What is your definition of a true WR1?
Wow typed this up once on my phone and lost the tab!
For me, a WR1 is a player with no weakness in their game
Tall
Physical
Fast
Elite hands
Elite route running
Someone that can catch the ball even if they're covered just by out fighting everyone for it
I suppose that's not entirely fair and it should just be based off of production, which Cooks was productive for us.
I feel like he can have trouble getting off jams at the line, teams were playing him more aggressively down the stretch and finding some success.
I also feel like he has to be wide open, if it's a situation where he gets under thrown or is in traffic, he can't fight for the ball as well with his size.. you can see him get completely redirected by DBs often times where it should be a defensive penalty but it's rarely called
I don't thing he's injury prone or anything, and the shot he took in the SB was an unfortunate circumstance, but I can't help but feel squeamish with the idea of giving a player of his stature a mega contract.. he's 24 years old, can his small frame continue to hold up to the violence of the NFL?
Then again, even big physical guys like Calvin Johnson had lots of injury problems throughout their career, so probably not a great argument against Cooks
Not sure what his concussion history is, and not sure on the severity of the one he sustained in the SB... But guys his size in the past have had their careers cut short from big hits and multiple concussions (Jahvid Best comes to mind)
At the end of the day I like Cooks and would love for him to stay, but I just feel he's more of a complimentary #2 than a true bonified #1, and I'd be hesitant to pay him a massive contract with a lot of guarantees
Ps. Nearly lost this entire post again, but luckily the back button worked and what i types was still populated
