Cooper Kupp

Before he sprained his MCL in Week 6, Kupp had put up a 40-30-438-5 line through five games, numbers that prorate to 128-96-1,402-16 over a full year. He returned Week 9 and went 6-5-89-1 before tearing his ACL in Week 10 and missing the rest of the year. While it's unlikely even a healthy Kupp would have sustained his lofty pace, he was the most productive of the Rams wideouts when he played, and his per-play efficiency has been off the charts for a slot receiver - 9.2 YPT in 2017, 10.3 last year - ever since he came into the league. At 6-2, 208, Kupp has good size but poor timed speed (4.62 40 at the combine). He's an excellent route runner, huge for a slot man, has good hands (only two drops) and a knack for getting open. He's also a frequent red-zone target - 23 looks from inside the 20 as a rookie and another 13 last year in only eight games, i.e., his six TDs in half a season were no accident. Of course, Brandin Cooks and Robert Woods aren't going anywhere, but there's plenty to go around in a top passing game with little depth beyond the big three and scant contributions from the tight ends. Kupp's ACL recovery is on schedule, allowing for participation at the outset of training camp.

Three receivers were taken in the top 10 of the 2017 draft and three more in the second round, but it was Kupp, a third-rounder, who led the class in catches and finished second in yards and TDs. At 6-2, 205, Kupp has good size but below-average speed (4.62 40 at the combine). He largely played out of the slot where his strong route running, unusual size for the position, good hands and high football IQ helped him find open spaces and make plays. It also helped to have offensive wizard Sean McVay calling plays and scheming him open. Accordingly, Kupp put up astoundingly efficient numbers for a slot man - 9.2 YPT and 14.0 YPC. His five touchdowns were disappointing given his 23 red-zone targets (T-2nd), though only seven of those looks were from inside the 10. In 2018, Kupp should largely reprise last year's role, though newly acquired Brandin Cooks likely will see more passes than the departed Sammy Watkins. Whether that cuts into Kupp's or Robert Woods' targets remains to be seen.

Kupp capped off his four years at Eastern Washington as the Division I leader in career receptions, receiving yards and touchdowns. He also silenced concerns about the level of competition he faced in college with monster games against Washington State and Oregon (27 receptions for 452 yards and six touchdowns combined) over his final two seasons. However, his athleticism and ability to succeed as an outside receiver at the NFL level are in question. Kupp ran a mediocre 4.62 40-yard dash at the combine and primarily lined up out of the slot at Eastern Washington. While he's a natural pass catcher with a competitive edge, he'll be hard-pressed to carve out a role immediately following the acquisition of Sammy Watkins, creating a clear-cut top trio of wideouts along with Robert Woods and Tavon Austin.