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The Minnesota Vikings thought they had a star in the making with Cordarrelle Patterson, but he turned out to be one of the biggest disappointments of the 2014 season. Greg Jennings had a solid yet unspectacular season as the lead wide receiver for the Vikings, but his $8.9 million salary in 2015 makes him a prime candidate to be cut. As a result, the Vikings are going to have to find someone Teddy Bridgewater can throw the ball to, and that person is Amari Cooper.
Many mock drafts have Cooper going higher than when the Vikings pick at No. 11 in the first round, but the Vikings would be smart to trade up in the first round to grab Cooper or pray that he slides down the board as one big-name player tends to every year. Many have likened his abilities to Marvin Harrison, a reception magnet for Peyton Manning during his days with the Indianapolis Colts and a Hall of Fame finalist this year.
Cooper stands 6-foot-1 and 210 pounds, and although he lacks blazing speed, his elite route-running allows him to shake defenders and get open. He caught an Alabama Crimson Tide and SEC record 124 passes this season and despite a nagging foot injury in 2013 and only playing three seasons with the Tide, he holds the SEC career record for receiving touchdowns with 31.
He will almost certainly be the first wide receiver off the board and would instantly give the Vikings their best receiver since Randy Moss, and paired with emerging star Charles Johnson would give the Vikings one of the best young wide receiver duos in the NFL. Cooper tends to struggle at times with drops, but his potential and immeasurables make his upside too good to pass up, and the Vikings need to do what they can to make sure he dons the purple and gold next season.
Phillip Jacques is a Pac-12 Football writer for www.RantSports.com. Follow him on Twitter, “Like” him on Facebook or add him to your network on Google
