[jwplayer PnmOZkAA]
To anyone who is paying attention to Florida football right now, it’s obvious that Kadarius Toney is the real deal. Due to a confluence of circumstances that were mostly out of his control, he flies under the radar nationally. His performance in Saturday’s game against Missouri was a big step in the right direction for his visibility to casual fans and cemented that he will play in the NFL.
The skill that makes him a unique receiver is his ability to maintain forward momentum while wading through an incredible amount of traffic or turning his body at awkward angles. Few others are able to maintain balance through contact quite like Toney. Perhaps most impressive is his capacity to bounce defenders off his body despite only carrying 190 pounds on his 5-foot-11-inch frame, which places him on the smaller end of the spectrum.
Take a look at how he evaded Missouri defenders in this highlight from Saturday’s game.
Can’t stop @0fficialC2N‼️#GoGators 🐊
📺: SEC Network Alternate pic.twitter.com/6zdlBtxQ2B
— Gators Football (@GatorsFB) November 1, 2020
He’s not a perfect receiver — some have complained that his route tree is too simple and his catch radius is too small — but in the right offensive scheme, Toney can be a real asset. His toughness in the first and second levels and his elusiveness in the third level make him an outstanding slot receiver, designed run option, or return specialist.
Those traits will get him drafted next spring, but in a draft class dominated by an abundance of high-end receivers, there hasn’t been much talk about where he might land. However, it’s not difficult to see the Cincinnati Bengals come calling when draft day rolls around.
When the Bengals came on the clock in 2020, there was no question who they were about to draft. Quarterback Joe Burrow was the clear-cut top player in the class thanks to the incredible success of LSU with him as their pass-thrower. His impact was felt immediately upon joining Cincy’s squad. There’s something to be said for the man who was able to take the worst team in the league and make them a competitive matchup in most of their games so far.
However, Burrow alone is not going to be able to make them a postseason competitor. The rest of the offense needs to be tailored to suit his needs. While much is rightfully said about the shortcomings of his offensive line, his supporting cast of position players isn’t exactly suited to his style of play. Burrow isn’t a downfield passer; quite frankly, he doesn’t have the arm to be an air-raid style passer. He has an impressive touch for accuracy and thrives in an offense that can generate yards after the catch.
Connect the dots, and it’s clear that Toney would be a good fit for what Burrow does well. Burrow needs a receiver who can run through contact, and that’s what Toney provides. Toney needs a quarterback who can put the ball directly into his hands, and that’s what Burrow provides. An offense featuring Toney in the slot, receiving picturesque passes from Burrow and making defensive lineman look silly might be too appealing for the Bengals to pass up.
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