Amari Cooper is one of the best wide receivers in the game, producing year after year. Jerry Jeudy firmly believes that Cooper’s skills and route running are the best in the league. Cooper has been on several teams since being drafted fourth overall in the 2015 draft by the Raiders. His first year with Cleveland was successful, and he’s sure to improve on his numbers going into a second year with Deshaun Watson.
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Broncos WR Jerry Jeudy was recently asked to pick his nine best route runners in the NFL, behind himself, and he had no hesitation in listing Cooper at number one. Studs like Davante Adams, Stefon Diggs, Keenan Allen, and more all ranked behind Cooper for Jeudy, and Dolphins star WR, the highest paid WR in the league based off average salary, was last on the list. So, what gives? Is Cooper actually that special when it comes to route running, and is that his speciality in the NFL?
Jerry Jeudy Ranks Amari Cooper Above Davante Adams, Tyreek Hill
Jeudy is a premier WR in the NFL, bursting with potential. The Denver Broncos have failed to find an appropriate quarterback for Jeudy, but perhaps this year, Russell Wilson will rediscover his MVP-like prowess and make full use of Jeudy’s abilities.
Jeudy is definitely well versed in the ins and outs of the league, and so he knows who has the potential and the skillset to compete the hardest in the league. So, when he was asked about the nine best route runners in the league, who did he answer?
Jeudy appeared on the YouTube Channel “I AM ATHLETE” to give his take. In order, he had Amari Cooper, Davante Adams, Stefon Diggs, Keenan Allen, Justin Jefferson, Cooper Kupp, CeeDee Lamb, Jaylen Waddle, and Tyreek Hill.
It’s interesting to think about but Jeudy may have a point. Cooper is one of the most skilled players in the league, relying less on his frame or explosive ability to make plays, instead focusing on technique and timing.
Amari Cooper has put on a route-running clinic this season 🤭
(via @thecheckdown)pic.twitter.com/FzTmStcRa6
— ESPN (@espn) November 14, 2019
Sure, Cooper may not always be as productive as Davante Adams and Tyreek Hill have been, but he’s consistently a top-10 receiver in the league, and his route-running is a big reason why.
Cooper Ranks Below Other WR Studs In Average Salary
If salary were the measuring stick for WR’s skillsets, Jeudy’s choice would have been confusing considering that Cooper doesn’t even rank in the top ten in average contract value for wide receivers currently.
His average salary is $20 million, good for 11th in the league. Meanwhile, the league’s highest paid receiver by average salary is Tyreek Hill, a full $10 million ahead at $30 million. Davante Adams ranks closely behind at $28 million. A few more big seasons for Cooper could see him shoot up into the top five as well. All figures are provided via “spotrac“.
