Report: South Carolina WR Pharoh Cooper to work out with New Orleans Saints in April
South Carolina wide receiver Pharoh Cooper has a workout scheduled with the New Orleans Saints in April, a report says.
According to the Charlotte Observer, Pharoh Cooper will be visiting with the New Orleans Saints in April for a private workout. With Marques Colston’s departure and no guarantee Brandon Coleman will mold into something special, wide receiver is a position of need this offseason.
Pharoh Cooper has a workout with the Saints next month
— Jonathan Jones (@jjones9) March 30, 2016
I'm told Pharoh Cooper ran in the low 4.6s today. That doesn't surprise scouts though. Everyone knew he wasn't going to break records
— Jonathan Jones (@jjones9) March 30, 2016
The model scenario would be getting somebody (preferably a big man) to complement Brandin Cooks on the outside in order to utilize Willie Snead in the slot as a No. 3. At a small size, I’m not sure Pharoh Cooper is that guy, but he does posses the tools to be a dangerous weapon and good fit for the Saints.
A victim to an insufficient quarterback situation at South Carolina, Pharoh Cooper was still able to produce massive numbers. He enters the NFL as one of the more productive SEC receivers over the past two seasons, totaling 135 receptions for 2,143 yards and 17 touchdowns from 2014-15.
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The New Orleans Saints are all about character makeup in their players. Coming from a military family, Cooper fits that mold. He also possesses the intangibles to be a quality producer at the next level, which are highlighted by excellent quickness (lacks top-end speed), balance and coordination, beautiful footwork for running good routes, and play strength to be competitive in physical situations.
At only 5-foot-11, Pharoh Cooper may have problems in the NFL with contested catches, as he does lack the ideal length for a superlative catch radius. However, his other features help make up for it.
South Carolina held their pro day Wednesday, where Cooper reportedly ran in the low 4.6’s in the 40-yard dash. Again, he won’t impress with top-end speed, but he possess almost all the other tools to be a problem for opposing defenses in the NFL.
Next: Saints: Making the case for Pharoh Cooper
Cooper could be a good fit for the Saints at the right price, which would likely be a second or maybe third-round pick. New Orleans obviously liked him enough today to schedule a private workout, and the team is obviously interested in finding another wide receiver. Add Cooper to the list of pre-draft visits and/or workouts.