2014 NFL Draft Prospect Profile: Brandin Cooks, Wide Receiver, Oregon State

Credit: Jaime Valdez-USA TODAY Sports

Brandin Cooks – Wide Receiver – Oregon State
Ht: 5’10’’
Wt: 186 lbs

2013 receiving stats (National Ranks)
128 Receptions (2)
1,730 Yards (1)
16 Touchdowns (2)

Projected Round: 2-3

Brandin Cooks shot onto the scene in 2013. He helped lead the Beavers to an impressive 6-1 start. The Junior led the nation is receiving yards which broke the PAC-12 conference record. Cooks was the recipient of the 2013 Biletnikoff Award, which is given to the nation’s top receiver. He quickly declared for the NFL draft following his historic season and is now looked at as one of the top receiver prospects in this years class.

Positives:

Cooks has elite speed. In addition to football, he also ran track. A large number of college receivers participate in track events, but Cooks possesses more than just straight line speed. He has incredible agility and the ability to make defenders miss all over the field. He is a very shifty football player.

He has great route-running ability. This could come in handy when he is moved to the slot at the next level. He has great break into his cuts and explodes into his routes. He can turn on a dime and will be a mismatch right out of the gate.

Cooks also has great hands to go along with his athleticism. He does a good job of high-pointing the ball and coming down with the catch in traffic. He may not have great size, but he can win a one-on-one battle.

The biggest positive is that he can do everything on offense. He can lineup outside as well as in the slot. He is not afraid to go across the middle, and will make plays wherever he is placed. He can also make a killing as a return man.

Negatives:

The biggest knock on Cooks is that he is a bit undersized. He is on the smaller side of 5’10’’ and could have durability issues in the NFL. If he can add more bulk, he would make teams breathe a little easier on game day.

He is not a physical receiver. When he is muscled up on the line, he can be knocked out of the play. This is also because of his size. He is not big enough to break tackles or beat the press. He often goes to the ground on first contact.

Conclusion:

Brandin Cooks could be a dangerous slot receiver in the NFL. He has the ability to play outside the numbers, but his lack of size may keep him more inside. He is a playmaker whenever he has the ball in his hands and could be a dynamic weapon for any NFL team. He will make up for his lack of size with incredible scoring ability. He is this years’ Tavon Austin.