When Raiders quarterback Derek Carr finally got a chance to throw to wide receiver Amari Cooper during last week’s three-day team minicamp, he was instantly impressed.
“Oh my goodness,” Carr told reporters. “It was nice to get out there and to see just how quick he is out of his breaks.”
The rookie from Alabama impressed Carr with his speed, hands, route running and ability to adjust to the ball in the air. Carr said he could immediately see how Cooper will be an impact player for Oakland’s passing game in 2015. Carr had missed throwing to Cooper during OTAs because he had an injured finger.
“I can just let it go,” Carr said of his passes. “It’s nice. It slows the rush down, too, because you get the ball out and they’re angry that they couldn’t get to you. … It was good to get out there and throw to him.”
Praise for Cooper has been coming in waves since the Raiders took him with the No. 4 overall pick in the NFL draft. Coaches, teammates and analysts are raving about Cooper’s skills, work ethic and intelligence. After striking it rich in the 2014 draft with linebacker Khalil Mack and Carr (at the top of a great draft class), the Raiders seem to have scored again with Cooper.
The Raiders’ veteran safety Charles Woodson – who’s played 17 NFL seasons -- also is convinced Cooper will an excellent player. Woodson said on a recent interview with SiriusXM that Cooper has the “it factor.”
“I think he has the ability to be very special in this league,” said Woodson.
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He compares Cooper to former Colts star Marvin Harrison.
“Harrison, he was the best receiver I played against in the NFL,” Woodson said. “I think he has some similar movements. He’s fast, he’s a little bigger than you think he is, but I think he has all the tools to be a great receiver in this league.”
At 6-foot-1 and 203 pounds, Cooper is an inch taller and 28 pounds heavier than Harrison, a three-time first-team All-Pro, eight-time Pro Bowler and Pro Football Hall of Fame finalist. If Cooper can have an impact and career like Harrison – who had 14,580 receiving yards (seventh best in NFL history) – it would be remarkable.
Harrison’s first-year numbers appear in reach. As a rookie out of Syracuse that season he had 64 catches for 836 yards and eight TDs. The Raiders would take that.
Cooper appears to have the mindset to want to be as good as Harrison – and other greats.
“I certainly want to be the best receiver, not just in this (draft) class but overall … ” he said during his time at the NFL Combine. “And I’m going to work hard to try to be that.”
