<
>

Nine for No. 9: Amari Cooper

The New York Giants hold the No. 9 pick in this year's draft. Each day from March 28 through April 5 (that's nine days -- we did the math for you), we will take a quick look at one prospect who might be available and a fit for the Giants at that spot. Today we look at the player I get asked about the most.

Amari Cooper, WR, Alabama

Chances he's there at No. 9: Fair. If Oakland doesn't take him at No. 4, it's not hard to see him falling to No. 9.

Why he'd be a good pick for the Giants: Weapons, man. The Giants believe they got the best wide receiver in last year's draft in Odell Beckham Jr., and landing the best one in this year's draft would theoretically set them up with a couple of high-end passing-game targets for a decade or more. Beckham, Cooper, Rueben Randle, Victor Cruz, Larry Donnell, Shane Vereen ... Eli Manning's biggest problem would be figuring out whose turn it is to make the huge play, amirite?

Why he wouldn't: Well, because they just took Beckham last year and they have a lot of money sunk into Cruz, and committing too many high-end resources to the same position is a recipe for roster imbalance and continued losing. They don't need to spend a top-12 pick on wide receiver two years in a row, and the fact is they need short-term and long-term help at too many other positions to be thinking that way.