NFL Draft 2014 Preview (13 page)

Ht: 5-11 1/4 | Wt: 222 | Sp: 4.46 | Arm: 222 | Hand: 9 1/8

History:
The San Diego area prep rushed for 2,287 yards and 24 touchdowns as senior. Began his college career at Arizona Western College (Yuma, Ariz.) in 2010, where he rushed 95 times for 723 yards (7.6-yard average) and 10 touchdowns. Also caught seven passes for 183 yards (18.3) and two scores while returning nine kickoffs for 323 yards (35.9) and one touchdown. Was a first-team NJCAA All-America selection in ’11 after rushing 259-1931-26 (7.5) and catching 20-317-4 (15.9) in 12 games. Moved to Oklahoma for the ’12 campaign and led the Sooners in rushing with 176-946-11 (5.4) while grabbing 34-320-1 (9.4) in 13 games (nine starts). Was limited by an ankle injury against Iowa State. Recorded 114-553-7 (4.9) on the ground and 9-90-0 (9.0) as a receiver in nine games (one start against Texas Tech) in ’13 before being dismissed from the team in November. Served two suspensions during the season for violating team rules — September 14 vs. Tulsa and November 23 at Kansas State.

Strengths:
Layered with muscle and looks the part. Is quick-footed — can sidestep the first tackler and run through some arm tackles. Very good hands. Fine balance and body control. Catches the ball cleanly outside his frame and is nifty-footed to juke linebackers in the open field after the catch, displaying some creativity.

Weaknesses:
Very average vision and feel to anticipate creases. Runs with blinders and misses holes. Not explosive to and through the hole. Lacks strength, power and drive to run inside and grind out tough yardage. Overwhelmed in pass protection — needs to learn how to sit to anchor and use his hands. Still has some JUCO habits and could learn to compete more consistently.

Future:
Split time in a three-man backfield until being dismissed from the team for his multiple violations of team rules. Must prove he can stay disciplined and learn what it means to be a pro to make it. Is best running outside in a spread offense that features wide running lanes and could bring the most value to a team as a pass catcher in a change-of-pace role.

Draft projection:
Priority free agent.

Scout’s take:
“No. 26 looks the part and is all muscled up and has a lot of speed. He just likes to bounce it outside all the time. His run instincts are average.”

Wide Receivers

JORDAN MATTHEWS

ALLEN ROBINSON

BRANDIN COOKS

ODELL BECKHAM

DONTE MONCRIEF

DAVANTE ADAMS

KELVIN BENJAMIN

MARQISE LEE

MIKE EVANS

SAMMY WATKINS

EDITOR’S NOTE:

Z
—
Strong, physical flanker

X
—
Speedy, vertical split end

F
—
Quick, shifty slot receiver

WR [F]-RS JARED ABBREDERIS, #4

wISCONSIN
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Grade: 5.27

Ht: 6-1 | Wt: 195 | Sp: 4.53 | Arm: 31 3/8 | Hand: 9 5/8

History:
Married. Last name is pronounced “ab-bruh-DAIR-is.” Was a high school quarterback and defensive back in Wisconsin, where he won a state championship, wrestled and was the Gatorade track athlete of the year. Walked on and redshirted in 2009, working as a scout team spread quarterback. Earned a scholarship in ’10 before playing all 13 games (two starts) and recording 20 receptions for 289 yards (14.4-yard average) and three touchdowns. Started all 14 games in ’11 and posted 55-933-8 (17.0). Broke a bone in his left foot against South Dakota in Week Four — was not diagnosed until after the season and he sat out ’12 spring practice. In the fall, started 12-of-13 games and caught 49-837-5 (17.1). Sustained a concussion against Oregon State and did not play against Utah State. Also sustained a concussion against Penn State. Started 12-of-13 games in ’13, totaling 78-1,081-7 (13.9) with six rushes for 119 yards (19.8) and two touchdowns. Did not start against Indiana (ribs). Did not play in the Senior Bowl (hamstring). Also returned 55 career punts for 587 yards (10.7), including a score, and 31 career kickoffs for 800 yards (25.8). Burlsworth Trophy winner as nation’s best player to begin his career as a walk-on.

Strengths:
Uses his hands well to swat away press. Stems his routes. Sells his patterns. Nice hands. Good field and boundary awareness. Gives effort to engage and shield cornerbacks as a blocker. Outstanding football intelligence — like a quarterback on the outside. Productive three-year starter. Mature and humble. Hardworking and coachable. Carved up Ohio State CB Bradley Roby to the tune of 10-207-1.

Weaknesses:
Has a slender build and needs to bulk up and get stronger. Ordinary pop off the line. Builds to average speed. Could struggle to separate vs. quick-twitch covermen. Lets throws into his body and breaks stride to catch. Not an jumpball player (30 1/2-inch vertical jump). Straightlinish after the catch — pedestrian agility and elusiveness. Has a history of concussions. Benchpressed 225 pounds only four times, lowest of all Combine participants.

Future:
A former walk-on, Abbrederis went from afterthought to scholarship player to No. 1 receiver. While the blue-collar overachiever lacks exceptional athletic traits for the NFL, he’s a steady “X” receiver whose hands and smarts could enable him to work his way into a No. 3 or No. 4 receiver role.

Draft projection:
Fourth- to fifth-round pick.

Scout’s take:
“I’ll tell you what’s going to make him at the next level. He played in three different offenses in three years, and he got better and better. He’s a very grounded kid. The game is important to him. He’s not an assassin as a blocker, but he works at it. He’s going to strengthen the locker room. He’s one of those guys that just gets it.”

WR [Z, F] DAVANTE ADAMS, #15 (JUNIOR)

FRESNO STATE
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Grade: 5.96

Ht: 6-0 7/8 | Wt: 212 | Sp: 4.58 | Arm: 32 5/8 | Hand: 9

History:
Also starred in basketball as a California prep. Redshirted in 2011, earning offensive scout team player of the year recognition. Was Mountain West Conference Freshman of the Year in ’12 when he amassed 102 receptions for 1,312 yards (12.9-yard average) and 14 touchdowns in 13 starts, setting conference freshman records for catches and yards. Led the nation in receptions and receiving touchdowns and set a single-season school record for receiving yards in ’13 when he started 12-of-13 contests and piled up 131-1,718-24 (13.1). Owns MWC records for single-season and career touchdown catches (38) as well as the school mark for career receptions (233).

Strengths:
Has a rangy build with good body length and secure hands to palm the ball and make difficult one-handed grabs. Tracks and adjusts to the ball very well downfield. Extends outside his frame and plucks the ball out of the air. Natural hands-catcher. Terrific athlete with good leaping ability and anticipation to properly time jumps and highpoint the ball. Wins jumpballs in the red zone and shows very good hand-eye coordination to take the ball away from defenders. Exceptional production. Has a 391/2-inch vertical jump

Weaknesses:
Lacks ideal functional playing strength to consistently beat the jam and can get hung up at the line. Long strider and is not sudden out of his breaks. Production was inflated from a quick-hitting, lateral passing game.

Future:
A rangy, sure-handed possession receiver with starter-caliber, positional traits. Lacks top-end speed and strength. As a 21-year-old, third-year sophomore entering the draft early, is still growing into his body and developing core strength. Comparing favorably to a poor man’s Michael Crabtree, Adams possesses very intriguing upside to be groomed.

Draft projection:
Top 50 pick.

Scout’s take:
“(Adams) has some size, but he’s a possession receiver that can’t run. He is a No. 2 receiver in the league. I’d love to have him as a No. 3.”

WR [F] -RB-RS DRI ARCHER, #1

KENT STATE
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Grade: 5.45

Ht: 5-7 3/4 | Wt:173 | Sp: 4.26 | Arm: 31 | Hand: 8 7/8

History:
First name is pronounced “DREE”. The Florida prep averaged 10.2 yards per carry as a senior, finished second in the 100-meter final of the state high school track meet (ahead of third-place Denard Robinson) and also lettered in baseball. Played in 11 games as a true freshman in 2009, rushing 58 times for 246 yards (4.2-yard average) and one touchdown with 19 receptions for 231 yards (12.2) and three touchdowns. Missed one game due to coach’s choice. Appeared in all 12 games (one start at RB) in ’10 and carried 40-140-1 (3.5) and caught 16-75-1 (4.7). Was academically ineligible in ’11, missing the entire season. Returned to the field in ’12 and had a breakout year, setting a Kent State single-season record with 23 touchdowns. Ran for 159-1,429-16 (9.0) and caught 39-561-4 (15.6) in 14 games (11 starts at slot receiver). Returned three kickoffs for touchdowns and averaged 36.9 yards on 16 kickoff returns. Was a finalist for the Paul Hornung Award, honoring the nation’s most versatile player. Was the MAC’s Special Teams Player of the Year and first-team all-MAC at both running back and kick returner. Injured his left ankle during the first series of the ’13 season and was hampered for much of September, missing early season games against Bowling Green and Penn State and seeing limited action against LSU. Played in 10 games (nine starts at slot receiver) and carried 68-527-6 (7.8) and caught 25-327-4 (13.1). Had a 100-yard kickoff return touchdown against Northern Illinois. Despite making only 21 collegiate starts, he finished his Kent State career ranking among the school’s all-time leaders with 4,980 all-
purpose yards and 40 touchdowns (24 rushing, 12 receiving, four kickoff returns).

Strengths:
Rare burst, acceleration and top-end speed to take the corner and create big plays. Can fly by MAC competition with top gear. Very good agility, balance, vision and creativity. Weaves through a crowd and can find daylight. Soft-handed and plucks the ball with ease. Extremely strong pound-for-pound. Very good career all-purpose yardage. Good versatility — contributes as a runner, slot receiver and return man. Four career kickoff-return TDs (and was kicked away from). Clocked a 4.16-second 40-yard dash in 18 steps on one official handheld Combine watch, tying Calvin Johnson’s NFL Combine record for fewest steps. Has a 38-inch vertical jump.

Weaknesses:
Very short and rail thin with limited strength or running power. Not a tackle-breaker and goes down easy on contact. Limited inside runner. Can be knocked off routes easily and struggles catching on contact. Not a nuanced route runner. Very marginal, underpowered blocker. Could stand to do a better job securing the ball in traffic. Is not ideally built to withstand a full NFL season.

Future::
An injury-riddled senior season cannot eclipse what an explosive playmaker Archer demonstrated he can be when healthy. Was slowed by an ankle injury early and did not return to junior form until late in senior season. Can make an immediate impact in the return game and add value as a multipurpose threat. Long-term durability is greatest concern given tiny frame.

Draft projection:
Second- to third-round pick.

Scout’s take: “
I got him in the low 4.2’s on my watch (at the Combine). He’s the fastest player I’ve ever timed in 20-some years doing this. He beat Chris Johnson. He was flying. I’m not sure what you do with him with how small he is. Guys like him just don’t last at our level. Name one of them who has. Tavon Austin stayed healthy in college, but look what happen when he got to our level. He was hurt before he played his first game. I think (Archer) has to be a slot receiver.”

WR [X, Z]-PR ODELL BECKHAM, #3 (Junior)

LSU
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Grade:
6.00

Ht: 5-11 1/4 | Wt: 198 | Sp: 4.41 | Arm: 32 3/4 | Hand: 10

History:
Father, Odell Sr., was a running back for the Tigers (1989-92) and mother, Heather Van Norman, was an LSU All-American and national champion in track (1991-93). Odell Jr. was an all-purpose standout as a Louisiana prep. As a true freshman in 2011 (wore jersey No. 33), played all 14 games (11 starts at “Z” receiver) and recorded 41 receptions for 475 yards (11.6-yard average) and two touchdowns. Started 12-of-13 games at the “Z” in ’12 (team opened with extra tight end against Arkansas), tallying 43-713-2 (16.6). Was the Paul Hornung Award winner as the nation’s most versatile player in ’13 when he broke the LSU single-season all-purpose yards record (2,315) and snagged 59-1,152-8 (19.5) in 13 starts at “X” receiver. Also returned 68 career punts for 557 yards (8.2), including two scores, and 42 kickoffs for 1,044 yards (24.9).

Strengths:
Quick hands and feet to slip the jam. Fluid and fast. Good balance. Sinks his hips and changes gears to create separation. Quick hands to pluck off his frame. Terrific leaping ability — climbs the ladder to snatch throws. Creates after the catch — shows burst and shiftiness as a runner. Has playmaking ability. Confident and competitive. Has kickoff- and punt-return experience. Productive three-year starter.

Weaknesses:
Adequate height. Could stand to polish the finer points of his route running. Inconsistent making contested grabs — can be out-muscled in a crowd. Has some concentration drops. Can improve as a blocker. Was not an impactful punt returner. Was held in check by Florida and Alabama.

Future:
Talented, competitive, productive, inconsistent college split end who projects as a big-play receiver in the pros. Offers versatility to toggle between “X,” “Z” and slot given his ability to stretch the field and run after the catch. Brings added value as a kick returner.

Draft projection:
First-round pick.

Scout’s take:
“Odell Beckham is a damn good player. I put him in the middle of the first (round). He is a little bit of a knucklehead, but he can play. The school has two video tapes of him and Landry making a bunch of ridiculous one-handed graphs, in practice and in games. It looked like some YouTube collaboration. It is crazy. You have to see it.”