Andy Richardson
Can a rookie be both underrated and overrated? I'm going to throw out a candidate anyway: Tennessee third-rounder Jared Cook.
The tight end is certainly an intriguing athletic talent, having run the fastest 40 of any tight end at the combine (a 4.50), and then also earning top marks in both the vertical and broad jump categories.
Jeff Fisher has praised Cook's athleticism and talent, saying the team would work to find mismatches. His teammates are saying the same, with Alge Crumpler also calling Cook a "total mismatch" for opponents -- too fast for linebackers, too big and strong for defensive backs. Quotes like that will certainly increase the odds of Cook being drafted in re-draft formats this year, as well as helping his stock in dynasty leagues.
But all that potential as a pass catcher and in dynasty formats shouldn't overshadow the fact that Cook is very much an unfinished product. He lined up at wideout a lot in college and didn't play in a pro-style offense at South Carolina; he was really only a tight end for two seasons. As this story in the Nashville Tennessean makes clear, his offseason work with the Titans has been characterized as much by bad drops as a showcase of his athletic ability. And with Bo Scaife, Crumpler, and several new wideouts (Nate Washington, Kenny Britt) in the mix, how much will Cook even see the field as a rookie?
In short, it's one thing to be excited about Cook's potential, but looking for him to make an immediate impact as a pass catcher is a little optimistic.
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