Disclaimer: This admittedly a tad bit late...
If we could collectively press the skip button on all the conversations, debates and down-right nasty arguments for and against the acquisition of Amari Cooper, at some point someone is going to point out that all we can do is Wait & See. Like many of you, I’m divided…and I go back and forth like the pixelated ball in Pong.
On one hand, the Cowboys get a player young enough to be a rookie who just so happens to already have 2 Pro Bowls to his credit in his relatively short career…so as first round Wide Receivers go, this is as sure of a thing as you could possibly ask for in a draft. On the other hand, most agree the Cowboys overpaid, sending a 1st round pick for a player who hasn’t lived up to expectations as of late in a “what have you done for me lately” league.
On Amari’s resume and film reviews you will see relatively equal measures of good and bad: great route runner vs suspect hands, great speed but he can be removed from the play by good press corners. Can take it to the house from just about anywhere on the field but there have been questions about his commitment to the game. He becomes a running back with the ball in his hands with exceptional stop-start quickness for a player his size, but is not the selfless run-blocker the Cowboys typically demand.
Admittedly, at the outset of the news, I hated the move; rarely will you ever see me be on board with sending a 2nd round pick or higher to another team for any reason. The NFL Draft is a sacred holiday to me and the first round is clearly the best part about it: that’s where your team finds the difference maker.
That said, I’m not sure you could ask for a better “difference maker” than what Amari potentially represents to the Cowboys. Just by merely lining up on the outside, his presence could very easily open up things for everyone in that offense. If the oppositions defense is committed to shutting down Zeke (which will be business as usual until Amari’s performance recommends a different approach from the opposition), Amari should have ample opportunities to establish himself as a dangerous down-the-field weapon. And if/when that happens, everyone on the Cowboys offensive side of the ball wins. And if that happens, that first round pick was draft capital well spent.
So…
With their first pick of the 2019 NFL Draft, the Dallas Cowboys select Amari Cooper, WR, Alabama. For now, the best part of this is instead of having to wait until August 2019 to unwrap the gift from football Christmas, we only have to wait 2 weeks…
Thoughts?
