Chicago Bears Should Target WR Amari Cooper

By Dan Schmelzer | Mar 28, 2015

Under new general manager Ryan Pace and head coach John Fox, the Chicago Bears have many options in the upcoming 2015 NFL Draft.

First off, Fox and new defensive coordinator Vic Fangio are expected to transition the team from a traditional 4-3 defense, to a defense with mostly 3-4 principles. Fangio has had a lot of success with his 3-4 defenses in the past, and he will likely help the Bears turn their recent defensive misfortunes around.

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However, with a majority of their defensive players being on the roster because they are good fits for a 4-3, it is fair to expect a large turnover defensively in Chicago. A majority of this turnover will have to come from the draft.

The being said, the Bears had a nice start on their defensive transition in free agency, most notably with the addition of outside linebacker Pernell McPhee.

McPhee comes from a similar 3-4 style of play with the Baltimore Ravens, and has incredible versatility that will certainly help the Bears from the get-go.

While the defensive transition is very important to the immediate success of the Bears, the team simply needs good football players. Holding the seventh overall selection in the upcoming draft, and having plenty of needs across both sides of the ball, the Bears need to take the best player available.

With the draft being over a month away, it is incredibly difficult to predict who will be available for the Bears with the seventh pick. However, according to recent mock drafts, Alabama wide receiver Amari Cooper could be available for the Bears. If he is there, selecting Cooper would be a slam dunk.

The Bears recently traded wide receiver Brandon Marshall to the New York Jets. While Marshall was productive on the field in Chicago, his attitude never seemed to gel well within the organization.

The Bears moved on from Marshall, and while recent free agent addition Eddie Royal and youngster Marquess Wilson can certainly play a role for the team, neither has the upside to replace Marshall.

Cooper not only brings that upside, he comes with very little risk.

Jan 1, 2015; New Orleans, LA, USA; Alabama Crimson Tide wide receiver Amari Cooper (9) scores a touchdown during the first quarter against the Ohio State Buckeyes in the 2015 Sugar Bowl at Mercedes-Benz Superdome. Mandatory Credit: Matthew Emmons-USA TODAY Sports

Cooper left Alabama a year early after three very productive seasons. He had total of 228 receptions for 3,463 yards and 31 touchdown in his three-year career, which was capped off by a 124 catch, 1,727 yard and 16 touchdown season in 2014.

While Cooper may not have blazing straight-line speed and overwhelming size like some other receiver prospects, he comes with a very advanced skill set that is set up for success in the NFL. Also, it’s not like he is small at 6-foot-1, 211 pounds, or slow (ran a 4.42 40-yard dash at the combine).

He is a receiver with great short space quickness and acceleration, which allows him to excel in the short passing game, and make defenders miss with an impressive array of shifty moves. While Cooper’s pure speed does not necessarily stand out, he was a very productive and dangerous deep threat in college.

Cooper is a near-perfect route runner who always seems to find the open space on the field. On top of that, he has good hands, and great hand-eye coordination that allows him to make tough catches in traffic.

He may not be the most explosive leaper on the field, but Cooper does have good athleticism and does a great job of high-pointing the ball in the air.

Far too often, draft prospects are rocketed up boards based on their measurables. Cooper does not jump off the page as a physical specimen, but he is a quick and athletic player, whose production on the field is unrivaled in this draft class.

When looking at the tape, nobody can touch the consistent play that Cooper had on the field at Alabama, and he has a skill set that translates to the next level.

After an incredibly disappointing 5-11 2014 season, the Bears simply must find good football players who will help them turn their fortunes around. If quarterback Jay Cutler can ever reach his potential (admittedly a huge if), the Bears could be in a good spot to compete quickly. Landing a receiver with the ability like Cooper to play opposite of Alshon Jeffery, could make the Bears a dangerous offense going forward.

The Bears will be able to find defensive players who can help their transition to the 3-4 later in the draft. If available, they must land Cooper. He would be a very low-risk pick, and one that would bring plenty of upside as well.

Next: Chicago Bears Seven-Round 2015 NFL Mock Draft

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