NFL Draft 2014 Preview (21 page)

Future:
The Big Ten’s leading receiver the last two seasons, Robinson is a big, fluid, outside receiver with a nice combination of “above-the-rim” prowess and run-after-catch ability. Offers possession skills, playmaking ability and red-zone utility to develop into a solid No. 2 option.

Draft projection:
Second- to third-round pick.

Scout’s take:
“I don’t like his demeanor. When you see he is not getting the ball, you see antics. I do like his size. He is like Anquan Boldin that way. He is a power receiver.”

WR [F]-RS JALEN SAUNDERS, #8

OKLAHOMA
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Grade: 5.22

Ht: 5-8 7/8 | Wt: 165 | Sp: 4.44 | Arm: 30 | Hand: 8 7/8

History:
Also ran track as a California prep. Began his college career at Fresno State in 2010, where he played all 13 games (one start) and had 30 receptions for 462 yards (15.4-yard average) and three touchdowns. Added 32 kickoff returns for 738 yards (23.1). Started 8-of-13 games in ’11, snagging 50-1,065-12 (21.3). Following ’12 spring practice, transferred to Oklahoma because he did not like the way he was being used in new head coach Tim DeRuyter’s offense. Once eligible, he started 8-of-9 games for the Sooners and produced 62-829-3 (13.4). Started all 13 games in ’13, totaling 61-729-8 (12.0). Also returned 31 career punts for 465 yards (15.0), including three scores.

Strengths:
Light on his feet with a fluid stride. Good balance and body control. Nifty, conscientious route runner. Has speed and twitch to separate vs. man coverage — sinks his hips with ease and pops out of breaks. Quick, soft hands. Slippery after the catch. Eludes the first tackler and can turn a short throw into a long gain if he gets a step. Three punt-return TDs in 25 returns at OU — eludes the first wave, runs to daylight and can take it the distance.

Weaknesses:
Marginal size. Cannot play outside — is easily knocked off course and needs a free release. Lets throws into his body. Small catch radius. Lacks elite top-end vertical speed, especially for his size (averaged just 12.0 yards per catch as a senior). Outmuscled in a crowd. Limited run strength. Lets throws into his body. Weak blocker — gets ragdolled outside. Durability could be a concern — is not built to take a pounding.

Future:
A Fresno State transfer, Saunders is a lightweight, quicker-than-fast, competitive slot receiver and punt returner. Will always have size limitations, but has the hands, suddenness, polish and moxie to be a useful piece for a creative offensive coordinator able to free him up. Return ability adds to value.

Draft projection:
Fifth- to sixth-round pick.

Scout’s take:
“He is a team’s fifth receiver and punt returner. He’s not strong. He has to be in the slot, but he’s not an ideal slot receiver because he is too small. So the question becomes — what do you do with him? He had two touchdown returns on punts, but they were both short returns, and nothing he did made it happen. He was first-team all-conference as a punt returner, but second as a receiver. It kind of reminded me of Ace Sanders, but better. I was not a Sanders’ fan.”

WR [F] WILLIE SNEAD, #3 (JUNIOR)

BALL STATE
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Grade: 5.16

Ht: 5-11 | Wt: 195 | Sp: 4.62 | Arm: 33 | Hand: 10 1/4

History:
Prepped in Michigan, where he played for his father and was the AP’s Division 5-6 Player of the Year as a dual-threat quarterback. As a true freshman in 2011, started 4-of-11 games and had 28 catches for 327 yards (11.7-yard average) and two touchdowns. Started 12-of-13 games in ’12 and piled up 89-1148-9 (12.9). Started all 13 games in ’13, producing 106-1,516-15 (14.3).

Strengths:
Controlled mover with nice balance. Gets in and out of breaks cleanly. Runs crisp routes — shows some savvy and subtle physicality to work himself open. Tracks and adjusts very well. Has soft, sure hands and catches naturally. Good concentration to make contested catches. Confident and competitive. Excellent two-year production.

Weaknesses:
Lacks ideal height. Fairly monotone — does not have explosive speed to separate vertically. Too many catches are contested. Lacks wiggle to elude tacklers and create after the catch. Did not face top-notch competition.

Future:
Productive, dependable, fairly polished possession receiver with natural receiving skills. Lacks ideal size and horsepower to thrive outside, but his sure hands give him a chance to compete for a role as a chain-moving, short-to-intermediate slot receiver.

Draft projection:
Late draftable pick.

WR [F]-PR JOSH STEWART, #5

OKLAHOMA STATe
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Grade: 5.14

Ht: 5-9 7/8 | Wt: 178 | Sp: 4.69 | Arm: 30 | Hand: 9 3/8

History:
Has a son. New Orleans native who relocated to Dallas because of Hurricane Katrina. Lost his mother and older brother in a car accident when he was just a baby, then was present when an accidental gunshot killed his father when he was five. Also played basketball as a Texas prep. Was a reserve as a true freshman in 2011 — played all 13 games and caught 19 balls for 291 yards (15.3-yard average) and two touchdowns. Also returned 13 kickoffs for 261 yards (20.1). Started 10-of-13 games in ’12, amassing 101-1,210-7 (12.0). Was the Cowboys’ leading receiver for the second straight season in ’13 when he started 10-of-12 games played and posted 60-703-3 (11.7). Sprained his left ankle against Kansas and sat out against Texas. Also had 26 career punt returns for 438 yards (16.8), including a pair of scores.

Strengths:
Good balance and body control. Runs routes with tempo and gear change to create separation. Nice stop-and-start quickness in short area. Flexible lower half to get in and out of breaks cleanly and execute speed outs and double moves. Shifty and slippery. Tracks and adjusts to throws very well. Quick hands. Attacks throws in the air. Experienced working from the slot. Can flip field position as a punt returner — makes one move to elude the first wave and runs to daylight. Confident and mentally tough. Pleasing, coachable and well-liked.

Weaknesses:
Size is just adequate — lacks ideal height. Needs to bulk up and get stronger. Struggles to get off the jam and can be rerouted by more physical defensive backs. Lacks elite top-end speed to separate vertically. Ran an abbreviated route tree. Limited run strength. Underpowered blocker. Ordinary playmaking ability — averaged less than 12 yards per catch from 2012-13. Production decreased as a junior.

Future:
Small-framed, quicker-than-fast slot receiver and punt returner. Is not uniquely electric, and will have to get his foot in the door on special teams. Stewart would have benefited from another year of college development, but is the type you root for, having persevered through tragedy and adversity.

Draft projection:
Priority free agent.

WR [X] DEVIN STREET, #15

PITTSBURGH
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Grade: 5.23

Ht: 6-2 7/8 | Wt: 198 | Sp: 4.54 | Arm: 33 3/8 | Hand: 9 1/4

History:
Prepped at Bethlehem (Pa.) Liberty, where he went to three state title games (one win) and excelled in track and field. Redshirted in 2009. Played all 13 games in ’10, starting four, and caught 25 balls for 318 yards (12.7-yard average) and two touchdowns. Sustained a concussion during ’11 fall camp. In the fall, started all 13 games and snagged 53-754-2 (14.2). Was charged (via mailed summons) with simple assault and conspiracy in November after a student told police he was hit in the head during a confrontation with Street and two other players — ultimately the charge was reduced to disorderly conduct, and Street was given community service. Was the Panthers’ leading receiver for the second straight season in ’13 when he started all 13 games and totaled 73-975-5 (13.4). In ’13, managed 51-854-7 (16.7) in 10 starts — hurt his right shoulder against Virginia Tech and sat out against Old Dominion, then injured his elbow against Syracuse and missed the final two games against Miami and Bowling Green. Also rushed 11 times in his career for 77 yards (7.5) and zero touchdowns. Owns the school’s career receptions mark (202). Team captain.

Strengths:
Has excellent length and room for added bulk. Chews up ground with long strides. Is a big target underneath with a sizable catch radius. Shows natural receiving skills to track, concentrate and adjust. Soft, dependable hands to extend and pull in a throw off his body. Uses his big frame to post up defensive backs. Nice field awareness. Lined up outside and inside. Solid personal and football character. Productive, 40-game starter. Team captain.

Weaknesses:
Has a thin build and could stand to pack on body armor — durability could be an issue. Needs to get stronger, particularly to improve his release vs. the jam. Builds to speed and is not a threat to take the top off. Leggy and fairly straight-linish — does not pop out of breaks or separate with quickness. Inconsistent route runner. Not aggressive or physical as a blocker. Can be more cognizant of ball security — carries loosely and swings the ball away from his body. Limited special-teams utility.

Future:
Pitt’s all-time leading pass catcher, Street is a narrowly built, long-levered, smooth-muscled receiver whose best assets are his length and hands. Needs to incorporate more physicality into his overall game, but has the ability to be an effective zone beater and red-zone target.

Draft projection:
Fourth- to fifth-round pick.

WR [X] L’DAMIAN WASHINGTON, #2

MISSOURI
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Grade: 5.20

Ht: 6-3 7/8 | Wt: 195 | Sp: 4.44 | Arm: 33 3/8 | Hand: 9

History:
Father was shot and killed in 1996 and his mother died from complications of a blood clot during one of his basketball games sophomore year of high school in Louisiana. Redshirted in 2009. Played 12 games in ’10 (one start) and scratched five receptions for 35 yards (4.8-yard average) and zero touchdowns. A reserve again in ’11, had 20-364-3 (18.2) in 13 games. Started all 12 games in ’12 — first six at “Z” receiver, final six at “X” receiver — and tallied 25-443-2 (17.7). Started all 14 games at the “Z” in ’13, producing 59-692-3 (11.9). Dealt with turf toe on his left foot the final five games of the season. Team captain.

Strengths:
Very good body and arm length. Outstanding timed speed. Can threaten vertically and has explosive, big-play ability. Very competitive. Emotional leader driven to succeed. Very hard worker. Willing blocker.

Weaknesses:
Classic body-catcher with small, skillet hands — consistently smothers and traps the ball. Does not track the deep ball well and adjustments look unnatural. Very inconsistent hand placement. Has a very skinny build and plays small in the run game — does not finish blocks. A bit straight-linish — not elusive after the catch. Tends to build to speed. Does not show a good feel for zones. Disappears for stretches. Could stand to improve beating the jam.

Future:
A speed merchant with raw catching skills, Washington is still developing as a football player and has the type of determination to become a success story if he continues to refine his hands and work at the craft.

Draft projection:
Fifth- to sixth-round pick.

Scout’s take:
“He’s a straight-line speed guy with terrible hands. He drops a lot of balls — he does not know how to adjust his hands. He is so skinny. He plays small — he don’t block. He’s does not have immediately explosive acceleration. I thought he was a height-weight-speed guy. He’s not even a B catcher. He’s probably a C catcher. Someone will like him because of his speed, but the ball will have to be dropped right in his belly. Man he is a scary catcher — if the ball goes anywhere outside his frame, he has no hand placement and is flailing on balls that should have been caught.”

WR [Z, F, X] SAMMY WATKINS, #2 (JUNIOR)

CLEMSON
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Grade: 7.25

Ht: 6-0 3/4 | Wt: 211 | Sp: 4.43 | Arm: 32 | Hand: 9 5/8

History:
Brother, Jaylen, played cornerback at Florida (2010-13). Sammy was an elite recruit out of Florida, where he also won the AA state title in the 200 meters and finished second in the 100 meters. In 2011, was just the fourth first-year freshman in NCAA history to garner AP first-team All-America recognition, joining Herschel Walker, Marshall Faulk and Adrian Peterson — started 10-of-13 games and produced 82 receptions for 1,219 yards (14.9-yard average) and 12 touchdowns. Hurt his right shoulder against Wake Forest and sat out against North Carolina State. In May ’12 was charged with two counts of misdemeanor possession when he was pulled over and found to have marijuana and pills he didn’t have a prescription for (expunged upon completion of pre-trial intervention). In the fall, served a two game suspension before starting 7-of-10 games played and managing 57-708-3 (12.4) opposite Texans ’13 first-rounder DeAndre Hopkins . Did not play against Boston College (abdominal virus) and was knocked out of the Chick-fil-A Bowl against LSU on the second play (right ankle). Started 12-of-13 games in ’13, racking up 101-1464-12 (14.5), including 16-227-2 against Ohio State in the Orange Bowl. For his career, also returned 60 kickoffs for 1,376 yards (22.9), including a score, and returned punts 9-23 (2.6). Added 52 rushes for 339 yards (5.3) and a touchdown. Owns 23 Clemson records, including career receptions (240), receiving yards (3,391) and touchdowns (27, tied with Hopkins).