Category: Wide receivers

College Bio

Strengths

Despite some of the areas for improvement in his routes, he did a good job at the college level with his routes. He creates yards after the catch not off of his route running but his physicality once the ball is in his hands. Good hand fighting when battling cornerbacks mid route. Can catch the ball outside of his frame with good hands.

Cephus also creates receptions by driving back to the ball on comebacks. Doesn’t wait for the ball and allow defenders to make a break on the ball. Does well to track the ball in the air on deeper throws. Has good body control in the air and at times can make some highlight reel concentration catches.

Weaknesses

Cephus is a one-speed type of receiver that lacks another gear to create separation with burst. Doesn’t have elite speed to get a vertical push down the field. Teams won’t need to give him a cushion due to the fact that he likely won’t be able to challenge them downfield.

His footwork as a route runner will need to improve at the next level. Doesn’t come in and out of his breaks very cleanly. Can round off cuts rather than turning them sharply. Physical corners who will jam Cephus at the line will give him fits. Teams will likely need to get creative to give him clean releases at the line.

Projection: Day 3

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2020 NFL draft: Quartney Davis scouting report

Everything NFL draft fans need to know about Texas A&M wide receiver prospect Quartney Davis

Quartney Davis | WR | Texas A&M

Elevator Pitch

Davis projects as a slot receiver at the NFL level. He has the ability to get loose in the open field and get big chunks of yards after the catch. Likely a player who is selected on day three of the NFL Draft. His skill set is definitely best served as a third or fourth receiver.

Vitals

Height | 6-1

Weight | 201

Class | Redshirt Junior

Strengths

Davis does a good job of working the middle of the field in his routes. His ability to find soft spots in the zone can’t be overlooked. Does a good job of coming in and out of breaks to allow a throwing window for his quarterback. Does a good job of coming to a halt when coverage is tight to create some separation.

He shows the ability of runs after the catch when he is able to get loose from defenders. Throwing screens are a good way to get some chunk plays from Davis. He shows some ability in contested catches with the ability to maintain possession even when a collision is imminent.

Weaknesses

He doesn’t possess top-end speed, so Davis isn’t going to be a vertical threat at the next level for teams. When working against more physical corners who jam him will cause him to get re-routed. The focus should be on how to deal with the initial jolt form a defender. He will need to work on his upper body strength.

Due to his lack of length, Davis doesn’t have a big catch radius for a receiver. His ability to catch the ball outside of his frame is almost non existent. Most due to the fact that his hands are inconsistent. Very much a double catcher or body catcher at the position. Needs to rely more on his hands to be a more consistent producer at the next level.

Due to his size and catch ability, Davis is very limited as to what he can bring to an offense. Doesn’t have it within himself to shake tight coverage and will need accurate passes thrown his way to bring it in. Inconsistent with the jump ball although there are flashes that he can win some of the 50-50 balls.

Projection: Day 3

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2020 NFL draft: Isaiah Hodgins scouting report

Everything NFL draft fans need to know about Oregon State wide receiver prospect Isaiah Hodgins

Isaiah Hodgins | WR | Oregon State

Elevator Pitch

Hodgins is a big-bodied wideout with fantastic ball skills, strong hands and the ability to box out defenders and high-point jump balls well. His route running could use some improvement, but he has the potential to eventually grow into a solid complementary weapon with red-zone potential.

Vitals

Height | 6-4

Weight | 210

College Bio Page

Career Stats

Strengths

Hodgins is a big receiver who can just go up and get the football with ease.

He is a lengthy wideout with a large catch radius who does a great job of timing when he goes up to compete for a pass. His ball skills are fantastic, as he does a great job of tracking down the deep ball and contorting his body to make the appropriate adjustments to the ball. Hodgins is able to box out defenders well, and his superglue hands allow him to consistently hold onto his ball. That ability not only helps him in jump-ball situations, but also when competing against man coverage when running shorter routes.

For a player who’s taller for his position, Hodgins plays with good overall fluidity. He can flip his hips well and possesses good body control and coordination across the middle of the field on the seam. He has solid footwork as a route runner and has shown the ability to understand leverage points in coverage and alter his stems to attack a cornerback’s blind spot. His combination of size and fluidity gives him some upside to work with going forward.

Weaknesses

As is the case with most bigger receivers, Hodgins isn’t necessarily a burner downfield. His acceleration off the snap is okay at best, and he doesn’t have the long buildup speed to consistently beat defenders as a vertical threat. That can allow NFL defenders to stall off the snap and give him some cushion, preparing to attack underneath. He doesn’t offer much agility or elusiveness after the catch, either.

Hodgins has some a bit of promise as a route runner, but the overall sharpness and burst with which he accelerates coming out of his breaks could be improved. He doesn’t sink his hips into his cuts very well, as one would expect for a big wideout. He could also stand to add some more muscle to his frame, as he struggles against press coverage and can be shut down by cornerbacks who can maintain pad level and play with a physical edge.

Projection: Day 3

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2020 NFL draft: Antonio Gandy-Golden scouting report

Everything NFL draft fans need to know about Liberty wide receiver prospect Antonio Gandy-Golden

Antonio Gandy-Golden | WR | Liberty

Elevator Pitch

Gandy-Golden was productive for his last two seasons at a small school. At Liberty, he produced back-to-back 1,000 yards and 10 touchdowns seasons for the Flames. He is a big wide receiver prospect who can be a jump-ball and red zone threat for a team that could potentially develop into more of a complete prospect.

Vitals

Height | 6-4

Weight | 223

Class | Senior

Strengths

First thing that stands out about Gandy-Golden is his his size. At 6’4″ with 31 3/4″ arms, he is a long wide receiver prospect that can catch passes outside of his frame. Climbing the ladder poses no problem for him. He is also known to make the circus catch with one hand when corners are draped all over him. Catch radius is another big trait that scouts will absolutely love. Shows good body control when airborne.

His 2019 tape is much better in terms of his ability to catch the ball, despite the fact that his numbers in 2018 were better. Does show some down the field speed on deep routes. Just throw the ball near him and he likely will come down with the ball. Great target for jump balls and back shoulder fades in the end zone.

Weaknesses

He is somewhat a one trick pony at this point in his football career. Deep routes and jump balls are the name of his game. AGG’s route tree development leaves a lot to be desired. He won a lot against lesser opponents with his ability to out jump and muscle smaller defenders. He will struggle with the NFL’s physical cornerbacks.

Along with needing to develop as a route runner, Gandy-Golden needs to work on his release at the line. Despite his size, he will likely struggle with press coverage knocking him off his route. Contested catches at Liberty were much of a problem but with cornerbacks in the NFL that remains to be seen. He struggled when Liberty played Auburn.

Projection: Day 3

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2020 NFL draft: Devin Duvernay scouting report

Everything NFL draft fans need to know about Texas wide receiver prospect Devin Duvernay

Devin Duvernay | WR | Texas

Elevator Pitch

A compact slot receiver with plenty of ability after the catch, Duvernay is an electric playmaker who brings athleticism and toughness to the wide receiver position. His skill set isn’t one of anything more than a complementary weapon at the next level, but he should be a serviceable starter in the pros.

Vitals

Height | 5-10

Weight | 200

College Bio Page

Career Stats

Strengths

Duvernay exploded onto the scene in 2019, and he showcased that explosiveness in both a figurative and literal sense.

He is a fluid athlete who does a solid job of flipping his hips and accelerating out of his breaks. His coordination is impressive, as he is able to make tough adjustments to the ball in high-pointing situations and change direction seamlessly as a route runner. Duvernay’s acceleration off the ball is noticeable, and his agility after the catch gives him plenty of upside. He excels at making defenders miss and has the spring in his step to make some flashy moves in space. His deep speed allows him to stretch the field pretty well as a vertical threat.

In addition to his athleticism, Duvernay brings surprising power for a slot receiver. He is a tough runner to bring down after the catch, as he carries a compact frame and a low center of gravity. He is able to run through arm tackles and keep churning his legs through contact. His hands are also incredibly strong, as he does a great job of maintaining focus throughout his route and hanging onto tough grabs. That reliability will serve him well across the middle of the field.

Weaknesses

Duvernay is admittedly a victim of a strong class at wide receiver that pushes him down into Day 3 territory, but he does have some flaws in his game. Among them is his technique as a route runner, as the sharpness in his cuts is inconsistent, allowing cornerbacks to stick onto him at times. He doesn’t do a great job of using his hands to separate from man coverage, either.

As a shorter receiver, Duvernay doesn’t have the length to play on the outside at the next level. His catch radius isn’t all that good, and his size makes him a bit of a liability when asked to go up and grab 50/50 balls. In addition to his lack of height, he also doesn’t do a great job of boxing out defenders, whether it be on a jump ball or in tight-window situations.

Projection: Day 3

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2020 NFL draft: Antonio Gibson scouting report

Everything NFL draft fans need to know about Memphis offensive weapon Antonio Gibson

Antonio Gibson | RB/WR | Memphis

Elevator Pitch

Gibson is a dynamic and versatile offensive weapon who offers an intriguing combination of size, speed and vision in the open field. He’s a determined runner with great straight-line athleticism, the lateral quickness to make defenders miss, and plenty of upside as a kick returner. He probably won’t be more than a gadget player in the pros, but what an effective gadget player he can be.

Vitals

Height | 6-0

Weight | 228

College Bio Page

Career Stats

Strengths

Gibson is a player who can make an impact from several positions.

Used primarily as a slot receiver at Memphis, Gibson can line up as a wideout if necessary. He has great speed off the snap and has dynamic long speed, making him a worthy vertical threat if utilized in that role. Once he gets the ball in his hands, he’s quick to accelerate, and he also has the vision to discover opportunities in which he can extend the play and break free for a big gain. He has solid burst coming out of his breaks, and his overall fluidity and body control when running routes across the middle of the field is pretty solid. His 2019 production, while sparse in quantity, was promising, as he had 735 yards and 8 touchdowns on just 38 catches.

Despite technically being a receiver in college, many believe Gibson is better suited as a running back in the pros. He tallied 369 yards and 4 touchdowns on just 36 carries, racking up an insane 11.2 yards per carry on the ground. Plenty of his traits indicate he can move over to running back, as he’s an electric athlete who also has a strong and powerful frame. His contact balance is impressive: he’s a determined runner who runs with a low center of gravity. Gibson was also an effective kick returner in 2019, as he had 645 yards and a touchdown on 23 returns. He also has experience covering kicks and offers high upside as a special teams gunner. He projects very well as a Cordarrelle Patterson-like piece for an offense at the next level.

Weaknesses

While there’s plenty to like about Gibson, there is some room for concern. As a receiver, his hip-sinking ability and his stems could be improved, and his route tree was fairly limited at Memphis, so he’s still quite raw when running routes. As a running back, he could do a better job of demonstrating patience in the backfield and running with more discipline. For as much physical upside and versatility he offers, there’s some polishing to be done in his game.

Regardless of how one projects Gibson in the NFL, one thing that’s undisputed is relative lack of production in college. He was an all-state player at East Central Community College before playing at Memphis the past two seasons, but his numbers at the FBS level lack substance. He only had 33 career rushing attempts, which is a very small sample size for any player, let alone an NFL prospect. Basically all of his collegiate production came in 2019, as he only had six catches for 99 yards – and no runs – in 2018. Granted, he scored on two of those catches, but the fact still remains that he’s still a raw and fairly unproven talent.

Projection: Day 3

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2020 NFL draft: John Hightower scouting report

Everything NFL draft fans need to know about Boise State wide receiver prospect John Hightower

John Hightower | WR | Boise State

Elevator Pitch

Hightower is wide receiver who can make an impact in two different areas on the field with his kick return ability. At Boise State in 2019, he was named second-team Mountain West at both wide receiver and kick returner. He has an opportunity to make a team for his return skills while he develops as a pass catcher in the NFL.

Vitals

Height | 6-1

Weight | 189

Class | Senior

Strengths

Hightower can come into a team and immediate contribute as a special teams player. In the last two seasons as a kick returner, he returned 36 kicks for an average of 23.3 yards per return and one touchdown for the Broncos. He uses his speed well and it is apparent that he was a track runner when he was in junior college.

His 4.43 speed can help teams wanting to throw it deep down the field with Hightower. Has good size and length to combine with that speed. Made some circus level catches on passes thrown away from his frame, mostly behind him that shows flashes of having good hands. He creates separates with how he comes out of his breaks.

Weaknesses

He is very limited in his route running. Hightower needs to work on his route tree and his technique. He will struggle to get off the line with more physical cornerbacks at the NFL level. His inability to deal with physical cornerbacks will alter his routes down the field.

Hightower has issues with catching some passes, including contested catches. If he can improve here, Hightower can be a real problem after the catch. He will need to add strength to upper body. He should still be able to fill out frame without suffering any drop in speed, which is his true weapon.

Projection: Day 3

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2020 NFL draft: Donovan Peoples-Jones scouting report

Everything NFL draft fans need to know about Michigan wide receiver prospect Donovan Peoples-Jones

Donovan Peoples-Jones | WR | Michigan

Elevator Pitch

Peoples-Jones was a highly touted, five-star recruit and number one wide receiver in the country when he committed to play at Michigan. He never lived up to the hype surrounding him in Ann Arbor. A lot of reasons outside of his control but teams in need of a big receiver with punt return ability will like him. Great ball tracker who can win from different spots on the field.

Vitals

Height | 6-2

Weight | 212

Class | Junior

Strengths

Peoples-Jones is one of those players who looks like a center fielder with the ball in the air. He does a great job of tracking the ball in the air. His long arms will help with catches outside of his frame. Peoples-Jones shows good ball skills and that will help due to his lack of production at Michigan. Which was mostly due to suspect quarterback play.

He can be a return man at the next level. Recorded two touchdowns as a punt returner. DPJ returned 89 punts in three seasons for an average of 8.3 yards per return. Teams that struggle on special teams could use his skillset, at least early in his career until he becomes a more focal point of the offense in the future.

He can beat teams down the field using his speed. This allows DPJ to create larger throwing windows for his quarterback. Shows good footwork that allows to create separation when coming out of his breaks. His best spot in an offense might be working the slot role even as a bigger receiver.

Weaknesses

There are questions surrounding his game, some of which can be explained by the quarterback that was throwing him passes in Ann Arbor. He needs to limit the drops by focusing on the catch prior to running after the catch. On top of the focus drops, he will need to be better refined in his technique when dealing with being jammed at the line.

He won’t be a receiver that wins with a quick-twitch. It takes him a little bit to get up to top speed. DPJ will struggle with physical corners off the line, playing in the slot will give him more free releases that will allow him to win off the snap.

Projection: Top 100

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2020 NFL draft: K.J. Hill scouting report

Everything NFL draft fans need to know about Ohio State wide receiver prospect K.J. Hill

K.J. Hill | WR | Ohio State

Elevator Pitch

Hill is another receiver in a long line of receivers from the Ohio State University that will be looking to make the jump to the NFL level. Hill is a player that can play at multiple spots. Not to mention he has return ability which will help him get on the field in multiple aspects of a game and increases his draft stock.

Vitals

Height | 6-0

Weight | 196

Class | Redshirt Senior