The Raiders picked a couple of slots ahead of the Jets in the first round of this year’s draft and they took wide receiver Amari Cooper with the fourth overall pick in a decision that has paid off handsomely for their offense.
Cooper has three 100-yard receiving games in the first six games of the season -- the first time a rookie’s done that since 1961 -- and has 33 catches for 519 yards and three touchdowns overall this season. The Jets will get their first on-field look at him this weekend and they weren’t shy about building him up ahead of Sunday’s game.
Coach Todd Bowles said that Cooper “plays like a demon” and Brandon Marshall called Cooper’s game “so smooth.” Marshall compared Cooper to a mix of A.J. Green and Chad Johnson and cornerback Buster Skrine also mentioned Green when discussing Cooper’s game.
“He reminds me of A.J. Green,” Skrine said, via ESPN.com. “He came in and made an impact right away. He’s just a complete receiver. He’s advanced to be a rookie. He’s one of the top receivers in the game right now.”
In Skrine, Darrelle Revis and Antonio Cromartie, the Jets have corners that they feel comfortable matching up with any receivers in the league. Should Cooper turn in another big game against that group, there probably will be a few more people agreeing with Skrine’s assessment of Cooper’s place in the league.
