Round 3 Pick 69: Cooper Kupp, WR

[A55VA6]

the only thing that really annoys me with him,
it's how everybody is pronouncing his name false.

it's kupp with an U like in university and not an U like in cup.

His name is pronounced like 'cup'.

 

[Soul Surfer]

The first words out of McVay's mouth today were Cooper alright.

But it was Pharoh.

Pharoh Cooper. Remember that name too.

 

[thomonkey]

I think you just said something very profound there, DR RAM.

It hit me like a thunderclap.

Everett and Higbee at TE.

Woods, Kupp, and Reynolds at WR. Who knows, maybe Tavon can get into the act, too?

There was a plan at work there. There's gonna be a synergy to these various receivers in combination with Goff.

I truly believe that each of the newbies was seen by McVay as a big piece of the new O puzzle. Each was hand picked not so much merely for their considerable personal talent, but as a new part of an O that will be greater than the sum of it's parts.

Good catch, man!

they actually said reynolds was a bpa bonus pick for them as they didnt think hed be there.

 

[Dodgersrf]

they actually said reynolds was a bpa bonus pick for them as they didnt think hed be there.

Welcome to ROD @thomonkey

 

[Corbin]

The first words out of McVay's mouth today were Cooper alright.

But it was Pharoh.

Pharoh Cooper. Remember that name too.

I think many have underestimated the Pharoh of Ages. I see him breaking out this year if he has been busting his ass this off season.

 

[Memphis Ram]

7. COOPER KUPP, Eastern Washington (6-1½, 203, 4.60, 3): Broke 15 FCS records in 52-game career. “When I first put the tape on I was hoping he was going to be Jordy Nelson,” said one scout. “He’s just not as big and fast as Jordy. Little bit more powerful. His draft stock from a size-speed standpoint took a little hit but he’s going to play.” Amassed 428 catches for 6,464 (15.1) and 73 TDs. Led WRs on the Wonderlic with 37. “If you want a first down on third down, I’ll throw it to him because he’s going to get open and catch the ball,” another scout said. “He’s a big slot. Fantastic with his feet. He’s natural.” In four games against Pac-12 teams he caught 40 passes for 716 (17.9) and 11 TDs. “Somebody is going to overdraft him,” a third scout said. “The Amendola’s, the Edelman’s are punt returners, and he’s not. He a catcher, not an explosive playmaker. Slot only. He can’t play outside.” From Yakima, Wash.

http://www.jsonline.com/story/sport...rospects-wide-receivers-tight-ends/100718406/

 

[Ram65]

I really don't like pass catchers with small hands...and, he's a body catcher.

He has small hands but, Everett's first college coach said he has strong soft hands. I watch Everett's videos multiply times. He hand catches the ball but will use his body to shield the defenders. He looks like a natural pass catcher to me.

 

[Soul Surfer]

I think many have underestimated the Pharoh of Ages. I see him breaking out this year if he has been busting his ass this off season.

One thing I can guarantee you;
He has been working hard.

One of the hardest-working most competitive players I've seen in awhile.

 

[InnovatedMind]

7. COOPER KUPP, Eastern Washington (6-1½, 203, 4.60, 3): Broke 15 FCS records in 52-game career. “When I first put the tape on I was hoping he was going to be Jordy Nelson,” said one scout. “He’s just not as big and fast as Jordy. Little bit more powerful. His draft stock from a size-speed standpoint took a little hit but he’s going to play.” Amassed 428 catches for 6,464 (15.1) and 73 TDs. Led WRs on the Wonderlic with 37. “If you want a first down on third down, I’ll throw it to him because he’s going to get open and catch the ball,” another scout said. “He’s a big slot. Fantastic with his feet. He’s natural.” In four games against Pac-12 teams he caught 40 passes for 716 (17.9) and 11 TDs. “Somebody is going to overdraft him,” a third scout said. “The Amendola’s, the Edelman’s are punt returners, and he’s not. He a catcher, not an explosive playmaker. Slot only. He can’t play outside.” From Yakima, Wash.

http://www.jsonline.com/story/sport...rospects-wide-receivers-tight-ends/100718406/

"Slot only" ... Jordy Nelson was considered "Only a Possession Receiever" ... I can't wait until scouts eat some of their words.

 

[InnovatedMind]

Another "Expert" opinion from a fantasy footballer on rotoworld:

"I'm no scout but looking at Kupp's tape...a few of them...I am not buying it either. He looks to be a decent enough player who just dominated lesser competition in the Big Sky Conference. The best competition I saw was Washington State and they suck on D and have for years. Highlights against Cal-Poly, Idaho State, Portland State, Southern Utah, Montana State...I can't help but essentially disregard them.



His SPARQ score and other athleticism measures are horrible (ranked 87th among WR's in this class I believe i saw?) and the gaudy stats don't look so impressive when you watch highlights and he's barely covered in most of them or if he is, it's inept or just broken coverage.



I'm not ready to say he's absolutely going to suck or anything, he looks like he has at least some ability but 43rd best 40 time of WO's at the combine? 40th in vertical jump? 47th in broad jump? Unless he had some kind of injury, that is a bunch of red flags, especially since his lesser-known teammate Kendrick Bourne beat him in all but the shuttle drills. Kupp didn't improve the Combine numbers much at EWU's pro day even with homefield stopwatches so that tells me his Combine performance wasn't just a bad day or two...he's just not as athletic as most other WR's in this class and not as athletic as the vast majority of WR's already in the NFL.



Plus as has been mentioned, he's on a bad LAR team with a huge unknown at QB who didn't look like he was the type who is just going to have the light go on over his head & turn into Jim Everett overnight. This rebuild from the mistake that goes by the name of Jeff Fisher & Co. is going to take years, ask the Titans.

I foresee quite the learning curve for Kupp - I saw a comp on some site while I was doing my dynasty rookie draft that compared him to Austin Collie. I think that's a much better comp to Kupp than Jordy Nelson myself. "

 

[thomonkey]

Welcome to ROD @thomonkey

thanks! @Dodgersrf

 

[LACHAMP46]

He has small hands but, Everett's first college coach said he has strong soft hands. I watch Everett's videos multiply times. He hand catches the ball but will use his body to shield the defenders. He looks like a natural pass catcher to me.

Like his coach would say he has weak hands....
http://www.walterfootball.com/scoutingreport2017geverett.php

Gerald Everett Scouting Report
By Charlie Campbell

Strengths:

• Fast

• Athletic

• Phenomenal middle-seam tight end

• Second-gear acceleration

• Dangerous speed down the seam

• Good athlete

• Supreme receiving tight end

• Mismatch nightmare

• Rare yards-after-the-catch skills for a tight end

• Generally sure-handed

• Quick release off the line

• Superb body control

• Leaping ability

• Good route-runner

• Very agile

• Can make leaping highlight-reel receptions

• Too fast for linebackers

• Too big for most safeties

• Red-zone weapon

• Mismatch generator

• Athletic enough to play H-back

• Upside

• Uses size to make receptions downfield

• Adept at finding the soft spot in zone

• Tracks the ball well

• Decent feet in pass protection

• Willing blocker

• Good at hitting cut blocks

• Hits blocks on the second level

• Experienced

• Effective against good competition

• Deceptive quickness, athleticism

• Quality hands

• Durable

• Ready to play immediately

Weaknesses:

• Not a forceful blocker

• Can never be a Y (blocking) tight end

• Limited in role

• Undersized

• Has avoided injury, but could have issues with that in the NFL

Summary: A mismatch receiving tight end is one of the most desired offensive weapons across the NFL. With a legit combination of size and speed, tight ends are very difficult to defend against in the middle portion of the field while providing third-down and red-zone weapons for their quarterbacks. Engram could be one of the most dynamic receiving tight end prospects in the 2017 NFL Draft, and that is saying something considering the other excellent talents like Alabama's O.J. Howard and Miami's David Njoku. Those two are probably the top tight ends, but Engram could be the third one off the board.

Everett started out his career at UAB and played one season there, catching 17 passes for 292 yards and a touchdown. After UAB ended its football program, Everett transferred to South Alabama, where he had 41 catches for 575 yards and eight touchdowns in 2015. During his senior year, team sources told WalterFootball.com that there was a real buzz about Everett in the scouting community, and he was often compared to the Redskins' Jordan Reed. As a senior, Everett recorded 43 receptions for 648 yards and four touchdowns on the year. He followed that up with a solid showing at the Senior Bowl.

For the NFL, Everett is a dynamite receiving weapon down the middle seam of the field. He is fast running vertically down the field with speed, explosiveness and athleticism. Everett is also a very good route-runner who consistently gets separation. He is way too fast for linebackers and uses his size well against safeties. He often burns man coverage and is very adept at finding the soft spot in zone coverage.

Everett repeatedly used his leaping ability and frame to make catches over defenders as he plays bigger than his listed numbers. Everett is a dangerous run-after-the-catch receiver. He has a second gear to run away from defenders and explodes into the open field. He can flash some moves and strength as a runner, too.

Everett will never be a big blocker in the NFL, and at the Senior Bowl, he didn't impress there as he had lost almost 15 pounds from his playing weight before going to Mobile. Team sources feel that Everett was advised to do that to run faster, and while he did impress as a receiver, his blocking suffered from the decreased weight. A big part of blocking for tight ends is just having the desire and giving an effort; on tape, Everett does that and often finds a way to contribute. Everett will never be a force as a run blocker or pass protector in the NFL. He could chip in some blocks and may not be a serious liability.

Everett may not be a true three-down starting tight end in the NFL. However, he will be a mismatch receiver who really hurts defenses down the middle seam. In a passing offense, Everett could be tremendous. He also will make a double-tight end sets very dangerous, and the attention he commands could let the other tight end get wide open out of neglect. Everett should really excel in his role and be an asset for his offense.

As a pro, Everett could be a devastating mismatch weapon and one of the better receiving tight ends. He should contribute some as a blocker, but he is a limited player in that regard. In the 2017 NFL Draft, sources from multiple teams have said they graded Everett in the second round and think that is the round he will most likely get drafted in.



Player Comparison: Jordan Reed. Sources from multiple teams have said there are two Jordan Reed-like tight ends in the 2017 NFL Draft. Everett is one of them and Ole Miss' Evan Engram is the other. Most team sources have graded Everett over Engram. Like Reed, Everett is a tremendous receiving tight ends to work the middle seam with speed and athleticism. Reed (6-2, 246) is a little heavier but the same height as Everett. Reed is one of the top mismatch tight end weapons in the NFL, and Everett could provide the same sort of impact for an offense. Both are willing blockers, but limited because of their size. Reed has had issues with injuries and concussions. That could be a problem for Everett in the NFL given the way he plays. Reed was a third-round pick in the 2013 NFL Draft, while Everett could go a round earlier than him.

I get why they drafted him....not sure why in the second round...he does run after the catch like a RB.
Look at the difference of how he catches in drills than in actual games. Nothing huge, but I suspect he catches with his body...If you don't mind that, cool
http://gamesvideoreview.net/watch/CC-QSCAD4N0

 

[Faceplant]

I just changed one of my Keeper League fantasy teams (that has Gurley on it) to:

Two Gurleys One Kupp

*Al Bundy voice* "Let's Rock!"

Lolz. I made a joke about this prior to the draft just in case we drafted him, haha.

 

[Corbin]

Another "Expert" opinion from a fantasy footballer on rotoworld:

"I'm no scout but looking at Kupp's tape...a few of them...I am not buying it either. He looks to be a decent enough player who just dominated lesser competition in the Big Sky Conference. The best competition I saw was Washington State and they suck on D and have for years. Highlights against Cal-Poly, Idaho State, Portland State, Southern Utah, Montana State...I can't help but essentially disregard them.



His SPARQ score and other athleticism measures are horrible (ranked 87th among WR's in this class I believe i saw?) and the gaudy stats don't look so impressive when you watch highlights and he's barely covered in most of them or if he is, it's inept or just broken coverage.



I'm not ready to say he's absolutely going to suck or anything, he looks like he has at least some ability but 43rd best 40 time of WO's at the combine? 40th in vertical jump? 47th in broad jump? Unless he had some kind of injury, that is a bunch of red flags, especially since his lesser-known teammate Kendrick Bourne beat him in all but the shuttle drills. Kupp didn't improve the Combine numbers much at EWU's pro day even with homefield stopwatches so that tells me his Combine performance wasn't just a bad day or two...he's just not as athletic as most other WR's in this class and not as athletic as the vast majority of WR's already in the NFL.



Plus as has been mentioned, he's on a bad LAR team with a huge unknown at QB who didn't look like he was the type who is just going to have the light go on over his head & turn into Jim Everett overnight. This rebuild from the mistake that goes by the name of Jeff Fisher & Co. is going to take years, ask the Titans.

I foresee quite the learning curve for Kupp - I saw a comp on some site while I was doing my dynasty rookie draft that compared him to Austin Collie. I think that's a much better comp to Kupp than Jordy Nelson myself. "

Nothing against you of course but that ' expert opinion' guy is full of shit! Wow. I guess Jerry Rice was over rated in college because of his competition, T.O. so on and so forth. Also, Everett comes from a small school and even if he did transfer from UAB it's still lower competition. I have not heard constant stuff about him playing crap competetion.

I swear these ' gurus' and dumb media pundits really do get free money. It's a job you can be shit at and still hold onto your job.

 

[LACHAMP46]

Speaking of hands...big hands....and since this is Kupp's thread...Another opinion by Louie Tee



and some guy named Voch...listen to the contrasting analysis...you can really get a sense that Kupp is in some ways a polarizing player...some say slot...some say anywhere...

 

[Ram65]

Like his coach would say he has weak hands....
http://www.walterfootball.com/scoutingreport2017geverett.php

I get why they drafted him....not sure why in the second round...he does run after the catch like a RB.
Look at the difference of how he catches in drills than in actual games. Nothing huge, but I suspect he catches with his body...If you don't mind that, cool
http://gamesvideoreview.net/watch/CC-QSCAD4N0

Just wanted to respond one more time then I'll go back to Kupp.
Read down the bottom of your posted listed. It says

• Effective against good competition

• Deceptive quickness, athleticism

• Quality hands

• Durable

• Ready to play immediately

http://www.nfl.com/draft/2017/profiles/gerald-everett?id=2557889
ANALYSIS
STRENGTHS
Slick athlete with leftover wide receiver traits. Easy acceleration into routes and can blow by safeties who sit down looking for a route break for too long. Good acceleration off of plant foot in route breaks. Can create immediate separation. Carries play speed throughout routes. Cover linebackers are usually in for a rough day vs. Everett, who eats in the middle of the field and shows no fear. Maximizes arm length for wide catch radius. Hands look fairly natural as pass catcher. Adds to totals with yards after catch. Runs physically and with excellent balance. Rips his legs through arm-tackle attempts. Instinctive runner who sets up blocks on bubble screens. Alters stride length to elude diving tackle attempts. Able to work all three levels of the field. Blocks with anger and is prone to longer engagements than most blockers on perimeter. Put on a show, including game-winning touchdown, in upset of Mississippi State on the road.

This sums up why they drafted Everett in round 2.
BOTTOM LINE
It's difficult to find a good comparison for Everett because his size and toughness are similar to Marshall's coming out, but his playing style resembles Delanie Walker at times. Everett has size, speed and tremendous run-after-catch potential, but it is his willingness and ability to block that separates him from other "matchup" tight ends. Route running is below average, but he should improve with NFL coaching. Everett has the talent to become a very good NFL starter with Pro Bowl potential if he puts it all together.

 

[LACHAMP46]

@Ram65

I included that report for those exact reasons...I read between the lines...why Quality instead of Great? What exactly is "fairly natural" instead of natural? Don't get me wrong, this guys an athlete...but the game in the slots is tough, I like strong hands (see Cooper & Kupp, although I don't think Pharoh is a natural hands catcher...Higbee seems to be). I'd personally feel comfortable with a 6'6 250 lb guy with 10 inch mitts...
Everett seems like a RB playing TE.....Lets see if it works. As much as people claim Reed is this, and Everett's the next Reed...Reed is constantly hurt...with scary injuries too...concussions. and while he's supposedly a red-zone threat, the Skins struggled in the redzone...

 

[jrry32]

Everett seems like a RB playing TE.....Lets see if it works. As much as people claim Reed is this, and Everett's the next Reed...Reed is constantly hurt...with scary injuries too...concussions. and while he's supposedly a red-zone threat, the Skins struggled in the redzone...

McVay wants a RB playing TE. That's exactly what he's looking for at the position.

The Skins struggled in the red zone because Reed was injured.

 

[DaveFan'51]

I think you just said something very profound there, DR RAM.

It hit me like a thunderclap.

Everett and Higbee at TE.

Woods, Kupp, and Reynolds at WR. Who knows, maybe Tavon can get into the act, too?

There was a plan at work there. There's gonna be a synergy to these various receivers in combination with Goff.

I truly believe that each of the newbies was seen by McVay as a big piece of the new O puzzle. Each was hand picked not so much merely for their considerable personal talent, but as a new part of an O that will be greater than the sum of it's parts.

Good catch, man!

The bottom Line is, at this point, we have 15 WR's and 6 TE's on the Roster. War is about to break out!! Major Battle's for these positions! At best we will carry 6 WR's and 4 TE's and maybe not 4 TE's IF you add the FB into the mix!!

 

[InnovatedMind]

The bottom Line is, at this point, we have 15 WR's and 6 TE's on the Roster. War is about to break out!! Major Battle's for these positions! At best we will carry 6 WR's and 4 TE's and maybe not 4 TE's IF you add the FB into the mix!!

Heavy receiving packages, they could even keep 7 at WR.