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2016 NFL Draft: 5 Late-Round Prospects the 49ers Should Target

By Bryan Knowles

Aaron Lynch is a recent example of a great late-round draft pick. Mandatory Credit: Cary Edmondson-USA TODAY Sports
Aaron Lynch is a recent example of a great late-round draft pick. Mandatory Credit: Cary Edmondson-USA TODAY Sports /
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Oct 17, 2015; Columbia, SC, USA; South Carolina Gamecocks wide receiver Pharoh Cooper (11) makes a catch during the second half against the Vanderbilt Commodores at Williams-Brice Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jim Dedmon-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 17, 2015; Columbia, SC, USA; South Carolina Gamecocks wide receiver Pharoh Cooper (11) makes a catch during the second half against the Vanderbilt Commodores at Williams-Brice Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jim Dedmon-USA TODAY Sports /

Pharoh Cooper, WR, South Carolina

We stay in the Carolinas for this next pick, though I’d wager that Cooper is more likely to be gone by day three than Brissett is. It’s not at all out of the question that Cooper could drop down to the 49ers’ first pick in Round 4—105th overall—and if he does, he would be a fantastic pick for the franchise.

Cooper lack of height—only 5’11”—is a major ding against him, but his raw speed should compensate for that quite nicely. Cooper was unable to run the 40-yard dash at the combine, thanks to a quadriceps injury, but he’s expected to run a 4.5-ish at his Pro Day. You can’t teach speed, and Cooper has some to spare.

He’s not just a blazer, though—Cooper has excellent body control and balance, and is great at making quick stutter-steps and changes of direction. You don’t want him doing anything too crazy in terms of cuts or anything like that, because his major weapon is creating separation through bursts, but he can use his footwork and quick acceleration out of breaks to create separation and make relatively uncontested catches. South Carolina mostly used him on verticals, dump-offs and screens, rather than running a full route tree, but Cooper has the ability and skills to be a Randall Cobb-like threat. If he was larger and stronger, he’d definitely go early in the draft, and I imagine Chip Kelly could find a very creative way to use the speedster.

Next: A Defensive Stalwart