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Handicapping the top WRs
March 20, 2008 4:57 PM
If you talk to enough NFL personnel experts, it's pretty clear that this draft is the biggest crapshoot for wide receivers in the past decade. I can't seem to get anyone to agree on which receiver will go first. Oklahoma receiver Malcolm Kelly (thigh injury) will finally perform for scouts April 9.
Based on conversations with veteran scouts and one receivers coach, I've attempted to handicap the field. I'll list the players in the order they will be drafted, and then include a comment from one of our experts.
1. Devin Thomas, Michigan State: "I watched him walk into the interview at the combine and thought he looked more developed than the other receivers," said an AFC scout. "The one thing that worries us is that he could've been a one-year wonder in college. But right now, he's the guy with the least amount of question marks. He does a really nice job of plucking the ball away from his body. He also has a lot of power, so I think he'll be good after the catch. His speed isn't problem, but he does need to learn how to accelerate sooner after the catch. As of now, he's the No. 1 guy in my book.
2. DeSean Jackson, Cal: "I had an opportunity to see him in person a couple of times and I've watched a lot of film," said a veteran NFC scout. "He's got explosive speed, but he wasn't as productive this year as he was last year. I think he's a little better player than Ted Ginn Jr. He's just as explosive in the return game. Ginn's a little more of a straight-line guy. If you're not afraid of little guys (Jackson is 5-9), there are some good ones. I've warmed up to them recently. I think Steve Smith is one of the toughest guys in the league, although that's not always the case with little guys.
3. Limas Sweed, Texas: "I'd rather have Sweed than [Malcolm] Kelly," said a longtime receivers coach. "Kelly is a little more natural, but he has to make a lot of contested catches because he can't get separation. Sweed does a better job of getting down the field, and I think he can be pretty explosive. Running a 4.5 is pretty strong for a 6-4 kid. I know a lot of people are worried about the wrist, but our guys think he'll be fine.
4. Malcolm Kelly, Oklahoma: "Someone has to hope he's like Larry Fitzgerald," said an AFC scout. "Fitzgerald rarely gets much separation, but he can make catches with bodies flying all around him. I like how Kelly catches the ball because it's always clean. He's just not really explosive, but he does have some good quickness for a big receiver."
5. James Hardy, Indiana: "This is the wild card of the bunch. He's got great size (6-6, 217) and scores a lot of touchdowns," said an AFC scout. "I think he'll have a lot of trouble getting off the line against physical corners. He's just not very strong. He has solid speed for a big man, but he's still raw. I see him as a mid second-round player."
March 20, 2008 4:57 PM
If you talk to enough NFL personnel experts, it's pretty clear that this draft is the biggest crapshoot for wide receivers in the past decade. I can't seem to get anyone to agree on which receiver will go first. Oklahoma receiver Malcolm Kelly (thigh injury) will finally perform for scouts April 9.
Based on conversations with veteran scouts and one receivers coach, I've attempted to handicap the field. I'll list the players in the order they will be drafted, and then include a comment from one of our experts.
1. Devin Thomas, Michigan State: "I watched him walk into the interview at the combine and thought he looked more developed than the other receivers," said an AFC scout. "The one thing that worries us is that he could've been a one-year wonder in college. But right now, he's the guy with the least amount of question marks. He does a really nice job of plucking the ball away from his body. He also has a lot of power, so I think he'll be good after the catch. His speed isn't problem, but he does need to learn how to accelerate sooner after the catch. As of now, he's the No. 1 guy in my book.
2. DeSean Jackson, Cal: "I had an opportunity to see him in person a couple of times and I've watched a lot of film," said a veteran NFC scout. "He's got explosive speed, but he wasn't as productive this year as he was last year. I think he's a little better player than Ted Ginn Jr. He's just as explosive in the return game. Ginn's a little more of a straight-line guy. If you're not afraid of little guys (Jackson is 5-9), there are some good ones. I've warmed up to them recently. I think Steve Smith is one of the toughest guys in the league, although that's not always the case with little guys.
3. Limas Sweed, Texas: "I'd rather have Sweed than [Malcolm] Kelly," said a longtime receivers coach. "Kelly is a little more natural, but he has to make a lot of contested catches because he can't get separation. Sweed does a better job of getting down the field, and I think he can be pretty explosive. Running a 4.5 is pretty strong for a 6-4 kid. I know a lot of people are worried about the wrist, but our guys think he'll be fine.
4. Malcolm Kelly, Oklahoma: "Someone has to hope he's like Larry Fitzgerald," said an AFC scout. "Fitzgerald rarely gets much separation, but he can make catches with bodies flying all around him. I like how Kelly catches the ball because it's always clean. He's just not really explosive, but he does have some good quickness for a big receiver."
5. James Hardy, Indiana: "This is the wild card of the bunch. He's got great size (6-6, 217) and scores a lot of touchdowns," said an AFC scout. "I think he'll have a lot of trouble getting off the line against physical corners. He's just not very strong. He has solid speed for a big man, but he's still raw. I see him as a mid second-round player."
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