NFL Draft 2014 Preview (20 page)

Future:
Big, physically gifted “X” receiver with deep speed, leaping potential and playmaking ability. Could emerge a No. 1 or No. 2 receiver in a vertical passing offense, and his best football is in front him. Solid Combine showing elevated draft standing.

Draft projection:
Top-50 pick.

Scout’s take:
“He got a third-round grade back from the (NFL’s advisory) committee. I thought he came on strong down the stretch, and got better as the season went on. He has a lot of ability to work with.”

WR [Z, F] KEVIN NORWOOD, #83

ALABAMA
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Grade: 5.34

Ht: 6-2 | Wt: 198 | Sp: 4.48 | Arm: 32 1/8| Hand: 10

History:
Prepped in Mississippi. Redshirted in 2009. Saw very limited action in 13 games in ’10 and caught three balls for 56 yards (18.7-yard average) and a touchdown. Played in 11 games in ’11 and snagged 11-190-0 (17.3). Sat out against North Texas and Arkansas (right ankle). Played through turf toe in ’12 — started 11-of-13 games played at the “Z” receiver for the national champs, contributing 29-461-4 (15.9). Sat out versus Western Carolina (precautionary). Started 7-of-12 games played at the “Z” in ’13 and caught 38-568-7 (14.9). Did not play against Colorado State (ankle). Team captain.

Strengths:
Solid build. Good hands and concentration — extends outside his frame and makes the difficult catch. Fine route savvy — sells his routes with stems and nods. Understands how to get open. Good sideline awareness — dots the “i.” Established rapport with the quarterback is noticeable (is the first receiver sought on broken plays) and keeps working to come free. Very solid personal and football character. Trustworthy, accountable and dependable.

Weaknesses:
Has short arms. Does not pop out of his breaks or create separation with burst and acceleration. Struggles some defeating the jam. Can show more urgency as a blocker in the run game. Breaks few tackles after the catch.

Future:
Quicker-than-fast possession receiver with trusted hands a quarterback cherishes in critical situations. Could develop into a reliable, third-down option route runner. Is best with free releases in the slot.

Draft projection:
Fourth- to fifth-round pick.

Scout’s take:
“Norwood doesn’t have a lot of speed to him. Some scouts have him (graded) as a free agent. I think he’s a later pick. He can be productive enough because he is a decent enough route runner and has good enough hands. ... He’s climbing. I would think about him in the third (round). He won’t get out of four.”

WR [F]-RS SOLOMON PATTON, #83

FLORIDA
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Grade: 5.10

Ht: 5-9 1/4 | Wt: 173 | Sp: 4.55e | Arm: 29 7/8 | Hand: 9 1/4

History:
Highly recruited out of Alabama, where he also ran track in high school. Was arrested in August 2010 and charged with misdemeanor alcohol possession. Was a reserve/special-teams player his first two seasons — played 23 games 2010-11, totaling seven receptions for 62 yards (8.9-yard average) and zero touchdowns. Added 11 coverage tackles. In ’12, appeared in the first eight games before suffering a season-ending broken left arm injury against Georgia. Was the Gators’ leading receiver in ’13 — played the “Z,” started 8-of-12 games and produced 44-556-6 (12.6). Team captain. Was voted team MVP and honored with the Iron Gator Strength and Conditioning Award as well as the team’s Courage Award. For his career, rushed 31 times for 217 yards (7.0) and zero touchdowns, returned 39 kickoffs for 1,079 yards (27.7), including a score, and returned three punts for 84 yards (28.0), including a score.

Strengths:
Good short-area burst and acceleration. Adjusts well to the thrown ball and stabs it out of the air. Extends outside his frame and catches the ball cleanly. Quick to turn upfield and displays fine vision and run instincts to create and elude tacklers. Is very tough for his size and can withstand a hit.

Weaknesses:
Small framed and lacks run strength. Small catching radius. Gets overwhelmed in the run game as a blocker and barely gets in the way.

Future:
Tiny, athletic playmaker with the toughness, burst and acceleration to factor readily in the return game and offer a flair as a receiver. Good hands and ability to create some magic with the ball overcompensate for marginal size. Can be effective on bubble screens, reverses and quick tosses.

Draft projection:
Priority free agent.

Scout’s take: “
He won’t get drafted. He goes as an undrafted free agent. We wouldn’t waste a pick on a one-dimensional smurf.”

WR [F]-PR WALT POWELL, #9

MURRAY STATE
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Grade: 4.90

Ht: 5-11 3/8 | Wt:189 | Sp: 4.62 | Arm: 31 5/8 | Hand: 9 1/2

History:
Brother, Brandon Williams, was a 49ers third-rounder in 2006. Wore jersey No. 82 his first two seasons. As a true freshman in 2010, saw limited action in all 11 games and caught three balls for 16 yards (5.3-yard average) and zero touchdowns. Took ownership of the Racers’ “Z” receiver in ’11 when he started 7-of-11 games and produced 45-584-5 (13.0). Established MSU single-season receiving records in ’12 — started all 11 games and racked up 94-1213-10 (12.9). Added 23 kickoff returns for 604 yards (26.3) and 19 punt returns for 301 yards (15.8), including two scores. Started all 10 games played in ’13, totaling 66-837-13 (12.7) receiving and 11-346 (31.5), including a score, on kickoffs. Suffered a foot injury and was sidelined the final two games of the season against Tennessee State and Eastern Kentucky. Was arrested in October and charged with 4th degree assault (domestic violence) and theft by unlawful taking (less than $500) stemming from an incident at the Calloway County Fairgrounds — ultimately charges were dropped when a grand jury found insufficient evidence. Was the Pacers’ leading receiver three straight years. Team captain.

Strengths:
Loose lower body. Good balance and short-area quickness. Slippery after the catch — can elude the first tackler and dart to daylight. Shows confidence and a knack for finding creases as a returner — four scores the last two seasons. Productive three-year starter. Smart and competitive. Two-time team captain with terrific intangibles — cares about the game and works at his craft.

Weaknesses:
Has a thin build and short arms. Needs to get stronger — ill-equipped to combat press coverage. Not an explosive, quick-twitch athlete. Average hands and foot speed. Route running needs refinement. Underpowered blocker.

Future:
Lean, short-armed, smoother-than-sudden receiver/return man who will need the benefit of a free slot release given his pedestrian speed and strength. Intangibles and return skills will have to carry him, as he lacks distinguishable athletic traits.

Draft projection:
Priority free agent.

WR [X]-PR TEVIN REESE, #16

BAYLOR
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Grade: 5.17

Ht: 5-10 1/2 | Wt: 163 | Sp: 4.46 | Arm: 31 5/8 | Hand: 8 5/8

History:
Also starred in track as a Texas prep — high school teammate of Lache Seastrunk. Greyshirted in 2009. Worked as an inside receiver for the Bears. Played all 13 games in ’10, starting four, and recorded 45 receptions for 401 yards (8.9-yard average) and zero touchdowns. Started 7-of-13 games in ’11 and caught 51-877-7 (17.2). Played all 13 games in ’12, starting the final 12, and snagged 53-957-9 (18.1). Non-start was season opener against SMU when the Bears began with two tight ends. Started 8-of-9 games played in ’13, managing 38-867-8 (22.8) before he broke his right wrist against Oklahoma — missed four games and did not start against Central Florida in the Fiesta Bowl. Also had 11 career rushes for 136 yards (12.4) and zero touchdowns.

Strengths:
Boasts freakish athleticism, including rare leaping ability. Explodes off the line. Fast and sudden. Turns over fluid stride with length and frequency. Stretches the field vertically. Tracks and adjusts to throws and displays terrific body control. Catches easily — snatches throws out of the air. Good short-area quickness. Darts upfield after the catch. Playmaking ability — averaged 19.4 yards per catch the last three seasons. Paced all receivers at the Combine with a 41-inch vertical jump and tied for the longest broad jump (11’0”).

Weaknesses:
In desperate need of NFL weight training and nutrition — is rail thin with small hands (weighed the lightest of any Combine participant). Can be jammed and re-routed at the line. Questionable toughness to consistently work the middle. Outmuscled in a crowd and struggles to make contested catches. Dabbled in track and is fairly straightlinish. Marginal blocker. Durability is a concern — has been dinged up and is not built to withstand the physicality of the NFL game.

Future:
Thin, underdeveloped, confident, field-fast receiver with soft hands. Was a playmaker in a prolific spread offense. Will have to be a slot receiver given his dependence on a free release, but does not have an ideal skill set to work inside and could require patience.

Draft projection:
Fifth- to sixth-round pick.

Scout’s take:
“He is tiny. He looks like an Ethiopian long-distance runner. He’s really thin. He is a No. 4 receiver. He can’t (escape) press coverage. He’d have to be inside really.”

WR [X] PAUL RICHARDSON, #3 (JUNIOR)

COLORADO
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Grade: 5.27

Ht: 6-0 3/8 | Wt: 175 | Sp: 4.41 | Arm: 32 5/8 | Hand: 8 7/8

History:
Father, Paul Sr., played at UCLA and had a cup of coffee in the NFL. Cousin, Shaquille Richardson, played cornerback at Arizona (2010-13). Paul Jr. starred in football, basketball and track as a California prep. Originally signed with UCLA in 2010, but was dismissed by then-head coach Rick Neuheisel after he was arrested, along with Shaquille and another incoming freshman, for theft — allegedly stole a female student’s backpack from a storage locker. Moved on to Colorado, where he played all 12 games in the fall, starting four, and recorded 34 receptions for 514 yards (15.1-yard average) and six touchdowns. In ’11, caught 39-555-5 (14.2) in nine starts — missed four October contests and was hampered the rest of the season because of a torn left MCL. Missed the ’12 season after tearing his left ACL in April. Returned to start all 12 games in ’13, leading CU receivers with 83-1,343-10 (16.2). Was bothered by a right ankle sprain (sustained against Arizona) in November. Team captain.

Strengths:
Jab steps and accelerates into routes. Fluid and field fast. Chews up ground with long strides. Stretches the field vertically and can run under deep throws. Can drive off corners, break off and work back to the quarterback. Can extend to pluck off his frame. Shows he’s capable of making the spectacular grab. Productive despite a poor supporting cast. Has a 38-inch vertical jump.

Weaknesses:
Is very lean. Needs to bulk up and get stronger. Has been injured and durability could be an issue. Vulnerable to the jam. Does not separate consistently — needs to become a more refined, deceptive route runner. Average burst out of breaks. Lets some throws into his body and drops throws he shouldn’t. Gets out-muscled at the catch-point for the ball. Limited run strength. Underpowered blocker.

Future:
Very lean, narrow-framed, finesse “X” receiver who made an immediate impact at Colorado before knee injuries derailed his progress. Measurables will go a long way in determining his ultimate draft value, and his success at the next level is dependent upon his
ability to make plays in the vertical passing game. Has a boom-or-bust element. Size and durability are question marks.

Draft projection:
Third- to fourth-round pick.

Scout’s take:
“He is going to have to make his living outside the numbers. I don’t think he’ll stay in one piece working the middle. He has some freakish athletic ability, and he’ll win most footraces.”

WR [Z, F] ALLEN ROBINSON, #8 (JUNIOR)

PENN STATE
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Grade: 5.70

Ht: 6-2 5/8 | Wt: 220 | Sp: 4.59 | Arm: 32 | Hand: 9 1/2

History:
Also played basketball as a Michigan prep. As a true freshman in 2011, saw very limited action in 11 games and caught three balls for 29 yards (9.7-yard average) and zero touchdowns. Started all 12 games in ’12 and produced 77-1,013-11 (13.2). Was the Nittany Lions’ leading receiver for the second straight year in ’13 when he started 11-of-12 games and totaled 97-1,432-6 (14.8). Non-start was season opener against Syracuse when PSU opened with three tight ends. First player since at least 1985 to lead the Big Ten in receptions and receiving yardage in consecutive seasons.

Strengths:
Excellent size. Good line release — defeats press. Sinks his hips, breaks off sharply and creates separation. Works back to the ball. Climbs the ladder — has elevation and body control to contort and make plays in the air. Turns short throws into chunk plays — gets upfield quickly and shows shiftiness, vision and run strength. Executed a full route tree in a pro-style offense. Highly productive — totaled 174-2,445-17 (14.0) in last two seasons. Will be a 21-year-old rookie. Recorded a 39-inch vertical jump.

Weaknesses:
Lacks elite top-end speed — needs double moves to separate vertically and gets tracked down from behind. Occasionally tracking and leap timing are off. Is more confident in his hands outside the numbers or in the air than he is over the middle. Traps throws against his body and double-catches some. Tends to cradle throws or go down to the ground. Swings the ball loosely as a runner. Can improve physicality and sustain as a blocker.