Yesterday, the Dallas Cowboys paid a hefty price for a big-ticket wide receiver and traded a first-round draft pick for Amari Cooper.
Cooper, who only has 22 catches for 280 yards and one touchdown in six games this season, will take over as the top option in Dallas’ passing game once he returns to the field. He is currently in the league’s concussion protocol.
The price for Cooper seems high, but the thinking in Big D is that the 24-year-old will be a potential star for young quarterback Dak Prescott to develop with over the next few years.
And there is still star potential for Cooper despite his sub-par 2018 as he had 155 catches for 2,223 yards and 11 touchdowns over his first two seasons and made the Pro Bowl following each of them.
But it depends on Cooper and how hard he works as some talent evaluators feel he has already lost a step.
A pro scouting director gave this take on Cooper to Sports Illustrated: “Like, not love. Could run the route tree but wasn’t dynamic in any area. Didn’t feel like he could consistently be counted on to get open. Wasn’t a consistent natural hands guy, and didn’t feel like he would take over a game. More good No. 2 than No. 1.”
The scout followed up by saying Cooper was a different player in his first two years.
“Potential to be a No. 1, but hasn’t played to that,” another scout told SI. “His past drops and injuries have been the biggest concerns.”
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