Cooper Kupp is a third-round draft pick out of an FCS school in the Big Sky Conference with undeniable hands and a knack for route-running. If his skills translate to the NFL, he’s poised to be an excellent addition to what is hopefully a diverse and multi-faceted offense under Sean McVay.

Does any of that make him the the kind of player that could have 70 receptions in his rookie season? Good Morning Football’s Peter Schrager believes that it does. In a “bold predictions” segment on the NFL Network morning show, Schrager said that it will be Kupp who finishes this season as the most prolific rookie pass-catcher.

Via Rams.com:

“This is the cat that I’m excited for,” said Schrager. “Eastern Washington…stole everyone’s hearts at the Senior Bowl…here’s my bold prediction: This guy’s gonna lead all rookies in receptions. I don’t care that he went in the third round, I don’t care that everyone’s ‘oohing’ and ‘aahing’ over Corey Davis and John Ross and Mike Williams an Zay Jones and JuJu and all these guys. This was the sixth receiver taken in this year’s draft… but I think he’s going to lead all rookies in catches. I’m going to even throw a number out there. I think he’s going to have 70 catches this year.”

Let me just put into perspective for you just how hard it is for a rookie receiver to have 70 receptions. According to Pro Football Reference, there have only been 16 rookie wide receivers to ever catch that many passes in their first season in the NFL.

Schrager continued:

“Jared Goff needs to throw the ball to somebody and this guy is a precise route-runner. He’s got great hands. He seems like the perfect safety net for a young quarterback because you know he’s not gonna screw up that route. He’s gonna make the play. He might not go 80 yards, but John Ross is a homerun hitter. Mike Williams is that Julio Jones, big picture guy. Cooper Kupp is your safety valve already.”

If you look at the most recent players to have 70 receptions in their rookie season – Keenan Allen, Kelvin Benjamin, Amari Cooper, Jarvis Landry, Odell Beckham – you’ll notice that they very often do play the role of the “home run” guy. Yes, they have the ability to play as slot receivers – but they’re downfield play makers too.

Related Top NFL safeties think Cooper Kupp to Rams is huge steal in NFL draft

Schrager’s co-host and longtime NFL receiver, Nate Burleson, alluded that that idea by pointing to the fact that if Goff were going to lean on anyone this year, it would be the most explosive player on the team: Tavon Austin.

Guest analyst Lance Moore agreed with Burleson, explaining that while he does believe Kupp’s pass-catching skills will translate to the pros, he is not the kind of guy to turn in 70 receptions in his rookie season. He also believes Austin is the player who will get the touches for the Rams, rather than Kupp.