2023 NFL Draft: WR Rankings
1
Jalin Hyatt
School: Tennessee
Ht/Wt: 6’0”, 176 lbs
Strengths:
Hyatt is a speed demon on the football field. He can blow by the fastest of CB’s, making him a constant threat that defences will have to be thinking about. His ability to take the top off not only leads to massive plays for the offence, but also opens things up for the other players, as his speed often requires extra attention. Hyatt is a hands catcher who displays the ability to reach beyond his frame to snag the ball out of the air. He isn’t the biggest guy, but this helps his catch radius a little bit. Hyatt is a weapon with the ball in his hands. Manufactured catches, like quick screens, as well as other plays like jet sweeps and end arounds, allow him to get into space and make people miss. He is a threat to take it the distance every time he touches the ball. Though he isn’t the biggest guy, Hyatt has shown to be a pretty solid blocker.
Weaknesses:
Hyatt is sharp when going in and out of his breaks, but at this point, he lacks deceptiveness in his route running. Implementing head fakes, for example, could help him buy even a half step of extra separation. He was never challenged to that extent in college, so it is something he got away with. But more detailed routes will be needed at the next level. Hyatt also faced little contact at the line in college, so his ability to play on the boundary in the NFL is a bit of a question mark. Facing press coverage in the NFL will be a pretty big transition, and may, at least early on, limit him to the slot. Hyatt has a decent catch radius for his size, but isn’t a big threat to win in contested situations. His hands, for the most part, were reliable, but he wasn’t immune to the odd drop.
Summary:
Hyatt has the speed to take the top off the defence, and turn nothing plays into huge gains. His effect on an offence goes beyond his statistical production, as his speed will open things up for the other weapons. Hyatt’s lack of experience facing contact at the line will raise the question about his true value at the next level. Can he play on the boundary or is he a slot guy? With some development, I think he can make it on the outside. But even if stuck on the inside, he has the talent to be a major threat that defences will have to constantly be paying attention to.
| Grade: 86.3 | Round Grade: 1st |
2
Quentin Johnston
School: TCU
Ht/Wt: 6’3”, 208 lbs
Strengths:
Johnston is a size/speed prospect that is able to win in a variety of ways. For his size he is a pretty solid route runner. You see some explosion out of the gate, and sharp cuts as his route progresses. Johnston has the speed to win over the top, but his ability to pick up yards after the catch was what impressed me the most. Not only the explosion and speed that he displays, but also the pure violence that he runs with every time he touches the ball. He is able to make people miss in the open field, and he can dish some punishment to anyone attempting to bring him down. As a runner, he is very scrappy. Johnston has a big frame and a large catch radius. He has made several highlight catches where he had to elevate for the ball in a contested situation.
Weaknesses:
Johnston is a big receiver, but doesn’t always play to that size. For one, press coverage can disrupt his route a lot more than it should. As well, he left me disappointed in several of his contested opportunities, as he failed to come down with the ball in a matchup that favoured him. Even excluding contested situations, he had some poor drops and on some occasions, allowed the defender to dislodge the ball. Johnston is a good route runner, given his size, but not perfect. On some occasions, he can be a bit slow getting in and out of his breaks, partly due to his large strides. For a bigger guy, he didn’t add too much as a blocker.
Summary:
Johnston has all the measurables to be a high end receiver in the NFL. He has good size, but also moves very well. He has the violence to him when he runs, and can pile on the yards after the catch. While you see him use his size in contested situations, his consistency in this area is far below where it needs to be. Overall, he will need to do a better job of playing to his size at the next level. Winning more contested catches, beating press coverage, and blocking are all things he’ll need to do more consistently. There is some risk hiding behind highlights and measurables, but if he is able to put it all together, he has tremendous upside. Contribution as a rookie should still be expected, even if there are some growing pains.
| Grade: 85.8 | Round Grade: 1st |
3
Jaxon Smith-Njigba
School: Ohio State
Ht/Wt: 6’1”, 196 lbs
Strengths:
Smith-Njigba is a smooth player with the ability to win over the middle of the field. He is a pretty good route runner. They are generally nice and crisp, and he implements head fakes and stutters into his route to help create separation. Smith-Njigba has a good pair of mitts. Soft hands and he is a hands catcher, not waiting for the ball to hit his frame to secure it. He is a smart player and knows how to find the soft spots in zone coverage. He works the middle quite well, and can also make catches in crowded areas. Smith-Njigba also does well to work with the QB during scramble drills. His finish to the 2021 season was impressive. Though not spectacular, he is a capable blocker.
Weaknesses:
Speed is among the biggest weaknesses to his game. Without that extra gear, he places a ton of importance on impeccable technique in order to create separation. Even with good technique, separation on the outside might not come consistently. Though there have been a few nice flashes on tape, I wouldn’t say he is a huge threat to pick up yards after the catch. He can pick up some chunk yardage with space in front of him, before eventually getting caught, but the amount that he can actually create for himself is limited. He’s not a small guy, but his ability to handle press can be questioned, just from a lack of usage in these situations. Smith-Njigba missed most of the 2022 season with an injury.
Summary:
Smith-Njigba is a smooth enough athlete and detailed enough as a route runner to end up being a quality slot receiver at the next level. He has the strength and fight in him to battle through traffic to make a catch, and his hands are reliable. Athleticism isn’t top tier, and it will raise some doubts about his ability to play on the boundary. Perhaps he can if he can prove able to handle press coverage. But even still, his highest and best use is likely in the slot at the next level.
| Grade: 83.1 | Round Grade: 2nd |
4
Zay Flowers
School: Boston College
Ht/Wt: 5’9”, 182 lbs
Strengths:
Flowers brings good speed to the table, but his quickness and elusiveness in the open field is probably his biggest draw. With the ball in his hands, he can use jukes to his advantage, and manage to navigate his way out of a phone booth and into the open field. In the open field, he is tough to catch. The quickness makes it so that you can barely get a hand on him when you’re in close range. But his speed also gives him the ability to draw off. Flowers can win over the top, but is slippery enough to find those smaller pockets at the intermediate level too. Manufactured touches are a great way for him to pile up the yards. Jet sweeps, screen passes etc.
Weaknesses:
Size is a drawback for Flowers. Though he has experience playing on the boundary and in the slot, he may be limited to the slot at the pro level, as he had some difficulty fighting off contact early in his route. His route running in general can stand to improve. They are often rounded, lacking crispness and much deception. In this case, it doesn’t look like an ability issue. His speed and quickness should translate, but he’ll need some coaching. Flowers has put some nice catches on tape, but also has some drops scattered throughout. Ideally, he’ll be able to limit those. Given his smaller frame, he isn’t a big threat in contested situations. As well, his ability as a blocker is limited.
Summary:
Flowers has the speed and quickness to be an effective weapon on offence. He projects as a slot receiver at the next level, though may be able to make it on the boundary if he can get stronger and get better at handling contact early in his route. The bigger things to work on are his route running and hands. More consistency in both these areas will be necessary, but he has the talent and ability to make it work.
| Grade: 81.4 | Round Grade: 2nd |
5
Tyler Scott
School: Cincinnati
Ht/Wt: 5’10”, 177 lbs
Strengths:
Scott is a speedy receiver who is a threat to take the top off on any play. Possesses burner type speed, often requiring help over the top. This opens things up for other members of the offence. In addition to his speed, Scott is a very twitchy athlete. His route breaks are very sharp and precise, and he implements stutters and head fakes to add a level of deception. He is dangerous on comeback routes, as he can take advantage of CB’s overplaying the go route. Scott is dangerous after the catch, ot only with his ankle breaking quickness, but with his ability to draw off in the open field. He definitely possesses a skillset that can be an asset as a returner. It is also ideal for jet sweeps and quick screens. Though he has a leaner frame, Scott did well to fight through a lot of contact when making some of his catches. His arms aren’t super long, but he is good at leaping up for the ball.
Weaknesses:
Scott has largely been able to overcome his lean frame, but that doesn’t mean there won’t be limitations still. It can be difficult for him to fight off contact at the line of scrimmage, which makes it even more important that he is able to avoid it consistently, at the next level. He also has very little experience lining up in the slot, which is where some may project him due to his size. Scott was not immune to some drops, especially this past season. Concentration issues do pop up on a lot of these drops. He needs to stay more focused and see the ball into his hands. Scott does well to elevate for passes, but his smaller frame still limits his catch radius, and can give defenders an edge in these situations.
Summary:
Scott is a burner on the outside, but his ability isn’t just in a straight line sense. He is very quick and agile. Routes are crisp, and he has the skill set to run a full route tree. Adding him to an offence will instantly give you a deep threat, but also someone who can go for chunk gains with his legs. He is a bit limited when it comes to size, and perhaps he can add some strength in order to handle press a little better. But contested catches will never be his forte. The limitations may prevent him from being a WR1, but he has high-end WR2 upside.
| Grade: 80.5 | Round Grade: 2nd |
6
Josh Downs
School: North Carolina
Ht/Wt: 5’9”, 171 lbs
Strengths:
Downs is a dynamic athlete with the ability to rip off chunk gains on offence. He is very fast and very quick. Downs is someone tha defences have to keep close eye on, because you may blink, and find that he is behind you. His quickness helps him run sharp routes, with his breaks being tough for opposing CB’s to mirror. Downs is electric after the catch, not only possessing quick feet and different fakes to escape from a crowded area, he also has the speed to draw off. For a smaller guy, Downs has been pretty good in contested situations. He has experience returning kicks, and can do so at a high level.
Weaknesses:
Downs is an undersized receiver who can be pushed around a little in various phases of the game. Press coverage isn’t kind to him, as even just one strike can disrupt his route pretty badly. Though he did pretty well in contested situations in college, expectations should be set lower for the pros, given the significant step up in talent that he will be facing. At his best, Downs is a great route runner. However, he seems to take plays off at times. His routes become less crisp, and on some plays, he doesn’t finish off his route. Concentration drops also show up from time to time. As a blocker, Downs doesn’t seem to add very much, often getting overpowered by stronger players.
Summary:
Downs is a dynamic receiver with the speed and quickness to be effective on all three phases of the field. His size will likely limit his effectiveness in contested situations at the pro level, and it will likely limit him to the slot on most plays. Still, in his role as a slot receiver, Downs has the potential to be a big offensive contributor early on in his career.
| Grade: 80.3 | Round Grade: 2nd |
7
Jordan Addison
School: USC
Ht/Wt: 5’11”, 173 lbs
Strengths:
Addison is a shifty player with great quickness and good speed. He runs his routes with precision, making sharp breaks and adding some head fakes and stutters in the process. Against zone coverage, he is able to find the soft spots, and sit there, providing a target for the QB. Addison creates separation quickly, and can be a big threat in the short passing game. But his athleticism has also proven to be a threat down the field. After the catch, he is able to make people miss in the open field, and can eat up yards pretty quickly with his speed. Addison has shown that he can make tough grabs away from his frame.
Weaknesses:
Addison has a very slender frame, and it may cause him to get bumped around a little in the NFL. He likely won’t be able to have much success against press coverage at the next level, and will need free releases to be at his best. While his speed is good, I wonder if his quickness gave the illusion of it being better than it actually was. There were times where, even at a full sprint, I questioned whether it was really in that elite tier. His poor testing only enhances the question marks. Addison has dealt with his share of drops over the course of his college career. Many of them were concentration issues. Due to his size, he won’t be a contested catch threat at the next level, and he doesn’t have a big catch radius. He offers little as a blocker.
Summary:
Addison displays high end quickness on a consistent basis, and he is able to use it to create a large amount of separation on many of his routes, and to pick up yards after the catch. His small frame will add some limitations to his game. That said, his quickness and ability to separate should allow him to see time on the outside, but a mix of inside/outside reps is likely best, in order to limit how much press coverage he faces. Addison doesn’t seem like a WR1 at the next level, but he has the skill set to be a quality complimentary option. Probably an inside guy first, but one that can see more snaps on the outside than your typical slot receiver.
| Grade: 80.0 | Round Grade: 2nd |
8
Marvin Mims
School: Oklahoma
Ht/Wt: 5’11”, 183 lbs
Strengths:
Mims was a nice vertical threat at Oklahoma. On tape, he doesn’t seem to have blazing speed, but he is certainly athletic enough to win deep over the top. He is pretty fluid, and can work the shorter areas of the field, creating enough separation. Mims is a playmaker after the catch. He is deceptively quick, and can force missed tackles. His explosiveness as a runner also helps. Though he is not the biggest guy, his explosiveness adds power to his game, and defenders can be caught off guard by the difficulty they had bringing him down, if they judged the book by its cover. His hands are generally solid, even if the odd bobble and/or drop does show up. Mims is a versatile player, as someone who can play on the boundary, in the slot, and on special teams as a returner. He also displays effort as a blocker and, though not perfect, is capable enough.
Weaknesses:
Mims is not the biggest guy, and doesn’t seem to be a factor in contested situations. He often prefers to let the ball drop to him, rather than attempting to high point. Defenders are able to punch the ball away, and overall, catching in traffic can be hit or miss. I wouldn’t say that I see blazing speed on tape, though he did test quite well. It does build up a little, though. His route running looks crisp at times, but more consistency in this area is needed, as a lot of his breaks can be rounded. He also ran a pretty simple route tree, so diversifying it may be a bit of an adjustment.
Summary:
I don’t know if Mims excels in any area, but he is pretty solid, overall. He has the speed to win over the top, and his quickness and power as a runner make him a nice threat to go for some big plays. Generally, he displays good hands, but his lack of size and a smaller catch radius will leave lingering limitations in his game. But his ability to lineup anywhere in the formation does provide some options, allowing teams to find the best fit for him in their offence, based on his skillset. As well, he can add value as a return specialist. If he can become more consistent as a route runner and diversify his route tree, Mims can be a quality player on offence, serving as a team’s second or third option at WR.
| Grade: 77.5 | Round Grade: 3rd |
9
Matt Landers
School: Arkansas
Ht/Wt: 6’4”, 200 lbs
Strengths:
Landers is a player who comes with boatloads of upside and talent. He has good speed, and he further showed this at the combine with a sub 4.40 40 time. Landers is not one of those straight line guys, either. He possesses a lot of fluidity. At his best, he is running crisp routes and a diverse route tree, showing the ability to separate on all three levels. Yards after the catch ability is also there. Landers, as a runner, combines speed/shiftiness, and power to make for a dynamic threat when he has the ball in his hands. With that speed, also comes great size, as he is standing at 6’4”. Landers can box out his opponent and use his long reach and strong hand to fight through contact at the catch point. He has flashed the ability to make some really difficult grabs.
Weaknesses:
For all of the talent, Landers has been unable to put it all together on a consistent basis. Things didn’t work out for him at Georgia, and after spending a year at Toledo, he ended up playing at Arkansas for his final college season. The issue is that he often seems to play soft, and can sometimes lack effort. Landers doesn’t always attack the ball, despite having the size to tilt matchups in his favour. As a result, defenders have an easier time using contact against him, and are able to breakup passes more often. As well, Landers let a lot of catchable targets fall incomplete. It is not a matter of lack of ability. But it seems as though minimal effort is being made to extend out to make the catch. As well, he can sometimes lose focus as the ball is in the air.
Summary:
Landers is a boom/bust NFL Draft prospect. The talent and measurables that he possesses are very enticing, and more consistency would have him rated much higher. With his combination of size and athleticism, as well as the flashes he has shown, there is no doubt that he is capable of being a high end WR1 in the NFL. That said, with modest production over an extensive college career, and a lot of very frustrating mental mistakes, how likely is it that he can get there? My grade is likely a lot higher than NFL teams will have him on their board. For the upside, I don’t think it is totally unreasonable. Though I acknowledge that he is a swing for the fences pick, with a higher probability of striking out than many will be comfortable with.
| Grade: 75.5 | Round Grade: 3rd |
10
Nathaniel Dell
School: Houston
Ht/Wt: 5’8”, 165 lbs
Strengths:
Dell is a small but extremely quick receiver. He shows great detail when running shorter routes near the line of scrimmage, and can create near instant separation to allow for quick completions. This kind of separation ability can be deadly from the slot, but also allows him to spend some time on the outside too, as he has the ability to avoid contact, and leave his opponent tangled up. Dell is a big threat with the ball in his hands. He can create something out of nothing, and escape when he is seemingly cornered. You also see him stick his foot in the ground and reverse the flow of the play. This ability makes him a nice option to use on end arounds, as well as in the return game. Dell has enough speed to be able to take the top off of the defence. He also jumps with a lot of springiness. He actually can get pretty high, so his catch radius is a bit better than other players of his size.
Weaknesses:
Dell has put some impressive catches on tape, but it is also littered with drops. He especially struggles to secure the grab when there is contact at the catch point. Size will be an issue at the next level. Though he is able to use his quickness to avoid contact at times, he can’t get away with it all the time. When defenders are able to land their strike, the level of disruption to his route is pretty significant. Though he can elevate quite well for his size, his lean frame still makes contested catches tough for him. He should not be relied on to produce much in contested situations. As a route runner, he shows good detail at times. However, on deeper routes, he can sometimes get sloppy and round his corners, rather than making crisper cuts or using deception to enhance his route.
Summary:
Dell is a playmaking threat, thanks to his exceptional quickness and good speed. He can take the top off the defence and pick up chunk yards when they can get the ball in his hands on quicker plays near the line of scrimmage. Size is an issue, and will cause some limitations, but his quickness also provides some workarounds, and allows him to win in other ways. The biggest concern I saw on tape was the drops. A lot more consistency will be needed in that regard in order to be trusted as a starter in 11 personnel. Otherwise, he might end up just a gadget player.
| Grade: 73.6 | Round Grade: 4th |
11
Kayshon Boutte
School: LSU
Ht/Wt: 5’11”, 195 lbs
Strengths:
Boutte is a good athlete with the ability to be a vertical threat, as well as one underneath. His get-off isn’t always perfect, but Boutte has speed that can build up as he progresses into his routes, and he can reach a gear where he is running by his opponent. After the catch, he has the speed to outrun defenders, but also the elusiveness to evade tackles and wiggle his way out of traffic. He runs hard, which makes it even tougher for defenders to get him down quickly. Boutte operates well against soft coverage. He eats up the cushion in no time, and has shown the ability to break sharply towards the inside. Against zone, he has the ability to navigate the middle and settle into the softer spot. He can work well with the QB during a scramble drill. Boutte can play on the outside or in the slot.
Weaknesses:
Boutte is a body catcher, which not only minimizes his catch radius, but leaves him susceptible to drops. And those drops did show up on tape. His catching process doesn’t always look totally natural when he is plucking the ball with his hands. Boutte dealt with an injury, and missed much of last season. Even in the games he played in, I didn’t think he looked as sharp as in 2021. His routes were a bit crisper and he was moving a bit better in the previous season. The medicals will have to check out during the draft evaluation process.
Summary:
Boutte is a pretty good athlete, and it seems to be his main avenue for production at this point. He isn’t the most polished route runner, but he can still create separation on all levels, and is a playmaker after the catch. His catching technique is a concern. As a body catcher, he gives his opponent an extra instant to make a play on the ball, he minimizes his catch radius, and he leaves himself susceptible to drops. If he can’t correct some of those issues, coaches may have a tough time trusting him in certain situations. Boutte is not a finished product, but he does have the talent to be a good starter. Just needs to put it all together.
| Grade: 73.4 | Round Grade: 4th |
12
Jonathan Mingo
School: Ole Miss
Ht/Wt: 6’2”, 220 lbs
Strengths:
Mingo has a big frame, and its usefulness is noticeable very early in several plays when he has to overcome press coverage. He has the strength to get through early contact, as well as contact at the catch point. Mingo has made his fair share of catches through all kinds of traffic. He adjusts his body well to back shoulder throws, as well as ones that are just off target, and he has shown the ability to keep the ball secured, even as attempts are made to dislodge it. For a big guy, MIngo actually has really quick feet, which further helps him to create some space early in his route, and can make him a great weapon out of the slot. With the ball in his hands, he does well to generate power. Defenders have a very tough time bringing him down. His strength also makes him an asset as a blocker.
Weaknesses:
Mingo is a quick player, but unfortunately, he does not have the speed to pair with it. His speed is average, and, even when he wins off the snap, CB’s don’t have a tough time recovering. As a result, he ends up in a lot of contested situations because there is very little separation. Mingo can be a body catcher at times, choosing to let the ball hit him, instead of plucking it out of the air. The same can be said in contested situations where high pointing the ball would give him a clear advantage. But a lot of times, he lets it drop down. In doing so, he gives his opponent more of a level playing field. Concentration drops also showed up on tape, and will need to be cleaned up.
Summary:
Mingo brings size and quickness to the table as a receiver, but a lack of high end speed makes him a less than ideal fit on the outside. His quick feet and detailed route running makes him a good option for the slot, and getting a little more cushion should allow him to create a bit more separation. The way he adjusts to errant passes is impressive, and he has the contested ability to still make plays down the field. However, to reach his full potential, he’ll need to be more consistent high pointing the football, and catching passes with his hands, rather than against his body.
| Grade: 73.2 | Round Grade: 4th |
13
AT Perry
School: Wake Forest
Ht/Wt: 6’4”, 198 lbs
Strengths:
Perry is a big, strong receiver who also possesses the necessary speed to win vertically. His catch radius is very large. This doesn’t only come from his height and long arms, but also his ability to elevate for the football. You also see some acrobatic catches on tape. He is a good weapon in the redzone. Perry’s straight line speed is very good, allowing him to create separation down the field on go routes. His speed and strength/power give him some ability to make a play after the catch.
Weaknesses:
Straight line speed is very good, but Perry lacks quickness and agility, making him very limited as a receiver. While he can separate on simple go routes, the more complicated ones are not well suited, and he can struggle to create separation down the field. His speed builds up as the route progresses, quick routes are not always kind to him. Perry isn’t someone who can stop/start on a dot. He looks a bit clunky when doing so, and can take a while to regain momentum. He shows strong hands at times, but concentration drops will need to be limited.
Summary:
Perry offers a nice blend of size and straight line speed. He can win in most contested situations, and his speed gives him ability to separate deep down the sideline. That said, he is a lot more clunky when moving laterally, which limits his game. As well, concentration drops will need to be cut down. Overall, he may be too limited to ever be a WR1, but he can be a good player in a complimentary role, where he is allowed to play to his strengths.
| Grade: 73.1 | Round Grade: 4th |
14
Cedric Tillman
School: Tennessee
Ht/Wt: 6’3”, 213 lbs
Strengths:
Tillman is a big bodied receiver with the skillset to tilt contested situations heavily in his favour. He has soft hands, and consistently plucks the ball out of the air. Tillman takes full advantage of his height, showing the ability to extend his reach well above that of his opponent, and coming down with a large number of his contested targets. The benefits of his size go beyond just his height. Tillman has a well built frame, and the strength to fight through contact at the catch point, and make tough catches in traffic. He also does very well to counter press coverage, and get through it. After the catch, he uses his size to power his way forward for some extra yards. He also is a good blocker on the perimeter.
Weaknesses:
Tillman has size, but the athleticism didn’t always seem to be an asset. Due to his injury in 2022, his 2021 season made up a much bigger part of his evaluation. Even in that season, his speed and movement seemed to fluctuate from game to game. In some, his athleticism looked pretty solid for his size, and his combine testing would back up this side of the coin. However, he looked lethargic out of the gate in other games, and his routes lacked much juice throughout the play. Tillman’s route tree was quite limited in college, and he almost exclusively lined up in the same position. Diversifying these parts of his game will be a transition. After the catch, Tillman does well to fight for extra yards, but he is not dynamic, and won’t go for big gains very often.
Summary:
Tillman has a big frame which he uses to his full advantage in contested situations. While he isn’t the best route runner, his ability to elevate over defenders for the ball does give him some ability to win deep down the. Overall though, his relative lack of speed and dynamic qualities may limit him to being mainly a possession receiver. Additionally, his limited route tree makes his transition to the next level a bit tougher. If he puts it all together he can be a solid WR2 or WR3. If not, his size and strong hands should at least make him a viable WR4.
| Grade: 72.1 | Round Grade: 4th |
15
Tre Tucker
School: Cincinnati
Ht/Wt: 5’9”, 182 lbs
Strengths:
Tre Tucker is a small receiver who brings plenty of athleticism to the table. He has the makings of a guy who can go the distance on just a quick pass or an end around. His run after the catch ability is outstanding, given his quickness evading tackles, and speed he has to draw off in the open field. Tucker’s speed also allows him to win over the top, and he is generally a sharp route runner, allowing him to create the necessary separation on more complex routes. While he is small for the position, he plays with a lot of toughness, showing no fear over the middle. He is not afraid to lay out for the ball, and he can make plays through traffic. In addition to his ability to contribute big plays on offence, Tucker is someone who can be dynamic in the return game.
Weaknesses:
Size is the clear and obvious issue that will follow him around. Though he plays with a lot of fight, he will naturally get pushed around at times by bigger players. The boundary is unlikely to be an option for him, given that most CB’s should be able to shut him down with press coverage. Tucker has a small catch radius, which puts more importance on the accuracy of his QB. While he has shown the ability to extend and adjust to the ball, he won’t be winning too many battles through the air when the ball is being contested.
Summary:
Due to his size, Tucker will be a slot receiver at the next level, where he will get more free releases. He brings an abundance of speed and quickness to the table, and is a threat to rip off a big play any time he touches the ball. Size is a concern, and it will limit him in the pros. Press coverage isn’t kind to him, nor are contested situations. However, proper scheming and gameplanning can still have the ball end up in his hands. His ability to separate and make plays, both as a receiver down the field and as a gadget guy, should allow him to have some kind of role.
| Grade: 71.8 | Round Grade: 4th |
16
Darius Davis
School: TCU
Ht/Wt: 5’8”, 165 lbs
Strengths:
Davis is an eclectic athlete with the speed, quickness, and acceleration to pose as a threat on every play. He is at his best with the ball in his hands, as he is able to make people miss in the open field, and accelerate through running lanes to draw away from defenders. He flashes some crispness as a route runner, and the ability to improve further is certainly there. Davis has the speed to beat defences vertically, and he has quick feet that can help him execute stutters and double moves to perfection. Davis excelled on end arounds and quick passes, but also was a big asset in the return game.
Weaknesses:
Davis is extremely undersized, and despite his quickness, likely won’t have what it takes to play on the boundary. Size and strength from his opposition can work heavily against him, and press coverage isn’t something that he’ll easily be able to get through. Though he has good hands, contact at the catch point can cause some issues for Davis. As a route runner, he has the natural ability to excel, but will need to clean up some of the technical aspects.
Summary:
Davis has a dynamic skill set that will catch the eye of teams looking to add speed and agility to their offence. He lacks the size to be a complete player, and can struggle against contact. However, at the very least, he should have a role as a gadget player and kick returner. With improved route running, he could start in the slot.
| Grade: 71.3 | Round Grade: 4th |
17
Andrei Iosivas
School: Princeton
Ht/Wt: 6’3”, 205 lbs
Strengths:
Iosivas has great size, but also quite a bit of speed, making for a combination that can potentially be dangerous at the NFL level. His speed builds up, and by the time he gets to the top of his route, he can definitely have enough to blow by his opponent. After the catch, he can be tough for defences. His speed alone makes him at least somewhat tricky to bring down, but when you factor in his size and power, it becomes a big chore. Iosivas has a large catch radius and has shown that he can make tough grabs in traffic. When he high points the ball, it will be difficult for any DB to challenge, and Iosivas has shown that he can hold on throughout the process in order to complete the catch.
Weaknesses:
Iosivas is a better straight line athlete than he is east/west. He doesn’t possess a ton of twitchiness, which really isn’t too much of a surprise, as most athletes of his size don’t have that. Nevertheless, it does put some limitations on him as a route runner, and his route tree was generally pretty basic in college. When it comes to contested catches, Iosivas has the ability, but sometimes chooses to let the ball drop to him, rather than going up for it. The competition he faced is also something that will have to be factored in. He never really faced high-level competition until he reached the Senior Bowl.
Summary:
Even though he isn’t the twitchiest athlete, Iosivas has a blend of size and straight line speed that you don’t see everyday. His speed does allow him to separate deep on some occasions, but his jump ball ability is also a big asset. The learning curve will be steep, given the relatively poor competition he faced regularly in college. As well, if he can’t diversify his route tree, he will have a tougher time cracking a starting lineup, and may end up serving as a depth option. But given the traits, there is at least some upside there, and if he puts it all together, can be a solid starter on the boundary.
| Grade: 70.4 | Round Grade: 4th |
18
Michael Wilson
School: Stanford
Ht/Wt: 6’2”, 213 lbs
Strengths:
Wilson brings a big frame and good ball skills to the table. He regularly shows the ability to elevate over his opponent to snag the ball out of the air. But it goes beyond just height. Wilson’s frame is well built, and he has the strength to box out his opponent, swinging contested balls heavily in his favour. For his size, Wilson is a good athlete. His speed builds up as the route progresses, and he is able to gain a step down the sideline, from time to time. After the catch, he runs with speed and power, simultaneously eating up yards while proving to be tough for defenders to bring to the ground. A quality performance at the Senior Bowl has likely improved his stock.
Weaknesses:
Wilson might be a bit more fluid than most people his size, but overall, it will likely still be more of a weakness to his game. The more complicated routes expose some stiffness, and he isn’t really someone who can stop on a dime. Early in his route, you see some clunkiness, and it isn’t until later that he is able to let his speed build up. For this reason, he will likely make more of his plays down the field than in the quick passing game. His route running technique is on the raw side right now. Especially given his stiffness, improving his technique will be necessary to maximize his ability to create separation. Injuries have been an issue for Wilson in the past.
Summary:
Wilson’s size and ball skills give him a decent floor and the ability to at least catch on as a depth player. Though he isn’t the most athletic guy, it isn’t too bad when factoring in his size. While he may not be creating a lot of separation all the time, he can get loose down the sideline from time to time. As well, his catch radius and ability to make contested catches should prove to be useful. Wilson projects as a quality depth piece, though working his way up into a team’s top 3 isn’t out of the question.
| Grade: 70.0 | Round Grade: 4th |
19
Rashee Rice
School: SMU
Ht/Wt: 6’1”, 204 lbs
Strengths:
Rice has size and the ability to win contested catches down the field. He has flashed strong hands, showing he can hold on to the ball, even with a lot of contact at the catch point. Tough high point catches and others right along the sideline show up on tape. His big frame can be tough for defenders to bring down when he is running after the catch, but deceptive quickness also helps him in these situations. Rice won often when running the comeback route, in the process, showing that he does have it in him to run crisp routes that require more than just a simple go route.
Weaknesses:
Rice ran a very basic route tree at SMU. It consisted largely of go routes and comebacks, while lacking more complicated in-breaking routes. While he shows enough quickness to do well in the situations he was placed in, I’m not convinced he has enough to truly excel with a more advanced route tree. Further, he lacks the top end speed to create consistent separation down the field, and he puts himself in more contested situations as a result. Rice put some nice catches on tape, but concentration drops also show up from time to time.
Summary:
Rice does well to win through the air, using his size and strong hands to beat out defenders in contested situations. He has deceptive quickness for his size, and is capable of making people miss in the open field and creating separation on certain routes. However, his route tree was extremely basic, and I am not sure that he has the athleticism to excel running a more diverse one. If he is able to show that he can handle it, Rice has the upside to be a solid WR2 or WR3. If he is unable to, his skill set should still allow him to have success, but more likely in a situational/rotational/depth role.
| Grade: 69.6 | Round Grade: 5th |
20
Bryce Ford-Wheaton
School: West Virginia
Ht/Wt: 6’4”, 221 lbs
Strengths:
Ford-Wheaton has great size for the WR position. He can be very tough to defend in contested situations when he high points the football. Ford-Wheaton has shown to have strong hands in contested situations, plucking the ball away from the defender, and hanging on as he goes to the ground. His speed looks good for his size, and his sub 4.40 40 time at the combine will certainly turn heads. While I don’t see *that* kind of speed on tape, it is still good for his size. Ford-Wheaton brings a lot of power to the table, which can be an asset in different ways. He was able to catch screen passes and power his way forward in short yardage situations. As well, you could see his strength and aggressiveness when he was used as a blocker. While not every rep was perfect, he definitely has higher end ability in this area, and technical refinement can take it to another level. Ford-Wheaton received an invite to the East-West Shrine Bowl and had a couple of nice flashes.
Weaknesses:
His speed is alright, but Ford-Wheaton isn’t a super twitchy athlete. Separation down the field can be an issue, and he puts himself in a lot of contested situations. As well, he ran a simpler route tree, which helped to mask his limitation. While he is good at high pointing the football, he doesn’t always make an effort to do it, instead choosing to let the ball fall into the bread basket. At the next level, better CB’s can take advantage and force more incompletions. While he has made some impressive catches, his hands have been a bit inconsistent, especially when he had to make a catch over his shoulder.
Summary:
Despite the great combine time, Ford-Wheaton won’t be blowing by anyone. But his speed is still good for his size. At the next level, his size and hands will be his biggest assets, as he has the ability to tilt contested catches heavily in favour of the offence. His lack of agility and twitchiness makes him limited as a route runner and probably will prevent him from getting a more diverse route tree. With the limitations, he is likely a situational player at the next level, but he can certainly have success in his defined role. But he will need to high-point the ball more often, and eliminate focus drops.
| Grade: 68.8 | Round Grade: 5th |
21
Parker Washington
School: Penn State
Ht/Wt: 5’10”, 204 lbs
Strengths:
Washington is a quick player with a sturdy frame that allows him to play bigger than his size. His natural quickness allows him to create some separation on all three levels. He has sticky hands and can make all kinds of tough, acrobatic catches. Washington can leap high up for the ball and snag it in the air. He is certainly not a hands catcher, and his ability to make these kinds of catches actually gives the QB a little more room for error. Washington has good strength, and can use it, in addition to his quickness, to pick up yards after the catch. As a blocker, he looks willing, and was actually pretty decent when asked to block out in space.
Weaknesses:
Washington has very good ball skills and the ability to go up for the ball. However, I don’t think he quite has the height or catch radius to really be considered a “jump ball guy” at the next level. Though he often wins with quickness, his route running is often sloppy, which can limit his separation. His oute tree was pretty limited. As well, Washington doesn’t seem to have true burner type speed to pair up with his quickness. The next level will be a bit of a transition.
Summary:
Washington has some tools that can help him succeed in the NFL. He will likely be a slot receiver primarily. His quickness and high end hands and ball skills make him an appealing option for teams in need of a slot receiver, but maybe don’t want to spend such a high pick on one. Washington has the tools, but for someone whose game will likely depend a lot on quick separation, fine tuning his route running will be important in order to take his game up a notch, and move up a depth chart.
| Grade: 68.3 | Round Grade: 5th |
22
Trey Palmer
School: Nebraska
Ht/Wt: 6’0”, 192 lbs
Strengths:
Palmer has the speed to be an effective vertical threat at the NFL level. He ran in the low 4.3’s at the combine, and it shows on tape. Palmer can burn by CB’s down the sideline. On vertical routes, he does well to implement head fakes and slight stutters and hesitations, causing the DB to either hesitate himself, or take a false step. He ends up wide open on quite a few long bombs. Palmer has got a good vertical leap, and he uses it to high point the football. While I wouldn’t call him a jump ball guy – he doesn’t have the size for that, anyways – he does hold his own. Palmer is an asset on quick screens, as he is able to rack up yards after the catch. Given his skillset, he is someone who can be an asset in the return game.
Weaknesses:
Palmer’s athleticism should translate to a certain extent, but the question is, how much upside is really there. His tasks were very basic – go routes, screens, and short crossing routes made up most of his route tree. Further, outside of on some of his deep routes, he seemed to lack much detail as a route runner. Breaks can be rounded and easy to mirror. Palmer made some nice catches, but also struggled with some concentration drops. His frame is on the leaner side, and stronger opponents at the next level may be able to disrupt his routes more than what he has seen thus far.
Summary:
Palmer has the speed to be an effective return man and rotational deep threat. He has nicely developed his vertical routes, and his ability to pick up chunk yards on screen passes is also impressive. However, his underdeveloped route running ability in a more general sense, as well as his lack of route diversity may prevent him from becoming a starter, as the transition may prove to be too much. This, in addition to the question surrounding his ability to fight off contact at the next level. In the right system and situation, he is someone who can come in and make a splash. But his overall upside looks like a question mark.
| Grade: 67.6 | Round Grade: 5th |
23
Jayden Reed
School: Michigan State
Ht/Wt: 5’11”, 187 lbs
Strengths:
Reed is a quick/shifty player with the ability to create separation on short and intermediate routes. He was used often on plays near the line of scrimmage, where he was able to use his quickness to make people miss and pick up some yards with the ball in his hands. His routes are crisp enough to create some separation at the intermediate level. Reed generally has reliable hands and isn’t bad making plays through contact, despite not being the biggest guy out there.
Weaknesses:
Reed is quicker than he is fast. While it is often enough for him to create separation at the second level, talented CB’s can still push him into contested situations. In these cases, while contact isn’t necessarily a big issue for him, his catch radius is. Reed isn’t a big guy, and his desire to often make catches near his frame doesn’t help. He doesn’t seem to have burner speed, and might not be able to consistently win deep against NFL talent.
Summary:
Reed is a slot receiver with the required quickness to have success in his role. He can be an asset near the line of scrimmage, where getting the ball in his hands will allow him to make people miss and rack up those yards after the catch. Reed can separate at the intermediate level, and even with less separation, has enough fight and contact balance in him to still make plays. However, he doesn’t have a big catch radius, and he doesn’t always like to extend beyond his frame for the ball, placing more pressure on the QB to make a better throw. He isn’t a burner, and may not have the most upside, but his traits do translate to the next level. Reed should at least be a solid contributor out of the slot.
| Grade: 67.4 | Round Grade: 5th |
24
Elijah Higgins
School: Stanford
Ht/Wt: 6’3”, 235 lbs
Strengths:
HIggins is built bigger and stronger than most WR’s. To some, he may resemble a TE. He counters press coverage nicely, and his counter is capable of throwing his defender off balance.For his size, Higgins’ speed is actually pretty solid. Though not a burner by any means, he can effectively work the middle of the field. Higgins creates just enough separation so that he can use his frame to box out his opponent. This tactic has helped him win on slants and other in-breaking routes. He has a large catch radius and seems comfortable snatching the ball above his frame while maintaining his momentum. As a route runner, he is a bit crisper than I expected going in. He utilizes stutters and head fakes, which in some instances, can be the difference when looking to separate on a quicker route. Higgins is an effective blocker from a WR perspective.
Weaknesses:
Speed is solid for his size, but he may still have a tough time separating down the field in the NFL. Especially from the outside. As a receiver, he is likely to be limited to the slot. While he does have some fluidity, Higgins can’t exactly stop on a dime, and can be a bit rusty when running more complicated routes. His catch radius is pretty big and his hands are generally reliable, but I haven’t seen Higgins use his size to make many high point contested catches.
Summary:
Higgins is one of the bigger receivers you’ll see. Not in terms of height, but overall build. His ability to box out defenders and work the middle of the field should translate to the next level, as he has good hands and just enough quickness to make it work. Overall athleticism will hold him back, and likely prevent him from playing on the outside, as more athletic CB’s are able to blanket him in coverage without much trouble. He is someone that will require a team to cater to his skillset, but he can have some success in the right system. A switch to TE may be a possibility.
| Grade: 67.0 | Round Grade: 5th |
25
Ronnie Bell
School: Michigan
Ht/Wt: 6’0”, 191 lbs
Strengths:
Bell is a smooth receiver, who has shown the ability to operate out of the slot or on the boundary. He shows solid quickness at the top of his routes, allowing him to gain a little separation on some plays. Bell has strong hands, which he emphasized in contested situations. While he isn’t the biggest guy, he does quite well when he has to compete for the football. Bell can elevate, secure the ball through contact in the air, and keep control of the ball as he comes back down.
Weaknesses:
He has some quickness to his game, but overall, Bell lacks the athleticism to do serious damage at the next level. Separating down the field can be tough, and he is often forced into contested situations. While he does alright in them, you have to wonder if this ability will fully translate to the next level, given his smaller size. Bell could stand to get stronger, as he presently struggles to beat press coverage. And even on free releases, his release can look too slow.
Summary:
Bell possesses the ball skills and savviness to make it in the NFL, and be able to produce on offence. However, he isn’t a high end athlete, and may struggle to create separation on the outside, especially given his inability to beat press. At the next level, he is likely a slot receiver, where he could potentially let his quickness and good ball skills make up for other deficiencies. His ceiling is rather low – maybe that of a WR3 – but he should at least make it as an effective depth option.
| Grade: 64.3 | Round Grade: 6th |
26
Charlie Jones
School: Perdue
Ht/Wt: 5’11”, 175 lbs
Strengths:
Jones is a scrappy, competitive receiver who brings good quickness and ball tracking ability to the table. He is a very good route runner, consistently showing crispness in and out of his breaks, while implementing moves that can deceive his opponent. Separation on quick routes often comes easy for him, and he can work the intermediate level effectively, as well. Jones tracks the ball extremely well, and uses his hands to snag the ball out of the air. He is not a body catcher. There is no fear when fighting through contact, and he will try to high point the football, when necessary. Jones has experience returning kicks.
Weaknesses:
Jones is undersized and can get slowed down by press coverage. He primarily played on the outside at Perdue, but a move inside to the slot will likely be necessary in the NFL. Jones isn’t afraid to play through contact, but his effectiveness in this area can be hit or miss. Further, he won’t be a huge threat in contested situations, despite his willingness to highpoint the football. Jones ran a good 40 time at the combine, but his speed only looks decent on tape. Talented CB’s shouldn’t allow him to create a lot of separation down the field.
Summary:
Jones projects as a slot receiver at the next level. He has good quickness and can separate on shorter routes, and even some intermediate ones. His scrappiness and competitiveness will appeal to coaches, but he is undersized, and will likely be limited at the next level. Contested catches won’t be his thing. Jones should have a decent floor as a slot receiver. Upside may depend on his speed. It only looked modest on tape, but the 4.43 he ran at the combine would suggest otherwise. Can he translate his 40 time to the field?
| Grade: 64.1 | Round Grade: 6th |
27
Xavier Smith
School: Florida A&M
Ht/Wt: 5’9”, 174 lbs
Strengths:
Smith has speed that can threaten defences over the top. His route running is quite good, and he is sharp getting in and out of his breaks. Head fakes and false steps are incorporated to add an element of deception. Smith is a hands catcher, showing the ability to consistently pluck the ball out of the air. With the ball in his hands, he can make people miss and draw off in the open field. Smith is an asset on jet sweeps and quick passes near the goal line. Was also used in motion quite often. He also has experience as a returner.
Weaknesses:
Smith is an undersized receiver, and contact can disrupt his route. As well, he may not be great at making catches through contact at the next level, or making contested catches. Smith uses good technique as a pass catcher, but still had some drops. As an athlete, he shows speed and quickness, but isn’t perfectly fluid. When changing directions, his movements can be a bit segmented. Given his size, Smith likely won’t factor as a blocker at the next level.
Summary:
Smith has the speed and quickness to be worth a look later in the draft. However, he is undersized and will come with limitations that lower his ceiling. On the bright side, his technique is already pretty solid, and with more improvements, he can still be an effective player out of the slot. Limiting drops will be important for him to work his way up a depth chart. Special teams is also a way he can find his way onto a roster early on.
| Grade: 63.4 | Round Grade: 6th |
28
Xavier Hutchinson
School: Iowa State
Ht/Wt: 6’2”, 203 lbs
Strengths:
Hutchinson is a smart player who is able to maximize his success by consistently using good technique. He is a very smart and precise route runner. His breaks are crisp, but he takes it a step further by implementing head fakes, stutters, and jukes to make his route as deceptive as possible. Hutchinson is tall and has a large catch radius. He can elevate over defenders for the football, but he has the ability to make acrobatic catches, making him more than just a jump ball guy. Hutchinson isn’t afraid to lay out for the ball, and has made his fair share of diving catches, while coming very close on several other impressive attempts.
Weaknesses:
Hutchinson has good ball skills, but doesn’t have the speed to create consistent separation. While he has quick feet and runs crisp routes, he still has a tough time separating, even underneath. Down the field, most of his targets are contested, and will likely continue to be the case at the next level. For a guy who will likely be relying on his size to win at the next level, he is a bit on the lean side. Given that athleticism is already a weakness to his game, potentially losing a little more should not be a deterrent to adding some bulk, which might be able to further help him fight off contact at the next level.
Summary:
Hutchinson plays with good technique, and has good height and ball skills, making a number of contested and acrobatic catches. Athleticism is what holds him back, and I fear that separation, both underneath and down the field, will continue to be an issue at the next level. This may limit him to the role of a depth player, but his size and ball skills could make him a decent player to have coming off the bench, and a solid weapon in the redzone. Perhaps adding some strength would further benefit his game, since battling contact is likely something he’ll always face, when on the field.
| Grade: 62.9 | Round Grade: 6th |
29
Jalen Moreno-Cropper
School: Fresno State
Ht/Wt: 5’11”, 172 lbs
Strengths:
Moreno-Cropper is a quick player who has shown the ability to operate out of the slot or on the outside. He is able to win at the line using his quickness, creating some separation that can come in handy in short yardage situations. Moreno-Cropper has enough speed to win down the field, and can threaten over the top. His combine testing was excellent. Moreno-Cropper generally has reliable hands, with the ability to make tougher catches along the sideline. He shows good body control to adjust to passes that aren’t right on the money. Moreno-Cropper was used quite often on end arounds, with a good deal of success. He even lined up in the wildcat from time to time.
Weaknesses:
Moreno-Cropper is an undersized player who can sometimes struggle to play through contact. This is the case when he faces contact at the line, and at the catch point. His catch radius is small, and he isn’t a big threat in contested situations. Moreno-Cropper has shown the ability to create separation at various points on the field, but it has largely come from his natural quickness. As a route runner, he lacks the precision that will be needed when he faces better competition at the next level. Concentration drops showed up from time to time.
Summary:
Moreno-Cropper may lack the size and strength to make it on the boundary, but he has the quickness and speed to be a solid contributor out of the slot. Early on, special teams may be where he sees the bulk of his work. For a bigger role on offence, he will need to work on his route running and, ideally, improve at least a little bit against contact. In time, he could end up starting as a team’s WR3 in the slot. If not, he should provide solid depth and special teams ability.
| Grade: 61.0 | Round Grade: 6th |
30
DeMario Douglas
School: Liberty
Ht/Wt: 5’8”, 179 lbs
Strengths:
Shiftiness is what stands out the most on tape when watching Douglas. His quick feet are noticeable early in his route, and his routes are crisp enough at this early stage to separate on shorter routes. He does well to find soft spots in zone coverage. Speed is good enough to win vertically. Douglas is someone who you can get involved using the screen game. He does well when given the opportunity to pick up yards after the catch. This quickness also allowed him to have some success as a returner.
Weaknesses:
Size is an issue, and he will likely be limited to the slot, which is where he also spent the majority of his time in college. On paper, his combine testing was good, but relative to his size, maybe it is a bit closer to average than it would seem. His quicknesses is very evident from the jump. But as for his speed, while it is fine, I’m very hesitant to say it is that of a burner at WR. His route running gets sloppier as he gets farther from the line of scrimmage, which can cause separation issues. Douglas won’t make many contested catches at the next level, and holding on to the ball throughout the catch process may also be a problem. Further, he had some issues with muffed punts in college.
Summary:
Overall, Douglas has some ability to contribute out of the slot and/or on special teams. His quickness will catch the attention of some coaches, and he is the kind of player that can start off at the bottom of a depth chart, and then turn heads in the preseason. His size will limit him, and he currently lacks the technical refinement to be a full timer. At this point, Douglas projects as a depth/rotational slot player and special teams contributor. Maybe he overachieves and carves out a role as a starter, but some development will be needed, and mistakes will need to be limited.
| Grade: 58.1 | Round Grade: 7th |
31
Antoine Green
School: North Carolina
Ht/Wt: 6’2”, 199 lbs
Strengths:
Green was a homerun hitter during his time at North Carolina. He brings a nice combination of size and speed. His acceleration as the route progresses can catch CB’s off guard, and give him a step of separation over the top. Green generally tracks the ball well over his shoulder, and doesn’t mind elevating for the ball if it is not right in the bread basket.
Weaknesses:
Green does not have a lot of versatility. He is fast and can connect on some long bombs. However, he isn’t the most fluid player, and his short and intermediate routes are not often run well. His separation ability on these routes are modest at best. With his limited skill set, he was given a limited route tree in college, and will likely be limited to the same in the pros. Despite his height, Green wasn’t always reliable in contested situations down the field.
Summary:
Green has good long speed and has proven to be a nice threat deep down the field. However, his inability to win consistently at the short and intermediate levels will push him down draft boards. He runs a limited route tree and, at this point, seems pretty close to the “what you see is what you get” category. For a team looking to draft him, the limitations will have to be accepted for what they are. He likely won’t be a starter at any point, but he can be a solid producer as a situational deep threat that comes off the bench periodically.
| Grade: 58.0 | Round Grade: 7th |
32
Jacob Copeland
School: Maryland
Ht/Wt: 5’11”, 201 lbs
Strengths:
Copeland possesses the kind of speed that can net you some plays down the field. It builds up as he runs, and when he hits his top speed, Copeland can run by his opponent. His frame is well built and he can hold his own against press coverage, showing the ability to fight off some contact. He has flashed the ability to extend beyond his frame to make some tougher grabs. Copeland has some experience returning kickoffs.
Weaknesses:
Copeland has some likable traits, but is a raw prospect who also lacked significant college production. His route running often can get a bit sloppy. As well, his fluidity as an athlete can look questionable at times. He sometimes looks a bit clunky as he tries to get upfield, and doesn’t always seem to have great stop/start ability. Football IQ is still a work in progress. Among other things, he can improve his awareness when going up against zone coverage. Copeland needs to be more consistent as a catcher. He often is content to let the ball hit his frame, rather than attacking it himself.
Summary:
Copeland is a developmental WR who has the speed to win down the field. His flashy catches where he had to go outside of his frame for the ball also show a glimpse of what he is capable of. However, his route running technique and awareness will have to improve. As well, he will need to attack the football more consistently, rather than letting it come to him. Copeland currently projects as a bottom of the roster guy early on, with some developmental traits that give him a chance to work his way up.
| Grade: 57.9 | Round Grade: 7th |
33
Rakim Jarrett
School: Maryland
Ht/Wt: 6’0”, 192 lbs
Strengths:
Jarrett has good quickness and overall athleticism. He does a solid job of separating near the line of scrimmage, and has also shown he can get open at the intermediate level. Jarrett can be dangerous with the ball in his hands. He has an abundance of moves that he uses to make people miss in the open field. Over the course of his career, Jarrett has shown versatility, lining up in the slot and on the boundary, with some success in both spots.
Weaknesses:
Jarrett is on the smaller side and doesn’t have a big catch radius. He can struggle when contact is introduced, and gets out muscled in contested situations. Drops have been an issue. He struggled at times when he had to extend beyond his frame for the ball. And in this context, it is not even a matter of it being a catch radius issue, but rather him being unable to secure the ball, despite it hitting his hands. Focus drops also popped up. Jarrett on several occasions, opted to let the ball hit his frame before securing it, rather than plucking it with his hands. As a route runner, his quickness helps, but he is raw from a technical standpoint. He drifts away at times, and some of his routes can be rounded at the breaks. Separation on the short and intermediate levels is still pretty solid, but it hasn’t been as good when going deep.
Summary:
Jarrett stands out with his quickness and ability to make people miss with the ball in his hands. However, he is more of an athlete than a football player at this point. His hands have been pretty inconsistent, and his route running is still in need of some work. Jarrett can offer some early appeal as a situational player that can pickup yards after the catch. But he is a developmental project if you hope to get more consistent production out of him.
| Grade: 57.1 | Round Grade: 7th |
34
Michael Jefferson
School: Louisiana Lafayette
Ht/Wt: 6’4”, 199 lbs
Strengths:
Jefferson has a big frame and is able to grab passes that go well above his frame. He provides a size mismatch over most CB’s. His speed is pretty solid for his size, and Jefferson can win over the top from time to time. Jefferson has good strength and can battle through press coverage, as well as contact at the catch point. As a route runner, he will implement different fakes, which can help a bit with separation.
Weaknesses:
Jefferson has a long frame, which hurts his lateral mobility. He does have some shiftiness, for a bigger guy, but his movements are often very segmented and clunky. At the next level, he will have some trouble creating separation, given his limitations as an athlete and the step up in competition. Jefferson generally displays strong hands, but had a few frustrating drops as well.
Summary:
Jefferson has the size to win some contested catches and enough speed to occasionally win over the top. However, he lacks the agility to be able to consistently separate against man coverage. He is likely a depth player in the NFL, with the ability to make a splashy play in a rotational role. Jefferson has enough talent to make a roster on a team looking for a specific skill set, though he will have to limit the bad drops in order to maximize his chances.
| Grade: 54.6 | Round Grade: UDFA |
35
CJ Johnson
School: East Carolina
Ht/Wt: 6’2”, 224 lbs
Strengths:
Johnson has a tall frame and plenty of bulk that he uses to out-muscle his opponents. He is at his best in contested situations where he is able to elevate over his opponent for the football. Johnson has strong hands, showing the ability to consistently pluck it away from his frame. He also does well to secure catches through contact. Johnson has been able to pick up more yards after the catch thanks to his big frame. It allows him to shake off defenders, or simply drag them forward with him, until they are finally able to bring him down or push him out of bounds.
Weaknesses:
Johnson has good size, but subpar athleticism. Both in terms of speed and lateral mobility. His route running technique is nothing special, but even if it was a lot better, he just doesn’t have the athleticism to be able to separate with any consistency. At the next level, the vast majority of his targets will be contested. Even with his ability to come down with some of these, teams are better able to combat it when there is little threat of downfield separation.
Summary:
Johnson will have to come in and compete for a roster spot. His strong hands and ability to make contested catches give him a chance to stand out in the preseason and potentially grab hold of one of those depth spots. That said, with subpar athleticism and an inability to separate, he likely won’t be more than a depth player at the next level, who can make a highlight reel catch from time to time.
| Grade: 54.4 | Round Grade: UDFA |
Full Rankings:
- Jalin Hyatt (86.3, Rd 1)
- Quentin Johnston (85.8, Rd 1)
- Jaxon Smith-Njigba (83.1, Rd 2)
- Zay Flowers (81.4, Rd 2)
- Tyler Scott (80.5, Rd 2)
- Josh Downs (80.3, Rd 2)
- Jordan Addison (80.0, Rd 2)
- Marvin Mims (77.5, Rd 3)
- Matt Landers (75.5, Rd 3)
- Nathaniel Dell (73.6, Rd 4)
- Kayshon Boutte (73.4, Rd 4)
- Jonathan Mingo (73.2, Rd 4)
- AT Perry (73.1, Rd 4)
- Cedric Tillman (72.1, Rd 4)
- Tre Tucker (71.8, Rd 4)
- Darius Davis (71.3, Rd 4)
- Andrei Iosivas (70.4, Rd 4)
- Michael Wilson (70.0, Rd 4)
- Rashee Rice (69.6, Rd 5)
- Bryce Ford-Wheaton (68.8, Rd 5)
- Parker Washington (68.3, Rd 5)
- Trey Palmer (67.6, Rd 5)
- Jayden Reed (67.4, Rd 5)
- Elijah Higgins (67.0, Rd 5)
- Ronnie Bell (64.3, Rd 6)
- Charlie Jones (64.1, Rd 6)
- Xavier Smith (63.4, Rd 6)
- Xavier Hutchinson (62.9, Rd 6)
- Jalen Moreno-Cropper (61.0, Rd 6)
- DeMario Douglas (58.1, Rd 7)
- Antoine Green (58.0, Rd 7)
- Jacob Copeland (57.9, Rd 7)
- Rakim Jarrett (57.1, Rd 7)
- Michael Jefferson (54.6, UDFA)
- CJ Johnson (54.4, UDFA)
Notables Not Graded:
- David Durden
- Jason Brownlee
- Jayden Thomas
- Cody Chrest
- Jalen Wayne
- Dontay Demus
- Dontayvion Wicks
- Malik Knowles
- Puka Nacua
- Joseph Ngata
- Jake Bobo
