Prospect evaluation is a funny thing. Even when draft prospects are grouped into categories like “first-round grade” and “top-20 player” and “top five lock,” team need often trumps relative grades. The most difficult projections usually involve prospects with comparable grades but different skill sets and ceilings. Should a team take the player with a higher ceiling or one with a higher floor? Does it depend on where in the first round they’re drafting? Should they take a high ceiling player in the top ten and a high floor player elsewhere? Or vice versa?

Jonathan Cooper is an interesting prospect, precisely because of this conversation. In another year he’d be considered one of the best guard prospects in a decade. However, this year he is joined by Alabama’s Chance Warmack, who is actually one of the best guard prospects in a decade. Even Warmack’s teammate D.J. Fluker--who is currently considered a tackle--could end up moving inside because of his heavy feet, and he’s probably a Pro Bowl caliber player on the inside.

So where does Cooper fit in? His skill set is as NFL ready as any available prospect, though he’ll probably be most successful in a zone-blocking system. He’s too short to ever play tackle, but he’ll be a plug-and-play left guard who will make multiple Pro Bowls throughout his career. How valuable does that make him?

Strengths

Agility/Quickness: Cooper’s biggest asset is his quickness, especially as he springs to the next level. He flashes on tape, even to an untrained eye. He bursts off the snap and accelerates to the next level like a tight end. He’s extremely agile in a phone booth, and can pull effectively to the left and the right, meaning he can play both left and right guard at the next level.

Fluidity/Balance: Even though he’s quick and explosive, he’s also an extraordinarily smooth athlete. He moves with effortless power, and his experience as a highschool wrestler shows in his wide base. Even though he’s on the small side, his balanced stance and long arms help him maintain leverage against bigger and stronger defensive linemen.

Mentality: He’s an aggressive kid who has a definite nasty streak. NFL teams like guards who aren’t afraid to get down and dirty, and Cooper fits that to a tee.

Weaknesses

Size/Strength: While his speed and agility will prove his biggest assets, he’s as quick as he is because he’s small for a guard. The legendary Alex Gibbs of the late-90’s Denver Broncos’ teams popularized the smaller, nimble offensive linemen, so most zone-blocking teams won’t bat an eye at his size, but it is to be considered. He can be overwhelmed by more powerful defensive tackles, and he’ll only face more of them in the NFL. Fortunately, his long arms and big hands will help him offset some of the size he gives up to NFL defensive linemen.

Bottom Line

If an NFL team needs a perennial Pro Bowl starter, Cooper fits the bill. And what team doesn’t? Most teams drafting in the top half of the draft are there because they have poor offensive lines. However, there is a stigma associated with taking a guard in the top ten or fifteen picks, and any general manager who passes up Warmack for Cooper will face some real scrutiny. In a year without clear-cut top ten talents, a team should fall in love with Cooper and take him in the top fifteen picks. He’s worth it and wouldn’t disappoint. He definitely won’t fall out of the top 25.