WIDE RECEIVER
Nelson Agholor- DRAFTED, 1ST ROUND, EAGLES. Steps right into a starting gig and fantasy prominence in the Eagles frenetic offense.
Thin build with some room for added size. Good speed but a bit stiff out of breaks. Game speed slightly slower than his 4.4-forty time. Gets off the line with consistency. Can line up anywhere in the offense, including the backfield. Tough receiver, with a fearless style. Catches with hands on most targets his way. Gets YAC and can break off big gainers with good after-catch vision. A willing blocker, but 50/50 effectiveness. Savvy kick returner but a bit shaky bringing punts down at times. Shows good body control. Played in a pro-format offense and appears NFL ready. Route tree is ample enough to be a rookie contributor. The more tape I see of Agholor, the more I see Jordan Matthews rather than Jeremy Maclin. That’s not a put-down; the guy can play and play soon.
Mario Alford- DRAFTED, 7TH ROUND, BENGALS. Enters the NFL in a crowded WR environment. Most likely a returner in 2015.
Short (5’8) but super-fast (4.28 at Pro Day). Once into top gear he’s a blur. Might dance some, but tends to see and hit seams; once behind a D he is gone. Catches with solid hands technique but still suffers occasional drop. Runs good deep routes, but also fearless and dangerous on crossers. Big time after catch weapon. Cone and shuttle drills were top shelf at Combine; he is agile as well as fast. Has a RB mentality; played RB in small college before coming to West Virginia. Same school as Tavon Austin, but build is a bit more solid and run tougher than Austin. Returns kicks. Spot snaps early in pro career; size an issue and scheme fit will be crucial. Likely a return specialist to start.
Dres Anderson- UNDRAFTED; SIGNED BY 49ERS
NFL lineage and it shows up on tape; Flipper Anderson (WR, 10 years, most rec yds in game record). Plays fast, aggressive. Understands his position. Always gives his QB great looks and advantageous angles. Not bothered much by press-man at line. Muscular upper body but wheels a bit slight. Fearless pass-catcher that attacks the football; good in traffic. Runs pretty full route tree. Excellent body control and a YAC-attacker. Estimated forty at 4.5, and appears to play at speed. Gets his hands away from body to catch, and will adjust depending on DB proximity. Not smooth but overall gets the job done. Coming off meniscus tear (10/2014). Underrated receiver owning pro chops that requires time to get up to NFL speed and power. Down-the-line prospect.
Kenny Bell- DRAFTED, 5TH ROUND, BUCCANEERS
Scorched his Pro Day 40 at 4.38 seconds, better than his 4.42 Combine dash. In summary, the guy can book. Bell showed he can sky also, nailing a 41.5 vertical and an impressive 10’9 broad jump. HE’s fast and can get up, but Bell does struggle getting off the line in press. He’s a lean 6’1, under 200 pounds and gets jammed off the snap often. He does have a frame to muscle up in the pros. The Cornhusker wideout seems to own a limited route tree, mostly using straight line stems or short hitches. He’s not as fluid as coaches might like. Bell is explosive and can turn on the jets in a snap. He does catch the ball cleanly and consistently with hands out, and is quick in his catch-n-go. Kenny Bell has some pro tools coaches can work with, but his route running and inability to break press coverage off the line is an obstacle to snaps. Situational type at this juncture.
Da'Ron Brown- DRAFTED, 7TH ROUND, CHIEFS. Brown is a wonderfully gifted hands-man and can pressure the bottom half of the Chiefs WR depth for a roster spot. A younger, more athletic version of Jason Avant.
Brown tested well at the Combine, but other than his bench press, he didn’t wow... until the gauntlet. Brown showed great hands with a natural, soft technique. He also adjusted effortlessly to off-target throws without loss of speed. Those quality pass catching skills are clearly present in his game tape at Northern Illinois. Brown uses his excellent body control to work himself open on most plays. He’s not a sudden route runner, but he gives full effort on each play and is always working for his QB. He looks pro-ready, but his true game speed could use a little more juice. Da’Ron Brown has NFL possession receiver written all over him, but in the Anquan Boldin mold more than a Wes Welker type. Terrific hands tech and play awareness.
Kaelin Clay- DRAFTED, 6TH ROUND, BUCCANEERS. Bucs loaded up on WRs via the draft and free agent signings. Clay is a returner prospect at best in 2015.
College kick and punt returner and a good one. Clay subbed for injured Dres Anderson at Utah in 2014, his only season there. Posted a 4.51-forty at the Combine and a faster 4.46 Pro Day run. Clay is deceptively fast as he doesn’t appear to burn turf but glides into a dangerous breakaway gear. He’s shifty, with excellent stop-n-go moves as well as change of direction ability that finds open lanes. He is not a polished receiver, with his best route options being more of the short, YAC-inducing types. Clay has focus lapses and is remembered for a major self-induced turnover against Oregon. The Utah wideout’s best shot at NFL playing time is as a returner. He is lacking in overall wide receiver savvy, size and technique.
Sammie Coates- DRAFTED, 3RD ROUND, STEELERS
Coates is an athlete for sure. Imposing; strong. 23 bench reps a top # for WRs at Combine. Big and fast. Hands are suspect due to concentration lapses. Though he owns potential 4.3-forty speed, his deep ball ability is iffy. Coates fails to run through his deep stems, allowing passes to drift over him; shouldn’t happen with that speed. Tracking the ball is an issue that tends to slow his fly routes and lose speed. Not an overall great route runner, but can be dangerous in slants, hitches, bubbles and seam routes. Coates looks raw and needs NFL coaching to be a breakout performer. He has all the physical tools to be a Terrell Owens, but needs to develop clean technique and consistency. He may tear up pre-season versus 2nd and 3rd teamers, but his game has a ways to go in the pro game. Some of the bloom is off his value at this time; Combine didn’t help.
Chris Conley- DRAFTED, 3RD ROUND, CHIEFS. Conley becomes a potential lead playmaker opposite a savvy and mid-range running Jeremy Maclin.
The Georgia underutilized wideout blew up the Combine with his drills and workout numbers and bolted up the WR draft charts for this season. He tagged a 4.35-forty and was sharp as a tack in his performance drills, but his game tape shows he doesn’t play quite at that speed or crispness. Still, with NFL coaching and a solid work ethic Conley has the frame and natural gifts to star at the next level. HE shows sticky and strong hands that are consistently away from his body at reception. Conley adjusts well to off-line throws, uses the full field of play and efforts each route to completion. In Combine route drills and cones Conley sunk his hips on breaks, tracked the ball well downfield and displayed a soft hands technique. His 1st step on tape doesn’t appear sudden, but at the Combine he blew out of the starting gate at a stellar 1.52 in the 10-yard split. So is this a workout wonder or a legit pro/fantasy prospect? He needs to add more urgency to his route running, gain an edge in his cuts with consistency and expand his tree, but make no mistake, Chris Conley has it all to take the NFL by storm.
Amari Cooper- DRAFTED, 1ST ROUND, RAIDERS. He has a terrific arm talent at QB in Derek Carr and is already the best receiving target in Oakland. A 2015 fantasy football star is born.
Most pro-ready wide receiver in this draft. Cooper is a fast, well-versed receiver with the entire toolbox to shine instantly in the NFL. His Combine vertical was flat (33”), as was his 10-yard get off (1.61). He plays as timed and the drills suggest. Cooper is a strong, tough receiver who works well in the 10-20 yard range but can get downfield as well. He tracks the football deep with ease and sure hands. Cooper gets off press at the line and has enough gear to back a DB off the line. Cooper works the sidelines well, shows excellent body control and a solid hands-out technique. He’s not a sudden or flashy stylist, but rather plays a tough inside-outside physical game with confidence. Cooper is excellent in traffic and is a QB’s friend coming back to the football rather than waiting for it. Knows how to play his position. Where he lacks in initial burst he makes up in power and true long-speed. ‘Bama’s best wideout is a blue-collar type with elite skills; a young Anquan Boldin comes to mind watching his tape. Amari Cooper is a rookie fantasy football starter if drafted in the right scheme and QB.
Jamison Crowder- DRAFTED, 4TH ROUND, REDSKINS
Short height but quick, sharp and shifty. Crowder’s Combine 4.56-forty was average, especially for a 5’8 pass-catcher, but he improved with a 4.46 Pro Day sprint. Crowder also flopped in his agility drills, failing to show speed to go with his shifty moves. Crowder is razor sharp in his stem-breaks, sinking low and bursting into his branches. He shows good, sticky hands and gets them out to snatch the football. That is key for a short wideout as it adds needed separation from defending DBs. Crowder is familiar with volume work, snagging 193 catches in his last 2 season at Duke. The Blue Devil gets off the line using shake-n-bake lateral movement but wastes little time getting into his route. He is a feisty hands-fighter. Crowder tends to drift in his deep routes rather than run through the football. He attacks the football and gets turned north with urgency. Excellent catch-n-go tech and gets to speed in a step or two. Crowder runs a pretty extensive route tree for a 5’8 wideout and is not at all limited to slot-type work. Body control, concentration and aggressiveness are keen components of Crowder’s game. Small hands are a drawback and may lead to drops at the next level. There’s a lot of TY Hilton here. However, as impressive as Crowder’s game tape is, he’ll need some luck and fortunate events to occur to be a 2015 offensive fantasy contributor. Returning kicks, which he did well at Duke, likely will be his entry opportunity.
DaVaris Daniels- UNDRAFTED, SIGNED BY VIKINGS
Suspended for 2014 season. There is a bit of diva-mentality showing. Davis owns average wideout speed with above average hands. The former Notre Dame pass-catcher owns the physical tools, turning in impressive vertical and broad jumps at the Combine. Application and the ‘want’ is the question. He is a one-speed route runner with sloppy footwork that fails to gain much separation. Many of his catches are of the tough, DB-on-his-hip variety. To his credit Davis wins his share of those contested throws, but that was at the college level. Pro DBs close fast and physical. Davis has some size but is thin in the legs. As a route runner he is soft in breaks, upright and lacking burst. Davis plays with confidence, but unless he gets serious with his profession and focuses on the details of the wide receiver position, a productive NFL career is not in the cards.
Devante Davis- UNDRAFTED, SIGNED BY EAGLES
Devante Davis brings an enticing size/speed package to the field of play; problem is he doesn’t play to the speed. Davis also negates his size advantage by body-catching far too many tosses his way. The UNLV top target fails to get off the line with burst and is often thwarted by DB/CB jams. He just doesn’t separate and is stiff in his breaks. He’s not quick-of-foot and tends to round into his cuts. On hitches and WR screens Davis shows he lacks special wheels to break away. His Combine 40 time was a decent 4.57, and he proved that number true with a 4.53 in his Pro Day; players almost always show marked improvement in the Combine 40 at Pro Days. Davis plays true to his time as he can run some but is slow to get to speed. Between Devante Davis’ heavy footwork, short-armed catching and inability to create space from DBs, reserve duty is about what fanballers can expect.
Geremy Davis- DRAFTED, 6TH ROUND, GIANTS
The UConn big wideout didn’t run his 40 at the Combine due to a hamstring issue. The questions still linger regarding Davis’ speed. On tape Davis shows a slower game speed, with slow footwork and basically a one-gear route runner. Davis rounds out his breaks and allows the football into his body more often than not. He does use his size well to box-out DBs, but still not extending arms allows defenders to knock down their share of targets. Davis is a hard-working receiver who gives a full effort on every play. Lack of quickness and overall speed limits his ability to gain separation or drive man coverage back for space. Davis tracks the deep ball well, but struggles to take the top off a defense. Most of his catches are contested. He does well in traffic but lack of wheels cuts down on YAC potential. A refinement in getting arms extended consistently and sharper, more urgent route running would go a long way in securing NFL opportunities for the rocked-up wideout from UConn. But early-on, Geremy Davis has much work to do to get there.
Titus Davis- UNDRAFTED, SIGNED BY CHARGERS
Titus Davis does a lot of good wide receivers things a scout looks for, until the ball reaches his catch zone and he cradles it in rather than getting his hands out. Davis is a slow-gait route runner who often gears down in his breaks, losing speed. His 4.51-forty at the Combine is solid but he rarely translates that straight-line speed onto the field of play. Davis was not overly impressive in his drills. Other than the notable forty time, the Central Michigan wideout put up very average power and agility numbers. He’s not a sudden type of performer. Davis double-clutched his share of passes at the Combine, including a go pattern; again, confidence in hands is a flaw. Davis appears to fight the football; the problem... small hands (8 ¼ “). As a collegiate pass-catcher, Davis topped most of the Central Michigan receiving numbers put up by the Steelers’ top WR Antonio Brown and scored at least 8 TDs in all four seasons. But his receiving technique and lack of explosion off the line and in routes will be roadblocks to NFL success if not cleaned up.
Stefon Diggs- DRAFTED, 5TH ROUND, VIKINGS
Big handed wideout with fairly good size and outstanding speed. He’s a bit fragile and has finished his last 2 college seasons on the sidelines with injuries. Diggs is not a precise route runner, rounding off his breaks and often motoring down going into them. He does show consistent hands away from the body catching the ball, and is a terror after the catch. Diggs is effective in motion, on hitch routes, slants and longer seam stems down the middle. He is a tough runner with good balance and excellent body control. Diggs tracks the deep ball well and shows keen concentration catching the ball in traffic. At times he showed apprehension on balls over the middle, but inconsistent QB play creates indecisive WR moments. Diggs proves to be a full-go performer, but does have small maturity issues to work on. While Diggs is an effort player, he is a woeful blocker; just not his game. Though fast after the catch and straight-line, Diggs needs to get off the snap with more explosiveness in the NFL. Pressed at the line, he is likely to struggle to free up. Headed to the NFL Diggs is a playmaker with the ball but needs to learn to play without it. He is a soft route runner that makes no effort to sink and cut in his breaks. Stefon Diggs early career path is likely as a kick returner. Good pro coaching and veteran mentoring will get the Maryland wideout up-to-speed eventually, but not in 2015.
Phillip Dorsett- DRAFTED, 1ST ROUND, COLTS. OK, definitely over-drafted at that slot, and now smack in the middle of a talented and deep WR pool at Indy. Colts reached here, fanballers should not.
Fleet receiver, netting an outstanding 4.33-forty at the Combine and blazing a better 4.27 on his Pro Day workout. The fact that Dorsett opted to re-run his 40 at Miami’s Pro Day after a posting a dynamic time at Indy shows his confidence in his speed. Most would have stood on that 4.33 mark. Dorsett showed he can high-point and is agile as his jumps and cones results confirm, but those traits rarely show up on game tape. Dorsett owns a small frame and can be muscled out of routes and blocks. He also appears to be a raw route runner, lacking the nuance and savvy required of pro pass-catchers. Though his yards per catch average and yards totals at Miami are respectively impressive (on a per catch basis), his volume of receptions is lacking. On tape, Dorsett is regularly by-passed by Hurricane QBs and often looks lost in the play, creating some lack of confidence by his passers. He is a body-catcher, displaying a short-armed technique and NFL defensive backs can close down those type of small receivers. Phillip Dorsett owns playmaking speed, but he has a lot of refining work ahead of him, and his slight build may be an NFL stumbling block for his snaps opportunities.
Devin Funchess- DRAFTED , 2ND ROUND, PANTHERS. Big and dangerous Kelvin Benjamin will draw extra looks from secondaries, freeing Funchess up on single cover snaps. Can he separate?
The lumbering over-sized wide receiver from Michigan is going to have to shift to pass-catching tight end if he wants to turn in a productive NFL career. Funchess is big at 6’4-232, but logging a 4.7-forty is not going to cut it as a pro WR. He did improve his charts at the Wolverine Pro Day, clocking a 4.47-forty. Hmmm. Here’s a hint; Funchess snagged balls at a solid 15.3 YPR in 2013 playing TE. Last season Michigan utilized the big guy at WR, where he slipped to a sluggish 11.8 YPR. He’s a good matchup as a TE versus LBs and safeties, but corners will be on his hip about every snap in the NFL as a receiver. Even athletic linebackers have been able to stick with Funchess in crossing routes. He just lacks energy, acceleration and suddenness. Funchess has some focus liabilities, and a diva-ish attitude. For a big receiver Funchess negates that size advantage by allowing throws into his body, cutting down a good catch-cushion. With the football Funchess is a tough tackle, especially for smaller DBs. He does show good ball sense after the catch, but will not run away from tacklers; running over is his best YAC skill. Devin Funchess is likely to head to the NFL as a tight end. But even there he has some growing up to do; the proverbial has to “learn how to be a pro.”
Antwan Goodley- UNDRAFTED, SIGNED BY COWBOYS
Stocky, RB-built wideout with a game approach to match. His bulky body-style at times forces awkward-looking plays. Goodley is fast but not a fluid route runner. He mostly uses good hands to snatch passes but will occasionally let the ball into his body. The Baylor wideout can line up at all WR positions and has taken snaps in the backfield. He is an effective deep route runner, but thrives running slants (2-route) and posts (8 route). Though he shows good hands, he tends to double-clutch catching the ball. In traffic Goodley becomes a body-catcher and drops happen. Goodley runs a modest route tree and owns strong after-catch ability. He’s tough to tackle. The rugged receiver displays great long speed and is rarely caught from behind; he attacks tacklers. Appears more confident running inside routes and tends to lose body control and catch-confidence down the sidelines. He needs more awareness on the sidelines as his footwork is sketchy. Goodley struggles tracking the ball to his outside-right shoulder. After the catch he is dangerous but runs to contact and is not overly elusive or shifty. Antwan Goodley needs more polish to get on the NFL field in 2015.
Dorial Green-Beckham- DRAFTED, 2ND ROUND, TITANS. Tennessee coaches have their work cut out for them. DGB is big and fast, but likes to do it his way. Lots of learning ahead in 2015 here.
Gotta love his very impressive size-speed tools, but loath his undisciplined past. Green-Beckham is as raw as he is tall, and hasn’t taken a live game snap since 2013. He’s shown an unwillingness to accept coaching and seems to want to do it his way. Lots of risk for NFL coaches and fantasy owners alike here. At the Combine the former Missouri WR gave scouts a reason to look, but then question. He posted a good 40 time on a slow track and showed he can pluck the ball solidly with his hands away, but also sported a couple of drops and slowed on deep routes when the ball wasn’t on track. On the field, Green-Beckham can be a force, but his game lacks refinement for the position. He rounds off routes, has poor footwork, plays soft (even with his size advantage) and fails to drive DBs back. He is fast enough, but is not sudden due to his long legs. Character questions aside, Dorial Green-Beckham is an on-field work-in-progress. He is sure to find work as a red-zone target thanks to his 6’5-237 pound size, but expanding his overall repertoire is a must for NFL success.
Rashad Greene- DRAFTED, 5TH ROUND, JAGUARS
The Florida State wideout is an underrated talent. Not particularly big (5’11-182) nor overly speedy (4.53 Combine 40), Greene is experienced, versatile and sure-handed. He is a confident pass-catcher between the numbers or at the sidelines and can work short, mid or deep. He is a clutch receiver who makes the play when needed, and makes himself available in those key moments. Greene’s lack of bulk allows DBs to overpower him at times. However, he is a fearless receiver who shows focus and concentration in traffic and catches the ball with consistent hands out. Greene is quick to catch-n-tuck and turn upfield and has enough long speed to finish plays in the endzone. He is not sudden, but he is smart and plays his position with ‘feel’. The Seminole top wideout was charged with a number of drops in 2014, but his QB often powered the football on shorter routes, was often off target and launched wobblers here-n-there; tough balls to catch. Rashad Greene can be a productive NFL wideout, but he’ll face some struggles due to his smallish frame and will need a few breaks to see starter snaps. His game and build is similar to former Falcon and now Titan WR Harry Douglas. He may find a home and prosperity as a slot receiver, but 2015 is a learning campaign for Rashad Greene.
Rannell Hall- UNDRAFTED, SIGNED BY BUCCANEERS. Hall stays in Florida but joins a suddenly loaded WR unit in Tampa Bay. Practice squad in 2015.
A PASS favorite, Hall plays with energy and urgency. He is not smooth, refined or polished, but is a get-it-done-best-way competitor. Hall has a solid frame with room to add more muscle. Ran a good 4.6-forty on a slow Combine strip. Hall’s game speed is faster than his Combine time. He impressed with top-shelf vertical and broad jumps at Indy. Hall’s best on-field work is still ahead as his college tape shows an eager but flawed performer. Hall is coachable and gives full effort. The Central Florida receiver is fearless across the middle and a creative after-catch yards getter. More stamina is needed as he appears to run out of gas on extended plays. Hall mostly uses good hands-out catch technique, but will body the ball in traffic; needs to clean that up. His route running is rough as Hall fails to sink his hips and is stiff on breaks. He’s not explosive off the line and could get jammed as a pro. Hall appears to play better lining up outside and working in. Again, the positive is that he is a hard worker with a competitive attitude. There’s a lot of Nate Washington in Rannell Hall’s game. With good NFL coaching Hall’s game should grow, his routes expand and techniques shine. It will take 2-3 seasons, possibly through a couple practice squads, but fanballers might want to keep his name in a quick reference file.
Justin Hardy- DRAFTED, 4TH ROUND, FALCONS
East Carolina’s Justin Hardy heads to the NFL as a record setting receiver, but he will have to work darn hard to make the same noise as a pro. Hardy is a solidly built 5’10-192 wideout that timed 4.56-forty at the Combine. He doesn’t play quite that fast. Hardy lacks fast-twitch acceleration off the line and fails to drive DBs back to create space. Sticky (and big) hands and keen football smarts make up for the lack of explosiveness. He shows good body control and field awareness. Many of his catches come with a DB on his hip. He does use excellent catch technique, routinely getting his arms extended to gain space, but Hardy rarely blows by good man corners unless there is broken coverage. He is good coming back to the ball, on fades and back-shoulder throws, timing his jumps perfectly. As a route runner Hardy is soft in his breaks and tends to run stuck in 2nd-gear. He’ll need more urgency, foot-quicks and sharper route execution to separate in the NFL. Hardy does play the run aspect well, blocking with gusto and effectiveness. Justin Hardy is destined for slot duty as a pro, but his days of being a game factor may be behind him.
Josh Harper- UNDRAFTED, SIGNED BY RAIDERS
Josh Harper helped Raider QB Derek Carr to the NFL in 2013 by being one of Carr’s playmakers at wideout. Has NFL bloodlines as his father Willie (LB) was a 2nd round pick of the 49ers (1973). Harper displays top-shelf body control, adjusting to throws with ease. He is a smooth route runner with good footwork. As a pass-catcher Harper surprisingly shows strong hands and is consistent; surprising in that he has small hands. Though he is quick-footed his long-speed is limited. The Fresno State receiver hit his Combine forty at 4.64 and improves slightly during Pro Day jaunts (4.52). However speed and downfield heroics are not Harper’s game. He is a tough wideout that works mid-range and redzone. Harper is a fearless slant and cross-route cutter that gives his QB a reliable target. He shows good football/WR sense, adjusts to coverage decisively and finds the open zones. Harper’s lot in the NFL is down the lines of a high-end possession receiver; productive but volume dependent.
Christion Jones- UNDRAFTED, SIGNED BY DOLPHINS
Smallish wideout from ‘Bama with below average speed and unimpressive lateral agility. Jones is not all that elusive, shows little burst and iffy hands as a wideout. He struggles to create cushion and get off the line cleanly. Jones best routes are the hitch and screen variety. Route savvy is raw. He does return kick and punts; that is his best opportunity to make it in the NFL.
Dezmin Lewis- DRAFTED, 7TH ROUND, BILLS
A sharp route runner and supreme hands catcher, Dezmin Lewis is an underrated gem in this year’s draft. Clocked at 4.58 in the forty, Lewis plays faster in live action. Lewis timed 4.46 in his Pro Day dash, and jumped 37” in the vertical. He snares everything in his catch radius, which is expansive thanks to long arms and a long frame. Quick in his catch-n-tuck and gets turned north in a hurry. Excellent body control, Lewis can sky for contested balls. His is aggressive to the ball and sharp in his breaks. Lewis is a dangerous YAC getter who accelerates quickly. He dominated lesser competition at Central Arkansas and will need to gear up to pro speed and DBs. Rarely faced press off the line in college so he’ll need to adjust to faster, in-your-face pro corners. Lewis is a long, aggressive hands-catcher that has all the tools and pro-WR body to thrive in the NFL. He fared quite well versus second-rate defenses in college, but did so with very mediocre QB play. With pro-level quarterbacking Lewis’ game can reach new levels of success. He plays faster than timed and shows strong hands with excellent concentration and body control. This guy can ball and is going to be a lower round steal for an NFL club. There’s some Brandon Marshall in his play. Fanballers might have to wait some for Lewis to win a starting gig in the NFL, but the tools and approach are there.
Tony Lippett- DRAFTED, 5TH ROUND, DOLPHINS
Long (6’2) and diverse, Lippett is a versatile wideout who started at corner also in 2014. He is a strong-willed athlete that never backs down from a task and gives full effort in being his best. Lippett is a strong hands-catcher with a soft receiving technique and fearless on inside routes. He’s not particularly fast (4.61-forty) nor is he a powerful player (10 bench reps). His blocking is not a strength. Lippett tends to round off his breaks and runs too upright. However he shows keen concentration, catches in traffic and uses long arm away from his 6’2 frame to gain space. Though not fast, Lippett finds opportune seams and understands how to set up corners; playing CB has advantages. He is sharp crossing the middle, running slants and setting up in open zones. Lippett will not blow by DBs on sheer speed, but he does get off the line and into his routes consistently. He plays tough and doesn’t shy away from an impending hit. Lippett does pick up after-catch yards with well-located targets his way, in-stride, and he displays excellent body control to adjust to misguided throws. Tony Lippett may be drafted as a CB, or a WR. At wideout, he appears to be a heady, reliable receiver who can thrive as a chain-mover. Sharper route skills could elevate his pro potential.
Tyler Lockett- DRAFTED, 3RD ROUND, SEAHAWKS
NFL bloodline; father Kevin Lockett played for the Chiefs (1997 2nd round pick). He is smallish at 5’10-182 with a slim build. Lockett’s hands also measure small and he will body-catch passes most times, a concern in the NFL. On steamy throws where he had to use hands out and on the run, Lockett struggled. Route tree is ample enough, but he is not efficient catching on the fly; Lockett often ‘sits’ to bring a pass in. Again, hand-size is likely coming into play. With the ball Lockett accelerates with burst and gets to his 4.40 speed instantly. He is sudden after the catch but not overly elusive; he runs to contact and is not a tackle-breaker. HE did impress in cone drills, cutting with speed and putting up top times. That shiftiness doesn’t always translate in live action. The Kansas State receiver doubled as a kick/punt returner, and that is where his early opportunity in the NFL lies. Tyler Lockett knows the position and understands how to get it done with what he has; it may not be enough, however.
Deon Long- UNDRAFTED, SIGNED BY TITANS
Long comes with red and yellow character flags. Inconsistent effort and a lack of maturity have plagued his on-field performances. Long timed 4.51x40 at the Combine, but then flopped on his retries at Pro Day (4.58, 4.66), struggling to catch the rock consistently and cleanly. He often fails to run out his routes to completion and shows little desire to block when called on. Long does possess good hands when he is focused but will lose concentration and details suffer. He shows some burst, but his footwork gets sloppy, especially near the sidelines. He owns average WR size (6’-192) but gets off the line well-enough to compete. He is quick, but lacks the getaway gear. Though he beats man/press off the line, his soft breaks and lack of urgency in routes creates little separation. Long can turn it around with focus and dedication to the position. That comes with time; something fantasy guys most often can’t afford.
Donatella Luckett- UNDRAFTED, SIGNED BY CHIEFS
RB-built wideout from small school Harding. He faced 2nd and 3rd tier competition and will be 24 years old come draft day. Luckett showed eye-opening speed at his Pro Day, burning a 4.37-forty, a far cry from the lead-footed 4.65 time at the Combine. However he does not play at that rate and competes somewhere in-between. Luckett saw very limited catch opportunities in college as Harding uses an option offense. He proved to be a fairly good and active blocker supporting the run. Mired in a run-dominated offense, Luckett’s route tree was extremely narrow and he comes to the draft as a raw prospect. He has shown able in tracking a deep ball and has the straight-line speed to threaten a secondary. With the football in his hands via hitches, screens and slants, Luckett often runs to contact and shows little wiggle or desire to avoid tackles. He gears down before contact, looking indecisive and unable to see past the initial tackler. He dominated Harding competition physically, so he has not focused on the finesse aspects of wide receiver. There isn’t enough good tape to truly evaluate his hands technique. ‘Tello Luckett comes to the NFL with very limited receiving experience, raw skills, from a small school environment and already 24 years of age. Lots of strikes against here.
Vince Mayle- DRAFTED , BROWNS. Now the Browns own Dwayne Bowe and a younger clone who plays more like the current Bowe.
Impressive size (6’2-224) but truly lacking in quickness, speed and technique. Mayle is another of those lumbering Washington State wideouts we’ve seen over the past 10-12 years. Mayle fails to get clean release off the line, a negative given his size. He displays no burst or ability to separate and is often forced off his route. The Washington State pass catcher runs with a slow gait and is less-than-sharp around the sidelines. He is soft in his breaks, and even when he sinks and cuts, his lack of quickness fails to gain space from his cover. With DBs constantly on his hip, YAC opportunities are at a minimum. Mayle doesn’t break tackles; feet are too sluggish to create drive and power. He is sure to get a look due to his size and having faced tough competition in college, but this is a raw, limited skill wide receiver in the Brian Quick mold.
Tre McBride- DRAFTED, 7TH ROUND, TITANS. Wow! Titans have been gifted by the rest of the NFL by allowing McBride to free-fall. Don’t laugh but McBride may end up being rookie QB Marcus Mariota’s favorite target this season.
Tre McBride is touted as a 3rd round talent but gets lost in all the bright lights and press covering the ‘big’ name wideout from big name schools. McBride hails from the smallville university of William and Mary and though he is supremely gifted as a wideout, he hasn’t gotten the media attention he deserves and fanballers are not likely to know all that much about McBride. Let me just say scouting his game tape was a pleasure. He doesn’t quite run to his 40-time, but he gets off the line with explosion, is quick in his breaks and just finds open seams and zones. McBride gets DBs to turn their hips with a variety of moves and change of pace in his routes. He sells his patterns with authority and is sure when the ball arrives. His acrobatic ability widens his catch radius and instills confidence in his QBs. Unheralded complete wide receiver. He is a 3rd round prospect that should earn snaps early in the season. He exudes hands-confidence and owns supreme body control. McBride’s ability to catch the ball wherever it is thrown as long as it is in his radius is a QBs dream and confidence-builder. He isn’t as explosive as Odell Beckham, but brings the same free-flowing style. Some team is going to land a gem here this coming draft.
Ty Montgomery- DRAFTED, 3RD ROUND, PACKERS. Kinda a head-scratcher. Falls way behind 4 current Packer receivers (Cobb, Nelson, Adams, Janis). He’s not flash-fast, bust does bring RB dimensions and versatile skills (WR/KR). Route acumen is lacking.
Ty Montgomery put up a decent 40-time on the Combine’s slower track (clocks?). Montgomery is an accomplished kick returner that chips in at WR. He is a solidly built athlete with RB-like body and attitude. He displayed some explosive traits in his Combine workouts, particularly the vertical jump. What he isn’t is a fast, savvy pass-receiver. He does catch passes routinely with hands out. Montgomery doesn’t play at a 4.5 clip and is often caught from behind. He is a tad slow off the line and doesn’t create an abundance of space between him and his cover DBs. However, Montgomery finds open seams and knows when to ‘sit’ on a route. Not elusive after the catch, the physical pass-catcher tends to run to contact post-catch and shows little creativity running away from tacklers. He is fearless and is able to line up anywhere in formation, even the backfield as wildcat QB. Being adept in the return game, Ty Montgomery is likely to make his early career bones fielding punts and kick offs. A creative pro coach might take a look at the former Stanford receiver as a nifty pass-catching RB.
Keith Mumphery- DRAFTED, 5TH ROUND, TEXANS. Coach O’Brien continues to reset the Houston receiving corps with Andre Johnson now gone. Mumphery has an uphill battle for appreciable 2015 snaps.
Small hands, average speed and size greatly lower Mumphery’s NFL ceiling. Keith Mumphery is a full effort wideout that gets the most out of his workman-like tools. Think Jason Avant. The former Spartan is a bit stiff for a compact WR and often leaves his feet upon reception. He runs adequate routes, but could be sharper out of breaks. Mumphery is not elusive and will run to contact; he has shown able to break tackles. Lack of a 3rd gear caps his YAC opportunities and he fails to drive DBs back off the snap. He sports inconsistent hands technique and will allow the ball into his body often; small handed wideouts tend to body the football. Downfield Mumphery tracks the ball well enough but will short-arm or cradle the ball, leading to finger-tip drops deep. Keith Mumphery is a blue-collar wide receiver that will give all he has to his NFL club; it’s just not enough that will amount to being a fantasy football ‘must have’ anytime soon.
J.J.Nelson- DRAFTED, 5TH ROUND, CARDINALS. Smitten by the 2014 success of sleek and slender John Brown, Coach Arians tries that route again with Nelson, sleeker and more slender than Brown. Those WR snaps in ARZ are owned by Brown, Floyd and Fitzgerald now; Nelson is returner bound. 5th round is surely a reach.
JJ Nelson ripped the fastest 40-time at the Combine this year; 4.28. He needs the speed to be pro-bound as his slight frame leaves many to question his NFL future; he’s a very lean 5’10-156. Even in pads he looks as he measures. Though lightning fast in his 40, Nelson doesn’t play as sudden. He is a soft route runner that surprisingly lacks sharpness in his stem breaks. He presents an impish target and will be hard to find by his NFL passers. Nelson owns very small hands, struggles off the line versus press and is moved off his routes too easily. He does sport some leg drive, evidenced by the strong broad and respectively impressive vertical. Nelson rarely demonstrates that drive in live action. JJ Nelson is likely headed for a career in the return game at the pro level.
DeVante Parker- DRAFTED, 1ST ROUND, DOLPHINS. Parker adds the sure-handed, size possession pass catcher that fits well with QB Ryan Tannehill’s short-mid range skill set. Unless injury befalls super soph Jarvis Landry, Parker’s rookie numbers come with a cap.
Parker is a size wideout with good hands but average foot-speed. He impressed those at the Combine with a solid 4.45-forty, but his game tape consistently reveals a slower performer. Parker has a muddy first step and fails to drive defenders back off the line. He is often slow and round in his breaks and shows no ability to gain much after the catch. Parker does own sound hands and body control. He often had a DB on his hip in Louisville, and will struggle to gain space in the NFL. HE is very likely to be over-drafted due to his surprising fast 40 at the Combine and pro-size. Parker’s lot in the NFL is that of a big possession receiver. If he adds urgency and finds suddenness in his gait, he can become a solid WR2. Devante Parker looks the part, but tape says he’s not quite the elite prospect many have touted him to be.
Breshad Perriman- DRAFTED, 1ST ROUND, RAVENS. GM Newsome quickly replaced one-dimensional deep threat Torrey Smith with another speed-demon. Hands, concentration and route experience are road-blocks to Perriman’s fantasy potential in 2015.
Breshad Perriman is a size/speed prospect that offers sweet-n-sour potential. He is fast and powerful but far from a natural performer. Perriman’s route skills need work, as do his hands. He lacks refinement in his breaks and maturity in his cover recognition. The former Central Florida home-run hitter tends to lose concentration and commits a fair share of drops. The ability and tools are there and he does flash strong hands at times. Consistency is the call as he goes pro. He is seen ‘thinking’ his routes and seeking seams, slowing his game down due to uncertainty. Perriman is slow to get into his route set-up and needs to find greater awareness of timing with QBs; his head is late turning to find the ball. This is a work in progress that will need time to develop in the NFL. He can run the uncomplicated deep routes, utilizing his lid-lifting speed, but the nuances of the position escape him at this time.
Ezell Ruffin- UNDRAFTED, UNSIGNED.
The former San Diego State wideout brings very average skills to a pro team. Ruffin lacks urgency and quick-twitch movement. He is a high-effort performer with limited tools. Thick in the lower body, Ruffin comes up short in power drills (Vertical and Broad jumps). He runs choppy and slow-footed. Ruffin does display excellent body control and strong hands. Unable to threaten deep and get DBs’ hips turned, Ruffin’s YAC potential is quite handicapped. One college stat jumps out in a negative light; Ruffin scored just 5 TDs over 3 seasons as an Aztec. Ezell Ruffin faces a mountainous climb on his journey to being a pro receiver seeing considerable snaps.
DeAndre Smelter- DRAFTED, 4TH ROUND, 49ERS. Big bodied wideout and underrated throughout the draft process. An athlete who just knows how to play the game. Tough guy style fits Niner mode well. Can surprise in 2015.
Devin Smith- DRAFTED, 2ND ROUND, JETS. Smith automatically becomes the Jets best deep threat. He is not just a linear route runner and NY is looking to ramp up the air attack with pass-happy Chan Gailey calling the plays.
Jaelen Strong- DRAFTED, 3RD ROUND, TEXANS. And Coach O’Brien says ‘thank you’. Texans traded in the old version of Andre Johnson for a young one. Strong gets single cover looks with DeAndre Hopkins commanding the attention from defenses.
Darren Waller- DRAFTED, 6TH ROUND, RAVENS. Teams keep tapping the Georgia Tech keg hoping for another size/speed monster like Calvin Johnson. Waller is far, far from Megatron and the Ravens already own a better version of Waller in Marlon Brown.
DeAndrew White- UNDRAFTED, SIGNED BY 49ERS
Kevin White- DRAFTED, 1ST ROUND, BEARS. Good bye steady but slowing Brandon Marshall and hello explosive, YAC-attacking Kevin White.
Cam Worthy- UNDRAFTED, SIGNED BY RAVENS. One of my favorite receivers in this draft lands in a perfect NFL home. Ravens in revamp mode at WR and Worthy owns sleeper potential.
Nelson Agholor- DRAFTED, 1ST ROUND, EAGLES. Steps right into a starting gig and fantasy prominence in the Eagles frenetic offense.
Thin build with some room for added size. Good speed but a bit stiff out of breaks. Game speed slightly slower than his 4.4-forty time. Gets off the line with consistency. Can line up anywhere in the offense, including the backfield. Tough receiver, with a fearless style. Catches with hands on most targets his way. Gets YAC and can break off big gainers with good after-catch vision. A willing blocker, but 50/50 effectiveness. Savvy kick returner but a bit shaky bringing punts down at times. Shows good body control. Played in a pro-format offense and appears NFL ready. Route tree is ample enough to be a rookie contributor. The more tape I see of Agholor, the more I see Jordan Matthews rather than Jeremy Maclin. That’s not a put-down; the guy can play and play soon.
Mario Alford- DRAFTED, 7TH ROUND, BENGALS. Enters the NFL in a crowded WR environment. Most likely a returner in 2015.
Short (5’8) but super-fast (4.28 at Pro Day). Once into top gear he’s a blur. Might dance some, but tends to see and hit seams; once behind a D he is gone. Catches with solid hands technique but still suffers occasional drop. Runs good deep routes, but also fearless and dangerous on crossers. Big time after catch weapon. Cone and shuttle drills were top shelf at Combine; he is agile as well as fast. Has a RB mentality; played RB in small college before coming to West Virginia. Same school as Tavon Austin, but build is a bit more solid and run tougher than Austin. Returns kicks. Spot snaps early in pro career; size an issue and scheme fit will be crucial. Likely a return specialist to start.
Dres Anderson- UNDRAFTED; SIGNED BY 49ERS
NFL lineage and it shows up on tape; Flipper Anderson (WR, 10 years, most rec yds in game record). Plays fast, aggressive. Understands his position. Always gives his QB great looks and advantageous angles. Not bothered much by press-man at line. Muscular upper body but wheels a bit slight. Fearless pass-catcher that attacks the football; good in traffic. Runs pretty full route tree. Excellent body control and a YAC-attacker. Estimated forty at 4.5, and appears to play at speed. Gets his hands away from body to catch, and will adjust depending on DB proximity. Not smooth but overall gets the job done. Coming off meniscus tear (10/2014). Underrated receiver owning pro chops that requires time to get up to NFL speed and power. Down-the-line prospect.
Kenny Bell- DRAFTED, 5TH ROUND, BUCCANEERS
Scorched his Pro Day 40 at 4.38 seconds, better than his 4.42 Combine dash. In summary, the guy can book. Bell showed he can sky also, nailing a 41.5 vertical and an impressive 10’9 broad jump. HE’s fast and can get up, but Bell does struggle getting off the line in press. He’s a lean 6’1, under 200 pounds and gets jammed off the snap often. He does have a frame to muscle up in the pros. The Cornhusker wideout seems to own a limited route tree, mostly using straight line stems or short hitches. He’s not as fluid as coaches might like. Bell is explosive and can turn on the jets in a snap. He does catch the ball cleanly and consistently with hands out, and is quick in his catch-n-go. Kenny Bell has some pro tools coaches can work with, but his route running and inability to break press coverage off the line is an obstacle to snaps. Situational type at this juncture.
Da'Ron Brown- DRAFTED, 7TH ROUND, CHIEFS. Brown is a wonderfully gifted hands-man and can pressure the bottom half of the Chiefs WR depth for a roster spot. A younger, more athletic version of Jason Avant.
Brown tested well at the Combine, but other than his bench press, he didn’t wow... until the gauntlet. Brown showed great hands with a natural, soft technique. He also adjusted effortlessly to off-target throws without loss of speed. Those quality pass catching skills are clearly present in his game tape at Northern Illinois. Brown uses his excellent body control to work himself open on most plays. He’s not a sudden route runner, but he gives full effort on each play and is always working for his QB. He looks pro-ready, but his true game speed could use a little more juice. Da’Ron Brown has NFL possession receiver written all over him, but in the Anquan Boldin mold more than a Wes Welker type. Terrific hands tech and play awareness.
Kaelin Clay- DRAFTED, 6TH ROUND, BUCCANEERS. Bucs loaded up on WRs via the draft and free agent signings. Clay is a returner prospect at best in 2015.
College kick and punt returner and a good one. Clay subbed for injured Dres Anderson at Utah in 2014, his only season there. Posted a 4.51-forty at the Combine and a faster 4.46 Pro Day run. Clay is deceptively fast as he doesn’t appear to burn turf but glides into a dangerous breakaway gear. He’s shifty, with excellent stop-n-go moves as well as change of direction ability that finds open lanes. He is not a polished receiver, with his best route options being more of the short, YAC-inducing types. Clay has focus lapses and is remembered for a major self-induced turnover against Oregon. The Utah wideout’s best shot at NFL playing time is as a returner. He is lacking in overall wide receiver savvy, size and technique.
Sammie Coates- DRAFTED, 3RD ROUND, STEELERS
Coates is an athlete for sure. Imposing; strong. 23 bench reps a top # for WRs at Combine. Big and fast. Hands are suspect due to concentration lapses. Though he owns potential 4.3-forty speed, his deep ball ability is iffy. Coates fails to run through his deep stems, allowing passes to drift over him; shouldn’t happen with that speed. Tracking the ball is an issue that tends to slow his fly routes and lose speed. Not an overall great route runner, but can be dangerous in slants, hitches, bubbles and seam routes. Coates looks raw and needs NFL coaching to be a breakout performer. He has all the physical tools to be a Terrell Owens, but needs to develop clean technique and consistency. He may tear up pre-season versus 2nd and 3rd teamers, but his game has a ways to go in the pro game. Some of the bloom is off his value at this time; Combine didn’t help.
Chris Conley- DRAFTED, 3RD ROUND, CHIEFS. Conley becomes a potential lead playmaker opposite a savvy and mid-range running Jeremy Maclin.
The Georgia underutilized wideout blew up the Combine with his drills and workout numbers and bolted up the WR draft charts for this season. He tagged a 4.35-forty and was sharp as a tack in his performance drills, but his game tape shows he doesn’t play quite at that speed or crispness. Still, with NFL coaching and a solid work ethic Conley has the frame and natural gifts to star at the next level. HE shows sticky and strong hands that are consistently away from his body at reception. Conley adjusts well to off-line throws, uses the full field of play and efforts each route to completion. In Combine route drills and cones Conley sunk his hips on breaks, tracked the ball well downfield and displayed a soft hands technique. His 1st step on tape doesn’t appear sudden, but at the Combine he blew out of the starting gate at a stellar 1.52 in the 10-yard split. So is this a workout wonder or a legit pro/fantasy prospect? He needs to add more urgency to his route running, gain an edge in his cuts with consistency and expand his tree, but make no mistake, Chris Conley has it all to take the NFL by storm.
Amari Cooper- DRAFTED, 1ST ROUND, RAIDERS. He has a terrific arm talent at QB in Derek Carr and is already the best receiving target in Oakland. A 2015 fantasy football star is born.
Most pro-ready wide receiver in this draft. Cooper is a fast, well-versed receiver with the entire toolbox to shine instantly in the NFL. His Combine vertical was flat (33”), as was his 10-yard get off (1.61). He plays as timed and the drills suggest. Cooper is a strong, tough receiver who works well in the 10-20 yard range but can get downfield as well. He tracks the football deep with ease and sure hands. Cooper gets off press at the line and has enough gear to back a DB off the line. Cooper works the sidelines well, shows excellent body control and a solid hands-out technique. He’s not a sudden or flashy stylist, but rather plays a tough inside-outside physical game with confidence. Cooper is excellent in traffic and is a QB’s friend coming back to the football rather than waiting for it. Knows how to play his position. Where he lacks in initial burst he makes up in power and true long-speed. ‘Bama’s best wideout is a blue-collar type with elite skills; a young Anquan Boldin comes to mind watching his tape. Amari Cooper is a rookie fantasy football starter if drafted in the right scheme and QB.
Jamison Crowder- DRAFTED, 4TH ROUND, REDSKINS
Short height but quick, sharp and shifty. Crowder’s Combine 4.56-forty was average, especially for a 5’8 pass-catcher, but he improved with a 4.46 Pro Day sprint. Crowder also flopped in his agility drills, failing to show speed to go with his shifty moves. Crowder is razor sharp in his stem-breaks, sinking low and bursting into his branches. He shows good, sticky hands and gets them out to snatch the football. That is key for a short wideout as it adds needed separation from defending DBs. Crowder is familiar with volume work, snagging 193 catches in his last 2 season at Duke. The Blue Devil gets off the line using shake-n-bake lateral movement but wastes little time getting into his route. He is a feisty hands-fighter. Crowder tends to drift in his deep routes rather than run through the football. He attacks the football and gets turned north with urgency. Excellent catch-n-go tech and gets to speed in a step or two. Crowder runs a pretty extensive route tree for a 5’8 wideout and is not at all limited to slot-type work. Body control, concentration and aggressiveness are keen components of Crowder’s game. Small hands are a drawback and may lead to drops at the next level. There’s a lot of TY Hilton here. However, as impressive as Crowder’s game tape is, he’ll need some luck and fortunate events to occur to be a 2015 offensive fantasy contributor. Returning kicks, which he did well at Duke, likely will be his entry opportunity.
DaVaris Daniels- UNDRAFTED, SIGNED BY VIKINGS
Suspended for 2014 season. There is a bit of diva-mentality showing. Davis owns average wideout speed with above average hands. The former Notre Dame pass-catcher owns the physical tools, turning in impressive vertical and broad jumps at the Combine. Application and the ‘want’ is the question. He is a one-speed route runner with sloppy footwork that fails to gain much separation. Many of his catches are of the tough, DB-on-his-hip variety. To his credit Davis wins his share of those contested throws, but that was at the college level. Pro DBs close fast and physical. Davis has some size but is thin in the legs. As a route runner he is soft in breaks, upright and lacking burst. Davis plays with confidence, but unless he gets serious with his profession and focuses on the details of the wide receiver position, a productive NFL career is not in the cards.
Devante Davis- UNDRAFTED, SIGNED BY EAGLES
Devante Davis brings an enticing size/speed package to the field of play; problem is he doesn’t play to the speed. Davis also negates his size advantage by body-catching far too many tosses his way. The UNLV top target fails to get off the line with burst and is often thwarted by DB/CB jams. He just doesn’t separate and is stiff in his breaks. He’s not quick-of-foot and tends to round into his cuts. On hitches and WR screens Davis shows he lacks special wheels to break away. His Combine 40 time was a decent 4.57, and he proved that number true with a 4.53 in his Pro Day; players almost always show marked improvement in the Combine 40 at Pro Days. Davis plays true to his time as he can run some but is slow to get to speed. Between Devante Davis’ heavy footwork, short-armed catching and inability to create space from DBs, reserve duty is about what fanballers can expect.
Geremy Davis- DRAFTED, 6TH ROUND, GIANTS
The UConn big wideout didn’t run his 40 at the Combine due to a hamstring issue. The questions still linger regarding Davis’ speed. On tape Davis shows a slower game speed, with slow footwork and basically a one-gear route runner. Davis rounds out his breaks and allows the football into his body more often than not. He does use his size well to box-out DBs, but still not extending arms allows defenders to knock down their share of targets. Davis is a hard-working receiver who gives a full effort on every play. Lack of quickness and overall speed limits his ability to gain separation or drive man coverage back for space. Davis tracks the deep ball well, but struggles to take the top off a defense. Most of his catches are contested. He does well in traffic but lack of wheels cuts down on YAC potential. A refinement in getting arms extended consistently and sharper, more urgent route running would go a long way in securing NFL opportunities for the rocked-up wideout from UConn. But early-on, Geremy Davis has much work to do to get there.
Titus Davis- UNDRAFTED, SIGNED BY CHARGERS
Titus Davis does a lot of good wide receivers things a scout looks for, until the ball reaches his catch zone and he cradles it in rather than getting his hands out. Davis is a slow-gait route runner who often gears down in his breaks, losing speed. His 4.51-forty at the Combine is solid but he rarely translates that straight-line speed onto the field of play. Davis was not overly impressive in his drills. Other than the notable forty time, the Central Michigan wideout put up very average power and agility numbers. He’s not a sudden type of performer. Davis double-clutched his share of passes at the Combine, including a go pattern; again, confidence in hands is a flaw. Davis appears to fight the football; the problem... small hands (8 ¼ “). As a collegiate pass-catcher, Davis topped most of the Central Michigan receiving numbers put up by the Steelers’ top WR Antonio Brown and scored at least 8 TDs in all four seasons. But his receiving technique and lack of explosion off the line and in routes will be roadblocks to NFL success if not cleaned up.
Stefon Diggs- DRAFTED, 5TH ROUND, VIKINGS
Big handed wideout with fairly good size and outstanding speed. He’s a bit fragile and has finished his last 2 college seasons on the sidelines with injuries. Diggs is not a precise route runner, rounding off his breaks and often motoring down going into them. He does show consistent hands away from the body catching the ball, and is a terror after the catch. Diggs is effective in motion, on hitch routes, slants and longer seam stems down the middle. He is a tough runner with good balance and excellent body control. Diggs tracks the deep ball well and shows keen concentration catching the ball in traffic. At times he showed apprehension on balls over the middle, but inconsistent QB play creates indecisive WR moments. Diggs proves to be a full-go performer, but does have small maturity issues to work on. While Diggs is an effort player, he is a woeful blocker; just not his game. Though fast after the catch and straight-line, Diggs needs to get off the snap with more explosiveness in the NFL. Pressed at the line, he is likely to struggle to free up. Headed to the NFL Diggs is a playmaker with the ball but needs to learn to play without it. He is a soft route runner that makes no effort to sink and cut in his breaks. Stefon Diggs early career path is likely as a kick returner. Good pro coaching and veteran mentoring will get the Maryland wideout up-to-speed eventually, but not in 2015.
Phillip Dorsett- DRAFTED, 1ST ROUND, COLTS. OK, definitely over-drafted at that slot, and now smack in the middle of a talented and deep WR pool at Indy. Colts reached here, fanballers should not.
Fleet receiver, netting an outstanding 4.33-forty at the Combine and blazing a better 4.27 on his Pro Day workout. The fact that Dorsett opted to re-run his 40 at Miami’s Pro Day after a posting a dynamic time at Indy shows his confidence in his speed. Most would have stood on that 4.33 mark. Dorsett showed he can high-point and is agile as his jumps and cones results confirm, but those traits rarely show up on game tape. Dorsett owns a small frame and can be muscled out of routes and blocks. He also appears to be a raw route runner, lacking the nuance and savvy required of pro pass-catchers. Though his yards per catch average and yards totals at Miami are respectively impressive (on a per catch basis), his volume of receptions is lacking. On tape, Dorsett is regularly by-passed by Hurricane QBs and often looks lost in the play, creating some lack of confidence by his passers. He is a body-catcher, displaying a short-armed technique and NFL defensive backs can close down those type of small receivers. Phillip Dorsett owns playmaking speed, but he has a lot of refining work ahead of him, and his slight build may be an NFL stumbling block for his snaps opportunities.
Devin Funchess- DRAFTED , 2ND ROUND, PANTHERS. Big and dangerous Kelvin Benjamin will draw extra looks from secondaries, freeing Funchess up on single cover snaps. Can he separate?
The lumbering over-sized wide receiver from Michigan is going to have to shift to pass-catching tight end if he wants to turn in a productive NFL career. Funchess is big at 6’4-232, but logging a 4.7-forty is not going to cut it as a pro WR. He did improve his charts at the Wolverine Pro Day, clocking a 4.47-forty. Hmmm. Here’s a hint; Funchess snagged balls at a solid 15.3 YPR in 2013 playing TE. Last season Michigan utilized the big guy at WR, where he slipped to a sluggish 11.8 YPR. He’s a good matchup as a TE versus LBs and safeties, but corners will be on his hip about every snap in the NFL as a receiver. Even athletic linebackers have been able to stick with Funchess in crossing routes. He just lacks energy, acceleration and suddenness. Funchess has some focus liabilities, and a diva-ish attitude. For a big receiver Funchess negates that size advantage by allowing throws into his body, cutting down a good catch-cushion. With the football Funchess is a tough tackle, especially for smaller DBs. He does show good ball sense after the catch, but will not run away from tacklers; running over is his best YAC skill. Devin Funchess is likely to head to the NFL as a tight end. But even there he has some growing up to do; the proverbial has to “learn how to be a pro.”
Antwan Goodley- UNDRAFTED, SIGNED BY COWBOYS
Stocky, RB-built wideout with a game approach to match. His bulky body-style at times forces awkward-looking plays. Goodley is fast but not a fluid route runner. He mostly uses good hands to snatch passes but will occasionally let the ball into his body. The Baylor wideout can line up at all WR positions and has taken snaps in the backfield. He is an effective deep route runner, but thrives running slants (2-route) and posts (8 route). Though he shows good hands, he tends to double-clutch catching the ball. In traffic Goodley becomes a body-catcher and drops happen. Goodley runs a modest route tree and owns strong after-catch ability. He’s tough to tackle. The rugged receiver displays great long speed and is rarely caught from behind; he attacks tacklers. Appears more confident running inside routes and tends to lose body control and catch-confidence down the sidelines. He needs more awareness on the sidelines as his footwork is sketchy. Goodley struggles tracking the ball to his outside-right shoulder. After the catch he is dangerous but runs to contact and is not overly elusive or shifty. Antwan Goodley needs more polish to get on the NFL field in 2015.
Dorial Green-Beckham- DRAFTED, 2ND ROUND, TITANS. Tennessee coaches have their work cut out for them. DGB is big and fast, but likes to do it his way. Lots of learning ahead in 2015 here.
Gotta love his very impressive size-speed tools, but loath his undisciplined past. Green-Beckham is as raw as he is tall, and hasn’t taken a live game snap since 2013. He’s shown an unwillingness to accept coaching and seems to want to do it his way. Lots of risk for NFL coaches and fantasy owners alike here. At the Combine the former Missouri WR gave scouts a reason to look, but then question. He posted a good 40 time on a slow track and showed he can pluck the ball solidly with his hands away, but also sported a couple of drops and slowed on deep routes when the ball wasn’t on track. On the field, Green-Beckham can be a force, but his game lacks refinement for the position. He rounds off routes, has poor footwork, plays soft (even with his size advantage) and fails to drive DBs back. He is fast enough, but is not sudden due to his long legs. Character questions aside, Dorial Green-Beckham is an on-field work-in-progress. He is sure to find work as a red-zone target thanks to his 6’5-237 pound size, but expanding his overall repertoire is a must for NFL success.
Rashad Greene- DRAFTED, 5TH ROUND, JAGUARS
The Florida State wideout is an underrated talent. Not particularly big (5’11-182) nor overly speedy (4.53 Combine 40), Greene is experienced, versatile and sure-handed. He is a confident pass-catcher between the numbers or at the sidelines and can work short, mid or deep. He is a clutch receiver who makes the play when needed, and makes himself available in those key moments. Greene’s lack of bulk allows DBs to overpower him at times. However, he is a fearless receiver who shows focus and concentration in traffic and catches the ball with consistent hands out. Greene is quick to catch-n-tuck and turn upfield and has enough long speed to finish plays in the endzone. He is not sudden, but he is smart and plays his position with ‘feel’. The Seminole top wideout was charged with a number of drops in 2014, but his QB often powered the football on shorter routes, was often off target and launched wobblers here-n-there; tough balls to catch. Rashad Greene can be a productive NFL wideout, but he’ll face some struggles due to his smallish frame and will need a few breaks to see starter snaps. His game and build is similar to former Falcon and now Titan WR Harry Douglas. He may find a home and prosperity as a slot receiver, but 2015 is a learning campaign for Rashad Greene.
Rannell Hall- UNDRAFTED, SIGNED BY BUCCANEERS. Hall stays in Florida but joins a suddenly loaded WR unit in Tampa Bay. Practice squad in 2015.
A PASS favorite, Hall plays with energy and urgency. He is not smooth, refined or polished, but is a get-it-done-best-way competitor. Hall has a solid frame with room to add more muscle. Ran a good 4.6-forty on a slow Combine strip. Hall’s game speed is faster than his Combine time. He impressed with top-shelf vertical and broad jumps at Indy. Hall’s best on-field work is still ahead as his college tape shows an eager but flawed performer. Hall is coachable and gives full effort. The Central Florida receiver is fearless across the middle and a creative after-catch yards getter. More stamina is needed as he appears to run out of gas on extended plays. Hall mostly uses good hands-out catch technique, but will body the ball in traffic; needs to clean that up. His route running is rough as Hall fails to sink his hips and is stiff on breaks. He’s not explosive off the line and could get jammed as a pro. Hall appears to play better lining up outside and working in. Again, the positive is that he is a hard worker with a competitive attitude. There’s a lot of Nate Washington in Rannell Hall’s game. With good NFL coaching Hall’s game should grow, his routes expand and techniques shine. It will take 2-3 seasons, possibly through a couple practice squads, but fanballers might want to keep his name in a quick reference file.
Justin Hardy- DRAFTED, 4TH ROUND, FALCONS
East Carolina’s Justin Hardy heads to the NFL as a record setting receiver, but he will have to work darn hard to make the same noise as a pro. Hardy is a solidly built 5’10-192 wideout that timed 4.56-forty at the Combine. He doesn’t play quite that fast. Hardy lacks fast-twitch acceleration off the line and fails to drive DBs back to create space. Sticky (and big) hands and keen football smarts make up for the lack of explosiveness. He shows good body control and field awareness. Many of his catches come with a DB on his hip. He does use excellent catch technique, routinely getting his arms extended to gain space, but Hardy rarely blows by good man corners unless there is broken coverage. He is good coming back to the ball, on fades and back-shoulder throws, timing his jumps perfectly. As a route runner Hardy is soft in his breaks and tends to run stuck in 2nd-gear. He’ll need more urgency, foot-quicks and sharper route execution to separate in the NFL. Hardy does play the run aspect well, blocking with gusto and effectiveness. Justin Hardy is destined for slot duty as a pro, but his days of being a game factor may be behind him.
Josh Harper- UNDRAFTED, SIGNED BY RAIDERS
Josh Harper helped Raider QB Derek Carr to the NFL in 2013 by being one of Carr’s playmakers at wideout. Has NFL bloodlines as his father Willie (LB) was a 2nd round pick of the 49ers (1973). Harper displays top-shelf body control, adjusting to throws with ease. He is a smooth route runner with good footwork. As a pass-catcher Harper surprisingly shows strong hands and is consistent; surprising in that he has small hands. Though he is quick-footed his long-speed is limited. The Fresno State receiver hit his Combine forty at 4.64 and improves slightly during Pro Day jaunts (4.52). However speed and downfield heroics are not Harper’s game. He is a tough wideout that works mid-range and redzone. Harper is a fearless slant and cross-route cutter that gives his QB a reliable target. He shows good football/WR sense, adjusts to coverage decisively and finds the open zones. Harper’s lot in the NFL is down the lines of a high-end possession receiver; productive but volume dependent.
Christion Jones- UNDRAFTED, SIGNED BY DOLPHINS
Smallish wideout from ‘Bama with below average speed and unimpressive lateral agility. Jones is not all that elusive, shows little burst and iffy hands as a wideout. He struggles to create cushion and get off the line cleanly. Jones best routes are the hitch and screen variety. Route savvy is raw. He does return kick and punts; that is his best opportunity to make it in the NFL.
Dezmin Lewis- DRAFTED, 7TH ROUND, BILLS
A sharp route runner and supreme hands catcher, Dezmin Lewis is an underrated gem in this year’s draft. Clocked at 4.58 in the forty, Lewis plays faster in live action. Lewis timed 4.46 in his Pro Day dash, and jumped 37” in the vertical. He snares everything in his catch radius, which is expansive thanks to long arms and a long frame. Quick in his catch-n-tuck and gets turned north in a hurry. Excellent body control, Lewis can sky for contested balls. His is aggressive to the ball and sharp in his breaks. Lewis is a dangerous YAC getter who accelerates quickly. He dominated lesser competition at Central Arkansas and will need to gear up to pro speed and DBs. Rarely faced press off the line in college so he’ll need to adjust to faster, in-your-face pro corners. Lewis is a long, aggressive hands-catcher that has all the tools and pro-WR body to thrive in the NFL. He fared quite well versus second-rate defenses in college, but did so with very mediocre QB play. With pro-level quarterbacking Lewis’ game can reach new levels of success. He plays faster than timed and shows strong hands with excellent concentration and body control. This guy can ball and is going to be a lower round steal for an NFL club. There’s some Brandon Marshall in his play. Fanballers might have to wait some for Lewis to win a starting gig in the NFL, but the tools and approach are there.
Tony Lippett- DRAFTED, 5TH ROUND, DOLPHINS
Long (6’2) and diverse, Lippett is a versatile wideout who started at corner also in 2014. He is a strong-willed athlete that never backs down from a task and gives full effort in being his best. Lippett is a strong hands-catcher with a soft receiving technique and fearless on inside routes. He’s not particularly fast (4.61-forty) nor is he a powerful player (10 bench reps). His blocking is not a strength. Lippett tends to round off his breaks and runs too upright. However he shows keen concentration, catches in traffic and uses long arm away from his 6’2 frame to gain space. Though not fast, Lippett finds opportune seams and understands how to set up corners; playing CB has advantages. He is sharp crossing the middle, running slants and setting up in open zones. Lippett will not blow by DBs on sheer speed, but he does get off the line and into his routes consistently. He plays tough and doesn’t shy away from an impending hit. Lippett does pick up after-catch yards with well-located targets his way, in-stride, and he displays excellent body control to adjust to misguided throws. Tony Lippett may be drafted as a CB, or a WR. At wideout, he appears to be a heady, reliable receiver who can thrive as a chain-mover. Sharper route skills could elevate his pro potential.
Tyler Lockett- DRAFTED, 3RD ROUND, SEAHAWKS
NFL bloodline; father Kevin Lockett played for the Chiefs (1997 2nd round pick). He is smallish at 5’10-182 with a slim build. Lockett’s hands also measure small and he will body-catch passes most times, a concern in the NFL. On steamy throws where he had to use hands out and on the run, Lockett struggled. Route tree is ample enough, but he is not efficient catching on the fly; Lockett often ‘sits’ to bring a pass in. Again, hand-size is likely coming into play. With the ball Lockett accelerates with burst and gets to his 4.40 speed instantly. He is sudden after the catch but not overly elusive; he runs to contact and is not a tackle-breaker. HE did impress in cone drills, cutting with speed and putting up top times. That shiftiness doesn’t always translate in live action. The Kansas State receiver doubled as a kick/punt returner, and that is where his early opportunity in the NFL lies. Tyler Lockett knows the position and understands how to get it done with what he has; it may not be enough, however.
Deon Long- UNDRAFTED, SIGNED BY TITANS
Long comes with red and yellow character flags. Inconsistent effort and a lack of maturity have plagued his on-field performances. Long timed 4.51x40 at the Combine, but then flopped on his retries at Pro Day (4.58, 4.66), struggling to catch the rock consistently and cleanly. He often fails to run out his routes to completion and shows little desire to block when called on. Long does possess good hands when he is focused but will lose concentration and details suffer. He shows some burst, but his footwork gets sloppy, especially near the sidelines. He owns average WR size (6’-192) but gets off the line well-enough to compete. He is quick, but lacks the getaway gear. Though he beats man/press off the line, his soft breaks and lack of urgency in routes creates little separation. Long can turn it around with focus and dedication to the position. That comes with time; something fantasy guys most often can’t afford.
Donatella Luckett- UNDRAFTED, SIGNED BY CHIEFS
RB-built wideout from small school Harding. He faced 2nd and 3rd tier competition and will be 24 years old come draft day. Luckett showed eye-opening speed at his Pro Day, burning a 4.37-forty, a far cry from the lead-footed 4.65 time at the Combine. However he does not play at that rate and competes somewhere in-between. Luckett saw very limited catch opportunities in college as Harding uses an option offense. He proved to be a fairly good and active blocker supporting the run. Mired in a run-dominated offense, Luckett’s route tree was extremely narrow and he comes to the draft as a raw prospect. He has shown able in tracking a deep ball and has the straight-line speed to threaten a secondary. With the football in his hands via hitches, screens and slants, Luckett often runs to contact and shows little wiggle or desire to avoid tackles. He gears down before contact, looking indecisive and unable to see past the initial tackler. He dominated Harding competition physically, so he has not focused on the finesse aspects of wide receiver. There isn’t enough good tape to truly evaluate his hands technique. ‘Tello Luckett comes to the NFL with very limited receiving experience, raw skills, from a small school environment and already 24 years of age. Lots of strikes against here.
Vince Mayle- DRAFTED , BROWNS. Now the Browns own Dwayne Bowe and a younger clone who plays more like the current Bowe.
Impressive size (6’2-224) but truly lacking in quickness, speed and technique. Mayle is another of those lumbering Washington State wideouts we’ve seen over the past 10-12 years. Mayle fails to get clean release off the line, a negative given his size. He displays no burst or ability to separate and is often forced off his route. The Washington State pass catcher runs with a slow gait and is less-than-sharp around the sidelines. He is soft in his breaks, and even when he sinks and cuts, his lack of quickness fails to gain space from his cover. With DBs constantly on his hip, YAC opportunities are at a minimum. Mayle doesn’t break tackles; feet are too sluggish to create drive and power. He is sure to get a look due to his size and having faced tough competition in college, but this is a raw, limited skill wide receiver in the Brian Quick mold.
Tre McBride- DRAFTED, 7TH ROUND, TITANS. Wow! Titans have been gifted by the rest of the NFL by allowing McBride to free-fall. Don’t laugh but McBride may end up being rookie QB Marcus Mariota’s favorite target this season.
Tre McBride is touted as a 3rd round talent but gets lost in all the bright lights and press covering the ‘big’ name wideout from big name schools. McBride hails from the smallville university of William and Mary and though he is supremely gifted as a wideout, he hasn’t gotten the media attention he deserves and fanballers are not likely to know all that much about McBride. Let me just say scouting his game tape was a pleasure. He doesn’t quite run to his 40-time, but he gets off the line with explosion, is quick in his breaks and just finds open seams and zones. McBride gets DBs to turn their hips with a variety of moves and change of pace in his routes. He sells his patterns with authority and is sure when the ball arrives. His acrobatic ability widens his catch radius and instills confidence in his QBs. Unheralded complete wide receiver. He is a 3rd round prospect that should earn snaps early in the season. He exudes hands-confidence and owns supreme body control. McBride’s ability to catch the ball wherever it is thrown as long as it is in his radius is a QBs dream and confidence-builder. He isn’t as explosive as Odell Beckham, but brings the same free-flowing style. Some team is going to land a gem here this coming draft.
Ty Montgomery- DRAFTED, 3RD ROUND, PACKERS. Kinda a head-scratcher. Falls way behind 4 current Packer receivers (Cobb, Nelson, Adams, Janis). He’s not flash-fast, bust does bring RB dimensions and versatile skills (WR/KR). Route acumen is lacking.
Ty Montgomery put up a decent 40-time on the Combine’s slower track (clocks?). Montgomery is an accomplished kick returner that chips in at WR. He is a solidly built athlete with RB-like body and attitude. He displayed some explosive traits in his Combine workouts, particularly the vertical jump. What he isn’t is a fast, savvy pass-receiver. He does catch passes routinely with hands out. Montgomery doesn’t play at a 4.5 clip and is often caught from behind. He is a tad slow off the line and doesn’t create an abundance of space between him and his cover DBs. However, Montgomery finds open seams and knows when to ‘sit’ on a route. Not elusive after the catch, the physical pass-catcher tends to run to contact post-catch and shows little creativity running away from tacklers. He is fearless and is able to line up anywhere in formation, even the backfield as wildcat QB. Being adept in the return game, Ty Montgomery is likely to make his early career bones fielding punts and kick offs. A creative pro coach might take a look at the former Stanford receiver as a nifty pass-catching RB.
Keith Mumphery- DRAFTED, 5TH ROUND, TEXANS. Coach O’Brien continues to reset the Houston receiving corps with Andre Johnson now gone. Mumphery has an uphill battle for appreciable 2015 snaps.
Small hands, average speed and size greatly lower Mumphery’s NFL ceiling. Keith Mumphery is a full effort wideout that gets the most out of his workman-like tools. Think Jason Avant. The former Spartan is a bit stiff for a compact WR and often leaves his feet upon reception. He runs adequate routes, but could be sharper out of breaks. Mumphery is not elusive and will run to contact; he has shown able to break tackles. Lack of a 3rd gear caps his YAC opportunities and he fails to drive DBs back off the snap. He sports inconsistent hands technique and will allow the ball into his body often; small handed wideouts tend to body the football. Downfield Mumphery tracks the ball well enough but will short-arm or cradle the ball, leading to finger-tip drops deep. Keith Mumphery is a blue-collar wide receiver that will give all he has to his NFL club; it’s just not enough that will amount to being a fantasy football ‘must have’ anytime soon.
J.J.Nelson- DRAFTED, 5TH ROUND, CARDINALS. Smitten by the 2014 success of sleek and slender John Brown, Coach Arians tries that route again with Nelson, sleeker and more slender than Brown. Those WR snaps in ARZ are owned by Brown, Floyd and Fitzgerald now; Nelson is returner bound. 5th round is surely a reach.
JJ Nelson ripped the fastest 40-time at the Combine this year; 4.28. He needs the speed to be pro-bound as his slight frame leaves many to question his NFL future; he’s a very lean 5’10-156. Even in pads he looks as he measures. Though lightning fast in his 40, Nelson doesn’t play as sudden. He is a soft route runner that surprisingly lacks sharpness in his stem breaks. He presents an impish target and will be hard to find by his NFL passers. Nelson owns very small hands, struggles off the line versus press and is moved off his routes too easily. He does sport some leg drive, evidenced by the strong broad and respectively impressive vertical. Nelson rarely demonstrates that drive in live action. JJ Nelson is likely headed for a career in the return game at the pro level.
DeVante Parker- DRAFTED, 1ST ROUND, DOLPHINS. Parker adds the sure-handed, size possession pass catcher that fits well with QB Ryan Tannehill’s short-mid range skill set. Unless injury befalls super soph Jarvis Landry, Parker’s rookie numbers come with a cap.
Parker is a size wideout with good hands but average foot-speed. He impressed those at the Combine with a solid 4.45-forty, but his game tape consistently reveals a slower performer. Parker has a muddy first step and fails to drive defenders back off the line. He is often slow and round in his breaks and shows no ability to gain much after the catch. Parker does own sound hands and body control. He often had a DB on his hip in Louisville, and will struggle to gain space in the NFL. HE is very likely to be over-drafted due to his surprising fast 40 at the Combine and pro-size. Parker’s lot in the NFL is that of a big possession receiver. If he adds urgency and finds suddenness in his gait, he can become a solid WR2. Devante Parker looks the part, but tape says he’s not quite the elite prospect many have touted him to be.
Breshad Perriman- DRAFTED, 1ST ROUND, RAVENS. GM Newsome quickly replaced one-dimensional deep threat Torrey Smith with another speed-demon. Hands, concentration and route experience are road-blocks to Perriman’s fantasy potential in 2015.
Breshad Perriman is a size/speed prospect that offers sweet-n-sour potential. He is fast and powerful but far from a natural performer. Perriman’s route skills need work, as do his hands. He lacks refinement in his breaks and maturity in his cover recognition. The former Central Florida home-run hitter tends to lose concentration and commits a fair share of drops. The ability and tools are there and he does flash strong hands at times. Consistency is the call as he goes pro. He is seen ‘thinking’ his routes and seeking seams, slowing his game down due to uncertainty. Perriman is slow to get into his route set-up and needs to find greater awareness of timing with QBs; his head is late turning to find the ball. This is a work in progress that will need time to develop in the NFL. He can run the uncomplicated deep routes, utilizing his lid-lifting speed, but the nuances of the position escape him at this time.
Ezell Ruffin- UNDRAFTED, UNSIGNED.
The former San Diego State wideout brings very average skills to a pro team. Ruffin lacks urgency and quick-twitch movement. He is a high-effort performer with limited tools. Thick in the lower body, Ruffin comes up short in power drills (Vertical and Broad jumps). He runs choppy and slow-footed. Ruffin does display excellent body control and strong hands. Unable to threaten deep and get DBs’ hips turned, Ruffin’s YAC potential is quite handicapped. One college stat jumps out in a negative light; Ruffin scored just 5 TDs over 3 seasons as an Aztec. Ezell Ruffin faces a mountainous climb on his journey to being a pro receiver seeing considerable snaps.
DeAndre Smelter- DRAFTED, 4TH ROUND, 49ERS. Big bodied wideout and underrated throughout the draft process. An athlete who just knows how to play the game. Tough guy style fits Niner mode well. Can surprise in 2015.
Devin Smith- DRAFTED, 2ND ROUND, JETS. Smith automatically becomes the Jets best deep threat. He is not just a linear route runner and NY is looking to ramp up the air attack with pass-happy Chan Gailey calling the plays.
Jaelen Strong- DRAFTED, 3RD ROUND, TEXANS. And Coach O’Brien says ‘thank you’. Texans traded in the old version of Andre Johnson for a young one. Strong gets single cover looks with DeAndre Hopkins commanding the attention from defenses.
Darren Waller- DRAFTED, 6TH ROUND, RAVENS. Teams keep tapping the Georgia Tech keg hoping for another size/speed monster like Calvin Johnson. Waller is far, far from Megatron and the Ravens already own a better version of Waller in Marlon Brown.
DeAndrew White- UNDRAFTED, SIGNED BY 49ERS
Kevin White- DRAFTED, 1ST ROUND, BEARS. Good bye steady but slowing Brandon Marshall and hello explosive, YAC-attacking Kevin White.
Cam Worthy- UNDRAFTED, SIGNED BY RAVENS. One of my favorite receivers in this draft lands in a perfect NFL home. Ravens in revamp mode at WR and Worthy owns sleeper potential.
