Tag: rookie wide receiver

2023 NFL Draft Scouting Report: WR Josh Downs, North Carolina

Josh Downs may lack size, but he came up big for the Tarheels the last two years.

Josh Downs signed with the North Carolina Tarheels after a stellar career at his Georgia high school. He played mainly special teams that first season but included a 75-yard touchdown catch among his seven freshman receptions. He stepped up into the No. 2 role as a sophomore while playing with Sam Howell (now trying to become the Commanders’ quarterback this year). Downs signed with the Tar Heels in part because his uncle Dre Bly was a defensive coach there at the time.

Downs took over in 2021. He set the school record with 101 catches, besting Ryan Switzer‘s high of 96 receptions in 2016. No other receiver managed more than 31 catches for the Tar Heels that year. Their offense shifted from 2020 when Javonte Williams and Michael Carter shared the backfield. All facets of the offense regressed when that duo left in 2021 – except for Downs.

Height: 5-9
Weight: 171 pounds
40 time: 4.48 seconds

Playing with sophomore quarterback Drake Maye last year saw Downs again dominate the offense with 94 catches and a second 1,000-yard effort, more than double that of any other Tar Heel receiver. Downs was a first-team All-ACC receiver for each of his two seasons as a starter. He led the conference in catches in both years.

Table: Player NCAA stats (2020-22)

Year School Games Catch Yards Avg. TD Rush Yards TD
2020 North Carolina 4 7 119 17.0 3 1 (-3) 0
2021 North Carolina 13 101 1335 13.2 8 0 0 0
2022 North Carolina 11 94 1029 10.9 11 0 0 0

Pros

  • Highly productive primary receiver the last two years
  • Tough receiver that fights for the ball and wins contested catches
  • Start/stop and change of direction make him hard to cover man-to-man
  • Effective in space and with yards after the catch
  • Explosive burst from line when he has a free release
  • Special teams returner
  • Red Zone threat despite his size

Cons

  • Small frame concerns limit him to slot work
  • Occasional drops
  • May struggle with press coverage
  • Route running needs more precision
  • Lacks a large catch radius
  • Not an asset as a blocker

Fantasy outlook

Like so many other college stars that enter the NFL well below prototypical size, Downs is almost certainly limited to playing a slot role. He’s unlikely to handle press coverage as well, but has the burst and enough speed to make a difference when he gets downfield. He overtook Ryan Switzer’s records at North Carolina and draws some comparisons to him, though Downs is still 14 pounds less than Switzer at the same height.

Downs’ best outcome is to land on a team that heavily employs a slot receiver. He is capable of producing fantasy-relevant stats, but he’ll need the right situation to be a difference-maker. Slot receivers play an important role  in NFL offenses and can surprise such as Hunter Renfrow (2021 – 103 catches) and Christian Kirk (2022 – 84 catches).

Downs will likely be drafted on Day 2 but if he falls to Round 4, he’ll be a steal. He has the skill and speed to be a factor in the NFL if he can compensate for his lack of size – only two of the 50 combine wideouts were lighter than Downs. His special team abilities could show up as a rookie and help him get onto the field. He’s likely to need a year or so in the NFL before he can become a weekly fantasy option.

2023 NFL Draft Scouting Report: WR Jalin Hyatt, Tennessee

Jalin Hyatt won the Biletnikoff Award as the nation’s best receiver in 2022

Jalin Hyatt was wildly successful as a receiver in high school, setting the school’s all-time record with 3,624 yards and 57 touchdowns. Due to being smaller at only 153 pounds at the time, he was not courted by in-state colleges like Clemson and South Carolina and originally signed with Virginia Tech but later opted for Tennessee.

Hyatt was no better than the No. 4 receiving option for his first two seasons in college, playing behind Velus Jones Jr. and Cedric Tillman while quarterback Hendon Hooker turned in his breakout season in 2021 when he transferred to Tennessee.

The second season with Hooker wasn’t quite as productive, but Jones had left for the NFL and Hyatt took over as the primary wideout. He logged 67 catches for 1,267 yards and 15 touchdowns. Hyatt exploded as a receiver, leading the SEC in receiving yards and receiving touchdowns. He was voted a unanimous All-American and won the Biletnikoff Award as the nation’s best receiver. His high point was gaining 207 yards and scoring five touchdowns in the upset win over Alabama.

Height: 6-0
Weight: 176 pounds
40 time: 4.4 seconds

After his tremendous junior season, Hyatt joined fellow Volunteer Hooker in declaring for the NFL draft where he’s expected to be a Day 2 selection.

Table: Player NCAA stats (2020-22)

Year School Games Catch Yards Avg. TD Rush Yards TD
2020 Tennessee 8 20 276 13.8 2 1 3 0
2021 Tennessee 9 21 226 10.8 2 1 10 0
2022 Tennessee 12 67 1267 18.9 15 1 0 0

Pros

  • Hits top speed quickly and maintains separation
  • Elite vertical route skills
  • Soft and reliable hands
  • Elusive and explosive in the open field
  • Capable run blocker despite frame size
  • Game changer that secondary must account for every play
  • Takes the top off defenses and stretches the field
  • Excelled as a slot receiver that avoided jams

Cons

  • Route tree was limited at Tennessee
  • Slim build will be challenged by press coverage
  • Only one year of notable production
  • Will need to transition from the spread offense to a pro style

Fantasy outlook

Hyatt was unstoppable at times last year, but that was playing in a spread offense, unlike what he’ll have in the NFL. There’s no doubt that his talent will create value for his team and fantasy football. But his role will change from college where the Vols schemed to get him open by getting him free releases as the primary receiver in the slot. His slim build will be a bigger issue in the pros, and he projects to be a No. 2 receiver for his team by taking the top off the defense and giving the primary wideout more room to operate.

The rookie can still provide fantasy-relevant stats by himself, though he’s limited by being yet another wideout that needs to play in the slot. If he lands in a pass-oriented offense with a top-tier quarterback and another wideout that will draw attention, Hyatt can become an every-week factor and not just a long-ball phenomenon. His rookie season is likely to be a re-adjustment to how he played last year, fitting into a new style of offense that asks him to run a larger route tree.

Hyatt plays very fast, and speed always fares well in the NFL. Since he’s expected to be a Day 2 prospect, any team can reach him. He’ll be even more interesting if he lands with the Chargers, Vikings, Chiefs, or Seahawks, where he can step into a productive No. 2 wideout role even as a rookie.

2023 NFL Draft Scouting Report: WR Quentin Johnston, TCU

Johnston helped propel TCU into the national title game as their best weapon in the passing offense

Quentin Johnston will attract great interest in the NFL draft and is in the conversation to be the first wideout selected and certainly among the first five taken. The TCU star played as a freshman with 22 catches during the COVID-shortened season. By his junior season, Johnston led the Horned Frog receivers in their championship season with his 60 catches for 1069 yards and he logged 163 yards on six catches in the college playoff game against Michigan. TCU would finish No. 2 in the country after a painful loss in the national title game when Georgia was able to shut down Johnston.

Johnston was a Biletnikoff semifinalist and First-Team All-Big 12 last season.  He’s built like a possession receiver but excelled at the long ball in college. He set the Big 12 Conference all-time freshman record with 22.1 yards per catch. Even as a junior and the primary focus of every opposing secondary, Johnston still turned in almost 18 yards per catch.

Height: 6-3
Weight: 210 pounds
40 time: 4.49 seconds

He elected to forgo his senior season and declare for the NFL draft where he’ll be a hot commodity and carry starting expectations even as a rookie. He’s the tallest of the top tier wideouts from the NFL combine at 6-3. This year presents a class of speedy and yet smaller players at the top of the position, but Johnston offers a big presence all over the field.

Table: Player NCAA stats (2020-22)

Year School Games Catch Yards Avg. TD Rush Yards TD
2020 TCU 8 22 487 22.1 2 3 3 2
2021 TCU 8 33 634 19.2 6 2 12 0
2022 TCU 14 60 1069 17.8 6 3 (-7) 0

 

Pros

  • Exacting route runner that can alter speed to gain separation
  • Has the height and hands to win 50/50 balls
  • Sticky hands that snatch the ball out of the air
  • Adjusts route speed on deep balls as needed
  • Outstanding catch-and-run ability tacks on extra yardage
  • Arguably the most complete wideout in this class
  • Offers the skills and potential to become an elite No. 1 wideout for his team
  • Can win matchups at all three levels
  • Expansive catch radius

Cons

  • Needs to further expand his route tree
  • Needs to develop his blocking skills
  • Committed the occasional concentration drop
  • Less formidable on  underneath routes
  • Stat totals greatly impacted by four monster performances

Fantasy outlook

Johnston was the difference-maker for quarterback Max Duggan and the surprising TCU squad this year. He’s the prototypical height and weight for a difference-making possession receiver for an NFL team with the presence to pick up third downs over the middle and yet plenty of skills to continue his penchant for catching the long ball or turning shorter catches into longer runs.

He is accomplished, but more importantly, can continue to grow and improve. While the Horned Frogs passing improved last year, Johnston can benefit greatly by being paired with any of the better quarterbacks in the NFL. He’ll contribute as a rookie, but he has the potential to grow into an elite wideout. With just 115 catches in college, Johnston is nowhere near done with his development.

Johnston has been likened to Julio Jones and A.J. Green, who share the same frame size. But he enters the NFL with far fewer receptions than either of them. He could be a pick by the Bills or Chiefs which would obviously escalate his expectations. The Texans, Packers, Ravens, and Giants are also likely to be considering him. Johnston may need a year or two to hit his stride in the NFL, but he carries the serious potential to become a top receiver.

2023 NFL Draft Scouting Report: WR Zay Flowers, Boston College

Flowers is a versatile, game-breaking addition to any NFL team

Xavien “Zay” Flowers was a three-star recruit that joined Boston College and saw action as a freshman that included 27 carries despite only totaling seven runs while in high school.  He went on to lead the Eagles in receptions for his final three seasons while dominating their otherwise marginal receiving statistics.

Flowers’ impressive senior season saw him become a semifinalist for the Biletnikoff Award and an All-ACC first-team wide receiver. He left Boston College as their all-time leader in career receptions (200), receiving yards (3,056 yards) and receiving touchdowns (29). By his senior season, Flowers’ skill shined with 78 receptions for 1,077 yards and twelve touchdowns, while no other receiver caught more than 27 passes for the Eagles last year.

Height: 5-9
Weight: 182 pounds
40 time: 4.42 seconds

The Boston College star enters the draft with plenty of appeal and potential, and as successful as he was, Flowers has yet to discover just how good he can be. He’s been somewhat hidden while playing for the 3-9 Eagles last year as their only weapon of note. He’s expected to be a Top-5 wideout in the NFL draft and a first-round value.

Table: Player NCAA stats (2019-22)

Year School Games Catch Yards Avg. TD Rush Yards TD
2019 Boston College 13 22 341 15.5 3 27 195 1
2020 Boston College 11 56 892 15.9 9 11 41 1
2021 Boston College 12 44 746 17.0 5 7 69 0
2022 Boston College 12 78 1077 13.8 12 12 40 0

Pros

  • Dangerous in the open field
  • Speed to score on any play
  • Excelled despite playing with average quarterbacks
  • Game-breaking big play ability
  • Equally skilled playing inside or outside
  • Tacks on plenty of yards after catch
  • Adequate run blocker
  • Sets up defenders using speed and route running
  • Versatile receiver that can play all over field and run the ball

Cons

  • Smaller hands than most
  • Height/weight could be an issue on jump-balls or 50-50 throws
  • Concentration drops

Fantasy outlook

The only knock on Zay Flowers – if there legitimately is any – is that he’s small at 5-9 and 182 pounds. The only notable receiver in the NFL last year who was less than 5-11 was Tyler Lockett (5-10, 182 pounds). Darnell Mooney (5-11, 173 pounds) and Jahan Dotson (5-11, 184 pounds) were two of the most successful smaller players and yet were two inches taller than Flowers. His lack of height immediately suggests that he’ll be limited to a slot role in the NFL, the place that so many wildly productive college receivers find themselves after their smaller stature becomes a bigger issue when playing on the line as an outside receiver.

Flowers was not only highly productive at Boston College, he did so while being the sole focus of opposing secondaries as a senior. And wherever Flowers lands in the NFL, he’ll automatically be playing with the best quarterback of his career. His ceiling hasn’t been reached yet, and playing on a team with other weapons to concern the defense will be an added bonus he did not get in college.

He’s another rookie wideout that would be best served landing on a team needing a slot receiver to catch quick-strike passes. He can provide his offensive coordinator with a new versatile weapon to use creatively. He’s a playmaker but he’s also unlikely to see a high volume of passes until he can prove to play bigger than his size suggests. Flowers also committed 24 drops in college and that cannot continue in the NFL, though again – he gets an immediate upgrade in quarterback no matter where he lands.

2023 NFL Draft Scouting Report: WR Jordan Addison, USC

Jordan Addison cashes in on his monster 1,593-yard season in 2020.

Jordan Addison is expected to be one of the first wide receivers selected in the NFL and likely a first rounder with expectations of contributing if not starting as a rookie. Addison opened his college career with two seasons at Pitt where he started eight games as a freshman and then won the Biletnikoff Award as the nation’s best receiver in 2021 as a sophomore. He logged 1,593 yards and 17 touchdowns over his 14 games played. He was the leading receiver in both seasons for the Panthers and dominated with his 100-catch season while playing with Kenny Pickett (now with the Steelers).

With Pickett gone, Addison entered the transfer portal and ended up with the USC Trojans. He only played 11 games there and yet was still their top receiver. He elected to forgo his senior season and declare for the NFL draft.

Height: 5-11
Weight: 173 pounds
40 time: 4.49 seconds

Addison has a slight build at only 173 pounds on a 5-11 frame, and will almost certainly end up playing as a slot receiver in the NFL. It would be interesting – and possible – to see him join back up with Kenny Pickett.

Table: Player NCAA stats (2020-22)

Year School Games Catch Yards Avg. TD Rush Yards TD
2020 Pitt 10 60 666 11.1 4 9 58 0
2021 Pitt 14 100 1593 15.9 17 7 56 1
2022 USC 11 59 875 14.8 8 4 33 0

Pros

  • Not a burner, but a capable deep threat when needed
  • Elite cutting ability helps tack on more yardage
  • Offers a complete package of skills including vision and balance
  • Considered a top route runner in this draft class
  • Elite start and stop
  • Excelled as a high-volume target that dominated
  • Already the 2020 top college receiver when paired with Kenny Pickett
  • Has played all over offense, always willing to do what asked
  • Accomplished reading secondaries and finding the right spot
  • Deadly with screen catches and quick-hitters
  • Contributes well as a run blocker

Cons

  • Thin build will keep him in the slot
  • May be jammed in press coverage
  • Less accomplished at contested catches
  • Problem with the concentration drops but improved

Fantasy outlook

Jordan Addison has proven his skill while playing with different quarterbacks and coaches between two colleges. While his slight frame will likely limit him to being a slot receiver, he has the ability to become a top contributor as he has always been. He doesn’t have the height and weight to play the outside or in congested traffic with 50/50 balls but his talents have meant that he finds the open spot and then tacks on elite yardage with tremendous open field ability.

The expectation is that he’ll be a first-round pick and potentially a Top-10. Addison would be one of the lightest receivers in the NFL if he is a starter, but that’s worked out for DeVonta Smith (170 pounds). Addison compares to Smith in many ways, though is slower (4.49 vs. 4.37 40-times). In an NFL that increasingly looks to involve slot receivers, Addison can find a productive home on a team that will be spending big to acquire him and will intend to get him onto the field as a rookie.

When Addison was paired with Kenny Pickett, both players turned in monster seasons that translated into high draft stock. He’ll be sensitive to the quality of quarterback like all receivers, and will benefit by playing in an offense that focuses more on shorter passes and ball control.

Addison offers all the qualities that the NFL want in a receiver – hands, great body control and cutting, elite smarts in getting open, and the potential of becoming a No. 1 wideout for his team. If he draws one of the better quarterbacks, he’ll offer fantasy-relevant stats as a Week 1 rookie.

2023 NFL Draft Scouting Report: QB Bryce Young, Alabama

Bryce Young may be shorter than most quarterbacks, but he’s standing on a Heisman Trophy and tremendous success at every level he’s ever played.

Bryce Young creates – and then fulfills – great expectations whenever he plays football. His high school career saw him total 13,520 yards and 152 touchdowns and was ranked as the national No. 1 quarterback prospect when he committed to Alabama. He was also the USA Today High School Offensive Player of the Year.

Young backed up Mac Jones as a freshman and then assumed the starting role as a sophomore when he passed for 4,872 yards and 47 touchdowns when he reached the College Football Championship but lost to Georgia. He won the Heisman Trophy in his first starting season in college, the first Alabama quarterback to win the prestigious award. He also won the Davey O’Brien and Manning awards for the best collegiate quarterback.

His second season wasn’t as decorated while the Crimson Tide’s offense suffered a letdown with an absence of the usual stack of elite receivers. He also sprained the AC joint in his throwing shoulder but only missed one game. He was sixth in Heisman voting and ended his career as the Crimson Tide’s all-time leader  with five five-touchdown games.

Height: 5-10
Weight: 194 pounds
40 time: 4.43 seconds

Young did not work out at the combine but interviewed with teams and will perform at the Alabama Pro Day on March 23. His only question mark entering the NFL is his physical size. While listed at 6-0 and 194 pounds on Alabama’s official roster, he bulked up to 204 at the combine while shrinking two inches to 5-10 when NFL officials were holding the tape. He was the shortest quarterback at the combine while the other Day 1 quarterbacks are 6-3 or taller.

Table: Player NCAA stats (2019-22)

Year School Games Runs Yards TD Pass Complete Yards Avg. TD Int
2020 Alabama 7 9 -23 0 22 13 156 7.1 1 0
2021 Alabama 15 81 0 3 547 366 4872 8.9 47 7
2022 Alabama 12 49 185 4 380 245 3328 8.8 32 5

 

Pros

  • High intellect with excellent instincts
  • Highly accurate, particularly with short to intermediate throws
  • Very elusive with great start-and-stop and burst
  • Master at creating plays when he goes off-script
  • Confident and never rattled
  • Superior skills at reading defenses, locating the open receiver
  • Quick and compact release
  • Not a cannon arm but can make all throws

Cons

  • His only real knock is size – not only short, but also thin build
  • Mobile enough to extend plays but won’t add much via runs
  • Joins Kyler Murray as shortest quarterback in NFL
  • Will be the lightest starting quarterback in the NFL

Fantasy outlook

There is a distinct chance that Young becomes the first pick of the NFL draft, currently owned by the Carolina Panthers. There will be a batch of quarterbacks likely taken within the first ten picks and Young will immediately start wherever he ends up. Since he’s primarily a pocket passer, the quality of his receivers and offensive scheme will have a large bearing on his early success. Young is mobile enough to buy time for a play to develop (or turn into something new), but he’s likely to remain behind the line of scrimmage instead of taking off on a downfield scamper.

He has to prove that his height will not be a limitation and he correlates closely with Kyler Murray in size though less so in playing style. Murray ran for 1,001 yards in his final year at Oklahoma and at least 400 yards in each NFL season. Young never ran more than 185 yards in any college season and for just 81 yards in his Heisman year.

Young is a gifted passer and dominated at every level that he’s ever played. Pin-point passes, leading receivers on deep routes, masterfully creating plays whenever he needed to improvise. When he had two great receivers in Jameson Williams and John Metchie in 2021, he threw for 47 scores and won the Heisman. His success will be a little more reliant on his receivers than a running quarterback, but this is a highly intelligent quarterback that puts in the work while owning elite instincts.

Young has to play bigger than 5-10. He’s not going to abandon plays and take off on a run like Murray. He’s in the bigger and faster NFL but his formidable success has been entirely built on elite passing skills and that always translates well.

2022 NFL Draft Scouting Report: WR Alec Pierce, Cincinnati

Alec Pierce looks to provide a speedy, possession role in the NFL.

Alec Pierce turned in his best season when he led the Cincinnati Bearcats with 52 receptions for 884 yards and eight scores in 2021, all coming from fellow draft-hopeful quarterback Desmond Ridder. Pierce’s resume may seem a bit lighter on production, but he played special teams as a freshman and missed games in 2020 with a knee injury during an already-shortened season due to COVID.

Pierce was a mismatch as a deep threat during Cincinnati’s fine 2021 season that ended in the Peach Bowl with a three-point loss to Georgia. He averaged over 17 yards in the three seasons that he played wideout on a team that didn’t throw much.

Height: 6-3
Weight: 211 pounds
40 time: 4.41 seconds

The physical receiver should have no problems landing on an NFL team as an aggressive big-body receiver that can play outside on either side. His performance at the NFL Combine boosted his stock further with a 4.41 40-time and a 40.5″ vertical jump.

Also see: 2022 NFL Draft Central

Table: Alec Pierce NCAA stats (2018-21)

Year School Games Catch Yards Avg. TD Runs Yards TD
2018 Cincinnati 4 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
2019 Cincinnati 12 37 652 17.6 2 0 0 0
2020 Cincinnati 6 17 315 18.5 3 0 0 0
2021 Cincinnati 14 52 884 17.0 8 0 0 0

Pros

  • Big frame with solid speed
  • Excellent at high-point catches over shorter defenders
  • Adept at finding holes in zone coverage
  • Tough enough to control the middle of the field
  • Speed adapts well to vertical routes
  • Will win 50/50 passes
  • Highly competitive
  • Sharp route runner
  • Solid blocker with size to help running game
  • Playmaker that delivers chunk plays

Cons

  • Lacks elite burst
  • Precise route running but lacks fluidity
  • Yards after catch could improve
  • Ran limited route tree in college
  • Will need to learn to defeat NFL jams at the line

Fantasy outlook

Pierce is a big receiver with better-than-average speed, which the NFL always likes. He’s a lock to play the outside and is likely to be a possession receiver than a deep threat. He’s been likened to Jordy Nelson by many scouts and he is roughly the same size and a tad bit faster.

The expectation is that he’ll need to continue his development in the NFL to become a complete receiver. He has the potential to turn into a No. 1 wideout and leading receiver for a team. He has good hands and knows how to get open and come down with the ball. But that will depend on where he lands and the opportunity he’ll get there. Pierce should be a Day 2 pick, and he’s another player that will send teams scrambling to trade up if he falls to the third.

His size and catch radius make him an attractive option in the end zone. He’s been a deep threat in college. Pierce just needs to prove himself in the NFL as an offensive weapon that can be relied on at all three levels of the defense. His best fantasy outcome is to land on an NFL team that has an elite quarterback and win the starting split end or flanker role. He has the potential to develop into a solid fantasy contributor if he translates into a possession receiver.

2022 NFL Draft Scouting Report: WR Wan’Dale Robinson, Kentucky

Wan’Dale Robinson enters NFL draft after tearing up SEC secondaries last year.

Wan’Dale Robinson won the Kentucky Mr. Football as a high school senior in 2018 and he was an elite athlete that played quarterback, receiver,  running back, safety, linebacker, punt returner and kick returner. He initially committed to Kentucky but then switched to Nebraska.

Robinson entered his college career as a hybrid player that was primarily a running back. His usage was more evenly split as a sophomore when he totaled 97 touches. Robinson wanted to be a wideout, so he entered the transfer portal for 2021 and committed back to Kentucky where he played for one season as a dominating receiving. He ended with 104 catches that included eight games with at least eight receptions while playing in the SEC.

Height: 5-8
Weight: 178 pounds
40 time: 4.44 seconds

One of his knocks will be that his college measurements were given as 5-11 in height and 185 pounds. At the NFL Combine, he became 5-8 and 178 pounds. That’s lighter than almost any other starting wideout in the NFL. DeVonta Smith was drafted last year at 175, but now lists at 180. But he’s also 6-0, not a diminutive 5-8.

There’s no denying how well he played against top college competition last year, and he’s been a sore spot for Nebraska’s head coach Scott Frost since he did not use him to his potential. There are plenty of promising characteristics for Robinson, but they’ll balance against the few notable concerns.

Also see: 2022 NFL Draft Central

Table: Wan’Dale Robinson NCAA stats (2018-21)

Year School Games Catch Yards Avg. TD Runs Yards TD
2019 Nebraska 10 40 453 11.3 2 88 340 5
2020 Nebraska 8 51 461 9.0 1 46 240 2
2021 Kentucky 13 104 1334 12.8 7 7 111 7

Pros

  • Deep threat playmaker
  • Explosive first step that creates and maintains separation
  • Dangerous in the open field
  • Can score on any play
  • Abuses coverage on vertical routes
  • Excelled against top SEC competition
  • Offers versatile usage with rushing ability
  • Sharp route runner
  • Elite stop-and-go acceleration
  • Projects as a slot receiver that won’t be covered by a linebacker

Cons

  • Only one season as a starting wide receiver
  • Small frame (5-8, 178 pounds) biggest concern against elite NFL press coverage
  • Smaller catch radius
  • Not likely to be considered for outside role
  • Fast but not truly elite speed

Fantasy outlook

Wan’Dale Robinson has been an explosive playmaker that can impact the game on any catch. He was used as a true wideout in only one season but dominated secondaries when he did.  He’s been likened to Tyreek Hill though he’s a bit smaller (Hill 5-10, 185) and more importantly slower (4.44 vs. 4.29 40-times). Also to Brandin Cooks (5-10, 4.33 40-time). Those NFL wideouts have been highly successful, but their slightly larger frames and faster speed are undeniable difference makers.

Robinson should be a lock to play the slot. He’s been successful against top-end college defenses, but in a league where every defensive back was a star coverage back in college, he’ll have to prove himself again. Robinson won’t offer a big target radius for a quarterback who will need to be more accurate to connect with him. But – he runs precise routes and doesn’t drop passes.

The NFL is ever evolving, and there are more opportunities for versatile backs that can be used in a number of roles. Cooks and Hill aside, there are plenty of past receivers that couldn’t find success in the NFL after wowing in college thanks in large part to the realities of smaller size. And Robinson only played as a true starting wideout for one year (but 104 catches proved he made the transition with ease).

He could have a quieter rookie season learning the NFL way and how to apply his strengths against defenses. If he ends up with one of the more accurate quarterbacks in an offense that loves to pass, he’ll become a fantasy factor even this year. He’s most likely a third-round pick but will become a hot property on Day 3 if he falls that far.

2022 NFL Draft Scouting Report: WR Christian Watson, North Dakota State

NDSU’s Christian Watson raw but tantalizing skillset looking to be drafted in the first 50 picks.

Christian Watson was a good receiver during his five seasons at North Dakota State, but really shot up the draft boards with an impressive Senior Bowl and then wowed again at the NFL Combine with a blazing 4.36 40-time and other intriguing measurements. He’s one of the rare big-bodied wideouts that also offers play-making speed.

Watson red-shirted during his true freshman season in 2017. His best season was the redshirt senior year when he gained 914 total yards and scored eight times. He was a kickoff returner for his final two years and ended with an eye-popping 20.7 yards average catch. Watson enters the draft with electrifying potential that will appeal to many teams, but without the lengthy resume of a high-volume receiver.

Height: 6-4
Weight: 208 pounds
40 time: 4.36 seconds

He played on a Bison team that only lost three games in his four playing seasons while winning  four NCAA Championships. North Dakota State has dominated the Missouri Valley Football Conference and didn’t need to throw many passes in the process. Past Bison’s were Trey Lance and Carson Wentz.

Also see: 2022 NFL Draft Central

Table: Christian Watson NCAA stats (2018-21)

Year School Games Catch Yards Avg. TD Runs Yards TD
2018 NDSU 7 9 165 18.6 0 0 0 0
2019 NDSU 16 34 732 24.3 6 13 162 1
2020 NDSU 10 18 437 21.5 1 21 116 0
2021 NDSU 12 43 800 18.3 7 15 114 1

Pros

  • Rare combination of size and speed
  • Produces as a rusher, receiver and a returner
  • Game-changing playmaker with  20 yards on 32% of his plays
  • Elite kick returner – Averaged 25.4 yards on his career 27 kick returns
  • Improved throughout 2021
  • Excellent body control
  • Quick feet that can defeat press coverage at line
  • Large catch radius – wins 50/50 balls
  • Homerun speed on any deep pass
  • Big enough to run through tackles
  • Elite stop-and-go acceleration

Cons

  • Still very raw – only 104 career receptions
  • Hasn’t always used his size to his advantage
  • Had problems with drops but improved
  • Needs more work on timing

Fantasy outlook

Watson didn’t have the volume of catches like so many other rookie wideouts that are expected to early picks, but his size and speed, coupled with good showings in the Senior Bowl and at the NFL Combine have him expected to go as a late first-round or early second-round pick. That has him available to any team needing an upgrade to their receivers, especially an outside receiver.

Watson has the measurables that NFL teams love in a split end, but his progress in the NFL will depend greatly on the quality of the offense that he joins.  His ability to return kicks is very likely to be relied on as a rookie and that will get him onto the field while his receiving game develops.

The telling part of his draft is if he does go in the second half of the first round, which will indicate a team’s interest in a Year 1 starter and the higher-rated offenses typically are picking late in that round. Had Watson gone to a more prominent college and turned in far higher receptions, he’d be considered an even earlier pick in the first round. But he’s being taken well ahead of where his production level usually dictates because of his favorable measurables and the fact that he was a master of the chunk play whenever he did get the ball into his hands.

Chances are that he won’t reach his peak for several years in the NFL, and even then he could remain more of a returner and deep-ball specialist. But in the right offense, with a top quarterback, his ceiling may end up very high.

2022 NFL Draft Scouting Report: WR Jalen Tolbert, South Alabama

Tolbert is a sleeper type that could easily develop into an NFL starter

The three-sport high school athlete signed with South Alabama over Michigan State and Vanderbilt. He redshirted his 2017 true freshman season after a knee injury during training camp. By his redshirt junior year, he was named All-Sun Belt Conference and opted to return for his redshirt senior year in 2021 where he became the conference Offensive Player of the Year and set school single-season records with 82 catches for 1,474 yards and eight scores.

Tolbert enters the NFL draft at a mature 23 years old, already two years older than any of the current top tier of rookie wideouts. He’s a year older than Ja’Marr Chase. He only started his final two seasons at South Alabama but excelled in each. No other receiver gained more than 630 yards in  either season, while Tolbert’s final year was among the best in the NCAA.

Height: 6-1
Weight: 194 pounds
40 time: 4.49 seconds

Also see: 2022 NFL Draft Central

While Tolbert enters the draft as an “old” rookie, there’s no arguing how he dominated the competition last year when he logged seven games with more than 100 yards and averaged 18 yards-per-carry. He didn’t get the attention  of receivers from more prominent schools, but he’s progressed each year and has the look of a starter in the NFL.

Table: Jalen Tolbert NCAA stats (2018-21)

Year School Games Catch Yards Avg. TD Runs Yards TD
2018 South Alabama 5 5 60 12.0 0 0 0 0
2019 South Alabama 12 27 521 19.3 6 0 0 0
2020 South Alabama 11 64 1085 17.0 8 0 0 0
2021 South Alabama 12 82 1474 18.0 8 0 0 0

Pros

  • Played multiple positions
  • Outstanding big-play ability
  • Three-level ability
  • Stellar body control at the catch point
  • Knack for getting open
  • Tremendous work ethic, student of the game
  • Improved every season
  • Wins contested catches
  • High average catch yardage thanks to run after catch
  • Gains separation with quickness off the line

Cons

  • Sometimes rounds off routes
  • Run blocking can improve
  • Occasional focus drops
  • Lacks elite second-gear acceleration

Fantasy outlook

Tolbert is likely to be a second-day pick. He offers a more complete package than many other rookie wideouts with four college seasons behind him and an ability to play the outside or slot. Tolbert can fit in where the team needs him to be. Though he is already 23, he still has plenty to learn entering the NFL but his attitude and impressive work ethic should see his progress as a receiver continue.

Tolbert is a sleeper type that could easily develop into an NFL starter. He’ll be available to any NFL team given that he’s going to fall between the second and third rounds. Tolbert’s a hard worker and quick study, and if he lands on a team that needs a starting wideout in any of the three positions, Tolbert will compete for that job. He’s likely a better bet in a dynasty league since he does have to adapt to the pro ranks after playing the likes of Appalachian State, Coastal Carolina, and Georgia Southern, but he’s an athletic, mature, high-motor player that comes off a college season averaging 123 yards per game.

At the least, he’s a training camp watch to see how well he fits into wherever he lands. At the most, he could be a deep sleeper on a receiver-needy team.