2015 NFL Draft: Receiver

This is quite a group of receivers. The 2014 class turned out to be great, and this year’s class looks just as good going into the draft so we’ll see how they fair this fall. I expect the top 3 prospects to be gone by pick 13. Some might disagree with my rankings, but that’s probably because I don’t trust the stopwatch if it conflicts with the film.

Amari Cooper*-WR-Alabama-6’1”211-Top Ten-98

Gotta love Coop. He’s the purest separation receiver I’ve ever scouted. Nobody, repeat, nobody could stay near him in college. He caught 124 passes for 1,727 yards and 16 touchdowns in the goddamn SEC. He’s young but he’s a terrific route runner just check the clip against my beloved Auburn Tigers. Unfortunately for him his arms are sub 32” and his vert is only 33”, but those measurements would mean a lot more to a possession receiver. His 4.42 40 confirms his speed. He shows ability to beat the press and regularly torched double coverage. He’s dirty. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x7DCw_9Zi4s

DeVante Parker-WR-Louisville-6’3”-209-Top 20-96

Long lean receiver, played about 7 lbs lighter than he was at the combine which makes his 4.45 more impressive. He has great physical awareness and soft hands. He doesn’t have “See ya later” separation speed like Demaryius Thomas, but very quick, much more so than Kevin White as evidenced by his 10 yard split of a blazing 1.56 seconds. Definitely a pure outside receiver who can run the entire downfield route tree and either gain separation or make a difficult catch. I think his best pro comparison is A.J. Green, but I think A.J. is just a little more talented in just about every area. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OMvumtxCQik

Kevin White-WR-West Va.-6’3”-215-Top 15-94

People are getting amped about Kev. I think he is a terrific prospect, but he is not the best in this class. He absolutely can catch contested balls, check the video. But after running 4.35 at the combine people think he’s also a separation guy, he’s not. His 10 yard split was 1.66, which basically means, he doesn’t have elite quickness. On film he doesn’t show great change of direction ability either. Also, his stance is flat footed and awkward. That all being said, he is a big receiver who has a top gear and can catch jump balls in traffic. That’s top 20 caliber. But he’s not going to be Amari Cooper or A.J. Green or Dez Bryant. He’ll be like Julio Jones but not quite as good. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i91rlk1AwwU

Jaelen Strong*-WR-Arizona St.-6’2”-217-1st/2nd-91

Physical receiver who is not going to get much separation cuz he doesn’t play up to his 4.44. Uses his body very well and has natural hands. The 42” vert is great and should help him with jump balls to go along with his back shoulder prowess. I see a lot of Marques Colston and Dwayne Bowe in his game. Not gonna be a nightmare number 1 receiver but a good chain mover and redzone target (10 scores last fall). https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pmydnz2fi8k

Devin Smith-WR-Ohio St.-6’0”-196-1st/2nd-87

Listen to this stat line. 32 catches for 886 yards and 12 touchdowns. He averaged 27.7 yards per catch and more than a touchdown for every 3 receptions. Absolute one dimensional deep threat, but everyone knew it in college and he could still hit it including against Alabama. His closest pro comparison is absolutely Mike Wallace. Devin ran a 4.42 whereas Wallace ran a 4.33 and DeSean Jackson clocked in at 4.35. He’s not as complete a receiver as DeSean, but he had a much more prolific college career than Wallace. I think he’s a high 2nd round pick, but I would not fault anyone for taking him in the 1st. Just know that his ceiling is Mike Wallace, and that’s not looking too good right now. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oh1YgZyJYDg

Phillip Dorsett-WR-Miami-5’10”-185-2nd Day-87

Kid has legit speed. Ran a 4.33 40 yard dash at the combine and plays at that speed. Can flat run by people averaging 24.5 yards per catch in 2014. Has solid build for a little guy. Not a polished route runner but that’s teachable. He reminds me of Kendall Wright coming out of Baylor a few years back. I think he has a wider range of skills than Devin Smith, though Smith is better downfield. Dorsett should catch screens, crossers, and streaks from the slot or outside. Has also shown the ability to contest for jump balls with his 37” vertical. Somebody’s going to be happy with him in the 2nd. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zWknWYMqAWc

Breshad Perriman-WR-UCF-6’2”-212-1st/2nd-82

Everyone’s freaking out about this guy because he has number 1 receiver size and ran a 4.25 at his pro day. Unfortunately on the field he looks closer to 4.4. He definitely has the tools to succeed at the next level but he’s a pretty raw route runner. He reminds me of Stephen Hill or Cordarelle Patterson or a poor man’s DeMaryius Thomas. He averaged 20 yards per catch the last 2 years which is a product of his best route: run straight. At this point you don’t see him do much else, which doesn’t mean he can’t. He has unreliable hands but also the ability to make tough and sometimes spectacular catches. Perriman drops to day 2 for me because he doesn’t have route running skills yet and doesn’t have dominant size or speed.

Devin Funchess*-WR-Michigan-6’5”-230-Day 2-81

The line between tight end and receiver is blurring and this guy seems to lean more WR. Basically looks like Tim Wright with an extra inch. Played two years as a tight end then moved to wideout for his Junior year and wore #1 for Michigan which might as well be a bulls eye. Showed some highlight catches along the sideline and back of the endzone but also dropped some. Catches a lot of shallow zone routes and needs work as a route runner but he’s young. 4.7 40 but plays faster. 38.5”vert is nice, long arms and good sized hands. He looks like a Kelvin Benjamin type but didn’t show the production in college or the physicality. He’s a good prospect with his size and athleticism, but he can’t block enough to make the two TE formation a mismatch in the running game and he doesn’t have the separation or catch in traffic ability to be a #1 option so that pushes him to day 2. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nPDWYi-4CQA

Tyler Lockett-WR-Kansas State-5’10”-182-3rd Round/Day-79

When I saw him play this fall I kept thinking how long has this Lockett kid been at K State? Then I found out his father played there in the 90’s and I realized I’ve been watching football for a long ass time. Tyler broke all his father’s records posting 1500+ yards on over 100 catches in 2014. His size alone will push him into the 3rd round if not further. He’s got good speed clocking in with a 4.40 in the 40 and shows the ability to separate with savvy route running. By all accounts has very high character and football IQ. Play callers will have to get creative in order to get Lockett free releases. I think he can be a Troy Brown type. For the last few years Lockett has been one of the best kick and punt returnmen in the nation. His size and hip stiffness are drawbacks, but I wouldn’t bet against this kid. Check out this vicious double move at 1:50 in this video.. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UCAdtzKnIDs

Sammie Coates*-WR-Auburn-6’1”-212-2nd-78

My Auburn boy. Sammie Coates college career was up and down for me. He would catch an incredible 50 yard pass in traffic and then drop two hitches. That’s the concern for me at the next level. But he has serious big play skills. Coates is an absolute physical specimen. Big, fast (4.43 in the 40), long (33.5” arms), and explosive (41” vertical). Had a bum knee for much of 2014 and has had some injury issues. I think he’ll go in the 2nd round but his drop issues and lack of route diversity pushes him into the 3rd for me. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mGFVE0ZEYfk

Rashad Greene-WR-Florida St.-5’11”-182-Day/Round 3-76

Was hugely productive in Tallahassee as Jameis’ go-to. If I gave him a nickname it would be Ole Reliable. Isn’t an exceptional athlete with a 4.53 in the 40 and a 36” vertical. Those aren’t bad numbers, they just confirm what you see on the field: he’s going to have to be very crafty to get open. Most of his catches seem to come against zone coverage so you don’t often see him win against man. I was going to give him a 4th round grade until I saw this one route. Watch this unbelievable post-corner at 3:35 in this video. That clip alone pushes him into the 3rd round for me. Greene can play right away, inside or out. He should watch some Reggie Wayne film. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EnjrsGWVlNk

Dorial Green-Beckham*-WR-Missouri-6’5”-237-Who the fuck knows-75

He’s the enigma of this year’s draft. He’s got measurables like Calvin Johnson but he got kicked off the team at Mizzou. He’s big, fast, and can high point the ball but sometimes looks unfocused on tape. He was the number 1 recruit coming out of High School but might not crack the top 5 receiver selections come draft time. Allegedly involved in a burglary and arrested twice for weed which might be the most worrisome part considering what’s happened with Josh Gordon. On the field he is not a route runner, isn’t physical enough for his size, and builds speed, though in some clips he shows a burst. 4.49 in the 40 and 33” vert are pretty good for a man this size, I see some Jonathan Baldwin comparisons. He was a solid citizen at Oklahoma despite not playing a game last fall, but the bottomline for DGB is he is a project at receiver with a history of off-field issues. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OHpPFIMtrNg

Tony Lippett-WR-Michigan State-6’2”-192-Day 3-74

Absolutely love this guy. Watched him play offense, defense, and special teams in the Cotton Bowl. Was the team MVP for the Spartans and deserved it as a jack of all trades who excelled making big plays on 3rd down and in the redzone. Everyone’s sleeping on him because he doesn’t jump off the screen with decent size and a slow 40 time at 4.61 seconds. Probably a 4th round prospect as a possession receiver who didn’t stand out at the Senior Bowl, but his versatility pushes him into the 3rd for me. Oddly enough his greatest value might be as a developmental tall cornerback prospect.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=leS7fBIACnM

Ty Montgomery-WR-Stanford-6’0”-221-Day 3-72

Had no intention of scouting this kid until he jumped off the screen when I was checking out Andrus Peat. He’s a weird tweener athlete that is built like a running back back but plays like a receiver. There’s something about the way he runs that looks like he’ll make it at the next level. It reminds me of Santonio Holmes.He’s got good foot quickness, big bodied slot guy, maybe he’ll make plays out of the backfield. Plus he’s a returner. This one is just a shot in the dark, but I’ll be keeping my eye on him over the next few years.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lb2LUWV6S48

Chris Conley-WR-Georgia-6’2”-213-Round/Day 3-72

The only reason I’m writing about Conley is his reedonkulous performance at the combine in February. At his size he ran the 40 yard dash in 4.35 seconds which makes you take notice. But then he followed that up with a vertical leap of 45 mother fucking inches. Outrageous. On the field it’s slightly different. He was the number one receiver for the Bulldogs the last 2 years, but didn’t establish himself as a great player in the SEC. He has some tools to work with but I just don’t see him being more than a number 3 option.