Raiders receiver Amari Cooper had an excellent rookie season. The No. 4 overall draft pick made an immediate impact on the Silver and Black, becoming the team’s first quadruple-digit receiver since 2005.
He finished the year with 72 receptions for 1,070 yards and six touchdowns. He faded some down the stretch due to a foot injury, but was explosive and dangerous when healthy. Cooper proved to be a precise route runner with breakaway speed and better in-air skills than expected.
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His quality rookie year wasn’t quite enough to be the best of the year. St. Louis Rams running back Todd Gurley was named the NFL’s offensive rookie of the year.
He received 27 votes. Tampa Bay quarterback Jameis Winston was second with 17 votes and Cooper was third with four votes. Seattle receiver/return man and Arizona David Johnson received one vote.
Cooper was a Pro Bowler, added to the roster late in the process. Cooper’s work was universally praised, and many have high expectations for him as his career progresses.
