Category: Wide receivers

2020 NFL draft: Bryan Edwards scouting report

Everything NFL draft fans need to know about South Carolina wide receiver prospect Bryan Edwards

Bryan Edwards | WR | South Carolina

Elevator Pitch

Edwards is a long and tall wide receiver that can use his frame to his advantage. He is a physical wide receiver who can really help many teams that will be looking for wide receiver help in the upcoming NFL Draft. Despite his size, he has athleticism to boot. He projects as an eventual WR2 at the NFL level.

Vitals

Height | 6-3

Weight | 212

Class | Senior

College Stats

College Bio

Combine Profile

Strengths

Having a big receiver like Edwards is one thing, but what he does well is catching the ball outside of his frame. A quarterback’s best friend is a receiver who can catch almost anything thrown his way. Edwards does a good job of plucking the ball out of the air even when the ball is away from his pads. He is no stranger to going up and getting the ball at it’s highest catch point.

Edwards is a three-level receiver in that he can be implemented in short, intermediate and deep level routes at the NFL level. He will use his hands well when battling corners down the field when trying to get position for the catch. The physicality also leads you to believe he will be a more than capable blocker in the run game and screen game.

Bryan Edwards was consistent throughout his four years as a starter for South Carolina. He can be a big after the run style receiver at the next level. His long speed and physicality will help him here. Also with his frame, look for Edwards in the red zone.

Weaknesses

Creating separation will be an issue for Edwards. Becoming more refined in running his routes, being more crisp should help him in that regard. While he does have some speed to his game, don’e expect him to be an elusive runner after the catch. Very average in that regard.

His technique when dealing with long physical corners will be key for his development. Edwards will win with physicality but when dealing with physical corners he needs to do a better job of using his hands and feet to beat press coverage.

Projection: Day 2

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2020 NFL draft: Lynn Bowden, Jr. scouting report

Everything NFL draft fans need to know about Kentucky wide receiver prospect Lynn Bowden, Jr.

Lynn Bowden, Jr. | WR | Kentucky

Elevator Pitch

Though he’s known nationally for his work as a dual-threat quarterback, Bowden is a wide receiver at heart, and a good one at that. He’s a dynamic athlete with good fluidity who offers plenty of value after the catch. He may be raw as a route runner, but the intrigue that comes with using him as a gadget player should catch teams’ attention.

Vitals

Height | 5-11

Weight | 204

College Bio Page

Career Stats

Strengths

Bowden is a do-it-all playmaker who can make an impact for an offense in numerous ways.

Prior to transitioning to quarterback due to Kentucky’s lack of healthy talent at the position, Bowden was putting up some good numbers as a receiver. He is an electric player who can make defenders miss in the open field with impressive lateral quickness and very good ball-carrier vision for a wideout. That athleticism translates to some pretty enticing upside, as his raw talent of stopping on a dime and accelerating quickly makes it possible for him to grow as a route runner.

One positive thing that came out of Bowden moving to quarterback – taking on a bigger role as a runner in the process – is that his running style offers value in after-the-catch situations. Not only are his athleticism and his vision good for the position, but he also has a well-proportioned frame and runs with determination and solid power. He has shown some potential in attacking leverage points as a route runner, and he has good physicality and strong hands in tight-window situations coming out of the slot.

Weaknesses

Though his positional change put his name on the map across the country, Bowden missing out on reps as a receiver prevented him from developing a skillset that needs polishing. Despite his athleticism and body control, he doesn’t have great hip-sinking abilities in his cuts and isn’t an incredibly sharp route runner. He hasn’t shown much in the way of hand usage to create separation, either.

Bowden ended up fumbling the ball nine times in 2019, and while that number would go down if he didn’t touch the ball so often like he did in Kentucky’s scheme, ball security is a bit of an issue for him. He also has only one good season as a receiver, so while he played well in the five games he spent at the position, he’s still pretty unproven in that regard.

Projection: Day 3

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2020 NFL draft: Gabriel Davis scouting report

Everything NFL draft fans need to know about UCF wide receiver prospect Gabriel Davis

Gabriel Davis | WR | UCF

Elevator Pitch

A lengthy and fluid receiver coming off of a productive 2019 season, Davis is a big weapon who plays with good physicality and ball skills. He’s an average athlete, but he should be able to serve as a quality No. 3 target in the NFL.

Vitals

Height | 6-2

Weight | 216

College Bio Page

Career Stats

Strengths

Davis has some tools to be excited about when projecting his upside at the next level.

He possesses good length for an outside receiver and has a well-proportioned frame that carries plenty of raw strength in it. His footwork as a route runner has shown some promise, as he can utilize subtle techniques to soften up a defender’s coverage. Davis does a solid job of stemming his routes and attacking leverage points to create separation.

His forte, though, would have to be his body control. He does a great job of making adjustments to the ball and contorting his body in ways that a lot of receivers can’t. This gives Davis added value in jump-ball situations, as his ability to high point and track down the ball complements his size incredibly well. He’s also a proven vertical threat, as UCF often used him to stretch the field with deeper routes. Coming off of a season in which he tallied 72 receptions for 1,241 yards and 12 touchdowns, he carries plenty of momentum heading into the NFL draft.

Weaknesses

While Davis put up impressive yards-per-catch totals in 2019, that certainly wasn’t due in part of his abilities in space. He doesn’t have very good lateral agility, as he doesn’t carry much spring in his step or overall flexibility in his lower body. His breakaway speed is also average, at best, so his ability to big up big gains practically comes solely through his running deeper routes.

Davis is a smooth athlete, but that doesn’t mean he excels at making sharp cuts. His acceleration coming out of his breaks as a route runner could be improved, and he doesn’t do a consistent job of sinking his hips into his cuts. He can stand to play with a little bit more effort, too, as there are some reps on tape where he doesn’t appear to be playing at full speed.

Projection: Day 3

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2020 NFL draft: Chase Claypool scouting report

Everything NFL draft fans need to know about Notre Dame wide receiver/tight end prospect Chase Claypool

Chase Claypool | WR/TE | Notre Dame

Elevator Pitch

A big-bodied, physical specimen with an enticing combination of length, strength and speed, Claypool has plenty of physical tools to work with. He won’t offer teams much after the catch, but the mismatch he brings and the flashes of polish he shows off make him worth a look late on Day 2.

Vitals

Height | 6-4

Weight | 238

College Bio Page

Career Stats

Strengths

If you’re looking for a big and physical wideout, you’ll find exactly that in Claypool.

With size and bulk that gives him a frame that looks a lot like that of a tight end, Claypool is a lengthy target on the outside with a large catch radius. He plays with impressive play strength against man coverage, boxing out defenders well and utilizing his strength to create forceful separation. His strong hands allow him to make difficult grabs in tight windows. That physicality gives him value as a run blocker, as his determination and physicality overwhelms defensive backs often. He also has proven to be a more-than-capable cover defender on special teams.

Claypool isn’t just a big receiver, though: he can move. As if his 4.42 40-yard dash didn’t make it apparent enough, the Golden Domer has good acceleration off the snap for such a big wideout and can stretch the field as a vertical threat if need be. He does a good job of attacking leverage points against his defenders, and he has shown that he can make subtle moves with his feet to open up his opponents’ hips and make them susceptible to whichever cut he plans on making. He has the ball skills and the body control to high point and make tough adjustments to the ball. His production was great in 2019, as he had 66 catches for 1,037 yards and 13 touchdowns.

Weaknesses

Though Claypool’s skill set is abundant with physical talents, lateral quickness isn’t one of them. The big man struggles with making defenders miss after the catch, as he’s a little stiff in his lower body when he tries to cut with the ball in his hands. His acceleration coming out of his breaks isn’t as good as his straight-line speed, either. While he’s good in contested catch situations, having to rely on them as much as he does isn’t ideal.

Claypool does plenty of physicality, but his release against press is pretty average. He doesn’t have the quick-twitch agility to utilize a speed release, and his hands aren’t quick enough to swat away defenders consistently. He can do a better job of sinking his hips into his cuts, though it is admittedly tougher for a player with his length.

Projection: 3rd-4th Round

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2020 NFL draft: James Proche scouting report

Everything NFL draft fans need to know about SMU wide receiver prospect James Proche

James Proche | WR | SMU

Elevator Pitch

Proche is an ultra-productive receiver with great ball skills, strong hands and intelligence as a route runner. Though his relatively average athleticism limits his ceiling a bit, he projects as a high-end No. 3 weapon at the next level.

Vitals

Height | 5-11

Weight | 201

College Bio Page

Career Stats

Strengths

As far as production goes, you won’t get any question marks with Proche.

The SMU standout is coming off of consecutive seasons in which he tallied over 1,000 yards and snagged double-digit touchdowns, all while catching 204 passes in the process. He absolutely dominated his competition and was a consistent and reliable producer for the Mustangs. Part of the reason he produced was because he was able to get open consistently. He runs his routes with good footwork and has a good understanding of how to exploit the weaknesses in a defense’s coverage. His body control is polished and coordinated, as he can make tough adjustments to the ball look easy and track down the deep ball very well.

Proche isn’t the lengthiest receiver, but that doesn’t stir him from winning 50/50-ball matchups. He’s a physical player when battling for the ball and does a good job of boxing out defenders to make the catch. His strong, sticky hands help him in securing those tough grabs: he may have some of the best hands in this year’s class. Teams can also use him as a returner, as he has experience as both a kick and punt returner on his resume.

Weaknesses

While Proche has plenty to like in his game, there are some tools in which he lacks. One of those is top-notch athleticism, as his deep speed is pretty average and his ability to accelerate off the ball could be improved. He is much better in short-area situations than he is as a vertical threat who can take the top off the defense.

There are some instances in which Proche’s ability to make sharp cuts isn’t quite consistent, as he can be prone to running rounded routes from time to time. He also doesn’t possess stellar lateral quickness and burst after the catch, and that weakness is apparent in the stat sheet, as he only averaged 11 yards per catch in 2019. He played on the outside at SMU, but he will likely have to move to the slot due to a lack of length.

Projection: Day 3

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2020 NFL draft: Van Jefferson scouting report

Everything NFL draft fans need to know about Florida wide receiver prospect Van Jefferson

Van Jefferson | WR | Florida

Elevator Pitch

Jefferson is a polished receiver with a PhD in route running. He’s a fluid athlete who has an acute understanding of techniques to use and methods to apply to create separation against his opponents. Though he may likely never be a true No. 1 weapon at the next level, his intelligence and crispness indicate he’ll serve as a valuable complementary piece.

Vitals

Height | 6-1

Weight | 200

College Bio Page

Career Stats

Strengths

If there’s one thing Jefferson does well, it’s route running.

The son of a 13-year NFL veteran and New York Jets wide receivers coach Shawn Jefferson, the Florida product has a great feel for the game and a high football IQ. He attacks leverage points well against man coverage and knows how to take advantage of a cornerback’s blind spot to alter his route. His footwork is of a high caliber, as he’s a coordinated athlete who is able to sell route concepts through his stems. Jefferson sinks his hips well into his cuts and changes direction well when he runs his routes. He can also attack soft spots in zone coverage well and knows where he can find a place to get open given the defense’s strategy. Though not a big-bodied boundary receiver, he does do a good job of using his hands to create separation against press.

Jefferson is also a solid athlete for the receiver position. His athleticism is apparent in the way he stops on a dime and changes direction in his routes, but he also offers value after the catch. He has solid vision in the open field and has enough spring in his step to make defenders miss. He has good body control and is able to make adjustments to the ball in order to make a grab.

Weaknesses

Though Jefferson has the technique to consistently make plays, he doesn’t have standout physical tools to warrant a first-round pick. His deep speed is pretty average – he won’t be able to burn past some of the cornerbacks he matches up with on vertical routes. The moves he uses, though precise, can sometimes be limited in their effectiveness depending on how well he accelerates coming out of his breaks, and there are times when he doesn’t showcase much explosiveness.

Jefferson also doesn’t have top-notch physicality, despite having a bit of a bigger frame for a receiver. He can occasionally struggle to haul in the catch in tight-window situations, and his hands aren’t always strong enough to hold onto the ball when a defender is right on him. His production at both Florida and Ole Miss was solid, but he never had a standout statistical season.

Projection: 3rd-4th Round

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2020 NFL draft: Laviska Shenault, Jr. scouting report

Everything NFL draft fans need to know about Colorado wide receiver prospect Laviska Shenault, Jr.

Laviska Shenault, Jr. | WR | Colorado

Elevator Pitch

Shenault is a big-play wide receiver from the state of Texas. Played his high school ball at the football factory in DeSoto, Texas. While there are concerns with his durability, Shenault is a bully running down the field and can make a house call at a moment’s notice.

Vitals

Height | 6-1

Weight | 227

Class | Junior

College Stats

College Bio

Combine Profile

Strengths

Laviska Shenault Jr possesses good hands and can snag the ball away from his frame. He is no stranger to climbing the latter to high point the ball. What separates him from other wide receivers is his ability to have good body control when off the ground.

His balance with the ball in his hands is very reminiscent to a running back. He can maintain that balance through contact with good a strong core. In high school he played some H-back and it shows up in his film, the way he can bully defensive backs down the field. Will lower his shoulder to deliver the boom.

If you gear up for the big hit from Shenault he can throw a change up and run right by you. He has speed to challenge you deep with great ball tracking skills. Shows great burst coming out of his breaks and can get away from coverage in a hurry.

Weaknesses

The biggest worry for teams will be his durability. Prior to the season, Shenault underwent surgery on his labrum prior to the 2019 season. This offseason, he will once again undergo surgery to repair a core muscle. His medicals will be a key part of his evaluation and could cause him to slide.

Despite everything that Shenault can do on the field, he needs work on his route running to be a complete receiver. He is very raw in terms of technique at running routes and dealing with physical corners in press coverage. Once he is up to speed, look for Shenault to be a big play wideout at the next level.

Projection: 1st Round

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2020 NFL draft: Collin Johnson scouting report

Everything NFL draft fans need to know about Texas wide receiver prospect Collin Johnson

Collin Johnson | WR | Texas

Elevator Pitch

A massive wideout with plus physicality, length and ball skills, Johnson isn’t going to burn anyone deep as a vertical threat or a playmaker after the catch. What he is, though, is a player who can excel in tight windows and consistently win 50/50-ball battles, and he does that well enough that he should warrant plenty of looks on Day 2.

Vitals

Height | 6-6

Weight | 222

College Bio Page

Career Stats

Strengths

Johnson brings rare height to the wide receiver position that should be enticing to plenty of NFL teams looking for a big-bodied presence at the ‘X’ slot.

Very few receivers are 6-foot-6, so Johnson would instantly be one of the biggest players at his position in the league. His wingspan and catch radius make him a physical mismatch against essentially every cornerback he goes up against. He also has plenty of bulk and is a strong, imposing target in tight-window situations. Johnson excels at boxing out defenders on the jump ball, and he can also maintain the inside track when trying to catch balls on shorter routes like slants. He also can jump pretty high, which gives him even more of an advantage when tracking down passes.

Despite his size, Johnson is a fluid athlete who plays with good overall body control. He has very good ball skills and does a great job of making adjustments to make the tough grab. He has solid fluidity in his hips for his size, and he has the footwork necessarily to utilize subtle techniques like veering his route to attack the blind spot of the defensive back. As one would expect for such a big receiver, he does well against press, as he has the physicality and the hand technique to shed tight coverage at the line of scrimmage. He also brings some solid value in as a blocker on running plays. His bloodline also has NFL ties, as his dad, Johnnie Johnson, was a first-round pick out of Texas as a safety in the 1980s.

Weaknesses

While Johnson possesses plenty of high-caliber physical traits, speed is not among them. That simply isn’t a big part of his game, as his acceleration off the snap is pretty pedestrian, and his overall deep speed is average. He serves much more value as a short-yardage chain mover and a red-zone threat than he does as a receiver to get out in space. He can’t change direction seamlessly after the catch, and his overall lateral agility isn’t all that great.

Johnson has shown some potential as a route runner and is admittedly better than he was earlier in his collegiate career, but as is the case with most big receivers, he struggles with sinking his hips into his cuts. He isn’t a sharp route runner and doesn’t have the sudden burst coming out of his breaks to consistently create significant separation. His lack of suddenness in his cuts could limit the route tree he runs in the pros.

Projection: 3rd Round

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2020 NFL draft: Michael Pittman, Jr. scouting report

Everything NFL draft fans need to know about USC wide receiver prospect Michael Pittman, Jr.

Michael Pittman, Jr. | WR | USC

Elevator Pitch

Pittman is a big-bodied wideout with top-notch length, bulk and physicality for the wide receiver position. He has good ball skills and is a surprisingly refined athlete for a player as big as he is. Though he’s still developing, he has the potential to outplay his draft positioning in a stacked receiver class.

Vitals

Height | 6-4

Weight | 223

College Bio Page

Career Stats

Strengths

If you’re looking for a massive receiver with red-zone potential, Pittman is one of the best in the class.

A tall wideout with a well-proportioned frame and plenty of play strength, Pittman excels in tight-window situations and does a good job of boxing out defensive backs, whether it be on the 50/50 ball or when running short routes. His size and physicality translates to when he goes up against press coverage, projecting him well as an ‘X’ receiver at the next level. That strength is also apparent as a blocker, as he’s a willing and able helper to his teammates on running plays who can drive back defensive backs.

Pittman isn’t just a big receiver, though; he offers some upside as a route runner and as an athlete. He has impressive body control for his size, showing off some underrated twitch in his cuts and good short-area burst. Pittman can make subtle movements with his feet to attack leverage points against defensive backs, and he can open up the hips of his opponents pretty well. His production in 2019 was also stellar, as he managed to catch 101 passes for 1,275 yards and 11 touchdowns. He also has an NFL pedigree, as his dad, Michael Pittman Sr., was a running back for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Weaknesses

Though Pittman is a good athlete for his size, he doesn’t come without his athletic limitations. His acceleration off the snap is decent, at best, and he doesn’t offer much after the catch. He can’t make defenders miss incredibly well in the open field because of subpar lateral agility. Tight-window situations and shorter routes should be utilized more often than deeper routes and double moves in order to maximize Pittman’s skill set.

His route running abilities could still use some polishing, as well. As a taller receiver, he struggles to sink his hips and generate burst coming out of sharper breaking routes after building up speed. He doesn’t offer a whole lot in terms of hand techniques to create separation yet, and his stems could be improved, too. One could argue that Pittman is a one-year wonder, as his production prior to 2019 was mediocre at best.

Projection: 3rd Round

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2020 NFL draft: Tee Higgins scouting report

Everything NFL draft fans need to know about Clemson wide receiver prospect Tee Higgins

Tee Higgins | WR | Clemson

Elevator Pitch

Higgins was a highly productive receiver for the Clemson Tigers over the last two seasons. Catching 59 passes in each year for a total of 2,103 yards and 26 total touchdowns. Higgins will look to be a big play receiver at the next level with his ability to win contested catches.

Vitals

Height | 6-4

Weight | 216

Class | Junior

College Stats

College Bio

Combine Profile

Strengths

One of the biggest strengths for Higgins is his ability to win the contested throws. He has soft hands that allows him to bring in almost any throw and catches outside of his frame pose no problems for Higgins. Uses his height and length well when going up for the ball, high points it well. Most contested catches are 50/50 but for him its more like 80/20. Great body control when in flight.

He provides position flexibility in that he can play from all three wide receiver spots on the field. His long speed can cause fits for defenders when he gets behind the defense. Really does well in tracking the ball on deep throws.

Higgins shows the ability to be a good yards after the catch runner if he is hit in stride. Doesn’t have great short area quickness that allows him to start and stop but he is known to make a house call on deep throws. Uses his long strides well to pick up speed and challenge defenders in open space.

Weaknesses

His frame allows him to add bulk to the upper body and that will be key for him in the NFL. Needs to get stronger to deal with more physical corners who can knock him off his route. Also will help with blocking, he does use his length well but bigger defenders will give him fits when blocking on the perimeter.

His route tree is fairly limited, just based on what he was asked to run at Clemson. Will need work on being more crisp in that aspect. Has the ability to be a better route runner, it will all be based on his new team working on the technique and being more physical at the top of his routes.

Projection: Top 40

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