DRAFT 2018 - Wide Receiver Scouting Notes

[deljzc]

WIDE RECEIVERS

#18 Auden Tate*, Florida State (6050, 225#, 4.50
Might have highest ceiling in this draft class. Very impressive body control and fluidity for a man his size that just jumps off film despite low productivity at college (team only completed about 16 passes per game). Really top-notch potential in the mold of Calvin Johnson. Combine performance and measurables will decide if he’s that elite yet or not. Don’t see any way he gets out of round 1 (and could easily be top-10). Mouth watering talent. Round 1
NFL Comparison: Calvin Johnson

#3 Calvin Ridley*, Alabama (6010, 195#, 4.40,
Alabama’s leading receiver (by a lot) each year since his true freshman year. Production suffered because of quarterback play and dominant run game but he is a quality receiver. Likely very highly recruited and has probably been an elite prospect his whole life. Hard to doubt how Alabama produces WR talent as previous #1’s under Saban have done well (Cooper, Jones). Is not a freak athlete like them in terms of height/length. Like other Alabama receivers is a willing and capable blocker. Lack of versatility or contributions in special teams could lower grade a tad. Very similar to round 1-2 graded Marquis Lee, Nelson Agholor and Robert Woods. Round 1-2
NFL Comparison: Marquis Lee

#9 Darren Carrington, Utah (6020, 205#, 4.45
Graduate transfer from Oregon after being dismissed from team for rules violation. Pretty checkered past with DUI and drug test issues. He’s a legit big-5 talent having contributed at Oregon for 3 solid seasons and becoming Utes clear #1 WR. Really open on some of the tape I watched and really has good body control for his size with a lot of quicks (he just makes losing DB’s look easy). Really, really hard prospect to decide on because his tape is really good but the background and interview are going to matter. If he gets one coach to fall for it I see round 1-2 talent easy. Round 2
NFL Comparison: Amari Cooper

#2 Jordan Lasley*, UCLA (6010, 210#, 4.45
Prototypical WR build that exploded in his JR. season with quality QB play (Rosen) for 70 catches, 1260 yards and 9 TD’s in 9 games played. Really looks the part and shows solid acceleration and twitch. Good hands. As with many prospects will have to adjust to bump/physical coverage without a free release but the talent is there to be solid contributor at the next level. Is not a “wow” prospect or physical freak but is very solid. Round 2
NFL Comparison: Michael Crabtree

#80 Deontay Burnett*, USC (6000, 170#, 4.40
Really undersized for position and struggles to block or be physical but that’s not his game. A really fast looking athlete along the lines of Desean Jackson and combine could reveal a really fast prospect. Still should add some bulk to frame just to hold up over 16 games. Very scary in the open field with the ball in his hands. Great cutting ability and can just leave people in his dust. Would have liked to see more punt returning in college history (only 4 career returns). Round 2-3
NFL Comparison: Desean Jackson

#81 Antonio Callaway*, Florida (5110, 195#, 4.40
Excellent athlete, body control and balance for the position. Soft hand catcher and can contort body to make the play. Shows ability to gain separation while the ball is in the air and has an extra gear. Only played two seasons (FR/SO) for Gators and was suspended for entire 2017 season for multiple rules violation (including marijuana). Can return punts (including two TD’s as a freshman). Reminds me a ton of Santonio Holmes on tape. Same type of southern athlete with exceptional quick twitch ability and body control. Makes athletic moves look routine/easy. His off-field issues will significantly drop stock but his tape and potential (if he stays available) is round 1-2. Round 2-3
NFL Comparison: Santonio Holmes

#4 Michael Gallup, Colorado State (6010, 205#, 4.50
A JUCO transfer with only two seasons of very productive D-I football (175 catches, 2700 yards and 21 TD’s). Is a very polished receiver on film and does all the little things you like from a prospect. Can run all the routes and reminds me a lot of Zay Jones from last year’s draft. Uses body extremely well to block out defenders and is very good at crosses/slants/back shoulder throws. Very good, natural hand catcher. Handled Alabama’s press coverage respectfully and showed some decent hand combat off the line. Round 3
NFL Comparison: Zay Jones

#1 Jaylen Samuels, North Carolina St. (6030, 225#, 4.50,
High cut, well defined and will look great in shorts. Super and versatile athlete that lined up all over for NC State (76 catches, 77 rushes as a senior). Returned a few kickoffs and is capable of playing coverage units. Interesting combination of size and athleticism that might be an ascending talent and will appeal to today’s NFL. Shows good hands on pass plays but is not necessarily a downfield threat (yet). Only averaged 9.2 ypr in college with lots of screens and underneath crosses (but those are two very popular routes in the NFL right now). Needs to learn the nuances of route running. Looks like an ideal slot receiver/athlete for today’s NFL in my opinion and could create mismatch issues vs. nickel defenses. Combine will matter (because if he REALLY blows that up he could rocket up boards in my opinion). Round 3
NFL Comparison: Evan Engram

#8 Deon Cain*, Clemson (6010, 210#, 4.50
Very good southern athlete with a lot of fight in the dog. Not afraid to get his nose dirty and mix it up hand-to-hand combat with DB’s. Not a very good run blocker (which will bother some coaches). The Alabama tape was a good one to watch because they pressed him and played physical with him the whole game and he didn’t back down and fought until the end (even with bad QB play and losing big). He’s a bit jack-of-all-trades, master of none and might only peak as a quality #2 WR or depth piece. Lack of special teams experience could hurt ability to make a roster but he is a big-5 conference athlete with loads of experience against quality opponents (even as an underclassman) and looks NFL ready. Round 3
NFL Comparison: Golden Tate

#5 DaeSean Hamilton, Penn State (6010, 205#,
There is some decent athleticism in his film. Not a true #1 during college and was more receiver by committee at Penn State (most receptions actually happened as a freshman). Did a lot of slot work and bunch formations and should grasp NFL playbook quick. Curious about combine and where he ends up athletically because there is a lot to like on film for a mid-rounder. Nothing will “wow” you but is a solid prospect and not that much of a drop off vs. someone like Lasley in this draft. Round 3-4
NFL Comparison: Josh Doctson

#2 Keke Coutee*, Texas Tech (5100, 185#, 4.4
Is a very explosive athlete with ball in his hands and was used like that at Texas Tech (lots of bubble screen, hand offs, crosses, etc.). Returned kicks and should contribute on that (KR/PR) at the next level to make roster. I’m not saying he’s going to come into the league and blow things up but he has a very similar game and body type to Tyreek Hill and could have that type of limited impact early as he further develops his route running and receiving skills. Round 3-4
NFL Comparison: Tyreek Hill

#1 Simmie Cobbs Jr.*, Indiana (6030, 220#, 4.55
Unfair that I watched his film after Auden Tate. Very impressive size for the position and is a legit outside the numbers player. Combine will matter as he shows limited straight line speed and movement skills on tape and didn’t really get a lot of separation. Drew a lot of pass interference and catches under duress on tapes I watched. Good downfield blocker and did that a lot at Indiana. Shows very good, strong hands when contested and wins jump balls. The issue will be separation for him and getting off the line. I’m very concerned about that at next level. Round 3-4
NFL Comparison: Kelvin Benjamin

#28 James Washington, Oklahoma State (6000, 210#, 4.50
Exceptional production playing with quality QB (Rudolf) for entire career including 226 catches, 19.8 ypc and 39 career TD receptions. Does not have typical WR build and is really thick in the seat/thighs and a bit bowlegged. Could be a track athlete as well but his production indicates a long time football player. His build and play style remind me of Pharoh Cooper a couple seasons back and will likely be an equally polarizing prospect that could be all over draft boards. He has nice physicality for the position, blocks, and is not afraid of routes across the middle. Without the prototypical length or elite speed will not get drafted that high but there are guys like this in the league (Golden Tate, Ardarius Stewart, Chris Hogan). Round 4

#6 Javon Wims, Georgia (6040, 215#, 4.45
Another tough JUCO transfer prospect to scout that played very little football from 2009-2016 (only 19 total games - includes ALL of high school) before finally getting limited D-1 reps as a junior and then leading team in receptions as a senior (45/720/7). Reminds you a LOT of Martavis Bryant on film. Same lanky, speed/quickness build that looks ideal for outside the number routes, slants and bubble screens. Supposedly has good work ethic but his whole high school/JUCO story needs investigated. His lack of quality coaching and experience will hold him back from likely immediate success and NFL playbooks could be BIG jump for him. Round 4
NFL Comparison: Martavis Bryant

#6 Equanimeous St. Brown*, Notre Dame (6040, 205#, 4.35
Is a speed athlete with very spindly legs and little muscle developement. Probably in the talk for fastest player at combine (and surely in the receiver group I’m scouting). Does not quite have the hands or high points the ball like you’d like for a deep threat. Little bit of alligator arms. There is a lot of Mike Wallace in his game at this point and is the same type of player. Will have to really adjust to more physical cornerback play in the NFL but his speed looks special on film. Round 4
NFL Comparison: Mike Wallace

#16 Jaleel Scott, New Mexico St. (6050, 215#,
Unrecruited and JUCO transfer that really only had one year of productive D-I football (76 catches, 1079 yards as senior). Is a very tempting size/potential athlete because he exhibits some striking outside the number WR#1 qualities on film. Very smooth athlete and has more quick twitch that most his size. Does not round off routes and shows suddenness. A legit deep threat that high points balls and is a mismatch for most corners. Reminds you a bit of Josh Gordon but needs to add some functional muscle mass and improve his craft. Boom/bust but the boom could be very, very good. Round 4
NFL Comparison: Josh Gordon

#3 Marcell Ateman, Oklahoma State (6040, 220#, 4.55
Size prospect that will have to show more vertical speed at combine than on tape to really move up draft boards. Played with quality quarterback play and benefitted from good skill players around him. Does a good job of dropping hips and moving for a guy his size and has potential to be a decent route runner. Catch radius is excellent and can high point balls but overall hands are good (not great). Will likely develop into a possession receiver type, quality blocker that is a good red zone threat and fade target.
Round 4-5
NFL Comparison: Noah Brown

#16 Courtland Sutton*, SMU (6040, 220#, 4.50
Very tall deep/red zone threat that averaged 16.5 ypc over productive career at SMU (195 catches in three seasons). Lacks elite quick twitch movements and could struggle gaining separation between the 20’s in the NFL against quality/bigger DB’s. Will have to make his mark as a red zone specialist, good blocker and improve his route running ability. Shows decent hands and is not afraid to high point and fight for balls. Ramps up to top speed and not explosive as an athlete on tape. Plodding at times. Old school, west-coast, offensive minded coaches might like him (i.e. Andy Reid, Doug Pederson, Brad Childress, etc.). Round 4-5
NFL Comparison: Mack Hollins

#8 Dante Pettis, Washington (6010, 195#, 4.45
Good, angular build. Plays like he’s a 4.35 player but I’m not sure he athletically delivers that and NFL level speed might catch up to him. Was never a super productive receiver at Washington but contributed well on special teams and is a very good punt returner (9 career TD’s on 90 returns). I’m a little concerned he has limited ceiling and this is it and can’t teach him too many new tricks. All the pieces are there to contribute and his punt return ability will push up stock. Round 4-5
NFL Comparison: T. J. Jones

#3 Christian Kirk*, Texas A&M (5110, 205#, 4.50
Very similar prospect to D.J. Moore (see below) but is a better all-around athlete and football player. More gifted receiver with a bigger route tree/playbook and is a better natural returner. Very thick through core and ran tons of underneath stuff, screens and safety valves for Texas A&M’s spread system. Round 4-5
NFL Comparison: Cordarelle Patterson

#18 Trey Quinn*, SMU (6000, 200#, 4.50
After buried in LSU’s depth chart and having some underclassman injuries, he transferred (skipped a year) and played one huge year for SMU (114/1236/13) before giving up his last year of eligibility. Very hard to find good film on him yet (only highlights). He’s a cocky SOB at times and really plays with a chip on his shoulder. Quick more than fast and is very solid route runner and often has huge separation on plays. Might be a system player in SMU’s spread system but he really looks like he has fun playing football. Hard to know if he can handle athletic jump to next level but for the right coach/system could be a really solid contributor at his size/talent/instincts. Round 4-5
NFL Comparison: Julian Edelman

#6 J’Mon Moore, Missouri (6030, 205#, 4.45
Very solid big play production his last two years at Missouri (almost identical 64/1050/16.5YPC/9TD ±). Pretty good looking long athlete with good twitch for his size. Can sink hips well and do comebacks and cuts. Struggled with Auburn and press coverage and that’s a big concern. Does not like guys in his face and needs improvement in hand combat and getting off line. He might be a maxed out player and will not improve athletically much. Has to continue to work on craft as a depth and 3-WR set contributor. Will have to cover kicks and offers little in return ability. Round 4-5

#3 Anthony Miller, Memphis (5110, 195#, 4.50
Feisty, highly productive mid-major receiver with almost 200 catches, 3000 yards and 32 TD’s his last two seasons. Very active in his team’s offensive game plan and targeted a lot. Wants to be the “man” and could have a diva factor to him. Not as refined a receiver as he should be and might be skating by on athletic talent. Bad habits in his game will be exposed at next level but his body control and athleticism are NFL quality. Very fearless player that will sacrifice body. Reminds me a lot of what I liked about Bruce Ellington a few seasons back and has the ability to really contribute as a coverage guy, punt returner and depth receiver if he can check his ego at the door. Steelers will be watching his speed because he could be their type of guy at a 4.40. Round 5
NFL Comparison: Bruce Ellington

#1 D. J. Moore*, Maryland (5110, 215#, 4.50
A versatile, thicker WR/PR/ATH prospect that decided to enter early after productive junior season (80 catches/1000 yards). Did not see much that jumped out on film as all that special. Very average as a receiver, tracking ball, hands, route running, etc. Saw some trick plays (WR run/pass options, etc.). Reminds me a bit on tape of Amara Darboh from Michigan last season in that do-in-all, spread system WR type that rarely ran downfield much or was a stretch, 9-route player. Round 5
NFL Comparison: Amara Darboh

#5 Allen Lazard, Iowa State (6050, 225#, 4.60
Plays like a TE/WR hybrid and has a lot of potential in that role. Is a size mismatch at times and a very good red zone threat. Is not a super athlete and shows the signs of a larger receiver; doesn’t sink hips well and rounds off his routes. Breaks are a tad slow to play outside in the NFL and DB’s will jam him/stick in his face. There’s a nice physicality to his game though and is not afraid to battle/push off/fight when the ball is in the air. I would add 10 lbs. to him and turn him into a TE/WR type guy like Zach Miller. Round 5
NFL Comparison: Zach Miller

#1 Cedrick Wilson II, Boise State (6020, 190#, 4.40
Son of former Steeler/NFL player with the same name. A prototypical 9-route player with exceptional acceleration and gear shift to gain separation on long passes. Averaged 19.0 ypc his two years at Boise State after JUCO transfer from Coffeyville. Was unrecruited and played QB in high school. Could still be an ascending player considering his lack of experience at the position. Is not a natural looking pass catcher. Combine will matter to see how fast he really is because I don’t think he was on a lot of team’s radars until recently. Still adjusting to physical play and is a little light in the pants and could really struggle against NFL press coverage. Returned some kicks in college (I think his dad did that too). Don’t get too wrapped up in name recognition or pedigree because this is a very raw prospect that has a long way to go until he consistently contributes at the next level. Round 5-6

#10 Daurice Fountain, Northern Iowa (6010, 210#, 4.45
Very good prototypical build for a D-II athlete. Looks the part and did well at Shrine Game and so far in off-season draft prep. Combine will matter and could be surprise late riser. Tracks ball very well in air, times his jumps and has good, strong hands. Will not be a high pick and might be eye-of-beholder that a coach/GM likes more than others (could be all over draft boards) but he’s a decent small-school prospect. Round 6

#5 Justin Watson, Penn (6020, 210#, 4.50
Very productive Ivy League talent that averaged 82/1100/10 his last three seasons. Kind of maxed out for his level of competition and QB play. Ross Tucker loves him and calls him one of the best players the Ivy League has produced. Certainly has the smarts and work ethic to excel with the X’s and O’s at the next level. Will be best in a “smart” offense with smart QB, coaching and system. Will not beat people with his athleticism. Little to no film available. Round 6-7

#7 D.J. Chark, LSU (6040, 200#, 4.45
Not really the sum of his athletic parts. Very limited production (66 career catches) and does not display quality nuances to the craft on film. Just a tempting physical specimen with great height, length and straight line speed for position. Weak hands and poor catch radius for size and too often basket catches everything into his body which leads to drops/fumbles. For a true senior, he should be further along in development but LSU is notoriously behind the times offensively and is still very much a project receiver. Reminds me of Tommy Streeter (Miami) and Devin Street (Pitt) both of whom flamed out rather quick. Round 6-7
NFL Comparison: Tommy Streeter

#19 Jake Wieneke, South Dakota St. (6030, 215#, 4.65
Very productive, four year D-II All-American with substantial school records. Struggling to rank him (like his teammate Goedert) until after combine to see how good an athlete he really is. Tough to judge athleticism at his level because he dominates with size and hand/eye coordination. Blocks out exceptionally well at his level and is a good hand catcher. Did not play with high quality QB play. Lots of guys like this have not been drafted high or done well in the NFL unless he surprises with speed I don’t see on film. Round 7
NFL Comparison: Brenton Bersin

#8 Braxton Berrios, Miami (5090, 190#, 4.55
Predominantly a depth/WR/PR with low production at Miami and didn’t become full-timer until senior season. Only 45 receptions prior to senior season. Lacks athleticism and length for anything outside the hash marks. Is only a slot receiver option and does not quite have the quick-twitch qualities of successes there (Ryan Switzer, Mike Capanaro, Tyler Lockett or Cole Beasley) but does have a nice thick build through the middle and is not “skinny”. Looks like he could put up with NFL physicality. Round 7

 

[deljzc]

I listed some of my thoughts on these prospects in the thread "DRAFT 2018 - Need Help".

Note again all 40-times are MY GUESS only based on film. 4.50 is average and I kind of go up/down by .05 seconds from there based on what I see. Combine is close so we'll know soon.

Note the numbers in front of their names are JERSEY numbers (not rankings). I wanted to start writing that down because when I scout cornerbacks later I sometimes come across just a team/jersey number at WR and I have to backtrack and find out who he's up against. Writing that down now helps me.

 

[Ike Kelly]

Good job Del. Nice work.


Sent from my iPad using Steeler Nation mobile app

 

[Coach]

I saw clips of St. Brown. His father, a former bodybuilder, married a Tall German lady for her athletic prowess and trained his three sons to play in the NFL. To say Dad prepared his sons to play football is an understatement. He drilled them daily at a young age.

Notre Dame had some QB issues in 2017 ( just 51.6% completions ), so St. Brown's production suffered a bit. However we can see St. Brown was much better in 2016, with Kizer was the Quarterback, and Kizer wasn't that accurate.

2016 numbers:

58 catches
961 yards
16.6 yards per catch
79 (TD) Long
9 TD's

Paired with a top level QB such as Ben, a player like St. Brown can thrive just like Wallace did.

I like St. Brown in round three if we lose Bryant, but I suspect he's more of a round two type of talent. Sorry Del, there is no way St. Brown goes in round four! Round 2 or 3, perhaps before out pick in round two!

http://www.espn.com/college-football/team/stats/_/id/87/notre-dame-fighting-irish

http://www.espn.com/college-football/player/_/id/3932442/equanimeous-st.-brown

 

[Stryker]

Probably best to have all of these breakdowns in the WR thread. I'll list my breakdowns in the order Del has them ranked:

1/29/18



Slash, I already like him 100x better than the receiver the Steelers just met with. Check out this video. He's a hands catcher. That is unheard of for a guy his size. He faces the QB and catches the ball with both hands. I didn't see a single body catch in that video. He also is great at using his size to high point, and adjust his route to get to the ball first (boxing out the DB). He's a big bodied guy already, and looks like he has room to add muscle.

He may be raw, but I like what he's shown in fighting for the football. Don't know how he blocks, and his routes were limited here, but he showed some good quickness on some of them. I'd be surprised if he lasted until our 2nd round pick. From what I see, with his size and hands, I'd have him as a late first rounder, early second rounder.

 

[Stryker]

1/29/18

He had some small injury issues, and inconsistent QB play. So from being a little raw and this being a decent class I can see him being there late 2. I like how he seems to be able to adjust to the ball well to go with his size and being as you mentioned not a body catcher. I am interested in his combine stats, As you said he might go earlier, but I don't see him sneaking in 1.

Also could very well see him as BPA if sitting there end of 2.

His combine numbers can only help him. If he tests faster at that size, he's going to rocket up the draft boards. He's young, but he doesn't look unpolished. The way he always puts both hands on the ball, tells me he will have a much lower drop rate that Martavius. I'm also really impressed on how he naturally jumps to high point balls, all over the field, when contested. Some players only high point in the EZ. He'll do it on short crosses or seam balls when he has a man with him. It makes him 8' tall when he does this. It's why I hated Plaxico, because he did the opposite. Rarely jumped, never high pointed the ball, so I called him the shortest 6'6" receiver to play the game. This kid is the opposite. And with good coaching, he would only get better.

His tape looks great to me. I watched his single game tape against NC State, and I liked him more. He amassed those stats in 2Qtrs and 2min before going out with what looked to be a shoulder separation early in the 3rd on that deep ball reception. He ran a much more diverse route tree in this game. Crosses, outs, screen, seam, flag, post. He looked good coming out of his breaks on the shorter patterns. See for yourselves.



I wouldn't spend a first on him, but I'm with you Slash, as a #2 pick, you have to take a long look at him.

 

[Stryker]

2/14/18:

Hey Cope what is your thoughts on the Burnett kid out of USC, JuJu's school? I would think he would be a good slot-sleeper ?

Here's his 2016 highlights:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0baFjcgdkwY

First 2 catches were in the gut zone. thrown to his gut/belly button. 9 times out of 10 this is a body catch by players. He caught both with his hands!

Already is showing me he's a hands first catcher. Good quickness, and great fight after the catch to gain yardage or the EZ.

and 2017:


His 2016 highlights showed good fundamentals. His 17 highlights shows how he built on them into an expanded role in the offense. He really looks a lot to me, like AB. He's running all the routes, and making tough/incredible catches, due to his excellent hand placement and body technique. He's not big, but he uses his speed and body to create space, just like AB. I'd be fine with him being picked up, because he would do really well learning from AB. They have the same body/speed/technique coming out of college.

His RAC is excellent, both with his balance, body control, and stiff arms. Plays a lot bigger and tougher to bring down than normal receivers his size. He's great completing catches on the sideline and back of the EZ (great field awareness). Also breaks off his routes really well on scramble plays to help his QB (sounds a lot like AB right?)

His size will cause him to drop. He's really light. Anywhere from 150-170lbs. At least his 17' highlights don't look like he's under 170. He's very quick, I like his wiggle and I'd consider him if he drops to the 5th, but his film shows me he's a 3-4th rounder. I take him low, because on our team, where do you put him. If we keep AB JuJu and Bryant at the XYZ, you can bring Burnett in as the other Y replacing Eli. Also looks like he can play X, and back up AB. I wouldn't put him at the Z spot at all.

 

[deljzc]

I had Wallace as a round 4 talent (probably undersold him a bit). Steelers drafted him in round 3 and ended up getting a $10 million/year payday. I see the same thing in St. Brown.

Where would Wallace go if you re-drafted his draft class knowing all we know? After 8 years in the pros, what "round" is Mike Wallace to you coach? Last thing I need is another Ball family and his father calling all the shots as well.

He's the exact same player as Wallace is. Super fast but his hands are average at best. Too many chest catches. Doesn't go up and fight for the ball. Runs like a gazelle but gets knocked over like that as well. Needs more functional muscle mass and strength. Very average blocker.

 

[Stryker]

2/14/18:

I like the Pettis kid out of Washington. Big time deep threat and a great KO returner. Round three

Pettis to me looks like a really good college player. I don't know how much it will translate to the pros. He's under the standard 6'2" 200 at 6'1 185. Usually players that are lighter and shorter make up for it in speed, but he does not, projecting at a 4.55. On film, running routes, he doesn't look fast. His hand placement is a little lazy. He body catches some balls he shouldn't and pancaked a deep ball over his head (pinkies should touch, and he had both palms parallel).

I like the way he fights for balls in traffic and he does have wiggle to make players miss. To tell you the truth, I like him better as a returner than a WR. I personally like some of the later round options better.

 

[Stryker]

2/14/18:

give me Anthony Miller, Memphis, WR in a middle round.
hell yes.

Anthony Miller highlights:


Negatives
elbows out on overhead balls. Needs to get them tighter to his body.
route running is not crisp, DBs are with him on breaks
Making a lot of catches with DBs on him without having much room

Positives:
Short but I love his body size. He's got a big frame, good for boxing out.
DBs will not outmuscle him.
Love his fight for the EZ and RAC yardage.
Deceptive speed, like JuJu. Faster football speed than timed speed.
You can't jam him off the line.

Has a chance to be a really tough possession/slot receiver in this league. I'd like to see how well he blocks, didn't see any in his highlights showing that, but with his body type, I think he'd had good leverage with proper technique in the running game.

 

[Stryker]

2/14/18:
Here's Braxton Berrios' Highlights from last year


I like Berrios' hands. He has good elbow placement on balls over his head, and good sideline awareness. To me, with his size and lack of speed, he is only a slot receiver in the NFL. No chance of playing anywhere else. His route running and hands, and body positioning scream a NE Patriots receiver to me. Slower than Hagen, but looks a lot like Welker with his hands. Should translate to a good possession receiver in the slot for the right team, but may have trouble making a roster with his lack of speed and size.

A lot of his balls were contested in college due to his lack of speed. In the pros he will be covered unless he really works on his route running.

 

[Stryker]

2/14/18:

I said it when I saw him - D.J. Chark will be the next superstar...write it down.

http://www.theadvocate.com/baton_rouge/sports/lsu/article_64c1c2ea-03c1-11e8-a4f6-0746b6eb60ed.html

DJ has interesting measurables. The gold standard is 6'2" 200lbs. DJ checks the box on height at 6'3" but he is vastly undersized at 187. To me, he'd be a good speed option, but not durable to make every catch over the middle like a JuJu. I did watch his highlights. Here's a link to all his catches in 17':



The first thing that jumps out to me is, he's a body catcher. DJ is more comfortable catching the ball with his body as opposed to using his hands. In the pros, this will lead to drops. He has great speed and nice quickness, and I like him on end arounds or with the ball in his hands on quick screens. His returns look great as well, but being a body catcher, I don't know if I risk him as a PR. KR yes, but he may put balls on the ground with his technique.

One thing I do love about his technique, is he has perfect elbow positioning on balls over his head catching in the 'basket catch/ pinkie to pinkie position". He's making a net with his forearms here and it maximizes the chance at a catch. His elbows are in tight to his body every time.

I currently wouldn't take him before the 4th-5th rd. I strictly see him as a deep ball threat at the next level, until he adds some size and hits the jugs machine daily. I don't trust his technique as a possession receiver, but I do trust him to make deep plays with his speed and excellent deep ball technique.

Edit: I'd compare him to Martavius Bryant coming out of college. He's smaller than Martavius, but a much better runner with the ball in his hands. Their college hand positioning is very comparable as well.

 

[Stryker]

Now here are some receivers I reviewed for the board that aren't on Del's list. 1/29/18:

Not a bad choice although round two seems a little high to me..

Here is a late Day 2 or Day 3 semi-sleeper wide-out for you guys to remember..

Last name is Valdes-Scantling out of South Florida.

SEASON REC YDS AVG TD
2017 53 879 16.6 6

Plays tall and fast...if number 10 has a relapse again..he would make a nice plan B without using an early pick...
His game mirrors Bryant's..

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k_XCjHkKG-I

Hi Dino,

This receiver is a good example to show the differences in his game from Tate. I probably would rate him a 4th-6th rd prospect, and my reasons are simple. He is more of a body catcher, and doesn't rely on his hands on balls thrown to his body frame. This is something that Tate doesn't do. VS will drop balls, and on the highlight real, nearly dropped a couple because of it. That tells me that he probably had a good amount of plays lost because of drops, because his hand positioning is raw. He also plays small, he doesn't jump much and runs a hunched route, so he doesn't even look big on the field. I also don't like his game speed. He doesn't seem to have a high gear and doesn't make defenders miss. He's always tackled before running to the EZ on long plays, and his TDs only seem to be on balls thrown to him in the EZ. I do think he looks like a willing blocker, and that is a plus.

He has potential, but I personally don't see him as a game breaker in the pros.

 

[Stryker]

And Coolie's Houston receiver he's pimping. 1/29/18:

I'll pimp my late round choice.....Steven Dunbar Jr out of UH

I absolutely love his hands Coolie. He wraps those big paws around the ball whenever he can. Two hands in front of his body, great to see. You can speak for this since I don't watch many Houston games, but from his hand positioning, it looks like he'd have very few drops.

He looks fast, but it also like it takes some time for him to reach full speed. His lateral quickness is good, but not elite. He uses his size well, and does a good job of high pointing the ball. His vert is less than Tate's, but I'd be happy with Dunbar as an option.

 

[Stryker]

To be clear, my breakdowns are different from Del's. I'm looking for specific techniques. Hand placement, the decisions made catching balls, how aggressively the receiver high points or comes back to the football in traffic. Field awareness on sidelines, EZs and first downs. Route running and the ability to create space with crisp routes vs hand checking/swims when jammed.

I'd never say my reviews are right, or more right than someone else. That is foolish. I just state what I see, and what I like in receivers. It's why I agreed hardcore with TMC when Keenan Allen was drafted. He was a first rounder on film by seeing his speed, separation, fight, and excellent hands. He dropped to the third.

JuJu was a 1st rounder on film, we got him in the second. This year Tate is that guy who may be undervalued, because he will not have 4.4 speed. Teams love a sub 4.4 receiver and won't look at one before the first 2 rounds. That's how JuJu fell. Though on film, JuJu's actual football speed is much faster than his timed speed. I feel Tate is the exact same, in that respect. If he has a poor combine, he may drop to the 2nd round, but I'd agree with Del in stating that he's probably the best receiver in the draft.

 

[Ike Kelly]

Great stuff Cope..Thanks. To bad it’s not on par with Coach’s review. He doesn’t even need to watch tape, he just checks their ancestry.

All kidding aside, nice work from both you and Del.

One thing for sure USC is putting out some good receivers.




Sent from my iPhone using Steeler Nation mobile app

 

[AggieSteel]

Interesting you've got Sutton and Kirk as rounds 4-5 when I've seen the muckity mucks list both in their top 4 at the position. Will be interesting to see how those play out

 

[CoolieMan]

And Coolie's Houston receiver he's pimping. 1/29/18:



I absolutely love his hands Coolie. He wraps those big paws around the ball whenever he can. Two hands in front of his body, great to see. You can speak for this since I don't watch many Houston games, but from his hand positioning, it looks like he'd have very few drops.

He looks fast, but it also like it takes some time for him to reach full speed. His lateral quickness is good, but not elite. He uses his size well, and does a good job of high pointing the ball. His vert is less than Tate's, but I'd be happy with Dunbar as an option.

yeah Cope, he doesn't drop the ball often....UH had two solid WR, Dunbar and Linell Bonner.....I have not checked the stats, but from watching the games it seems like Dunbar was the favorite target on 3rd down. I would agree that he takes a bit to get to full speed, but does get open deep and CBs are worried enough that he caught a ton of passes faking the deep route and stopping for a quick 10 yard reception.....the catch just past the 5:06 mark of that video shows he can go down after the ball also...he snatches it right before it hits the turf....also he is a decent blocker

del, great write up....when you finish up...what do you think of my guy?

 

[Coach]

I had Wallace as a round 4 talent (probably undersold him a bit). Steelers drafted him in round 3 and ended up getting a $10 million/year payday. I see the same thing in St. Brown.

Where would Wallace go if you re-drafted his draft class knowing all we know? After 8 years in the pros, what "round" is Mike Wallace to you coach? Last thing I need is another Ball family and his father calling all the shots as well.

He's the exact same player as Wallace is. Super fast but his hands are average at best. Too many chest catches. Doesn't go up and fight for the ball. Runs like a gazelle but gets knocked over like that as well. Needs more functional muscle mass and strength. Very average blocker.

Deljzc,

I had Wallace a 3rd round talent with round one type of upside and was very happy with the pick because I felt his skill set would mesh well with Ben's. Okay, perhaps he was a bit of a one-trick pony, but paired with Ben, he could shine and nobody was catching that pony.

The difference between Wallace and St. Brown is height, and maybe Wallace is a shade faster. I don't care much if he's not a blocker, he's a 3rd WR and a mismatch type in a passing league. I think the QB play at Notre Dame held St. Brown back. I also think St. Brown's skill set would be magnified with Ben.

Bryant is under focused and may be traded or leave next season St. Brown is the type of player who can take his role as an X-factor type of weapon.

At his peak, I think Mike Wallace was worth a 1st round pick, and he did it with an average type of OL in Pittsburgh. In other terms, I think he was better than Charles Johnson or Troy Edwards, who were 1st round WR picks for the Steelers. He has had a better career than Santino Holmes, minus the one hero catch in the super bowl. Wallace had a decent super bowl vs. the Packers, 89 yards, 1 TD which on that day was better than Hines Ward. Wallace will probably wind up with 9,500-10,000+ yards for his career.

While I was happy to see Wallace walk ( He wasn't worth the contract that Miami offered ), he sucked on Miami, but because he could not get wide open, but because the QB either over threw or under threw him too often.

Wallace was drafted in 2009. For a re-draft:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2009_NFL_Draft

 

[Coach]

Interesting you've got Sutton and Kirk as rounds 4-5 when I've seen the muckity mucks list both in their top 4 at the position. Will be interesting to see how those play out

Sutton is a round 1-2 type of talent. Unless he runs like a slug, he's not going in rounds 4-5.

 

[Stryker]

I think this is what makes Del's assessments so interesting. He's going into the evaluations blind. He's not looking at big boards or talent rankings based on what others have done. His is strictly tape before measurables. I can't disagree, and once we start getting the magnifying glass on these guys at the combine, players will rise and fall all over those predone predraft rank boards. A smart team will stick to the tape, and only use the measurables to confirm or deny that potential they see, and how it will translate to the pros.

If you can't catch or have bad hands, they don't improve overnight. It takes years of technique. It's why Sweed couldn't stick. All the measurable talent, but couldn't catch a cold, naked, in a snowstorm. You can teach route running, beating jams, and improve blocking tech, but when you hit the pros, you either have good hand mechanics, or you don't. Those who don't, usually don't last long in the league.

 

[deljzc]

Coach, every single WR would benefit from playing with a quarterback like Roethlisberger. To say Wallace would be "good" here yet not be good anywhere else makes no sense in his evaluation.

You do not evaluate WR prospects based on what they can do with a good quarterback vs. a bad quarterback. That's kind of irrelevant.

This team (Roethlisberger and Arians) and having other decent weapons made Wallace good, not the other way around. Wallace is a bum. The minute he left here he became almost an undraftable talent. He sucked in Miami and he sucks in Baltimore. I am HAPPY to see him on the field against us.

What he "could have done" with Ben throwing him the ball is worthless information. Hell, half of the guys on this list if given 1000 snaps/year with Ben throwing them the ball could be "productive".

All I do is call it like I see it. This is still VERY early in the process. Next year I'd like to see you go in blind with a random list of prospects and rank them based on tape and then I can call you out when you say some one is a 4th rounder and all the so-called "experts" and ESPN idiots call him a 1st rounder.

Remember, I hated Tak McKinnley and Solomon Thomas at this stage of the game too. Had them as late rounders before the dust settled and moved them up considerably on my draft board. Still think I might be a lot closer on them because I didn't like much of what either did so far as NLF rookies. Both looked destined for fairly pedestrian careers in my opinion. I could still be wrong. McKinnley is settling into Dan Quinn's defense as a pass rush specialist and that might work for him but Solomon Thomas was not very good with almost 700 snaps this past season. Certainly not the "next coming of Justin Smith" like so many proclaimed him.

If you want to call me out on how bad I'm scouting (by myself and no one else's opinion influencing me) on St. Brown or Mike Gisicki, go right ahead. We'll see if your slobbering over them because ESPN tells you to ends up being closer to reality than me in a few seasons.

 

[Coach]

Coach, every single WR would benefit from playing with a quarterback like Roethlisberger. To say Wallace would be "good" here yet not be good anywhere else makes no sense in his evaluation.

You do not evaluate WR prospects based on what they can do with a good quarterback vs. a bad quarterback. That's kind of irrelevant.

This team (Roethlisberger and Arians) and having other decent weapons made Wallace good, not the other way around. Wallace is a bum. The minute he left here he became almost an undraftable talent. He sucked in Miami and he sucks in Baltimore. I am HAPPY to see him on the field against us.

What he "could have done" with Ben throwing him the ball is worthless information. Hell, half of the guys on this list if given 1000 snaps/year with Ben throwing them the ball could be "productive".

All I do is call it like I see it. This is still VERY early in the process. Next year I'd like to see you go in blind with a random list of prospects and rank them based on tape and then I can call you out when you say some one is a 4th rounder and all the so-called "experts" and ESPN idiots call him a 1st rounder.

Remember, I hated Tak McKinnley and Solomon Thomas at this stage of the game too. Had them as late rounders before the dust settled and moved them up considerably on my draft board. Still think I might be a lot closer on them because I didn't like much of what either did so far as NLF rookies. Both looked destined for fairly pedestrian careers in my opinion. I could still be wrong. McKinnley is settling into Dan Quinn's defense as a pass rush specialist and that might work for him but Solomon Thomas was not very good with almost 700 snaps this past season. Certainly not the "next coming of Justin Smith" like so many proclaimed him.

If you want to call me out on how bad I'm scouting (by myself and no one else's opinion influencing me) on St. Brown or Mike Gisicki, go right ahead. We'll see if your slobbering over them because ESPN tells you to ends up being closer to reality than me in a few seasons.

I like your stuff and hope you keep calling them as you see it. But every WR would benefit from playing wit Ben you say? It didn't work with Coates, or if you want to go further back with Sweed?

I do think some WR's are held back by poor QB's and you see it in scouting reports from time to time.

I'll stand that the QB situation at Norte Dame held St. Brown's 2017 production back a bit. When I watch WR's for the draft you can judge them when they are open, but the Qb badly missed with the pass.

Wallace is a good NFL player, and had a 1,000 yard season ( 2 years ago ) on the Ravens, that's not easy. A bum, that is approaching 10,000 yards gained in the NFL? You might want to reevaluate that one.

You seem to watch more video then I, but when I have seen enough of a player on film and I disagree ( Gesecki or St. Brown ), I'll say it here for the football content.

As for WR's if we trade Bryant or lose him next year a speed WR to me is the need, and that means I'm looking at those types of players in the draft. St. Brown fits the mold.

For the purpose of this tread or any other, you send me the link of a player on film and I'll write him up myself.

 

[CoolieMan]

can't find your own film links???

 

[deljzc]

Jesus Coach...

Go to Youtube. Type "X Player vs." in the search line and have at it.

But your evaluation is probably already biased because you've been paying attention to ESPN and Walter's Football or Senior Bowl reviews or NFL.com or whatever else. But the lists for offensive lineman are going up soon. Have at it.