Cecil Hurt
TideSports.com Columnist
Amari Cooper sets records. That's what he does.
The question on Thursday night is what University of Alabama NFL Draft records will the talented wide receiver add to his resume.
After the annual explosion of analysis designed to pump up interest in the draft, the consensus opinion has settled on what most Crimson Tide fans knew from the start of the 2014 season: Cooper is the best available choice, even in a strong year for wide receivers. If he needed a character bump, Cooper would get that, too, but he's so talented that his humility and work ethic are simply bonuses.
Exactly what will that mean as far as a landing spot for Cooper? The first two picks, Tampa Bay and Tennessee, seem reserved for quarterbacks. After that, there is speculation Cooper could go at No. 3 to Jacksonville, although that might be a bit of a stretch. Oakland at No. 4 has long been considered a favorite to choose Cooper - but don't forget the Raiders are historically quirky. Every analyst in America - and there seem to be millions of them - would be stunned to see Cooper fall past the Chicago Bears at No. 7.
Historically speaking, a spot in the top 5 would make Cooper the highest Alabama wide receiver ever selected, surpassing his predecessor, Julio Jones, who was No. 6 in the 2011 draft. No other Alabama receiver comes close. Ozzie Newsome was considered a tight end when he was chosen by the Browns in 1978 and went No. 23 overall. Dennis Homan was a No. 20 pick by the Cowboys a decade before. Don Hutson, the greatest of all Alabama's NFL receivers, began his pro career in Green Bay a couple of years before there was a draft.
The fact Cooper may be Alabama's highest choice ever at the position doesn't mean, necessarily, Alabama has been a barren patch for receivers with an oasis here and there. First, Cooper is really, really good. Second, wide receivers don't traditionally go at the top of the draft. Since the NFL and AFL combined drafts in 1967, a wide receiver has been the No. 1 choice only twice. Both were good choices - Keyshawn Johnson in 1996 and Irving Fryar in 1985. There have also only been three receivers taken with the No. 2 overall pick in that span, one superstar (Calvin Johnson of Detroit) and two who went on to be notorious busts (Charles Rogers to the Lions in 2003 and Johnny "Lam" Jones to the Jets in 1980, both of whom were out of the league in five years or less.)
The professional game has changed over the years, with wide receivers growing in importance and running backs becoming less prominent. Although they haven't disappeared entirely, teams try and get running backs without spending high picks. Trent Richardson went No. 3 in the 2012 draft and it may be a long, long time before Alabama has another running back go that high in a draft, which is only partly to do with Richardson.
Cooper is unique, but he (and Julio Jones) may start a trend at Alabama that lasts for several years.
Now when will Alabama have that No. 1 overall quarterback that Crimson Tide fans have been longing to see for 50 years now? That's another question for another day. Not this Thursday, which rightfully belongs to Amari.
https://alabama.rivals.com/content.asp?CID=1760806
TideSports.com Columnist
Amari Cooper sets records. That's what he does.
The question on Thursday night is what University of Alabama NFL Draft records will the talented wide receiver add to his resume.
After the annual explosion of analysis designed to pump up interest in the draft, the consensus opinion has settled on what most Crimson Tide fans knew from the start of the 2014 season: Cooper is the best available choice, even in a strong year for wide receivers. If he needed a character bump, Cooper would get that, too, but he's so talented that his humility and work ethic are simply bonuses.
Exactly what will that mean as far as a landing spot for Cooper? The first two picks, Tampa Bay and Tennessee, seem reserved for quarterbacks. After that, there is speculation Cooper could go at No. 3 to Jacksonville, although that might be a bit of a stretch. Oakland at No. 4 has long been considered a favorite to choose Cooper - but don't forget the Raiders are historically quirky. Every analyst in America - and there seem to be millions of them - would be stunned to see Cooper fall past the Chicago Bears at No. 7.
Historically speaking, a spot in the top 5 would make Cooper the highest Alabama wide receiver ever selected, surpassing his predecessor, Julio Jones, who was No. 6 in the 2011 draft. No other Alabama receiver comes close. Ozzie Newsome was considered a tight end when he was chosen by the Browns in 1978 and went No. 23 overall. Dennis Homan was a No. 20 pick by the Cowboys a decade before. Don Hutson, the greatest of all Alabama's NFL receivers, began his pro career in Green Bay a couple of years before there was a draft.
The fact Cooper may be Alabama's highest choice ever at the position doesn't mean, necessarily, Alabama has been a barren patch for receivers with an oasis here and there. First, Cooper is really, really good. Second, wide receivers don't traditionally go at the top of the draft. Since the NFL and AFL combined drafts in 1967, a wide receiver has been the No. 1 choice only twice. Both were good choices - Keyshawn Johnson in 1996 and Irving Fryar in 1985. There have also only been three receivers taken with the No. 2 overall pick in that span, one superstar (Calvin Johnson of Detroit) and two who went on to be notorious busts (Charles Rogers to the Lions in 2003 and Johnny "Lam" Jones to the Jets in 1980, both of whom were out of the league in five years or less.)
The professional game has changed over the years, with wide receivers growing in importance and running backs becoming less prominent. Although they haven't disappeared entirely, teams try and get running backs without spending high picks. Trent Richardson went No. 3 in the 2012 draft and it may be a long, long time before Alabama has another running back go that high in a draft, which is only partly to do with Richardson.
Cooper is unique, but he (and Julio Jones) may start a trend at Alabama that lasts for several years.
Now when will Alabama have that No. 1 overall quarterback that Crimson Tide fans have been longing to see for 50 years now? That's another question for another day. Not this Thursday, which rightfully belongs to Amari.
https://alabama.rivals.com/content.asp?CID=1760806
