A major personnel priority for the offseason is enhancing the WR group by adding speed. Since I also think the Cards have bigger needs early in the draft I have collected most of the fastest guys in one place. Others may show up at the combine or on Pro Days. Free Agency appears to lack quality options. The speeds are typically estimated. These are not in depth analyses, but I’ve tried to hit the key impact points. Because this isn’t considered a high need area by most teams it’s difficult to project where these guys will go. Some may be UDFAs. Several will be day 3 IMO. Remember a decoy may be somewhat useful even if not a major threat as they can open up the field. Many of these layers have significant upside and may be useful as returners or gunners on special teams.
One of the common themes of the top WRs in this group is injury issues. Perhaps their sheer speed worsens impacts. Many are slight of build, which likely contributes to the concern. Most miss time and can be slow to return. At least the top 4 could go rounds 1 & 2. I’ve ruled out those as Cards’ targets. I’ve put asterisks in front of my favorites of the remainder. Some could be round 3 targets. I did not personally spend time seeing all these guys. On a few I owe my email group for their help with input.
Emeka Egbuka 4.30 OSU 6’1”. Likely goes round 1. Excellent YAC. Quick moves to get separation. Nice agility and body control to win in man coverage. One of the best route runners in the draft. Can handle the entire route tree. Excels at running gimmick plays like jet sweeps. Limited catch radius. Slight fumble concerns. Injury prone.
Isiah Bond 4.30 TX 5’10”. Probably round 1 pick. Great speed with burst ability. Track throws well. Excellent YAC with breakaway ability. Not strong on contested catches. Mediocre route runners. Injury prone.
Matthew Golden 4.35 TX 6’0”. Ability to run solid routes with controlled speed. Capable of separation burst, displaying agility for enhanced catch radius. Will fight for ball but needs to increase strength. Some problem with drops. Not much of a downfield blocker despite size. Injury concerns.
Jalen Royals 4.35 UT ST 6’0”. He’s more quick than fast getting separation at every level, which makes him extra dangerous against zones. Runs excellent routes including tracking deep ball very effectively. Royals consistently produces YAC. Needs to increase strength. Seems to struggle against rangy CBs. Doesn’t always retain stop speed on long routes. Moderately successful as a deep threat.
*Tez Johnson 4.35 ORE 5’10”. Nice burst he can carry through route breaks. Smooth even on double move routes. Tough kid not afraid of contact. Constantly generates YAC with extreme agility to change direction. Bonus of punt returning ability. Hands issue with drops and contested catches. Likely best as a slot receiver. Can be overwhelmed by physical CBs who can disrupt route. Bo Nix’s family adopted him.
Julian Fleming 4.35 PSU 6’2”. Coming out of high school this guy was highly recruited. He was expected to follow the OSU parade of stars. It didn’t happen and no one is quite certain why. Moved to PSU. He is fast, but not exceptionally quick. He has decent hands and good body control to compete for 50/50 balls. He’s adequate but not special at tracking deep balls. On paper he looks dominant, but field product has always been modest. Can the right coach unlock his potential? Figures to be a late round choice or UDFA.
*Jimmy Horn 4.35 COLO 5’10”. Somewhat buried exposure-wise behing Travis Hunter, several evaluators rate him highly as a sleeper. He has breakaway speed and good hands. He tracks deep throws well. Excellent speed variation on routes, but can be bumped off routes. Decent history of YAC. Major injury concerns. He has concentration and drops issues.
Giles Jackson 4.35 WAS 5’9”. Many have his as a sleeper based primarily on his kick returner skills. Like most with this trait, he gets strong YAC. Don’t let his size fool you; this is a physical player with strong hands. Useful on gimmick running plays. Limited catch radius despite agility. Shows hesitancy going over middle despite overall toughness. Speed variation can confuse timing routes.
*Arian Smith 4.30 GA 6’0”. A true burner with world class speed. Very effective release moves against press coverage. Tracks ball accurately and consistently. Burst to close ground on long passes. Good, quick cuts when breaking off routes. Decent route runner. Can be easily knocked off routes. Body catches too often. Too many drops. Injury history.
*Agays Hall 4.35 TX 6’3”. He’s both fast & quick. Long arms & soft hands provides good catch radius. Excellent route runner. Very competitive & confident. Can get over confident and not aggressively seek separation. Mostly ran deep routes meaning little polish on short & intermediate routes.
Monaray Baldwin 4.25 BAY 5’9”. Very athletic with breakaway speed. Surprisingly good blocker considering size. Good at shaking off press coverage. Good route runner. Secures YAC consistently. Can contribute as rushers & returner. Oddly struggles to get separation. Fights for contested catches but not successful often enough.
*Chris Tyree 4.30 VIR 5’10”. Excellent acceleration progressing to deep threat speed, but also good at spotting zone gaps. Good gimmick running play options since he’s a converted RB. Great ability to high point. Often maintains speed while catching ball in stride. Helpful downfield blocker. Too often results to body catching. Good kicker returner as well. Seems oddly confused at time. Not strong on middle of field passes. I’m hearing round 3 talk.
Demond Demas 4.35 TAM 6’3”. He’s tall with good ability to high point. Sounds like a red zone target. Good at setting down in zone creases. He can track deep throws accurately with good adjustment capability to under-thrown balls. Good kicker returner. Legal issues a few years ago involving violence. Not a great YAC collector. Track speed is better than game speed. Not much use as a run blocker.
*Chris Hilton 4.35 LSU 6’3”. Very skilled at generating separation at all levels. High School track star with real game speed. . Less college targets than you’d like. Effective YAC producer. LSU expected more from him this year but tons of untapped potential. Needs to work on avoiding body catches. Solid route runner. Look better going over the middle than deep though he tracks the ball okay. Can be slowed by press. Likely goes round 3 or 4.
One of the common themes of the top WRs in this group is injury issues. Perhaps their sheer speed worsens impacts. Many are slight of build, which likely contributes to the concern. Most miss time and can be slow to return. At least the top 4 could go rounds 1 & 2. I’ve ruled out those as Cards’ targets. I’ve put asterisks in front of my favorites of the remainder. Some could be round 3 targets. I did not personally spend time seeing all these guys. On a few I owe my email group for their help with input.
Emeka Egbuka 4.30 OSU 6’1”. Likely goes round 1. Excellent YAC. Quick moves to get separation. Nice agility and body control to win in man coverage. One of the best route runners in the draft. Can handle the entire route tree. Excels at running gimmick plays like jet sweeps. Limited catch radius. Slight fumble concerns. Injury prone.
Isiah Bond 4.30 TX 5’10”. Probably round 1 pick. Great speed with burst ability. Track throws well. Excellent YAC with breakaway ability. Not strong on contested catches. Mediocre route runners. Injury prone.
Matthew Golden 4.35 TX 6’0”. Ability to run solid routes with controlled speed. Capable of separation burst, displaying agility for enhanced catch radius. Will fight for ball but needs to increase strength. Some problem with drops. Not much of a downfield blocker despite size. Injury concerns.
Jalen Royals 4.35 UT ST 6’0”. He’s more quick than fast getting separation at every level, which makes him extra dangerous against zones. Runs excellent routes including tracking deep ball very effectively. Royals consistently produces YAC. Needs to increase strength. Seems to struggle against rangy CBs. Doesn’t always retain stop speed on long routes. Moderately successful as a deep threat.
*Tez Johnson 4.35 ORE 5’10”. Nice burst he can carry through route breaks. Smooth even on double move routes. Tough kid not afraid of contact. Constantly generates YAC with extreme agility to change direction. Bonus of punt returning ability. Hands issue with drops and contested catches. Likely best as a slot receiver. Can be overwhelmed by physical CBs who can disrupt route. Bo Nix’s family adopted him.
Julian Fleming 4.35 PSU 6’2”. Coming out of high school this guy was highly recruited. He was expected to follow the OSU parade of stars. It didn’t happen and no one is quite certain why. Moved to PSU. He is fast, but not exceptionally quick. He has decent hands and good body control to compete for 50/50 balls. He’s adequate but not special at tracking deep balls. On paper he looks dominant, but field product has always been modest. Can the right coach unlock his potential? Figures to be a late round choice or UDFA.
*Jimmy Horn 4.35 COLO 5’10”. Somewhat buried exposure-wise behing Travis Hunter, several evaluators rate him highly as a sleeper. He has breakaway speed and good hands. He tracks deep throws well. Excellent speed variation on routes, but can be bumped off routes. Decent history of YAC. Major injury concerns. He has concentration and drops issues.
Giles Jackson 4.35 WAS 5’9”. Many have his as a sleeper based primarily on his kick returner skills. Like most with this trait, he gets strong YAC. Don’t let his size fool you; this is a physical player with strong hands. Useful on gimmick running plays. Limited catch radius despite agility. Shows hesitancy going over middle despite overall toughness. Speed variation can confuse timing routes.
*Arian Smith 4.30 GA 6’0”. A true burner with world class speed. Very effective release moves against press coverage. Tracks ball accurately and consistently. Burst to close ground on long passes. Good, quick cuts when breaking off routes. Decent route runner. Can be easily knocked off routes. Body catches too often. Too many drops. Injury history.
*Agays Hall 4.35 TX 6’3”. He’s both fast & quick. Long arms & soft hands provides good catch radius. Excellent route runner. Very competitive & confident. Can get over confident and not aggressively seek separation. Mostly ran deep routes meaning little polish on short & intermediate routes.
Monaray Baldwin 4.25 BAY 5’9”. Very athletic with breakaway speed. Surprisingly good blocker considering size. Good at shaking off press coverage. Good route runner. Secures YAC consistently. Can contribute as rushers & returner. Oddly struggles to get separation. Fights for contested catches but not successful often enough.
*Chris Tyree 4.30 VIR 5’10”. Excellent acceleration progressing to deep threat speed, but also good at spotting zone gaps. Good gimmick running play options since he’s a converted RB. Great ability to high point. Often maintains speed while catching ball in stride. Helpful downfield blocker. Too often results to body catching. Good kicker returner as well. Seems oddly confused at time. Not strong on middle of field passes. I’m hearing round 3 talk.
Demond Demas 4.35 TAM 6’3”. He’s tall with good ability to high point. Sounds like a red zone target. Good at setting down in zone creases. He can track deep throws accurately with good adjustment capability to under-thrown balls. Good kicker returner. Legal issues a few years ago involving violence. Not a great YAC collector. Track speed is better than game speed. Not much use as a run blocker.
*Chris Hilton 4.35 LSU 6’3”. Very skilled at generating separation at all levels. High School track star with real game speed. . Less college targets than you’d like. Effective YAC producer. LSU expected more from him this year but tons of untapped potential. Needs to work on avoiding body catches. Solid route runner. Look better going over the middle than deep though he tracks the ball okay. Can be slowed by press. Likely goes round 3 or 4.
