Jared Cook TE South Carolina 6'5 246 Jr. 4.50

Cook split time as a receiver and tight end as a freshman, catching just six passes for 113 yards. He started to show his big play ability as a sophomore TE, hauling in 30 passes for 421 yards and three touchdowns. Cook entered his junior year as the starter at tight end, and had a solid year, catching 37 passes for 573 yards and three touchdowns.

Strengths

Cook is an absolute freak physically. He has very good size, with the room to add more weight to his frame. He is a tremendous athlete, with excellent quickness, acceleration, and breakaway speed. These physical gifts allow Cook to be a force as a receiver. His potential as a game changing receiving TE is special. He not only can be a dependable target underneath, but he has the rare ability to get down the field and out run defenders to make big plays.

Weaknesses

Cook thinks receiving is his only responsibility. His blocking is pretty much non existent, and that will limit the amount of snaps he sees on the field. He is essentially a large wide receiver, and will have to be used all over the field until he improves his blocking ability. Cook also needs to show more intensity and a desire to work on his game. He relies on his natural gifts to make plays, and that alone will not make him the type of game breaker he can become.

Future

Cook has special talent at the TE spot, but the fact that he isn’t a first round lock says some things. He needs to work harder at rounding out his game. Not only does he need to improve his blocking quite a bit, or at least show some effort, but he will need to sharpen up his receiving skills as well. Cook blew up the combine with a 4.50 40 and 41" vertical at 246lbs, easily top marks for tight ends. Cook could be a second rounder in April, but just how good he becomes will depend on how hard he works.