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Kansas City Chiefs Scouting Report: Amari Cooper

By Leigh Oleszczak

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The 2015 NFL Draft is a month away and the Kansas City Chiefs have several different directions they could take in the first round. Wide receiver is one of those areas for sure, and there’s no better receiver in this year’s draft than Amari Cooper out of Alabama.

Combine Results

  • 40-yard dash – 4.42 seconds
  • Vertical jump – 33.0 inch
  • Broad jump – 120.0 inch
  • 3-cone drill – 6.71 seconds*
  • 20-yard shuttle – 3.98 seconds*

* = Combine Top Performer

Results courtesy of NFL.com

Anyone who watched college football this past season knew who Amari Cooper was. He was considered to be the top wide receiver in this year’s class actually, until the combine when Kevin White out of West Virginia blew everyone away.

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Cooper would be a great addition to the Kansas City Chiefs, who are making a huge splash in free agency so far. For one, they’ve found their number one receiver in former Missouri Tiger Jeremy Maclin, who will likely become Alex Smith‘s new favorite target.

Putting Cooper with the likes of Maclin and Jason Avant (you know, the veterans) would definitely help his development early on his career. Plus he’d also have De’Anthony Thomas, Albert Wilson, and guys like Jamaal Charles and Travis Kelce on his offense. Now who wouldn’t benefit from that?

During Cooper’s three years with the Alabama Crimson Tide, he racked up 228 receptions for 3,463 yards and 31 touchdowns. He’s a lock to go in the first round, but where yet, no one’s sure obviously.

Originally, Cooper was being projected to go to the Oakland Raiders with the fourth overall pick in a lot of mock drafts, and that would really suck for the KC Chiefs. Now, however, he seems to be dropping 10th overall to the St. Louis Rams. In fact, Mel Kiper Jr. projected Cooper to be the Rams’ first round pick in his most recent mock draft.

Amari is super athletic, very fluid and highly skilled as a route runner and hands catcher. Because of his reserved demeanor and similar ability

– Phil Savage (Former NFL GM and Reese’s Senior Bowl Executive Director)

More than likely, Amari Cooper won’t be available by the time the Chiefs are on the clock, but still. It never hurts to do these scouting reports because you just never know what will happen come draft day. Teams could end up deciding to go a different route and drafting a different position, or just decide Cooper isn’t their guy.

With that said though, I would be shocked if Cooper was still available by the time pick 18 rolled around. He’s a top 10 talent for sure and a team will recognize that and scoop him up before the Chiefs’ selection.

There was a time where I considered it might be a good option for Kansas City to trade up for a wide receiver, but that was before the team had acquired Jeremy Maclin and re signed Jason Avant. Now that the team has at least one solid receiver, it’s not as vital that the Chiefs grab a wide receiver in round one. This draft class is plenty deep for the wide receivers, and the Chiefs would honestly be okay waiting until round three at the latest honestly.

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    • As for Cooper’s skill sets, Lance Zierlein of NFL.com describes him as a “complete receiver”. He says Cooper won’t blow anyone away with his speed or size, but is good in both areas.

    "Complete receiver with game-changing ability to win downfield. Has the skill and twitch to be a consistent, high-volume target in the short and intermediate games with the ability to produce against any coverage. Cooper won’t be able to run roughshod over NFL safeties like he did in college, but he should be able to help a passing game improve quickly.– Zierlein"

    Cooper does have some areas he needs to work on though.

    "Needs to finish routes. Will stop or occasionally adjust route, putting quarterback in danger of an interception. Can improve use of body to shield defenders from the ball. Run blocking can improve. Could use a little more fire in that department. Focus drops have been an issue at times, dropping 13 passes over the last two seasons."

    Run blocking would be something Cooper would have to work at in Kansas City, as the run game is one of the best areas for the Chiefs. He’d have some great teammates to learn from though, so I wouldn’t view it as too concerning if he struggles at the start of his rookie season.

    What are your thoughts on Amari Cooper?

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