Wide Receiver - scouting the prospects

[upstater1]

Easley didn't impress me at the TvN game. He rounded off many of his routes and it cost him at least 2 receptions.

Who did impress me was Juamorris Stewart. He seemed to run very precise routes and got good separation on his cuts.. Was willing to go over the middle.

Trendin Holiday also impressed me, but at 5'5 and 165lbs, if he's going to be a receiver, it will be from the slot more than likely, though he does have the speed to go deep.

Easley got to play in half a college football season. That's it. He's been overlooked because he was a walk-on. This kid has not had enough time on the football field during gameday.

 

[MaineMan]

Might be the first time I remember seeing reference to Benn's route-running ability. It's encouraging.

I'm not entirely adverse to taking a WR with high upside like Benn early. But I do think it would be foolish to pass on a guy like Blair White later, whether we take a WR early or not. The more guys Tom has who are "always open" - even if it's just short and intermediate - the more we'll move the chains and the easier it will be for guys like Moss, or Benn, to succeed deep.

 

[Seneschal2]

For this draft, I'm going to ignore all of the round one WRs, preferring not to draft one there. Otherwise, Golden Tate would be my target.

IMO, BB's focus will be on those who appear to fit best from round two on:

These are the three I like:

Mardy Gilyard, Cincinnati
*Andre Roberts, The Citadel
Eric Decker, Minnesota

*Need to find another late round sleeper or two, as Roberts had that tag prior to his impressive practices at the Senior Bowl.

 

[skinnydog]

For this draft, I'm going to ignore all of the round one WRs, preferring not to draft one there. Otherwise, Golden Tate would be my target.

IMO, BB's focus will be on those who appear to fit best from round two on:

I'd love to see the Pats pick up Golden Tate. ND really wasn;t that good and for most of the season the only real weapon they had was Tate and there were many many times when he just went up and made the play on the ball.

 

[VJCPatriot]

Highlights

Arrelious Benn - big, strong, physical, fast, eats up zones and underneath coverage
YouTube - Arrelious Benn Highlights

Golden Tate - greased lightning fast, great agility, amazing vertical to get up for the ball as well, how does he get that wide open that often?
YouTube - Golden Tate Highlights - Nov. 30, 2009

Mardy Gilyard - Impact return man with speed, sharp cutting ability, and dangerous vision in the open field. He's no longer a secret after his eye opening performance in the Senior bowl.
YouTube - Mardy Gilyard Highlights

 

[ctpatsfan77]

Actually, he strikes me as something like a bigger Edelman.

Behave.

...

What? You don't see any resemblance at all to Edelman?

YouTube - Blair White Top Ten Wide Receiver 2010 NFL Draft

[On a serious note, I think he's not nearly as elusive as Welker and Edelman, but he has higher top-end speed than either, so he can get open further downfield. I think he could fill the Gaffney role the team needs.]

 

[VJCPatriot]

What? You don't see any resemblance at all to Edelman?

YouTube - Blair White Top Ten Wide Receiver 2010 NFL Draft

[On a serious note, I think he's not nearly as elusive as Welker and Edelman, but he has higher top-end speed than either, so he can get open further downfield. I think he could fill the Gaffney role the team needs.]

I can't imagine anybody wanting to spend a 1st or 2nd round pick to draft a Jabar Gaffney. Maybe a 4th rounder at the most. Ok he's rated a 6th round pick. Well if it's a late round pick, I suppose that wouldn't hurt. Maybe he can turn into a David Givens type for us.

 

[Badluck]

i honestly think we grab our moss replacement next year with the raiders pick
there are so many great WRs coming out next year

 

[furley]

I prefer to draft your Moss replacement this year. Because you aren't promised next season. By drafting that wide receiver this year, you get a head start on understanding what he's good at and what he isn't good at.

If he's for real, when the season's over, he'll know what to improve further on during the off-season. And if there isn't a 2011 season. He'll have plenty of time to improve on his skills privately. That is, if the league locks the players out from using their team's training facilities.

Again, don't put off for tomorrow what you can just as easily do today.

 

[BritPat]

I prefer to draft your Moss replacement this year. Because you aren't promised next season. By drafting that wide receiver this year, you get a head start on understanding what he's good at and what he isn't good at.

If he's for real, when the season's over, he'll know what to improve further on during the off-season. And if there isn't a 2011 season. He'll have plenty of time to improve on his skills privately. That is, if the league locks the players out from using their team's training facilities.

Again, don't put off for tomorrow what you can just as easily do today.

There is no Moss replacement in this year's Draft. Not even Benn.

You bolster the receiving corps this year, put them in a good position for 2011, and then you draft Moss' replacement and ease him in without putting too much pressure on him immediately.

There's four guys next year with "Oh My God" potential. We have to draft one.

 

[ctpatsfan77]

Again, don't put off for tomorrow what you can just as easily do today.

While there are a lot of good receivers this year, there are several potentially outstanding receivers coming out next year.

I guess it comes down to how you (and BB) view the difference between the potential #1 [team function, not round] receivers available this year versus those available next year.

 

[p8ryts]

2010 NFL Draft Profiles - Blair White, WR, MichiganState - The Rivalry, Esq.

Saw this guy in their bowl game and the all star game. Brandon Stokely type. Really liked him.

Michigan State also had an unbelievable freshman receiver, don't recall his name off hand but he looked like Steve Smith jr.

 

[DaBruinz]

There's four guys next year with "Oh My God" potential. We have to draft one.

Why? Why do they have to draft ONE of the WRs with "Oh My God" potential? Go back and look at the last 3 drafts and tell me which of the players with "Oh My God" potential have actually been successful.

I'd rather the Pats have a balanced WR Corps like they had in 2003 & 2004 than have the situation we have now where they are relying on just 2 receivers to do a lion's share of the work.. Being able to spread the ball out is much better. It's also easier to replace an injured player

If they can have 2 or 3 guys ready to step up to play with Welker, the transition is easier than if they have to wait another year to get "THAT GUY" and another year or so for him to actually produce..

 

[Badluck]

Why? Why do they have to draft ONE of the WRs with "Oh My God" potential? Go back and look at the last 3 drafts and tell me which of the players with "Oh My God" potential have actually been successful.

I'd rather the Pats have a balanced WR Corps like they had in 2003 & 2004 than have the situation we have now where they are relying on just 2 receivers to do a lion's share of the work.. Being able to spread the ball out is much better. It's also easier to replace an injured player

If they can have 2 or 3 guys ready to step up to play with Welker, the transition is easier than if they have to wait another year to get "THAT GUY" and another year or so for him to actually produce..

1-remember it usually takes WRs 3 years to develop
2-the 2011 group of WRs have so much potential, we havent seen that in the last 3 years


2009- crabtree was the only one and he showed some potential when he was out there near the end of the season

2008- one of the weakest WR drafts i can remember, there wasnt even a WR taken in the 1st

2007-Calvin Johnson, enough said

 

[BritPat]

Why? Why do they have to draft ONE of the WRs with "Oh My God" potential? Go back and look at the last 3 drafts and tell me which of the players with "Oh My God" potential have actually been successful.

There wasn't anyone of that ilk last year, save for Crabtree who in ten weeks put up very promising numbers.

In 2008, Ryan, McFadden, Stewart, Jones, Johnson and mendenhall were all seen as game-breakers - all have delivered bar Mcfadden (who is by all account being criminally mis-used in Oakland).

In 2007 you had those bums Calvin Johnson and Adrian Peterson.

If you're just talking receivers, there's only been CJ and Crabtree worth a high pick, and one has shown his brilliance on the worst team in history, whilst the other has been promising.

I guarantee that if we could all go back to 2007 and put ourselves ina position to Draft Johnson or Peterson, we would, because they are potential HOF types.

The same goes for the Fab Four next year. They have Moss-like size, speed and talent.

I'd rather the Pats have a balanced WR Corps like they had in 2003 & 2004 than have the situation we have now where they are relying on just 2 receivers to do a lion's share of the work.. Being able to spread the ball out is much better. It's also easier to replace an injured player

If they can have 2 or 3 guys ready to step up to play with Welker, the transition is easier than if they have to wait another year to get "THAT GUY" and another year or so for him to actually produce..

I don't give two hoots how we want our offense to run, if you're in a position to pick game changing players; players with HOF potential, you do so. Worry about balance later. That was the thing about 2007, we had HOF players AND balance (well, until Morris went down).

If we're in a position in 2011 to draft a Green, Baldwin, Jones or Floyd, and we don't, I'd ask questions.

 

[Badluck]

I don't give two hoots how we want our offense to run, if you're in a position to pick game changing players; players with HOF potential, you do so. Worry about balance later. That was the thing about 2007, we had HOF players AND balance (well, until Morris went down).

If we're in a position in 2011 to draft a Green, Baldwin, Jones or Floyd, and we don't, I'd ask questions.

OT
thats my opinion on a guy like brandon graham on D, yea BB likes guy who are gigantic 6'6 280lbs at OLB but if you can get an impact player at your spot you pick him IMO

 

[Warren94]

Moss, Welker (IR/PUP), Tate (showed some flashes but we'll see) Edelman. Wouldn't mind a Tate from Notre Dame, Benn From Illinois to stretch the field and get things done.

 

[FreeTedWilliams]

I still say saved the 2011 Oakland pick for A.J. Green out of Georgia, he will be a top 5 pick next year. At 6'4" 207, he is a true Jr coming into next year. His numbers were down last year due to a string on injuries. But by the time he is done next year he will be a consensus top 5 pick.


There are a few guys especially late that a worth taking a flyer on (The Pats will have at least 5 maybe 6 picks in the 7th round.

I doubt any of these guys even get a combine invite, but well worth a looksee..

Wes Lyons, 6'8" West Virginia: 6'8"!!!!!! Worth a shot, could you imagine the redzone possibilities.


Freddie Barnes, WR, 6' 210, Bowling Green- the NCAA career receptions leader, and still no invite to the combine, quick (not fast) just gets open and makes the catch. Everything about him, says, Troy Brown.


Bryan Anderson, WR, 6'5", Central Michigan, Leflevour's favorite target, once again not going to be the next Randy Moss, but could be groomed into a more than serviceable NFL receiver.

 

[WaterfallJumper]

2010 draft: wide receiver grading scale | National Football Post

Bunting confounds me. Most of his rankings make a certain sense, but this just baffles me. Why is Mitchell so high, or Williams so low?

 

[VJCPatriot]

I'd rather draft a stud DE with that Raiders top draft pick next year than a wide receiver. BB probably feels the same way. I don't think he's ever drafted a WR in the first round, has he?

So this year is as good a year as any to get a quality WR. There are a few other reasons why you should draft a WR this year rather than next.

1. Welker is questionable due to injury. We need a guy to fill in for him right away.
2. Development curve for WRs can be slow, if we're drafting a rookie, we need to get him up to speed as quickly as possible. Not everyone will pick up the playbook as fast as Edelman.
3. Depth at the WR position is sorely lacking. Aiken is more like a #5/STer, if he's in your starting 4, you're in trouble. Perhaps the reason Brady appeared to be 'locking in' on 2 wrs in 2009 was the fact that everyone else pretty much sucked/couldn't get open consistently rather than he prefers not to distribute the ball. See 2007 for contrast. In 2007 the Pats had the deepest group of wideouts ever and Brady only broke the TD and scoring records that year.
4. We have 3 second round picks this year. So the Pats have the ammo to expend on a WR without hurting their ability to address other needs.