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Since our beloved Brownies are also in need of a couple front line receivers, I thought I’d give a breakdown of the ones whose names you’ll hear in the top end of the draft. To give you some idea as to how deep the position is this year, there are nearly thirty receivers ranked in the top 200 players overall with ten of those in the top fifty. If it’s a receiver you’re looking for, you should be able to find one or more in this draft.
Let me also say something about how I grade players as a whole and receivers in particular. While size, speed and strength are valuable attributes; equally valuable traits are route running with precision, the ability to outfight a defender for the football and (last but certainly not least) the ability to consistently catch the football with your hands – as opposed to trapping it against your torso. There are also traits that aren’t so easily measured; like one’s intelligence to diagnose a defense, heart, drive, work ethic and how you conduct yourself when you’re away from the practice field, video room or weight room. NFL teams are willing to spend millions of dollars on the right playmaker. God only knows how much has been spent over the years on the wrong ones. And while what players do when it’s “their own time” is truly their own business; once the residual effects from what they do carry on to the field, the video room or the weight room, then there’s a problem that needs to be corrected swiftly and surely. That being said, here are my views concerning the top receivers in the 2015 NFL draft.
Amari Cooper – Junior – Alabama
MEASUREABLES: 6’-1” | 211 lbs. | 31.5” arms | 10” hands
ANALYTICS: 4.42-40 | 33.0 VJ | 120 BJ (no bench press)
CAREER STATS: 228 REC | 3463 YDS | 15.98 AVG | 31 TD over 3 seasons
POSITIVES: Cooper has adequate size to go up against the taller corners in the league. A precise route runner, he gets into and out of his breaks very quickly and fluidly – finding the open spot in the field with speed enough to make the big play. Cooper is a smart, disciplined player that shows good leadership qualities on the field and possesses the ability to make the tough catch in the clutch. He understands the pressure of playing big in the big game and is money when it really counts. Consistently catches the ball with his hands.
NEGATIVES: A high volume receiver, Cooper has been known to have the occasional drop – 13 over the last two seasons. While a concern, it certainly is correctable. Cooper needs to improve his run blocking, or at least the effort he puts into it. He needs to realize that it’s one way he can make an impact for his team without having the football. Occasionally Cooper will stop or adjust a route, which can make his quarterback vulnerable to an interception.
THE BOTTOM LINE: The most polished of the receiver draft, Cooper is ranked as high as third overall on some draft boards across the information superhighway. He’ll certainly not make it out of the top ten. He’s been compared to former Colts receiver Marvin Harrison; and if that’s the case, then selecting Cooper will be a good investment with great dividends early and often. Cooper should be the first receiver taken off the board.
RATING: TOP TEN TALENT
Kevin White – Senior – West Virginia
MEASUREABLES: 6’-3” | 215 lbs. | 32.63”arms| 9.25 hands
ANALYTICS: 4.35-40 | 36.50 VJ | 123 BJ | 23 reps @ 225
CAREER STATS: 144 REC | 1954 YDS | 13.57 AVG | 15 TD over 2 seasons
POSITIVES: White is more than capable of matching up well against the bigger corners of the league and is already stronger than several of them. He explodes off the line of scrimmage and into his routes, often leaving defenders far behind with his 4.35 forty speed. His upside is the highest of all receivers with a first round talent grade because of his explosiveness and big play capability.
NEGATIVES: His route running needs some polish, which will come with hard work and dedication to his craft.
THE BOTTOM LINE: Because of his combination of size, blazing speed and big play ability, it’s conceivable that White could be the first receiver taken off the board – possibly to Oakland at fourth overall. Comparisons to Atlanta Falcons receiver Julio Jones are frequent, which is a very good thing for White’s draft stock. I’ve got him rated as the second best overall receiver in this draft, but he does have a potentially higher ceiling than Amari Cooper.
RATING: TOP TEN TALENT
DeVante Parker – Senior – Louisville
MEASUREABLES: 6’-3” | 209 lbs. |33.25” arms | 9.25” hands
ANALYTICS: 4.45-40 | 36.5 VJ | 125 BJ| 17 reps @ 225
CAREER STATS: 156 REC | 2775 YDS | 17.79 AVG | 33 TD over 4 seasons
POSITIVES: Parker is also well capable of matching up well against the bigger corners. On a team with well below average quarterback play and little else on offense, Parker still managed to make big play after big play. His game shows the dedication necessary to succeed at the next level.
NEGATIVES: He still needs to work on cleaning up his route running. Injuries hindered his playing time in 2015; but when healthy, Parker is a threat to take it to the house any time he touches the football.
THE BOTTOM LINE: With his height and exceptional wing span (80 inches), Parker will fight for and catch any ball thrown into the same zip code. A team in need of a receiver would be well advised to take Parker off the board early. Speculation has it that he could go as early as to Minnesota at number 11, which would re-unite him with his former teammate Teddy Bridgewater. He’s been compared to the Colts Hakeem Nicks, but (IMHO) Parker is taller, faster and a far better overall prospect coming out of college and even a better pro.
RATING: TOP 15 TALENT
Jaelen Strong – Redshirt Junior – Arizona State
MEASUREABLES: 6’-2” | 217 lbs. | 32.5” arms | 9” hands
ANALYTICS: 4.44-40 | 42.0 VJ | 123 BJ (no bench press)
CAREER STATS: 157 REC | 2287 YDS | 14.57 AVG | 17 TD over X seasons
POSITIVES: Nice height/weight/arm length ratio for a receiver. Coming from a basketball background, Strong has the ability to go after the ball with a defender on his hip. He also possesses good hand strength and decent leaping ability to win battles for the football.
NEGATIVES: Still a raw talent as he’s learning to play the receiver position, Strong’s learning curve could take some time as he adjusts to the NFL game. He’s a long strider that lacks that quick burst.
THE BOTTOM LINE: Jalen Strong’s game still needs to develop in terms of route running, but has the hands to make things happen on the field. Will at the very worst develop into a solid possession receiver that will consistently move the chains. Comparisons to Dwayne Bowe are the most frequent.
RATING: FIRST ROUND TALENT
Breshad Perriman – Redshirt Junior – Central Florida
MEASUREABLES: 6’-2” | 212 lbs. | 32” arms | 9.25” hands
ANALYTICS: (no combine drill information)
CAREER STATS: 115 REC | 2243 YDS | 19.50 AVG | 16 TD over 3 seasons
POSITIVES: Having very good height, weight and game speed numbers; Perriman is quick off the snap and eats up the opposing corner’s cushion, causing him to flip his hips and run with him very quickly. He’s also very quick in sudden stops, starts and changes of direction; which finds him having good separation from a defender. Has explosive leaping ability with good timing and catch radius, plus shows excellent body control and ability to track the ball on deep throws. Perriman is both a legitimate deep threat and a solid downfield blocker when he’s not the play’s targeted ball handler.
NEGATIVES: Still raw in his route running, Perriman is also inconsistent catching the ball with his hands. He needs to be more focused in his efforts if he’s to overcome those inconsistencies. He often allows the football to come to him; then traps it between his hands and chest instead of going up and grabbing it out of the air with his hands.
THE BOTTOM LINE: Perriman will tantalize you with all his physical features; then frustrate you with his drops and inconsistent and sloppy route running. You readily see the untapped potential, but you end up scratching your head wondering if the light will ever fully come on. Some compare him to Kenny Britt, but I think he more closely resembles Braylon Edwards – but without the unmerited sense of entitlement. In the year Edwards came out, he made the list of first round players that scare me. Not that Perriman belongs in that class, but there are some flaws in his game that will likely keep him outside of the first round.
RATING: SECOND ROUND TALENT
Devin Smith – Senior – Ohio State
MEASUREABLES: 6’-0” | 196 lbs. | 31” arms | 9” hands
ANALYTICS: 4.42-40 | 31.0 VJ | 122 BJ | 10 reps @ 225
CAREER STATS: 121 REC | 2503 YDS | 20.69 AVG |30 TD over 4 seasons
POSITIVES: Smooth, quick and seemingly effortless coming off the line and almost instantly kicked into high gear; Smith has the body control of a greyhound. This kid will give corners fits at the next level. In his Senior year alone, he averaged 28.2 yards per catch and 54.5% of his receptions were 25 yards or more. You might as well write “BIG PLAY” across the front of his jersey.
NEGATIVES: Smith needs to add muscle mass in order to effectively thwart off the more physical corners at the next level. His hands need to be softer – he “double catches” the ball too often. He needs to give more effort when run blocking.
THE BOTTOM LINE: The production cannot be overlooked, but Smith will need to start out as a slot receiver at the next level and then grow into becoming an X or Z receiver at the next level. He’s not strong enough to take on the more physical corners, so he’ll need to be sent in motion to get off the line until he adds the much-needed muscle mass. That said; Smith does have big play ability because of his speed and ability to change directions quickly. As an added bonus, Smith would be a good return man or gunner on special teams. Comparisons to DeSean Jackson are frequent, but Smith is a better teammate and Jackson is a better natural hands catcher.
RATING: LATE FIRST TO SECOND ROUND TALENT
Dorial Green-Beckham – Redshirt Junior – Oklahoma (by way of Missouri)
MEASUREABLES: 6’-5” | 237 lbs. | 32.5” arms | 9” hands
ANALYTICS: 4.49-40 | 33.5 VJ | 119 BJ | 13 reps @ 225
CAREER STATS: 87 REC | 1278 YDS | 14.69 AVG | 17 TD over 2 seasons
POSITIVES: Outstanding height, weight and speed numbers are the first things that stand out. A sure hands catcher with a huge catch radius, Green-Beckham has the rare ability to turn potential interceptions into receptions. He has excellent body control and can haul in a throw even when his eyes pick it up late. Shows the ability to drive corners deep and then break off routes for wide open looks underneath, then explode into high gear for extra yards after the catch.
NEGATIVES: Often struggles against physical corners due to lack of strength. He runs sloppy pass routes and shows a work ethic that’s suspect at best. He missed the entire 2014 season after being kicked off the football team for his role in a burglary and then transferred to Oklahoma. Was suspended twice previously from the Missouri football team after being arrested twice on marijuana related incidents. It’s also been reported that he shoved a female student down a flight of stairs, but no charges were filed. Considered a bad apple by some, Green-Beckham may drop one or two rounds – possibly more – from where he otherwise might be drafted.
THE BOTTOM LINE: This kid has tons of natural talent just oozing out of his pores, but lacks the self discipline required to have a long and successful career in the NFL. I’m asked from time to time if there’s a player I wouldn’t draft under any circumstances. Given the Browns recent trials and tribulations with Josh Gordon, this may be one player that they should take off their board completely; which is a shame because this kid has HOF potential.
RATING: LATE FIRST TO SECOND ROUND TALENT – RED FLAG BEHAVIORAL ISSUES
Devin Funchess – Junior – THAT SCHOOL UP NORTH
MEASUREABLES: 6’-4” | 232 lbs. | 33.5” arms | 9.75” hands
ANALYTICS: 4.70-40 | 38.5 VJ | 122 BJ | 17 reps @ 225
CAREER STATS: 126 REC | 1715 YDS | 13.61 AVG | 15 TD over 3 seasons
POSITIVES: His size alone makes him a match up nightmare, particularly in the red zone. Funchess is a physical receiver with upper body strength to thwart off press coverage and possesses fluid hips for a player of his size. He’s smooth on intermediate pass routes.
NEGATIVES: Drops are a problem with Funchess, having 20 of them over the last three seasons. Catching the football is almost always an adventure as he often traps it against his frame instead of grabbing it with his hands and then bringing it into his body. He slows down into his breaks and has trouble getting back to speed out of them. Blocking is also an issue, particularly for a player his size. He does not appear to be a leader on the field nor a particularly good teammate, as he seems to lack a killer instinct. His 40 time is also worrisome.
THE BOTTOM LINE: Part of the problem with Funchess is figuring out where and when to play him. He’s listed on some sites as a TE, but he’s certainly not an inline blocker. He’s not an X or Z receiver because his game lacks top end speed and overall refinement. I think that he’ll be most effectively used in the slot running intermediate routes where he could certainly make a living, but probably not be anything spectacular. Then there are the drops. Can that be corrected with him? Is it solely a matter of focus, concentration and dedication to his craft, or is there something lacking between the ears?
RATING: SECOND TO THIRD ROUND TALENT – POTENTIAL DRAFT BUST
Sammie Coates – Redshirt Junior – Auburn
MEASUREABLES: 6’-1” | 212 lbs. | 33.38” arms | 9.38” hands
ANALYTICS: 4.43-40 | 41.0 VJ | 131 BJ | 23 REPS @ 225
CAREER STATS: 82 REC | 1757 YDS | 21.43 AVG | 13 TD over 3 seasons
POSITIVES: Coates looks the part of an NFL receiver with good height and a solidly defined frame that reflects well on his size/speed ratio. He has the ability to make the big plays and saves his best performances for the biggest games. See Auburn vs. Alabama 2014.
NEGATIVES: Lack of focus seems to be his kryptonite; as he’s not always on the same page as his quarterback and a drop rate of nearly 20% makes him an unreliable target. His inconsistent play speed with frequent gear downs on deep routes often turn potential long completions into overthrows.
THE BOTTOM LINE: Sammie, Sammie, Sammie . . . When is the light going to turn on with you? You’re going to give your head coach so many gray hairs because he’ll see your exceptional raw physical talent, but then see your inconsistent play on film and wonder why his GM drafted you in the first place. You need to get your head out of your rectal chute, wake up and wise up. Don’t waste your God given ability. Bear down, focus up and put the work in so you can become something great at the next level. If you can find a way to do it, then you’ll be a draft day steal. If not, then you’ll be just another draft bust.
RATING: SECOND TO THIRD ROUND TALENT – POTENTIAL DRAFT BUST
Nelson Agholor – Junior – Southern California
MEASUREABLES: 6’-0” | 198 lbs. | 32.25” arms | 9.25” hands
ANALYTICS: 4.42-40 | 12 reps @ 225
CAREER STATS: 179 REC | 2571 YDS | 14.36 AVG | 20 TD over 3X seasons
POSITIVES: A fierce competitor and precise rout runner; Agholor is able to get an early advantage over defenders, and is very instinctive in finding the soft spots in the zone. He frequently works his way back to the ball and is an excellent hands catcher with good snatch and run readiness. Agholor also shows good ability to track the throw over his shoulder and has the added value of being an excellent returner.
NEGATIVES: Angholor’s frame is a bit on the lean side and needs to add muscle mass. Because of this, he’s not as effective a run blocker as he could be; although he’s very willing to mix it up against a defender. He’s more quick than he is fast and doesn’t get separation on deeper routes.
THE BOTTOM LINE: This kid has some ability and will be effective as a slot receiver at the next level once he bulks up, although his ceiling appears to be lower than a number of other players listed in this article. He has soft, reliable hands but his game lacks physicality. Agholor may never be a true deep threat, but has return ability.
RATING: SECOND TO THIRD ROUND TALENT
Well, there you have it folks. That’s my take on the top ten receivers in this year’s draft class. If you have any questions about other receivers, I’ll be glad to answer them on an individual basis.
Am I going mad, or did the word THINK escape your lips? You were not hired for your brains, you hippopotamic landmass!
Ice . . . If they do and you do, then it’ll be even more epic than what a former co-host of THE REALLY BIG SHOW did last year. More realistically, I see Farmer trading up to get his man – whoever he ends up being. The Browns currently have ten picks in this year’s draft at their disposal. Does anyone expect them to bring ten draft picks into camp? I certainly don’t.
Am I going mad, or did the word THINK escape your lips? You were not hired for your brains, you hippopotamic landmass!
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