STRENGTHS
Cooper is the best pure guard in this draft. He has the size and foot speed to be used in any style of offensive line-blocking scheme. He shows on film, enough lateral agility to play more than one position on the offensive line. Cooper shows leadership skills through his play on the field. He is a confident player and always alert to making a block and sliding to help out his teammates. Cooper does an excellent job going to the second level and making blocks. He can be used on screens and sweeps because of his agility and high football IQ to pick up his block when he is on the move. He has played left and right tackle early in his college career but for the next level, left guard will be his impact position.
CONCERNS
I would give Cooper a 1st round grade if he could play center but to my knowledge, he has never played the position. It’s a personal issue with me, I like my guards to be able to play center and my centers to be able to play guard. You would be surprised how many cannot play both. I’ll nitpick here a little bit when run blocking, Cooper does forget (at times) to continue to move his feet once engaged and drive his player off the line. I got to nit-pick at something…
BOTTOM LINE: 2.08
If Copper can make all the snaps and still get out of his stance quickly with a 335 LB behemoth over his head, then Cooper becomes one of the most valuable and talented offensive linemen in this draft. Right now, he is a pure guard, a plug-and-play guard, a forget about drafting his position for the next ten years, guard. Cooper is THE safest pick in this draft. By all means, feel free to select him in the first round. If you work him out at center, and he looks like he can play that position, he would be a top-15 pick on my board, even with the obvious talent at the offensive tackle position in this draft. That being said, as a pure guard Cooper is the best in this draft. I just wish he played center because for me the true skilled position on offense is, QB, LT, and Center. If your offense doesn’t have Pro Bowl talent at those three positions, your team will struggle to make the playoffs. IMO.
