2021, but it looks like Kyle Hamilton went at 14 to the Ravens in 2022. Just seems like he could end up anywhere between 15 and 32.
We already know he can jump out of the gym with some of those nasty dunk highlights from High School BBAll. If he runs a 4.4 40 yd dash, he will project at corner. Riley Moss I believe was the only white cornerback drafted. I'd say Cooper has more potential. Plus he can return punts, be a beast on special teams downing punts, etc. Top 10 is probably a reach.
Following the Lions this year, it sure does seem like they are close. Seems like they could most use a corner and a DE opposite of Hutchinson. It seems like they were pretty deep at linebacker this year and toyed with Campbell being a player kind of like Bryce Paup was with the Bills, so maybe he can grow (mentally and physically) into that position. Of course they like any team could use a WR to blow the top off of the defense, but those guys are rare...
They probably already have 2 WRs that fit that role. St. Brown could do that, but Jameson Williams is definitely the speedster. I agree with another DE.
The thing is though, he is 6'1 and 210 pounds. That is a pretty big corner. I could see him being like Kyle Hamilton with the Ravens just erasing large sections of the field. He's not as tall, but he's faster. Then again, maybe he's a corner. Then again, maybe he will end up getting some touches on offense. Who knows? He is a very intriguing prospect.
Williams has the speed part down. I guess I am not dialed into what his hands are like so I would defer to you on that. For St. Brown, he is incredible but I thought he was more of a slot guy catching balls in the middle of the field. But then again, I don't follow them as closely as you do.
Might as well drop this here too, although people participating in this thread have surely already seen these dunks.
He is extremely versatile; can play every position in the secondary. There have been other corner prospects that were great with the ball in their hands, but have any of them been as big and physical as Coop?
Best I can come up with are Aqib Talib, Charles Woodson, and Rod Woodson. For anyone ready to climb up in my ass, I am NOT suggesting he is as good as those guys or ever will be. I am only saying the measurables are in the ballpark.
Darrell Revis played at 6’, 200 lbs. No idea if he was a man specialist or excelled in zone since I didn’t really ever watch the Jets. I saw someone, Nate Tice maybe, offer up the comparison from a size/athleticism standpoint.
I looked up a list of NFL greats at cb, and saw and considered him. I guess I had him a touch too small. Just like Richard Sherman is a touch too tall. He is listed with the identical size of Charles Woodson, who in college also returned punts and dabbled with catching the ball on offense.
www.pro-football-reference.com
It’s kind of like pricing a house. It’s not overpriced if one buyer is will to pay the price. Kind of like Gibbs in the last draft. Whether the price paid was fair can only be accurately assessed in hindsight.
Revis was a man specialist. He had about a 3-4 year period where if Godzilla or King Kong were actual real things he might have actually been able to cover them.
Agree!
