Harry
ASFN Consultant and Senior Writer
I honestly think the Cards are best to go edge in round 1 and CB in round 2. However the board seems anxious to go WR, so here we go. This is a deep pool. Starters will be taken in round 2 and some surprises in round 3. With the pool being this deep it’s unlikely an early run occurs, but we could see one in round 2. I tried to cover the players I thought might be taken in the first 3 rounds. I apologize in advance if these nuggets aren’t smooth. They’re a compilation from pages of notes. I tried to highlight the most important points. They aren’t necessarily in the order I expect them to be taken. I’ll likely take that up at a later time. The top 6 or 7 are likely the first group to go. Who goes where will be determined by what role this receiver would play in their offense.
Garrett Wilson is a precise route runner with good speed. He gets the most consistent separation among the WRs. He’s ultra-fluid coming out of his break making him very hard to cover. Once he gets separation he really presses his advantage to maintain it. He’s a top deep threat with great leaping ability and good hands though occasionally he’ll break concentration and drop an easy one. Hand catches virtually every throw. He’ll remind you of Fitz the way he snatches the ball. He has a good catch radius and is dependable on 50/50 balls. He has a great work ethic and is one of the last to leave the practice field. He still has upside. Being light he can be manhandled by physical corners.
Treylon Burks is a very big receiver who’s adept at using his size advantage. He was effective as a deep threat because he can handle double coverage and block out with his body. He often mixed it up with physical corners and often came out on top. He loves to block in support of the run game, but sometimes misses awkwardly. He is very strong and corners leaping with him will often get bounced aside. He’s almost impossible to press and can run over would be tacklers like he was a TE. He’s especially tough on go routes being fluid enough to gap corners with stiff hips as they come out of their backpedal. On the other hand he ran mostly just these types of routes. At times he body catches and seems to dog some routes when he’s not the primary receiver. He also has a tendency to round off routes, which are often not precise. He’s likely positioned to be a slot receiver. BTW he wears custom made 5 XL gloves.
Drake London can effectively run all parts of the tree. He spent most of his time in the slot. He’s not afraid to go over the middle. London is a dependable route runner. He’s has a good catch radius and is strong on 50/50 balls. Once he has the ball he’s a YAC threat. He is a willing blocker who supports the run game. He lacks top end speed but he’s so smooth coming out of breaks that he almost always gets separation. He a true zone killer, being unusually effective at finding the gaps. He occasionally body catches, especially on deep throws. Not surprisingly he has issues with drops. London can get tied up at the line by a good press corner. He’s a solid red zone threat due to his size and skill at blocking out defenders. He’s recovering from a broken ankle. Before his injury he secure 88 receptions for 1084 yds & 7 TDs in only 8 games.
Jameson Williams is the prototypical deep threat, possessing elite speed and a nice ability to track the ball. If you didn’t see it he suffered a torn ACL in the championship game. This may cause him to drop. He could still be on the board when the Cards pick in round 1. He’s a real jumper frequently rising above taller defenders to make a catch. He’s fun to watch as a runner gaining significant YAC due to his elusiveness. This same skill allows him to move smoothly throw traffic. He shows excellent burst coming out of his cuts and gets more than adequate separation. He has good hands and rarely body catches. He can get boxed in against the sideline and needs to learn technique of sideline awareness. He’ll need to learn to keep both feet in bounds. He’s a little light and can struggle against physical corners. He returned 2 kickoffs for TDs. May be more effective as a slot receiver.
Chris Olave showed defenders had difficulty containing him in key spots. He makes the sharpest cuts of any receiver. He’s not a true burner but shows great burst. He’s at near top speed with his first step. He has that knack of making the big play with the game on the line. He’s an intense competitor. Like Fitz he likes to snatch the ball. He exhibits great agility and is a very smooth athlete. He loves to use his superior balance to run threw tight creases and along the sideline. He’s a zone killer who studies the defenses to find holes in zones. He has a good catch radius and does well with less than great ball placement. He has powerful hands, typically dominating 50/50 throws. On deep throws he’s great at tracking the ball over either shoulder. He’s one of the most technically proficient WRs in the draft. He’s light, so physical corners press him. He needs to develop more as a runner to increase his YAC.
Jahan Dotson makes acrobatic catches a regular event. Very agile and elusive as a runner. Moves like a gazelle with great fluidity. He’s one of those guys who’s at top speed after just a couple of steps. He has excelled at double moves. This enables him to get separation quickly. He is one of the most alert WRs. When a route needs to be broken off he quickly returns toward the QB if the QB is threatened. He struggles to defeat press coverage. Dotson has quick hands which he uses to try to shed blockers, plus he has a decent stiff arm. He’s not great on 50/50 balls because his hands are only medium. He often juggles balls before catches, but amazingly had only 2 drops. Since 2020 he has the most 20+ yds TDs in college football. He’s effective with inside breaks, but his outside cuts are less successful. He rounds off too many routes. I’m not certain this guy is tough enough to be effective in the NFL.
George Pickens is big but does not have elite speed. His previous ACL tear figures to scare off some teams. Without the injury he likely goes round 1. Despite the lack of top speed he is one of the most gifted receivers in this draft. He runs near perfect routes, smooth and precise. He has one of the best set of hands in the pool, routinely making one-hand catches with drops being rare. His catch radius is outstanding due to his hands and agility. He effortlessly catches deep balls over either shoulder. Despite his speed not being elite he is a deep threat due to his strength and precise routes. Some teams will be leary due to off-field issues. He has broken team rules getting suspended and punched a teammate. His coach has called him undisciplined. He should put up bigger numbers but does win as many 50/50 balls as you’d expect. He flashed a little in the championship game. His combine performance will likely significantly impact where he’s drafted. I don’t see the Cards taking him due to the discipline issues.
Jalen Tolbert can get downfield separation easily. He has good speed, understands leverage and tracks long throws accurately. He’s a disciplined route runner who gets the most out of his athletic ability. Press coverage rarely succeeds in bottling him up as he has numerous polished moves. He very good at identifying the weaknesses in zones. He has good hands and has made a few one handed grabs. He needs work on shedding blocks as he can be too passive. He sometimes takes off before tucking away the ball. He’s relatively easy to tackle.
John Metchie is a rarity as a he was Canadian born. He’s both quick and fast making him dangerous anywhere on the tree. Surprisingly strong hands which coupled with his agility makes him tough after a catch. He comes out of his breaks fluidly and catching the ball in stride though too often makes body catches. Metchie is also fluid when catching the ball over either shoulder. He’s a willing blocker but not always successful. His size limits his ability to ward off power corners. Despite his strong hands he’s only mediocre at 50/50 balls.
David Bell is more quick than fast. He uses a quick first step and outstanding agility to get open quickly. That makes him an excellent third down target. He also adept at finding holes in zones. A big receiver, he handles contact well and is not afraid to mix it up. He enjoys going over the middle. Once he gets the ball, he’s a load to bring down. He was second in the nation in broken tackles, but his lack of speed held down his YAC. Since he doesn’t have elite speed, he’s worked hard on his moves. He’s impossible to cover on double moves. He’s solid in the red zone exhibiting good body control and firm hands. Typically his lack of speed means he’s rarely a deep threat. He falls into body catching when he’s not concentrating. He was mostly used outside but played more like a slot receiver. He might last until round 3.
Skyy Moore might be the fastest receiver in this draft. He’s small but offers speed that makes him a great deep threat who can catch the ball smoothly over either shoulder. He changes direction fluidly and is a polished route runner. Despite his small stature he has very strong, leading the nation in broken tackles. His quickness and his hand strength give him decent 50/50 ball results. A former CB he know to come back to his QB when the QB is in trouble. He played only against a medium level of competition so he figures to last at least until round 3. He’s probably best suited to the slot.
Wan’dale Robinson is a bit of a hybrid WR/RB. He’s fast and quick. Combined with a good vertical he catches well in traffic. He’s only played one year as a full time receiver, so he figures to have decent upside. He produces solid YAC displaying above average shiftiness. He snatches passes and seldom drops balls. He has short arms and thus has a limited catch radius. He’s not a precise route runner though he should improve with experience. His skill set would seem to make him best suited to be a slot receiver.
Romeo Dubbs has great body control, and burst which enables him to handle press coverage . He’s a very effective runner who can turn short tosses into big gains. He is particularly adept at screens, seeing the run lanes accurately. He breaks most arm tackles. Dubbs understands zone coverage and sets down in holes when needed. He displays good sideline awareness and should do well at getting both feet in bounds. He is not a precise route runner yet but he’s a fine athlete that will benefit from better coaching. Occasionally he seems to have trouble tracking the ball. He’ll break concentration and try to run before securing the ball.
Justyn Ross is built more like a TE than a WR. He’s not fast, but he’s big. If he were faster he’d be near the top of this class. He has great hands, good feet and several polished moves. He had only 1 drop all year. He has good overall strength and fights effectively for position. He could be a decent red zone weapon as he’s adept at getting quickly open. He has accumulated good YAC. He likely fares better in the slot. And should be a significant possession receiver. The big question about him is medical. He’s been cleared but had serious back surgery. That will scare many teams away. Not only is his track time slow but it takes him a while to build speed. He often gets engaged physically with corners, which can result in penalties. His top is round 3.
Khalil Shakir is a solid route runner. He produces good YAC, rarely being tackled by the first contact. Because of his elusiveness he’s often used in screens and sweeps. When facing zones he understands how to find the best gaps. He’s effective in traffic showing surprising toughness. He has good hands and produces a good catching radius. He has some experience as a returner. He has more than the typical number of drops. He’s more quick than fast, definitely not possessing elite speed. I see him ticketed to be a slot receiver.
Garrett Wilson is a precise route runner with good speed. He gets the most consistent separation among the WRs. He’s ultra-fluid coming out of his break making him very hard to cover. Once he gets separation he really presses his advantage to maintain it. He’s a top deep threat with great leaping ability and good hands though occasionally he’ll break concentration and drop an easy one. Hand catches virtually every throw. He’ll remind you of Fitz the way he snatches the ball. He has a good catch radius and is dependable on 50/50 balls. He has a great work ethic and is one of the last to leave the practice field. He still has upside. Being light he can be manhandled by physical corners.
Treylon Burks is a very big receiver who’s adept at using his size advantage. He was effective as a deep threat because he can handle double coverage and block out with his body. He often mixed it up with physical corners and often came out on top. He loves to block in support of the run game, but sometimes misses awkwardly. He is very strong and corners leaping with him will often get bounced aside. He’s almost impossible to press and can run over would be tacklers like he was a TE. He’s especially tough on go routes being fluid enough to gap corners with stiff hips as they come out of their backpedal. On the other hand he ran mostly just these types of routes. At times he body catches and seems to dog some routes when he’s not the primary receiver. He also has a tendency to round off routes, which are often not precise. He’s likely positioned to be a slot receiver. BTW he wears custom made 5 XL gloves.
Drake London can effectively run all parts of the tree. He spent most of his time in the slot. He’s not afraid to go over the middle. London is a dependable route runner. He’s has a good catch radius and is strong on 50/50 balls. Once he has the ball he’s a YAC threat. He is a willing blocker who supports the run game. He lacks top end speed but he’s so smooth coming out of breaks that he almost always gets separation. He a true zone killer, being unusually effective at finding the gaps. He occasionally body catches, especially on deep throws. Not surprisingly he has issues with drops. London can get tied up at the line by a good press corner. He’s a solid red zone threat due to his size and skill at blocking out defenders. He’s recovering from a broken ankle. Before his injury he secure 88 receptions for 1084 yds & 7 TDs in only 8 games.
Jameson Williams is the prototypical deep threat, possessing elite speed and a nice ability to track the ball. If you didn’t see it he suffered a torn ACL in the championship game. This may cause him to drop. He could still be on the board when the Cards pick in round 1. He’s a real jumper frequently rising above taller defenders to make a catch. He’s fun to watch as a runner gaining significant YAC due to his elusiveness. This same skill allows him to move smoothly throw traffic. He shows excellent burst coming out of his cuts and gets more than adequate separation. He has good hands and rarely body catches. He can get boxed in against the sideline and needs to learn technique of sideline awareness. He’ll need to learn to keep both feet in bounds. He’s a little light and can struggle against physical corners. He returned 2 kickoffs for TDs. May be more effective as a slot receiver.
Chris Olave showed defenders had difficulty containing him in key spots. He makes the sharpest cuts of any receiver. He’s not a true burner but shows great burst. He’s at near top speed with his first step. He has that knack of making the big play with the game on the line. He’s an intense competitor. Like Fitz he likes to snatch the ball. He exhibits great agility and is a very smooth athlete. He loves to use his superior balance to run threw tight creases and along the sideline. He’s a zone killer who studies the defenses to find holes in zones. He has a good catch radius and does well with less than great ball placement. He has powerful hands, typically dominating 50/50 throws. On deep throws he’s great at tracking the ball over either shoulder. He’s one of the most technically proficient WRs in the draft. He’s light, so physical corners press him. He needs to develop more as a runner to increase his YAC.
Jahan Dotson makes acrobatic catches a regular event. Very agile and elusive as a runner. Moves like a gazelle with great fluidity. He’s one of those guys who’s at top speed after just a couple of steps. He has excelled at double moves. This enables him to get separation quickly. He is one of the most alert WRs. When a route needs to be broken off he quickly returns toward the QB if the QB is threatened. He struggles to defeat press coverage. Dotson has quick hands which he uses to try to shed blockers, plus he has a decent stiff arm. He’s not great on 50/50 balls because his hands are only medium. He often juggles balls before catches, but amazingly had only 2 drops. Since 2020 he has the most 20+ yds TDs in college football. He’s effective with inside breaks, but his outside cuts are less successful. He rounds off too many routes. I’m not certain this guy is tough enough to be effective in the NFL.
George Pickens is big but does not have elite speed. His previous ACL tear figures to scare off some teams. Without the injury he likely goes round 1. Despite the lack of top speed he is one of the most gifted receivers in this draft. He runs near perfect routes, smooth and precise. He has one of the best set of hands in the pool, routinely making one-hand catches with drops being rare. His catch radius is outstanding due to his hands and agility. He effortlessly catches deep balls over either shoulder. Despite his speed not being elite he is a deep threat due to his strength and precise routes. Some teams will be leary due to off-field issues. He has broken team rules getting suspended and punched a teammate. His coach has called him undisciplined. He should put up bigger numbers but does win as many 50/50 balls as you’d expect. He flashed a little in the championship game. His combine performance will likely significantly impact where he’s drafted. I don’t see the Cards taking him due to the discipline issues.
Jalen Tolbert can get downfield separation easily. He has good speed, understands leverage and tracks long throws accurately. He’s a disciplined route runner who gets the most out of his athletic ability. Press coverage rarely succeeds in bottling him up as he has numerous polished moves. He very good at identifying the weaknesses in zones. He has good hands and has made a few one handed grabs. He needs work on shedding blocks as he can be too passive. He sometimes takes off before tucking away the ball. He’s relatively easy to tackle.
John Metchie is a rarity as a he was Canadian born. He’s both quick and fast making him dangerous anywhere on the tree. Surprisingly strong hands which coupled with his agility makes him tough after a catch. He comes out of his breaks fluidly and catching the ball in stride though too often makes body catches. Metchie is also fluid when catching the ball over either shoulder. He’s a willing blocker but not always successful. His size limits his ability to ward off power corners. Despite his strong hands he’s only mediocre at 50/50 balls.
David Bell is more quick than fast. He uses a quick first step and outstanding agility to get open quickly. That makes him an excellent third down target. He also adept at finding holes in zones. A big receiver, he handles contact well and is not afraid to mix it up. He enjoys going over the middle. Once he gets the ball, he’s a load to bring down. He was second in the nation in broken tackles, but his lack of speed held down his YAC. Since he doesn’t have elite speed, he’s worked hard on his moves. He’s impossible to cover on double moves. He’s solid in the red zone exhibiting good body control and firm hands. Typically his lack of speed means he’s rarely a deep threat. He falls into body catching when he’s not concentrating. He was mostly used outside but played more like a slot receiver. He might last until round 3.
Skyy Moore might be the fastest receiver in this draft. He’s small but offers speed that makes him a great deep threat who can catch the ball smoothly over either shoulder. He changes direction fluidly and is a polished route runner. Despite his small stature he has very strong, leading the nation in broken tackles. His quickness and his hand strength give him decent 50/50 ball results. A former CB he know to come back to his QB when the QB is in trouble. He played only against a medium level of competition so he figures to last at least until round 3. He’s probably best suited to the slot.
Wan’dale Robinson is a bit of a hybrid WR/RB. He’s fast and quick. Combined with a good vertical he catches well in traffic. He’s only played one year as a full time receiver, so he figures to have decent upside. He produces solid YAC displaying above average shiftiness. He snatches passes and seldom drops balls. He has short arms and thus has a limited catch radius. He’s not a precise route runner though he should improve with experience. His skill set would seem to make him best suited to be a slot receiver.
Romeo Dubbs has great body control, and burst which enables him to handle press coverage . He’s a very effective runner who can turn short tosses into big gains. He is particularly adept at screens, seeing the run lanes accurately. He breaks most arm tackles. Dubbs understands zone coverage and sets down in holes when needed. He displays good sideline awareness and should do well at getting both feet in bounds. He is not a precise route runner yet but he’s a fine athlete that will benefit from better coaching. Occasionally he seems to have trouble tracking the ball. He’ll break concentration and try to run before securing the ball.
Justyn Ross is built more like a TE than a WR. He’s not fast, but he’s big. If he were faster he’d be near the top of this class. He has great hands, good feet and several polished moves. He had only 1 drop all year. He has good overall strength and fights effectively for position. He could be a decent red zone weapon as he’s adept at getting quickly open. He has accumulated good YAC. He likely fares better in the slot. And should be a significant possession receiver. The big question about him is medical. He’s been cleared but had serious back surgery. That will scare many teams away. Not only is his track time slow but it takes him a while to build speed. He often gets engaged physically with corners, which can result in penalties. His top is round 3.
Khalil Shakir is a solid route runner. He produces good YAC, rarely being tackled by the first contact. Because of his elusiveness he’s often used in screens and sweeps. When facing zones he understands how to find the best gaps. He’s effective in traffic showing surprising toughness. He has good hands and produces a good catching radius. He has some experience as a returner. He has more than the typical number of drops. He’s more quick than fast, definitely not possessing elite speed. I see him ticketed to be a slot receiver.
