According to Journal Sentinel, scouts sour on Bryant and WR class

[furley]

These are some very harsh comments toward Bryant. I guess time will only tell whether or not they've merit.

I can see Denver selecting him at eleven. But, if Seattle doesn't select him at fourteen, he and agent can forget about being selected in the top fifteen.

Tom Landry used to have a separate grade on the Dallas Cowboys' draft board labeled star or bust.

"That's what Dez Bryant is," one personnel man said. "There's no in-between. He'll be a star or he'll be a bust."

Based on ability, Bryant probably should be a top-five pick. But his uneven individual workout March 30 in Lufkin, Texas, only exacerbated reservations about his work habits, ability to learn and level of maturity.

This spring, 16 personnel men were asked by the Journal Sentinel what number pick, if any, they would be comfortable selecting Bryant.

Five said that their answer was none.

"Even if he was the only receiver in the draft I would never bring him into the building," a personnel director for a playoff team said. "Our locker room is pretty good right now. He's going to be hard to sign and he's going to be hard to deal with when he gets there. He is what he is, a tremendous player, but I wouldn’t have him on a bet."

Two hypothetically listed picks No. 36 and No. 40 in the second round.

"The top receivers aren't inconsistent guys who do bonehead things," another personnel director said. "His play is like his personality - flashes of brilliance and flashes of awfulness. Bad routes, dropped passes, headache both on and off the field."

Five others said Bryant would be worth it later in the first round, choosing fictitious picks 20, 20, 25, 25 and 26.

And four scouts all said they'd have him at No. 10.

"He's got a little bit of Randy Moss in him where if you don't hit him with the ball early he will get mouthy and maybe shut it down," one of them said. "Is he going to work hard? I doubt it. He's never had to, but neither has Randy Moss. I think he is a true No. 1 wide receiver in the NFL, and there's just a handful of those guys."

Unlike Moss, who was arrested more than once, Bryant doesn't have a rap sheet. Bryant did lie to the NCAA about his relationship with mentor Deion Sanders and was suspended for the final 10 games last season. In an interview with Sports Illustrated last week, Bryant said, "I don't smoke weed, don't drink and have never committed a crime."

Oklahoma State accepted Bryant because his third and final attempt at the ACT met the NCAA qualifying standard. Although he did score 16 on the Wonderlic intelligence test (Moss had 12), teams have good reason to wonder if he can handle an NFL offense.

"They could only play him at one position there," one scout said. "They lined him up on the side closest to the bench so they could talk to him. If he gets with a real sophisticated offense, he's going to have problems."

Maybe it's best that Bryant slides. Of the 17 wide receivers taken with top-10 picks in the last 10 years, nine have been busts.

Scouts selected these adjectives to describe this class of wide receivers: "yuck," "awful," "bad" and "poor."

The smart guys say wait until 2011, when Georgia's A.J. Green, Alabama's Julio Jones, Notre Dame's Michael Floyd and Pittsburgh's Jonathan Baldwin are expected to declare and might all be top-15 choices.

"Each one of the guys this year has a negative that you don't like," said one scout. "There's Dez Bryant, and the rest are just guys."

Dez Bryant an enigma to NFL personnel - JSOnline

 

[chevss454]

well, guess I can take
Bryant off my board now.

 

[stinkypete]

The comment of Bryant not fitting in on a sophisticated offense seems to be the killer here. I say the Pats pass given the chance. Yes they traded for Moss, but Moss cost the a 4th round pick and a non-guaranteed contract. A first round pick and a 5 year deal is a much steeper price to pay for a similar risk.

I think the best bet with WRs are the possesion and slot guys. I'd much rather see LaFell, Shipley or Andre Roberts in here than Bryant. Sure, the team needs an eventual replacement, but if we can land a solid #3 WR to complement with Wekler, Edelman and maybe Tate moving forward, we'll be less than screwed.

 

[bucky]

I find it incredibly annoying how the media like to compare Bryant to Moss just because both had some red flags coming out of school. The facts of the matter are -

Moss has blazing speed - was possible the fastest WR in the NFL when he came in.
Bryant has average speed by NFL WR standards.

Moss had unprecedented stats in college - 54 TDs and 3500 yds in 2 years.
Bryant had 1 very good year, but still fell well short of what Moss did in college.

Moss has an awesome football IQ - as testified by BB and the rest of his coaches.
Bryant's football IQ is not clear to me, though judging by this article, it's not very high.

Moss' issues were much more serious - he had legal problems and a criminal record. However, there were absolutely no questions about him on the field.
Bryant's issues are not as serious from a life perspective; however, his issues are more football-related around judgment, dedication, maturity, concentration, etc. that can ultimately be more difficult to overcome in terms of becoming a great player.

So really the comparison between the 2 is purely skin deep.

 

[WelshPat]

Moss has blazing speed - was possible the fastest WR in the NFL when he came in.
Bryant has average speed by NFL WR standards.

Moss had unprecedented stats in college - 54 TDs and 3500 yds in 2 years.
Bryant had 1 very good year, but still fell well short of what Moss did in college.

Moss' issues were much more serious - he had legal problems and a criminal record. However, there were absolutely no questions about him on the field.

Don't let the 40 time fool you, Bryant has no problem getting deep. Is he as fast as a young Moss? No. But how many guys are? Bryants speed is by no means average. He will get deep.

And i disagree that Moss had no problems on the field. He faced a lower level of competition. But the biggest issue he had was press coverage. He rarely saw it in college, but when he did it gave him some problems. It was a legit question if Moss could beat press coverage in the NFL when he came out.

I agree it is a lazy comparison but when the guy bring up Moss in name himself, then it's an easy story to write

 

[upstater1]

"Each one of the guys this year has a negative that you don't like," said one scout. "There's Dez Bryant, and the rest are just guys."

Keep in mind that this is the opposite of the way Belichick looks at the draft.

Remember, Deion Branch was a huge reach.

 

[captain stone]

More than a couple of scouts might not be impressed with this year's WR class, but we simply cannot wait until next year's class. We need at least 2 WRs to come here & contribute immediately. Sam I Am Not Aiken must not under any circumstances be allowed to see the field as a WR; if he does, then the FO will have failed - miserably.

 

[Ochmed Jones]

More than a couple of scouts might not be impressed with this year's WR class, but we simply cannot wait until next year's class. We need at least 2 WRs to come here & contribute immediately. Sam I Am Not Aiken must not under any circumstances be allowed to see the field as a WR; if he does, then the FO will have failed - miserably.

I agree 100%. If Aiken is playing WR, the FO has failed the team.

We have to have at least one body that can run a route correctly and catch the ball. If we have to trade up and take Spiller and put him at WR, then that is what we have to do. But we can not go into next year with Aiken on the field.

 

[BPF]

The top guys have some warts but there are some talented WR prospects that seemingly fit Pats scheme. I love Emmanuel Sanders, also like Andre Roberts and Blair White.

 

[furley]

Well, I'm still curious to see what Denver does with their first round pick.

Still, if I'm Bryant, I do as Tebow and decline an invitation to draft night.

 

[Real World]

I think this class is underwhelming as well, which is why I don't see Bryant, baggage and all, sliding to the Patriots at #22. There is no comparable WR for teams to consider. He will be gone, likely to Seattle I think, by #22. If he is there, I hope the Patriots take him.

 

[letekro]

The top guys have some warts but there are some talented WR prospects that seemingly fit Pats scheme. I love Emmanuel Sanders, also like Andre Roberts and Blair White.

I think Riley Skinner fits as well.

 

[MaineMan]

The top guys have some warts but there are some talented WR prospects that seemingly fit Pats scheme. I love Emmanuel Sanders, also like Andre Roberts and Blair White.

Gaffney is not particularly big and is certainly not "fast" and his hands aren't especially consistent, but he was on the same page as TFB and got open often enough. There are actually several guys in this WR class who can likely contribute at least at a Gaffney level from the get-go (easily displacing Stanback and/or Aiken) and who won't require even a second round pick (e.g., Austin Collie with the Colts last season). For now, that's really all we need - couple of guys like that. We have two first rounders in 2011. The Raiders pick will almost certainly be in the top ten. We can get our "Moss-replacement" then.

 

[Box_O_Rocks]

I like this WR class, there's a lot of blue collar kids with good quicks and decent long speed, the kind a Tommy Brady turns into stars. There are also a couple raw kids who have some super star potential projected to the middle and late rounds, and several guys projected as UDFAs whom I can see helping the team if given a chance. I want the kind of WR who had to work to get where he is - Gilyard, Roberts, White, Easley - these kid had nothing handed to them and have earned their status the hard way. Bryant, BB's interviewed him, perhaps he will have a different impression, but I can't warm to the idea.

 

[upstater1]

I think Riley Skinner fits as well.

SkinnnnnnnNNNNNERRRRRRR!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[MaineMan]

If we didn't already have a couple of decent slot guys, I'd go for Jordan Shipley. He'll be a steal for some team in the 4th.

 

[furley]

The list of potential wide receivers available in next year's draft look intriguing. Especially, when you consider New England owns Oakland's first round pick.



The Top 25 Wide Receivers Returning To College Football In 2010 | Bleacher Report

 

[chevss454]

I think this class is underwhelming as well, which is why I don't see Bryant, baggage and all, sliding to the Patriots at #22. There is no comparable WR for teams to consider. He will be gone, likely to Seattle I think, by #22. If he is there, I hope the Patriots take him.

I wouldn't mind Dez Bryant at all. I searched Oklahoma for sportswriters covering Bryant and came up with loads of good, recent information.

Tulsa World: Sports Extra - Blogs - OSU

Because of Bryant's 2009 suspension (the result of having lied to an NCAA investigator), there is the perception that he has character issues. ESPN's Mel Kiper Jr. describes Bryant as a "diva," but it is my opinion that Bryant doesn't have character issues. He has maturity issues.

Those who really know Bryant insist that he doesn't have a malicious bone in his body. They say he isn't a party guy. Doesn't use alcohol or drugs. Unanimously, they agree that Bryant is an incredibly gifted playmaker. Just as unanimously, they agree that Bryant needs to grow up – that he is lacking in certain areas of basic adult responsibility.

Because of Bryant's maturity deficiencies, there is a risk for any team that drafts him. There also is the chance, however, that Bryant may emerge as the most dynamic performer in the 2010 draft.

My advice to any team would be this: If you are going to invest millions in Dez Bryant, then you need to invest additional money in someone who would serve as a big-brother mentor. Someone who could shield Bryant from leeches who want his money. Someone who would be a strong, positive and constant influence.

-- Bill Haisten

Also this:

Tulsa World: Sports Extra - Blogs - Fantasy World

Dallas has been mentioned as a possible landing spot at No. 27 if Bryant slid that far. But that would be a bad place for him in my opinion. Bryant needs to get out of this region of the country. What about New England at No. 22? That is a very intriguing match. Bryant's idol Randy Moss is there and coach Bill Belichick would make sure there is no gray area for Bryant to venture into

.

 

[FredFromDartmouth]

I find it incredibly annoying how the media like to compare Bryant to Moss just because both had some red flags coming out of school. The facts of the matter are -

Moss has blazing speed - was possible the fastest WR in the NFL when he came in.
Bryant has average speed by NFL WR standards.

Moss had unprecedented stats in college - 54 TDs and 3500 yds in 2 years.
Bryant had 1 very good year, but still fell well short of what Moss did in college.

Moss has an awesome football IQ - as testified by BB and the rest of his coaches.
Bryant's football IQ is not clear to me, though judging by this article, it's not very high.

Moss' issues were much more serious - he had legal problems and a criminal record. However, there were absolutely no questions about him on the field.
Bryant's issues are not as serious from a life perspective; however, his issues are more football-related around judgment, dedication, maturity, concentration, etc. that can ultimately be more difficult to overcome in terms of becoming a great player.

So really the comparison between the 2 is purely skin deep.

So true. The Felger mental disease has spread to others in the media. I hate it and it hurts the team. Felger has to go.

As far as Bryant I have been saying this all along. Draftnics seem to have fascination with big receivers that I cannot fathom (but then I have fascination with CBs go figure).

 

[chevss454]

Rick Gosselin has an interesting take on Dez Bryant feeling JJones may trade up to take him if he slides much beyond the top 10. Gosselin himself says Dez Bryant is a top 10 player.

Cowboys Draft Profile: Dez Bryant, WR, Oklahoma State | Dallas Cowboys Blog | Sports News | News for Dallas, Texas | The Dallas Morning News

It's unlikely that Bryant will slide to the Cowboys at 27. As a football prospect, he ranks among the Top 10 players on the 2010 draft board. Scouts have said if he had been in the 2009 draft, Bryant would have been the first wide receiver taken.

To this day Cowboys owner Jerry Jones has second thoughts about passing up Randy Moss with the eighth overall selection of the 1998 NFL draft. If Bryant slides, look for Jones to entertain the possibility of trading up. Randy Moss remains on his mind 12 years later.