2017 NFL Draft Prospectus: Wide Receivers

1st Round
Mike Williams, Clemson
John Ross, Washington
Corey Davis, Western Michigan
JuJu Smith Schuster, USC

2nd Round
Curtis Samuel, Ohio State* (Written up as a RB)
Zay Jones, East Carolina
Malachi Dupre, LSU
DeDe Westbrook, Oklahoma
Cooper Cupp, Eastern Washington

3rd Round
ArDarius Stewart, Alabama
Noah Brown, Ohio State
Damore'ea Stringfellow, Mississippi
Josh Reynolds, Texas A&M
Chris Godwin, Penn State
KD Cannon, Baylor

4th Round
Chad Hansen, California
Isaiah Ford, Virginia Tech
Travin Dural, LSU
Artavis Scott, Clemson
Carlos Henderson, Louisiana Tech
Gabe Marks, Washington State

5th Round
Chad Williams, Grambling
Travis Rudolph, Florida State
Fred Ross, Mississippi State
Amara Darboh, Michigan
Zach Pascal, Old Dominion
Stacey Coley, Miami
Josh Malone, Tennessee

6th Round
Jalen Robinette, Air Force
Ricky Seals-Jones, Texas A&M
Amba Etta-Tawo, Syracuse
Jehu Chesson, Michigan
Taywan Taylor, Western Kentucky
Jerome Lane, Akron

7th Round
Jamari Staples, Louisville
Keevan Lucas, Tulsa
Ryan Switzer, North Carolina

UFA
Michael Clark, Marshall
Speedy Noil, Texas A&M
Trent Taylor, Louisiana Tech
Dontre Wilson, Ohio State
Chance Allen, Houston

Mike Williams, Clemson
6-4, 218
Williams is one of the most productive receivers in the nation over the last decade in the college game, and should be a clear top five pick in the 2017 NFL Draft. He was a three year player at Clemson, and never caught fewer than 57 passes in a season with the Tigers. That season was his freshman year, as Williams posted a line of 57-1030-6, averaging 18.07 yards per catch.
As a sophomore, Williams sustained a neck injury that limited him to just one game. He caught two passes for 20 yards and a score before the injury, and this season really cannot be counted against or for anything.
Williams returned from his neck injury in 2016 as a junior, and exploded out of the gate. He posted a line of 98-1361-11, and averaged 13.89 YPC.
The Good
Absolutely looks the part, with size, hands and speed to get to the football.
He sells to vertical route well to separate from corners to be able to then cut back to the ball, creates space very well.
Will fight for the football at the high point, and take the ball down.
Has excellent leaping ability to go get the high ball.
Has an eye for the ball, and tracks like a pro.
First rate set of hands, and will not let the ball get to his body.
Top flight concentration in traffic.
Excellent body control, and can get to under thrown footballs.
Just as good running down the sidelines as he is as a receiver in the middle of the field.
Excellent foot work and post catch moves.
The Bad
While he is an excellent hands guy, he did suddenly run into drop issues the second half of junior season.
Does not always run clean routes, and sometimes depends on raw ability to get to the football.
Can be sloppy on his cuts, and sometimes needs to be crisper off the line.
Depends too much on his physical ability at times.
Can get jammed up by press corners off the line, kind of like Randy Moss at Marshall back in the day.
Neck injury looks good now, but could still be cause for concern down the line.
Final Overview
Williams could step in and be a number one receiver for most teams in football right now. He has the ability to become a QBs best friend right out of the gate, His negatives are things that can be coached and worked on, so I would not be too concerned. He has enough ability right now that I would pick him anywhere in the top five right now and run with him.

John Ross, Washington
5-11, 188
Ross was a four year player at Washington, but one of those seasons (2015) was lost to an ACL tear that was suffered in spring ball. As a freshman, Ross posted 16-208-1, averaging 13 yards per grab. He returned 31 kicks for 720 yards and a score, averaging 23.23 yards per return.
As a sophomore, Ross posted 17-371-4, and averaged 21.82 yards per reception. He added 38-938-2 on kick returns, and averaged 24.68 yards per return.
He lost all of 2015, and then returned in 2016 to post 81-1150-17, averaging 14.2 yards per reception. He also posted 17-411-1 on kick returns, with an average of 24.18 yards per return, and showed no lingering issues from his knee injury.
The Good
Major league speed guy, broke the all-time 40 record at the combine at 4.22 seconds.
His speed is a first rate diversion as it demands respect, and that opens up receivers underneath on shorter routes, as his speed alone creates soft spots.
Excellent foot work.
Works through several different gears, and cannot be caught in top gear in the open field.
Hand eye coordination is top shelf.
Excellent tracking skills from any angle.
Can catch the ball in tight spaces, and works well in traffic.
Very elusive, and is very good at tackle evasion.
Can work outside or in the slot.
Top flight kick return man who is capable of breaking off a home run on every return.
The Bad
He is not the biggest or the strongest receiver in the class.
Can get muscled by bigger corners.
Sometimes is sloppy getting into routes, depending more on speed than technique.
His cuts are also sloppy at times, and he sometimes lags in getting back to the football.
He has had major injury to both knees, and although it has not affected his speed, it can down the line with more wear.
Can pout when things do not go his way, and let's emotions get the best of him at times.
Looks more like a speed guy in the slot than a true outside threat in the NFL game.
Final Overview
I am not as personally sold on Ross as some scouts are, but it is easy to fall in love with his speed game. He can be coached up in other areas, but I do not find him to be nearly as complete as Williams is, and is not nearly the lock. THat being said, he has enough talent to warrant a first round discussion, but he will need some coaching up, and will need to be receptive to that.

Corey Davis, Western Michigan
6-3, 209
Davis was the MAC player of the year in 2016, and was a four year starter for the Broncos, and finished his career as the all-time leader in receiving yardage in NCAA history.
He had a rough background coming out of high school, and was an academic reclamation project that worked out. He led WMU in receiving all four years he was there.
As a freshman, Davis broke out with a line of 67-941-6, and averaged 14.04 yards per catch. He upped his game as a sophomore, and posted 78-1408-15, while averaging 18.05 yards per grab.
As a junior, Davis was big again, as he increased his work load once again by posting 90-1436-12, while averaging 15.96 yards per reception.
He broke the all-time receiving record in 2016, and posted 97-1500-19, with an average of 15.46 yards per catch.
The Good
Huge production, and caught 52 total TD passes during his career.
Always wants the ball, and does not tire out.
Will carry a unit, and put the pressure on himself.
Knows how to play a corner, and tracks with exceptional skill.
Can open up the field with his long game, and has solid second gear to get there.
Hard worker, and always is trying to get better, as is shown with a yearly increase in receptions.
Works well in traffic.
Red zone master, and will fight for every ball.
Excellent leaping ability, and will get the high ball.
Very physical receiver.
The Bad
Does not always cut with finesse, and can get sloppy.
Is not as seasoned working out of a slot, and can get messy working inside at that spot of the field.
Does not always flash his speed, and tends to stride rather than sprint.
Has had some drop tendencies.
Can be jammed up by physical corners when he gets lazy off the snap.
Final Overview
I am a big believer in production, and Davis has it in spades. He is simply NFL ready, and his issues that he does have to the negative are issues that can be worked out as a rookie with a first rate coach. I like him over Ross in the first round, and he will be a QBs best friend, if he can stop the simple drops that make people crazy. He will work hard and get better, and with his skills, that is all one can ask. A certain 1st rounder.

Juju Smith-Schuster, USC
6-1, 215
Smith-Schuster was a three year player for the Trojans. He finished second on the team in receiving as a freshman, posting a line of 54-724-5, and averaged 13.41 yards per reception. He played in 14 games as a sophomore, and was the team's leading receiver by posting 89-1454-10, and averaged 16.34 yards per reception, which led all Trojan receivers who finished with 20 or more receptions on the season.
Smith-Schuster was bothered by a litany of injuries as a junior, and saw his production drop somewhat. He posted 70-914-10, and averaged 13.06 yards per grab.
The Good
He has solid size, and will use it to work in traffic.
Will go over the middle for the hard catches.
Will fight for every football, and has excellent movement coming back to the ball.
Knows how to find the soft spot in any zone defense, and will set up camp there.
Solid hands, and will catch the ball away from his body with consistency.
Excellent awareness on sideline grabs, always knows where his feet are against the sideline.
Plus field vision, and follows natural lanes with efficiency.
Good blocker downfield, and blocks with exceptional sell out and power.
Runs like a bigger player in the open field, and can take some hits.
The Bad
Is not always exceptional when breaking on routes, and can get taken off his route by physical DBs.
Does not explode off the snap, and lacks big time speed to create natural separation. Lacks a second gear.
Can get jammed at the line, and does not have any real burst.
Scores in chunks, and is not a consistent scoring threat.
Long strides, but not a great runner, and routes can get sloppy.
Better fit for a slot receiver rather than an outside threat.
Will never really be more than a solid possession receiver, will not be much of a big play guy.
Got banged up at USC...a lot.
Final Overview
Smith-Schuster has enough size and ball skills to rate as a first rounder, but I would not be shocked to see him drop to a second rounder on draft day, or even later because of some perceived short comings.  His physical style of play will lend to injury concerns, and he lacks top shelf speed that is expected of high impact early round receivers. He is solid enough, and in the right spot, I would not hesitate to take him. I believe that he will be highly productive in the right situation, but he also has to stay healthy to get there.

Zay Jones, East Carolina
6-2, 201
Jones is the son of former Dallas Cowboys LB Robert Jones, and is the nephew of Jeff Blake. He broke the NCAA record for career receptions with 399, and broke the single season record with 158 receptions. As a freshman, Jones posted 62-604-5, and averaged 9.74 yards per catch. He added 4 kick returns for 98 yards
As a sophomore, he posted a line of 81-830-5, averaging 10.25 yards per catch. He also returned 24 kicks for 477 yards.
As a junior, Jones led the team with a line of 98-1099-5, and he averaged 11.21 yards per grab, a career high at that time. He only returned one kick that season.
He returned for his senior season in 2016, and posted a whopping line of 158-1746-8, and averaged 11.05 yards per reception.
The Good
Highly productive, averaging 99.75 receptions over four seasons.
Solid hands, will catch the ball away from his body with consistency.
Excellent body control in traffic, and protects the football well.
Will sell out his body for a tough grab, plays with abandon.
Big time leaper, will get after the high ball and win the battles up top.
Solid focus, hard worker.
Top shelf foot work.
Workout warrior, a champ in the weight room.
High football IQ, even higher character.
Has experience returning kicks, and has worked in the slot as well.
The Bad
Played in a pass happy offense in college, so numbers may seem inflated.
He does not have a second gear, and speed overall is average.
Never averaged higher than 11.21 yards per reception in college, meaning he is not a deep threat guy.
Never scored in double figures. Scored just 23 times in four years as a receiver.
Lacks solid size, looks thin, and struggles against physical corners who can muscle him around.
He will get what is there for yards, and nothing more, will not work to create.
Has minimal experience as a run blocker due to the ECU offensive system.
Final Overview
There is enough there with Jones to have me peg him as a second round guy, but he will have to fit a system, rather than going somewhere where the system does not fit the player. He would be perfect with the Patriots or someone like the Texans. He is simply just not a one size fits all kind of receiver.
He has the pedigree to succeed in the league, but even better, he is a sought after character type who will be solid. In short, draft him if he fits your style of play, and he will be just fine, but he will never be explosive.

Malachi Dupre, LSU
6-2, 196
Dupre was a three year player at LSU who's stats were completed downplayed due to poor QB play with the Tigers during his time there. Dupre is an underrated super athlete, who is solid in several track events as well.
As a freshman, Dupre finished second on the team in receiving with a line of 14-318-5, and averaged an eye popping 22.71 yards per catch. Dupre led the Tigers in receiving as a sophomore with a line of 43-698-6, and averaged 16.23 yards per reception.
Dupre wrapped up his college career at LSU in 2016 as a junior, and posted a line of 41-593-3, and averaged 14.93 yards per grab.
The Good
A solid athlete with experience all over the field as a receiver. Can play either side or in the slot.
Production was muted by average to bad QB play, not because of his overall ability.
Plays with excellent body control, and tracks the ball like a pro on deep throws. Can readjust to get to under thrown balls and low throws.
Is always thinking a step ahead, and turns and runs well after the catch.
Gets under tacklers to lunge forward after the hit.
Solid deep play potential.
The Bad
Limited sample size because he played with really bad QBs for three seasons.
May be more athletic than football savvy.
Will never burn anyone with his speed.
He is not a great route runner. He seems to need some work on the nuances of the game as a receiver and does not always play with a high football IQ.
Slow off of the snap at times, and does not pop into his routes.
More a raw block of clay than a finished product.
Not a solid blocker on run plays.
Final Overview
Dupre has some ability, that much is certain, but at this point of his career, he is more a raw block of clay than a finished product by far. He is an intriguing developmental type with athleticism to burn, but you cannot expect too much too soon, or else you will be let down. His raw ability alone is intriguing enough that someone will go relatively early on him, and then try to find a way to develop him further into what he can be.

DeDe Westbrook, Oklahoma
6-0, 178
Westbrook was a three star prospect out of high school who originally committed to Texas State, but never went. He ended up at Blinn JC and blew up there out of the gate before transferring to Oklahoma.
As a junior at Oklahoma, he finished second on the team in receiving with a line of 46-743-4, and averaged 16.15 yards per grab. He exploded to lead the team in receiving as a senior in 2016, and posted a line of 80-1524-17, and averaged 19.05 yards per catch.
He also returned nine kicks as a senior for 277 yards, averaging 27.11 yards per return, and returned five punts for 81 yards and a score, averaging 16.2 yards per return there.
The Good
Plays with first rate footwork, and excels playing underneath coverage, which is good being that he may be moved to slot in the NFL.
Has speed to burn, and has moves on top of that to get free and clear in the open field. Hard to catch once he gets going.
Solid route runner, and plays with intelligence.
Has solid hands, and not much gets by him.
He is a creator in the field when plays break down for a QB. He will find a way to get open and make a play where none exists.
Does solid work on CBs lining up inside of him. Knows how to work them to the middle before cutting out to the side.
Has massive big play potential, and is an excellent tracker.
He added value as a kick and punt return man his senior season.
Not a perfect blocker, but will give it a go.
Plays bigger than he is.
The Bad
Undersized and skinny, and has measured below expectations physically.
Very thin legs, looks fragile.
He does not give it an all go on every play, and will take plays off where his head isn't into it.
His size lends to getting jammed by physical corners and safeties.
College teams did not defend him as hard as they could have based on the fact that OU did not always play physically tough defenses.
Has been accused of domestic violence, and already has two children, meaning his focus and character are not where they should be.
According to sources, he interviewed with scouts poorly, and did not attend the combine. He has already fallen off of many draft boards because of his domestic violence issues (was never convicted...shockingly), but his character concerns, like those of Joe Mixon, will affect his draft stock.
Final Overview
Not interviewing with scouts well, and having a domestic violence shadow hanging over you can really gut your career before it takes off. A lot of teams are not interested despite Westbrooks' proven talent. If not for the negatives, he may be one of the better receivers in the draft, but those character deals are off limits to so many teams, as it should be. If he can keep himself behaving, and someone spends a pick on him, he is high risk/high reward. Someone just has to want to take the risk.

Cooper Kupp, Eastern Washington
6-2, 204
Kupp finished his career at EWU as the most prolific receiver in FCS (1-AA) football history. He has won every award available for him to win on that level, and his production levels are elite for any level of football.
As a freshman, Kupp finished with a line of 93-1691-23, and averaged 18.2 yards per catch, and 112.7 yards per game. He was strong again as a sophomore, posting 104-1431-16, and averaged 13.8 YPC and 110.1 YPG as he fought through ankle injury issues.
As a junior, Kupp finished with another 114 receptions for 1642 yards and 19 scores. He averaged 14.4 YPC and a career high 149.3 YPG.
As a senior, he finished strong by posting a career high 117 receptions for 1700 yards and 17 scores. He averaged 14.5 YPC and 130.8 YPG.
The Good
His production numbers were off of the charts, and he finished as the all-time leading receiver in FCS history with 428 receptions, 6464 yards, and 73 TDs.
Deep NFL family lineage, as his father played in the league, and his grandfather (Jake Kupp) is in the Hall of Fame as an offensive lineman.
His hands are deep vacuums, where nothing escapes, and he has idolized Larry Fitzgerald.
Changes gears on a dime, and knows how to create plays in the field.
He wants the football and will compete and work.
Ball tracking pro.
Excellent body control and will sell out his body for the catch. Will get to anything you get near him.
Has first rate moves and fakes.
The Bad
Although he can change gears, he is not overly fast.
Does not always run with leverage on routes, and can stand a bit tall.
Does not have burst off of the snap, and can be slow to get back to footballs.
Lower level of competition could be a problem for some.
Final Overview
Depending on who you talk to, Kupp could go anywhere from the first to the third round. Some scouts love him, some are not sold, but at the end of the day, you cannot ignore his production and his talents. I like him personally much earlier than mid or late third round, and would take a flier in the first if I did not have other massively pressing needs. I believe that he is starter quality in the league, and while he worked a ton in the slot at EWU, I do not doubt that he can work outside. I see an Ed McCaffrey type player once he is fully developed, and that is saying something.

ArDarius Stewart, Alabama
5-11, 204
Stewart was a three year player for Alabama, not including one year as a redshirt. As a RS freshman, he posted 12-149-0, averaging 12.42 YPC. As a sophomore, he climbed the ladder to finish second on the team in receiving, with a line of 63-700-4. He averaged 11.11 YPC. As a junior, his final season, he posted 54-864-8, with an average of 16 YPC. He returned 8 kicks for 161 yards as a junior, averaging 20.13 yards per return, and has been used on run plays out of the jet sweep as well.
The Good
Stewart is a multifaceted football player, and has been used at WR, RB, and on kick returns throughout his career.
Is a good downfield run blocker, and will sell out for those blocks.
Solid field vision, and can make plays after the catch.
Will make spectacular grabs, and will give up his body to make the catch.
The Bad
Is not much good on screen plays as a blocker.
More athletic than solid as a receiver.
Does not run great routes, and is raw.
Former RB still learning to play receiver.
Has some drop issues, mostly out of a lack of concentration.
Tries to get too shifty in the open field, and it will often cost him.
Scored 138 TDs in high school, but never showed a major scoring flash in college.
Final Overview
Stewart is a freak of an athlete, but is still very raw as he is still trying to learn the job of being a full time receiver. He is a prototypical player who never should have come out of school early, and is coming out for all the wrong reasons. He already has two kids (lacks focus in the right areas of his life), and is trying to take care of his extended family, which never ends well for the player. Stewart has some flashing ability, and has some skills, but he is a reach at the grade given, and I would let someone else bare the risk here. He has something, but not enough of something for me.

Noah Brown, Ohio State
6-2, 222
Brown left Ohio State after his RS sophomore season, and has very limited experience and sample size. As a freshman, He caught just one pass for nine yards. He missed the entire 2015 season after breaking his leg in spring ball. He returned as a RS sophomore in 2016, and posted a limited line of 32-402-7.
The Good
Solid size, and fits the build. He uses his body to frame the catch and defend the ball from encroaching defenders.
Works well in traffic and can take a hit.
Very physical receiver, and will sell out for a big catch.
Hard to jam at the line due to his physical nature of play.
First rate run blocker down field, and likes the contact.
The Bad
Severely limited sample size of production with just 33 career receptions at Ohio State.
Broken leg cost him an entire season, and that is concerning.
He is leaving way too soon, which makes me question his dedication and focus.
Does not play with great speed, and depends way too much on being physical.
He will never beat anyone deep, as he lacks top shelf speed.
Still learning how to run routes, and lacks a deeper understanding of the nuances of the position.
Does not have solid hands at this point.
Final Overview
There is no explanation as to why Brown thinks that he is ready to come out at this point. He is very far from a finished project, and the only reason he attains a third round grade is because of buzz about how good he looked in the spring before his injury. That's not nearly enough for me. At best he will be a rotational possession receiver, at worst, a complete bust and flame out. There is no easy way to project in the gray area for this prospect. It is all hit or miss.

Damore'ea Stringfellow, Mississippi
6-2, 211
Stringfellow was a two year producer for the Rebels after transferring from Washington after legal issues in Seattle.
As a freshman at Washington, he posted 20-259-1. He transferred to Ole Miss as a sophomore, and posted 36-503-5, and averaged 13.97 YPC. As a junior, his final season, he posted 46-716-6, and averaged 15.57 YPC.
The Good
Has the size you are looking for in a receiver.
Has plus body control, and is able to sell out for the amazing catch and will get low for the gopher balls into the ground.
Can track balls with ease on the long throws, but also knows how to find seams in the zone and plant there.
The Bad
He has a fairly limited sample size, and was only a full time starter for one season.
Dos not pop off of the line, and lacks top shelf speed.
Easily jammed off of the line.
Sloppy route runner, and can get taken off routes easily.
His footwork is lacking, and he looks plodding at times.
He does not possess first rate hands.
Terrible run blocker.
Showed real maturity issues at Washington, leading to his transfer.
Final Overview
I think people are still trying to come to grips with the fact that Stringfellow was a five star athlete out of high school and are still banking on that. He has never lived up to that hype. He got into a post Super Bowl brawl at Washington, and was basically forced to leave, and he never lived up to much at Ole Miss, and was never a stat leader anywhere. He has some physical skill, but is still very raw, and I would have to pass on this prospect. Someone, however, will not.

Josh Reynolds, Texas A&M
6-3, 194
Reynolds was a lightly recruited receiver and hurdler out of high school, and ended up playing at Tyler JC as a freshman as a result after several schools passed on him in the process.
He transferred to Texas A&M as a sophomore.
As a sophomore, he posted a line of 52-842-13, averaging 16.19 YPC. He returned as a junior and posted 51-907-5, and averaged 17.78 YPC. As a senior, he posted his best season, going for 61-1039-12, and averaged 17.03 YPC.
The Good
Tall outside receiver who is a solid ball tracker on long throws.
Excellent body control, and knows how to shift himself into second gear wasting little in the way of physical inefficiency.
Consistent scoring threat who averaged 10 scores per season with the Aggies.
Big time threat in red zone, and works hard in traffic.
Leaping ability is first rate.
Aggressive blocker, and sells out to do so.
The Bad
He can look a little thin, and his lower half is equally as thin. Lacks power as a result. Cannot bulk up.
Can get jammed at the line, will have to learn how to work through that.
Hands are a plus, but footwork can get sloppy, and due to functional strength, he can get knocked around easily.
Better worker outside, does not work well underneath.
Is a better body control player when balls are high, but not so great in the low throw.
Final Overview
Reynolds is a better vertical threat than every down mid range guy. He has the overall height you need, but he is lacking in other areas, and may be a better rotational receiver than every down guy, plus one thing I did not mention is that his speed is limited. He is more quick than openly fast, but will be fairly useless in the short game. If you can afford a guy for deep threat possibilities that doesn't do a lot else great, he could be your guy.

Chris Godwin, Penn State
6-1, 209
Godwin came to Penn State as the Delaware high school player of the year, and played his best games in the biggest match ups of his career.
As a freshman, he posted 26-338-2, averaging 13 yards per reception, which was good for fourth on the team in receiving.
As a sophomore, Godwin shifted to becoming the leader in receiving as he posted 69-1101-5. He averaged 15.96 yards per catch.
Godwin wrapped his Penn State career after his junior season, as he posted a final tally of 59-982-11, and he averaged 16.64 yards per reception.
He was named All-Big 10 for both his sophomore and junior seasons.
The Good
Godwin is a very dependable front line receiver who took over as the leader in receiving at Penn State by his sophomore season.
He has solid posted speed at 4.42 in the 40.
Crafty and shifty in traffic.
Played his biggest games in bowls as both a sophomore and a junior, with 15 combined catches in two bowls, including nine against USC (2 TDs).
Is not afraid of contact, and will fight for yardage.
The Bad
Has never played with a top flight QB.
Penn State offense is a bit of a hybrid, and it is hard to tell where he fits in.
A bit too much dependent on his speed, and can get jammed at times or even knocked off routes.
Looks small on film, and does not necessarily play up to his measurables.
Could have used another season at Penn State, and may have come out a bit early.
Final Overview
Godwin is an emerging talent, and although he could have used another year at Penn State, he certainly is intriguing. He has rock solid speed, but is raw in other areas still, and will need some coaching up. If you can get him in the early middle rounds, he could be a long term steal, as long as you have someone on the staff, or a solid veteran core that can show him the ropes. Could be a big picture steal.

KD Cannon, Baylor
5-11, 182
Cannon was a three year player for the Bears, starting all three. As a freshman, he finished second on the team in receiving with a line of 58-1030-8, and averaged 17.76 yards per reception. He finished second on the team in receiving again as a sophomore, posting a reduced overall number with a line of 50-868-6, but he still managed to average 17.36 yards per reception. Cannon became the receiving leader for the Bears as a junior, posting 87-1215-13, and averaged a career low 13.97 yards per reception.
The Good
Extremely athletically talented football player, with first rate leaping ability.
Speed is first rate, as he recorded a 4.41 40 at the combine.
Has several gears, and uses them all.
Knows how to play corners off the ball on deep throws.
Excellent tracker on deep balls.
The Bad
Lacks strength to muscle through traffic.
He is more of a vertical receiver than a route runner. Speed guy mainly.
Played in a college system that does not translate to the NFL game.
Terrible pad level, always runs upright even in traffic.
His overall body control is all over the place, and he can be downright sloppy.
Does not have great hands, and is mostly a body catcher. Will not snatch balls away from his frame with regularity. Has drop issues because of this.
Will rarely come back to the ball.
Will get jammed and muscled around the field, and will never be an outside receiver. He best fits in a slot role, but he is going to have to unlearn some bad habits, and relearn how to become a standard slot receiver.
Final Overview
I understand how some teams will fall for Cannon's speed game, but he has a long way to go before he will be a viable NFL receiver. He is a system guy who really has limited understanding of routes, and is dependent on his speed game above all else right now. Someone will get him in the middle rounds based on his speed, but he is a developmental project at this stage for the next level.

Chad Hansen, California
6-2, 202
Hansen spent one season at Idaho State before transferring to California. Redshirted one season, and then played as a sophomore for the Bears, but finished just seventh on the team with 10-249-1, with an average of 13.11 yards per reception. Blew up as a junior in 2016, as he led the team with a line of 92-1249-11, with an average 13.58 yards per catch.
The Good
Hansen is a solid route runner who can work his way through traffic and get to the football. He came out of nowhere in 2016, and finished third in FBS with 9.2 receptions per game.
He gets off the snap cleanly, and can work to the middle or outside, and has excellent awareness when working the sides.
He can play with physical strength and is hard to jam off the line, and gets to work right away. Does not waste any time getting into his groove on any given play.
Body control is solid, and he is a first rate ball tracker.
Solid hands.
Works the middle like a natural.
Tough minded receiver.
Solid run blocking skills.
The Bad
Limited sample size, as he only really had one solid year at Cal after transferring from Idaho State. Never really showed up in high school until he was a senior.
He can be an upright runner, and has trouble shrinking down.
Worked in a pass happy system at Cal, where routes are very simplistic.
Does not use his body well as a shield.
Good, but not great speed. May be more of a possession guy than anything else.
Final Overview
The main question about Hansen in 2016 was "where did he come from?" Hansen was a guy who came out of nowhere in 2016 as a junior after three mostly lost seasons to become an All-PAC 12 performer. That worries me on some levels, because almost anyone can put together one great season, but does this guy have longevity? That is a huge question for me. I really liked what I saw of him in 2016, but it's not quite enough for me to invest in long term.

Isaiah Ford, Virginia Tech
6-1, 104
Ford was a major top flight basketball star in high school who averaged 37 points per game, but instead chose to play college football. He starred immediately as a freshman, as he led the Hokies in receiving with a line of 56-709-6, and he averaged 12.66 YPR.
As a sophomore, Ford once again led the team with a line of 75-1164-11, and increased his YPR to 15.52.
He returned for his final college season as a junior in 2016, and posted 79-1094-7, averaging 13.85 YPR.
The Good
Very athletic, and his basketball ability translates onto the football field.
Plays faster than he really is, and can surge off of the snap, using exceptional lower body drive.
Gets good separation, and can make a window for himself in passing lanes.
Solid moves, and uses them with skill to throw off defenders.
Really good body control, and solid, able hands.
The Bad
Speed is not great overall, as he timed a 4.61 40 at the combine, plays faster than he really is.
If bigger corners get under him, he can be jammed and thrown of his routes.
Does not use his body as a shield for the ball with enough consistency.
He can get a little sloppy at times, and sometimes comes off on film as a little bit slow or lazy.
Will not evade many tackles, and cannot create after the catch.
Can be really good physically, but does not yet have the mental part down.
Not a great downfield blocker.
Final Overview
One cannot take his productivity away from him, as he has been a receiving leader for the Hokies all three of his seasons in the program. The issue that I have is that Ford reads like a guy who was a great college football player, but will not translate to that greatness in the NFL. Virginia Tech is not a great passing program right now, and although Ford did a ton to dispel that notion, he still shows as someone having a ton of work to do on the next level, and may have to be rebuilt from square one.

Travin Dural, LSU
6-1, 202
Dural was a redshirt player and stayed at LSU for four years. He missed his freshman season as a RS when he injured his knee in camp. He returned for his RS freshman season, and posted just 7-145-2, and averaged over 20 yards per reception.
He returned as a sophomore and led the team by posting 37-758-7, and he averaged 20.49 YPR.
As a junior, he posted 28-533-3, and averaged 19.04 YPR, but missed a game with a hamstring injury.
He returned as a senior in 2016, and posted 28-280-1, averaging 10 YPR. He missed one game with a shoulder injury.
The Good
He looks longer than he is, and plays bigger than he is.
Good rangy running motion makes him look faster than he is.
Has excellent concentration on throws in double coverage.
Knows how to get by a corner to the outside and turn on a second gear.
He can work to the outside, or slant over the middle and catch the ball well on the run.
Has the ability to turn a medium play into a home run with solid open field moves.
Has decent balance after contact.
His number do not read into who he is as a receiver, as he played for some very bad QBs at LSU.
Has a solid base on downfield blocking, and will sell himself out for the block.
Aggressive, and can get open after a play breaks down.
The Bad
He has really been banged up, as he has lost time to knee, hamstring, and shoulder issues.
He either hits the home run, or he drops out. He is a big play guy, but doesn't always make the small plays.
Looks faster on film than he really is, and is more of a strider than a burner.
Many of his highlights on film are against weaker competition.
Always seems to have corner draping on his hip, and has to make too many challenged receptions.
His routes look wide angled at times, and he does not do the quick cut stuff very well.
Final Overview
It's really hard to tell what you have in this guy. His film looks great, but then you realize who the opponent is in some of that film, and you have to take it with a grain of salt. He has never had the benefit of having a top flight QB at LSU, so you have to wonder if he can improve with a better QB throwing to him, but then you realize that there just are not many great QBs in the NFL, and then you worry about him with another bad one. There are some traits there for Dural to succeed, but it's a high risk situation with him. He is either a diamond in the rough, or a complete bust waiting to happen.

Artavis Scott, Clemson
5-10, 193
Scott was a true junior upon leaving Clemson for the draft, but did receive a degree in communications studies in just 2.5 years.
As a freshman, He posted a line of 73-965-8, and averaged 12.7 YPR.
He expanded duties to the return game in 2015 as a sophomore. As a receiver, he posted 93-901-6, and averaged 9.69 YPR. His receiving line led the team. As a return man, he returned 15 kicks for 371 yards, and averaged 24.73 yards per return. He also returned 13 punts for 55 yards, averaging 4.23 yards per return.
He finished second in receptions in 2016, but only 4th in yardage with a line of 76-614-5, and averaged just 8.08 YPR. On kick returns, he posted 23-535, and averaged 23.26 yards per return. On punt returns, he finished with 9-59, but was largely replaced by Ray-Ray McLoud.
The Good
Has solid body control, and will use his body to shield the catch from defenders.
Will study linebacker movement, and will cut under if he thinks the LB will move on the ball.
Solid use of his hands, and will catch balls away from his frame.
Has some solid evasion technique after the catch.
Excellent use of his pads, and will get low for contact and drive through.
Very good on kick returns.
The Bad
Low yardage guy, only finished in double figures in YPR once in three seasons. More of an underneath route guy, or a bubble screen type.
Lacks top shelf speed, as he only recorded a 4.61 40 at the combine.
Lost the punt return job as a junior.
Does not get separation, and gets contested often on receptions.
Lazy route runner most of the time, gets very wide and sloppy on route running.
Built for the slot, stats are built for the slot, but is not fast enough or skilled enough for the slot, and will never be much of an outside threat.
Final Overview
Scott is not a top flight receiver, and his role in the NFL, if he makes it in the league, will be as a return man, but his main skill is on kick returns, as he never really flourished on punt returns. He grades out by the services as a 4th round pick, but I think he scores lower than that in my opinion. I absolutely believe that there is more value in waiting for a different guy at receiver in this area of the draft.

Carlos Henderson, Louisiana Tech
5-11, 199
Henderson was named both offensive and special teams player of the year in Conference USA in 2016 as a junior. He was a three year player for the Bulldogs.
As a freshman, he posted 29-569-4 as a receiver, and averaged 19.62 YPR. He returned 33 kicks for 826 yards and a score, and averaged 25.03 yards as a return man on kickoffs. As a sophomore, he posted 36-774-5 as a receiver and averaged 21.5 YPR. As a kick returner, he posted 21-463-0, and averaged 22.05 yards per return. In 2016, his final season, he posted 82-1535-19, and averaged 18.72 YPR. He added 25-805-2 as a kick return man, and averaged 32.2 yards per return.
The Good
One of the best return men in this draft. Exceptional speed helps, as he ran a 4.46 40 at the combine, and plays faster than that.
Very productive season in 2016, even after three years of playing second fiddle to Trent Taylor.
Quick cutter, and wastes almost nothing in his movements.
Can get behind defenders very easily on zone coverage.
He has some first rate moves off of the snap.
Solid control, and gets to the low balls as well.
Will catch balls away from his frame.
Plays with constructive aggression and power.
The Bad
Played against mostly poor competition, and was not really challenged much in a defensively deficient CUSA.
Finesse player who sometimes will depend too much on speed alone.
Played in a pass happy system, and still has work to do in learning about a route tree.
Lacking in basic fundamentals and is very raw.
Not a great tracker on long balls, and misses as many as he gets to.
Does not come back to the football.
Has some drop issues to work on.
Final Overview
I love him as a return man, and some of his deficiencies are based in coaching. If he gets to the next level, and has a solid WR coach to work with, he can really be a diamond in the rough long term. If you have the patience, and are willing to let him work through his field issues, he could be a steal, and could have immediate impact on kick returns as well, which is a bonus. I would take a flyer on him in the fourth round and wait him out to see what happens in a few years. There is potential here.

Gabe Marks, Washington State
5-11, 189
Marks is a rare five year college player, who redshirted right in the middle of his career, which was a decision that Mike Leach made for him after several off-field run ins with local police. This move was to instill some maturity in Marks, and the move worked.
As a freshman, Marks posted 49-560-2, and averaged 11.42 YPR. As a sophomore, He posted 74-807-7, and averaged 10.91 YPR. He redshirted in 2014, and returned as a junior in 2015 to post a line of 104-1192-15, and he averaged 11.46 YPR, and better yet, he stayed out of trouble.
As a senior in 2016, he posted 89-894-13, and averaged 10.04 YPR.
The Good
One of the hardest working players in the college game. A real gamer who is tough on the field.
Plays with a chip on his shoulder from not being offered by UCLA and USC in his home town of LA.
When getting off the snap clean, he is one of the better route runners around, and will work inside and out.
Good tracker on the ball, and will work to the ball with aggression, and reroutes himself well when his QB has to scramble. A solid creator.
Solid footwork, and works well against the sideline.
The Bad
He isn't the biggest guy on the field, and he can get jammed and rerouted by big, physical DBs.
Decent speed, but not great speed. He will not be much of a deep field threat.
Numbers have to be adjusted for having played in a pass happy system of offense.
He can get knocked around in traffic, and does not always track the ball great in a crowd.
He is more finesse than physical.
Can sometimes be prone to fumbles or drops.
Final Overview
Despite some deficiencies here and there, Marks has been one of my favorite receivers in the nation for some time now. He will never kill you with flash or glitz, but he is a hard worker who just wants to succeed and win. Time and again in the PAC-12, he played against what were supposed to be better athletes than himself, and he came out on top more often than not. I have a solid does of respect for this player, and in the right spot, he could be a steal as a slot receiver on underneath routes on the next level. I am really pulling for this kid.

5th through 7th Round Prospects

5th Round
Chad Williams, Grambling: Tough kid with solid size, but is very raw from a small school.
Travis Rudolph, Florida State: Skinny player with skill, could be immediate backup, with starter potential.
Fred Ross, Mississippi State: Will never be a down field burner, but adds value as a possession receiver with punt return ability.
Amara Darboh, Michigan: He has solid size/speed for a receiver, and is tough, but he lacks attention and drops balls. If you can fix him, he may be a steal late.
Zach Pascal, Old Dominion: Consistent stats guy and has kick return skills, which could be his ticket. Has intriguing size, but his fundamentals are a mixed bag. Very raw.
Stacey Coley, Miami: He has skills as a slot man, and very good speed, but there are questions as to whether or not he really loves to play, and that could drop him.
Josh Malone, Tennessee: Considering that he was a five star former player of the year in Tennessee out of high school, Malone, like many in the Vols program, never lived up to his hype. Really could have used another year in school.

6th Round
Jalen Robinette, Air Force: Will porbably need time to adjust to the pro game after living in an option attack, but his skills and potential are through the roof, may also have to deal with Air Force commitment out of the academy.
Ricky Seals-Jones, Texas A&M: Another highly hyped high school kid that never fully lived up to the hype. He is a huge guy who may need to move to TE in the NFL, but that will take some work.
Amba Etta-Tawo, Syracuse: A developmental prospect who really exploded in his final year. Limited sample size guy who lacks a body of work, solid fundamentals, and is very raw, but there is enough there to intrigue some people.
Jehu Chesson, Michigan: Really fell off in 2016, and saw his confidence drop some. He has the size/speed combo that teams want, but he has to show he wants this.
Taywan Taylor, Western Kentucky: System player with video game numbers. He still has some bery high potential levels as a first rate slot receiver, and should get some solid looks on day three. I would definitely take a look with a pick here.
Jerome Lane, Akron: Former LB turned into receiver and flourished. Tough and strong, and a hard worker. Will need some time to fully develop, as he has not played the position long. Still, his potential is very good.

7th Round
Jamari Staples, Louisville: He is far more talented than his numbers would suggest, but that is an issue that he can only explain. He has talent, and physical skills, but is far too raw at this point. A real developmental project.
Keevan Lucas, Tulsa: A higly productive player in college, but that may be all he will ever be. A real developmental type who had great production, but lacks fundamental skills in a set base offense.
Ryan Switzer, North Carolina: Probably one of the better prospects in the late rounds in the draft at receiver, but his money will be made as a punt return man. Poor man's Wes Welker.

UFA
Michael Clark, Marshall: Intriguing candidate because of his size (6'-7"), but played just one year of college ball.
Speedy Noil, Texas A&M: Extreme chracter issues have taken him off of many boards, and he does not appear to be focused enough to make money as a pro player. Total head case, lack of production, despite high end physical potential. A real waste. Uncoachable.
Trent Taylor, Louisiana Tech: High end college player who may not work out as a pro due to lacking speed and explosiveness as a punt return man.
Dontre Wilson, Ohio State: Switched from RB to WR, but really has never produced at either.
Chance Allen, Houston: Oregon transfer who finished second in receiving both seasons for the Cougars. A solid UFA prospect as a slot guy.