The Great NFL Draft Debate: Amari Cooper or Kevin White?
Speed and Agility
It's clear from a purely physical standpoint that Kevin White holds clear advantages over Amari Cooper. But if you ask 5'10" Antonio Brown or 5'11" Emmanuel Sanders, they'll tell you that size and strength are not the end-all-be-all when it comes to wide receiver success in the pros.
Why is that, you may ask? Because speed kills.
When we look at the Combine metrics measuring speed and agility -- specifically, the 40-yard dash, 3-cone drill and 20-second shuttle -- it's clear that Cooper stands above White in these attributes.
| Name | 40 yd | 40 yd PACE | 3Cone | 3Cone PACE | 20 ss | 20 ss PACE | Avg PACE |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kevin White | 4.35 | 0.257 | 6.92 | -0.053 | 4.14 | 0.103 | 0.154 |
| Amari Cooper | 4.42 | 0.154 | 6.71 | 0.199 | 3.98 | 0.247 | 0.300 |
Other than their 40-yard dash times, in which Cooper still registered an above-average 4.42-second time, Cooper ranked above White in every other measure in this sub-category. His average PACE score in all these events was nearly double that for Kevin White. And it is Cooper's superior ability to change direction on a dime that has been instrumental to his route-running skills, which have drawn praise from scouts these past few months.
Indeed, when watching film, we see that Cooper can use his ability to make sharp, crisp cuts to instantly create separation from defenders here. He also displays an ability to change direction fluidly while maintaining his top-end speed as seen in this clip.
To determine how Cooper's agility as measured by his Combine metrics might translate to the NFL, identifying which athletes he compares most favorably to in these events is particularly telling.
| Name | 40 yd | 3Cone | 20 ss |
|---|---|---|---|
| Amari Cooper | 4.42 | 6.71 | 3.98 |
| Odell Beckham Jr. | 4.43 | 6.69 | 3.94 |
| Vincent Jackson | 4.46 | 6.84 | 4.00 |
| Emmanuel Sanders | 4.40 | 6.64 | 4.10 |
Cooper shares nearly the exact same times in the 40-yard dash, 3-cone drill, and 20-second shuttle as some of the most supremely talented and disciplined route runners in the league, including breakout rookie receiver Odell Beckham, Jr. and rising Broncos star Emmanuel Sanders. Thus, it's easy to see that the talents Cooper flashed in college have a good chance of translating over into the NFL.
Similar to the receivers described above, Amari has demonstrated great agility after the catch as well. Once the ball is in his hands, he can consistently make defenders miss as seen in this dance around several defenders here, and even more impressively in a game against Southern Miss where he practically eludes the entire defense here.
In contrast, Kevin White shows much less wiggle after the catch, preferring instead to use his speed and size to power his way past defenders as seen on this play.
| Name | 40 yd | 3Cone | 20 ss |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kevin White | 4.35 | 6.92 | 4.14 |
| John Brown | 4.34 | 6.91 | 4.12 |
| Torrey Smith | 4.41 | 6.72 | 4.13 |
| DeSean Jackson | 4.35 | 6.82 | 4.19 |
White's speed and agility scores compare more closely with players known for their straight-line speed rather than precise route-running, including Torrey Smith and DeSean Jackson
Thanks in large part to the precision of his route running -- which has largely been attributed to his exceptional athleticism and agility -- many scouts believe Cooper is the most pro-ready receiver in this year's draft. Therefore, when it comes to an ability to effectively run a full route tree and immediately contribute to an NFL team from day one, Amari gets the nod over White in this respect.
Advantage: Amari Cooper
