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rams 1st 4th round pick…tyler higbee TE
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http://www.nfl.com/draft/2016/profiles/tyler-higbee?id=2555364
Western Kentucky has had a bit of a run at the tight end position the past few years, with Jack Doyle drafted by the Colts in 2013 and Mitchell Henry getting his shot with multiple teams last summer. Higbee could be the best of the trio. The converted receiver added weight to his frame and when given the chance to show his stuff against Marshall as a junior, made six catches for 99 yards and three scores. He built on that in 2015, teaming up with two-time Conference USA MVP to put up some of the best numbers for any tight end in the country (38-563, eight TD) despite missing five-plus games with a knee injury.
Pro Day Results
Bench: 18 reps of 225 pounds
Analysis
Strengths Former wide receiver with a smooth, wide-open gait when he hits top gear. Has big hands. Had just one drop this season and showed ability to recover the catch when he juggled a throw. Becomes a body catcher who can protect the ball in traffic. Willing to work middle of the field and take hits. Quick and slippery off line of scrimmage and into routes. Very good acceleration out of his breaks and can be a tough cover for safeties. Has the speed and toughness to work all three levels of the field. Can own the Y-seam with his vertical speed and hands. Immediately opens and looks for expedited throws when he’s over the top of inside linebackers. Has frame for more muscle mass. Extremely competitive after the catch with speed, elusiveness and decent power. Can carry body tacklers after the catch.
Weaknesses Still has work to do filling out his frame. Slow to adjust to blocking assignment during flow of play. Not powerful enough yet to handle NFL edge power as inline blocker. Doesn’t run feet through block to sustain. Upright into his breaks. Needs route polish for underneath routes. Can get better at creating additional leverage through crisper routes. Suffered through a knee sprain that cost him four games before re-aggravating it in Conference USA Championship Game. Missed his bowl game and expected to miss Senior Bowl because of it.
Draft Projection Round 4
NFL Comparison Jordan Cameron
Bottom Line Knee injury basically took six games away from him this season which could cause him to fly under the radar a little bit. Higbee has exciting athleticism and speed in the open field with the ability to separate from safeties on intermediate routes and threaten the deep middle. Higbee has soft, reliable hands and plus run-after-catch ability to finish plays. While he needs to beef up his frame and blocking ability, there is no doubting his pass catching talent.Good pass catcher. I don’t think he has been tasered.
AgamemnonRams get picks 117 and 206 from the Bears in trade. No. 206 is a late sixth-round choice. #LAPick
— Nick Wagoner (@nwagoner) April 30, 2016
Agamemnonhttp://www.nfl.com/draft/2016/profiles/pharoh-cooper?id=2555419
Pharoh Cooper
Overview
Many college football players are lacking in discipline, driving their coaches crazy. Cooper does not have that problem, as he grew up in a military family — his grandfather and father were Marines, and his brother is a Marine. After winning back-to-back state high school titles in North Carolina, Cooper used his maturity to get on the field right away for the Gamecocks, receiving Freshman All-SEC honors as an all-purpose back and returner (359 kick return yards). Once given a chance to receive regular touches on offense, Cooper excelled, garnering consensus first team all-conference recognition as a receiver in 2014 (69-1,136, 11 TD) and second team honors as an all-purpose back (200 rushing yards, two scores). His production dipped a bit in 2015 (66-973, nine TD), but South Carolina’s offense struggled in many ways this season. SEC coaches still named him first team all-conference receiver and all-purpose player for his efforts.
Pro Day Results
40-yard dash: 4.63 seconds
Vertical: 30 1/2 inches
Broad jump: 9 feet, 10 inches
Short shuttle: 4.26 seconds
3-cone: 7.15 seconds
Bench: 19 reps of 225 pounds
Analysis
Strengths Short but compact and strong. Especially fast with first three steps off the line. Reaches top speed almost instantly. Should blaze his 10-yard split at combine. Operates with excellent balance and body control at all times. Staccato footwork and seamless change of direction out of breaks opens early passing window. Will break off route and improvise to free space when route is compromised by coverage underneath it. Competitiveness ramps as soon as he hits the grass. Has burst to steam past safety if cornerback takes bad angle on his slants. Strength to play through contact in his routes. Stutter-go release near goal line is difficult to stop.
Weaknesses Has neither height nor length for desired catch radius. Was unable to reach big-play throws downfield. Contested catches became a chore. Battled focus and concentration drops at one point. Hip tightness creates rounded routes and limited wiggle after catch. The more wrinkles in the route, the less effective Cooper becomes. Relies on straight line quickness over speed or agility in open field. Limited route exposure while at South Carolina.
Draft Projection Round 3
Sources Tell Us “He’s a good player. Scouts can’t worry about how a player like Cooper is going to be used because that is the OC’s job. Our job is to find good football players. He’s a good football player.” — NFC South scout
NFL Comparison Josh Reed
Bottom Line Amidst turbulent offensive times at South Carolina, Cooper has been a rock with consistent production in all areas of the field. While I see Cooper as slightly limited as a pro due to his reliance on straight-line acceleration and scheme fit, NFL personnel men seem to love his playmaking ability and competitive nature.A NE WR for Brady. 😉
Agamemnon
Rams simply doing what had to be done early on day 3 here. No surprise they got two pass catchers with first two picks. #LAPick
— Nick Wagoner (@nwagoner) April 30, 2016
AgamemnonCooper had 66 catches for 973 yards and 8 TDs last season at South Carolina; he's 5-11, 203.
— Jim Thomas (@jthom1) April 30, 2016
Now, trade Foles to Dallas or KC. Cause the already lost out twice. Once for Lynch and once for Cook. 😉
AgamemnonWell, when’s the last time the Rams drafted a WR
in the fourth round that made a big impact?You’re right, they;re due.
Anyway, seriously…this draft was supposed to be deep at WR and unusual in that respect. It was said in advance that teams could get starters in the 4th round this year. Just a deep draft—not rich at the top but unusually deep after the top. All I know is that anyone who knows anything about Cooper loves him.
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