Even with the abundance of salary cap space the Dallas Cowboys are projected to have in 2020, they are now up to 24 pending unrestricted free agents and some starters will be playing elsewhere shortly. One name that tops the list of potential goodbyes is slot receiver, Randall Cobb. Naturally, the Cowboys will look to replace these losses through both free agency and the 2020 NFL Draft.
Assuming No. 1 wideout Amari Cooper is retained, and Cobb is shown the door, a glaring hole at slot receiver would be created, and the overall depth of the unit would require improvement. Enter James Proche.
Hailing from Southern Methodist University (SMU), it is easy to draw the line to Dallas for a plethora of reasons. An estimated 5-foot-11, 185 pounds, Proche’s frame suggests he projects best in the slot, something his film backs up. Additionally, his skill set translates well as a flanker or “Z” receiver, a relatively thin spot on the roster.
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The redshirt senior was exceptionally productive during his Mustangs tenure, cementing himself as a semifinalist for the Biletnikoff Award, given to college football’s best wide receiver.
According to Sports Reference, Proche is second in the nation in receiving, totaling 102 catches, trailing only Texas’ Devin Duvernay. He has also tied with Oklahoma Sooner CeeDee Lamb for the third-most receiving touchdowns in the FBS, scoring 14 times. While production is far from a surefire way to measure prospects, it is certainly a good sign.
Thankfully, a deeper dive into his film reveals an intriguing skill set and one that fits well with Kellen Moore’s offense.
Games Watched: Temple (2019), Cincinnati (2018), Tulane (2018)
Strengths
Despite his size, Proche’s body control is awe-inspiring, surpassing many bigger-bodied WRs in this 2020 NFL Draft class. In this regard, he plays much bigger than his frame would suggest. Proche retains the ability to make plays along the sidelines and over the middle of the field, where he will be making his money in the NFL.
He can win 50/50 balls at encouraging rates and is physical at the catch point, even against defensive backs that have inherent size advantages.
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Unsurprisingly, Proche’s success doesn’t come without strong hands.
His ability to make the highlight grab is well-documented throughout his film. They remain impressive through traffic and all phases of the catch process, touting proper technique and hand-eye coordination. He can fight through contact to make contested catches well, yet another area of his game that plays bigger than his size.
As a route runner, Proche sports somewhat encouraging traits, particularly on his intermediate and deep routes. Here, his cuts are sharper, and he can show off an expansive route tree. He shows the ability to create and maintain separation on intermediate crossing routes, reaching a second gear to beat his man.
The data may not be readily available just yet, but on the field, the SMU product seems to be a well-rounded, above-average athlete.
He won’t blow up the combine or make a living as a pure burner, but his play speed is far from problematic. This can be seen in his effectiveness as a deep threat, where his athletic traits promote lucrative upside. Proche has the short-area quickness and acceleration to make defenders miss immediately after the catch. His play strength comes through in his ability to block smaller defensive backs, though his technical prowess and competitive toughness may be more likely culprits.
Weaknesses
A peculiar quirk in Proche’s game is the inverted development of his routes.
Where his deeper routes see more success, his routes behind the sticks tend to fall behind. He can round out or smoothen out-breaking routes, allowing for opposing cornerbacks to utilize their recovery speed to make a play on the ball. He lacks the same deception he can conjure when dismantling defenses downfield.
In the red zone, more weaknesses come to light. Proche struggles to make an impact as a horizontal separator in the red zone, something derived from poor play at the line of scrimmage. Without imposing (or merely average) height, he tends to not play above the rim in the red zone. This works to render him significantly less useful inside the opponent’s 20-yard line.
His size continues to plague his game, limiting his upside at the next level. His frame inherently limits his catch radius, demanding more accurate throws from his future quarterback. As prior stated, his play in the red zone is diminished by his physical traits. He fails to take on stronger defensive backs successfully when blocking, as he can get bullied by the most physically-dominant CBs.
At the line of scrimmage, Proche can be stifled at the line of scrimmage more often than one would like. His struggles against press coverage can be traced back to a lack of creativity. In part, this plays into his scheme fit as a slot receiver or flanker, where he is bound to see more of a cushion.
Moreover, Proche is yet to maximize the quality athletic traits that he has at his disposal. With the ball in his hands, the Dallas native is yet to consistently make defenders miss in the open field. When stretching the field, he can struggle to track balls with regularity, though the flashes are apparent and outright insane.
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Summary
Proche’s collegiate accomplishments are impressive enough, but to produce how he did without elite physical traits is innately impressive. He has the potential to be a slightly above-average starter at slot receiver, and at worst, is serviceable depth. His special teams value only adds to the versatility he brings to the table.
Though the level of competition in the American Athletic Conference is a minor concern, his skills can quickly translate into a day-one starter. His best work is done over the intermediate parts of the field between, from sideline to sideline.
As far as player comparisons go, his ability to contort his body and play through traffic despite physical hindrances is reminiscent of Julian Edelman. For Dallas, Proche can step in and start in the slot or develop while providing depth and kick/punt return value.
He will likely end up with a third-round grade, but very well could be available early on the draft’s third day. A Dallas kid through and through, the Cowboys simply make sense for James Proche.
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