FanPost

Top Prospect of 2011


Aaron Schatz and Bill Barnwell of Football Outsiders posted an article to ESPN Insider yesterday with the top prospects of 2011. Guess who came in at #1? None other than our favorite underachieving tight end Jared Cook. This is a make or break year for him and it seems as if not only Titans fans are aware of his untapped potential. Just a quick caution: Last year they had Jacob Ford at #2, and he disappointed. Read what they had to say about Cook after the jump:

1. Jared Cook, TE, Tennessee Titans
Cook is a Jermichael Finley clone in terms of size and pedigree, with one pound and two slots in the draft separating them as far as measurables. The scary thing is that Cook is a significantly better athlete than Finley, putting up a 4.49 40-yard dash and 41-inch vertical leap at the 2009 combine, one year after Finley put up a 4.82 and had a 27.5-inch vertical. Like Finley, Cook was basically a shiny bauble with little use until his second pro season, although Finley broke out in training camp, whereas Cook was barely on the field before Week 11. Once Cook got his chance, though, he delivered. Over the final seven games of the season, Cook produced 26 catches for 303 yards and his first NFL touchdown, including a 96-yard game against the Chiefs in Week 16. And this was withKerry Collins and Rusty Smith at quarterback. With a full year as the starter ahead of him in 2011, Cook should be an occasionally dominant receiver as the No. 2 option in Tennessee's passing offense, running past safeties worried about Chris Johnson. He could become a regular Pro Bowler, beginning as early as this season.