Marcus Cooper (Rutgers) - 2013 NFL Draft Pick #252 by SF
What The Experts Thought Before The Draft
Pre-Draft Analysis for Marcus Cooper - 2013 NFL Draft
Player Profile:
- Name: Marcus Cooper
- College: Rutgers
- Position: Cornerback
- Height: 6'2"
- Weight: 192 lbs
Strengths:
- Size: Cooper possesses excellent height and length for a cornerback, giving him an advantage in coverage against taller receivers.
- Physicality: He is known for his physical play style, particularly in press coverage, where he can use his size to disrupt routes.
- Ball Skills: Cooper has demonstrated solid ball skills, showing the ability to make plays on the ball and create turnovers.
- Versatility: He has experience playing in various defensive schemes, allowing him to adapt to different systems at the next level.
Weaknesses:
- Foot Speed: While Cooper has good size, there are concerns about his straight-line speed and ability to keep up with quicker receivers.
- Technique: He occasionally relies too much on his physicality and needs to improve his overall technique in man-to-man and zone coverage.
- Consistency: There were moments in college where his play was inconsistent, leading to questions about his readiness for the NFL.
Overall Assessment:
Marcus Cooper was viewed as a developmental cornerback with the potential to become a starter in the NFL. His size and physicality were highly regarded, but teams needed to weigh his speed and technical skills when considering him in the draft. A mid to late-round selection was anticipated for Cooper, with the hope that he could refine his skills and contribute to a defensive backfield.