New England Patriots Possible Target in the 2015 NFL Draft – Phillip Dorsett, WR Miami
 Wide Receiver Phillip Dorsett from Miami is a big play maker averaging 24.2 yards per reception in 2014 and is one of the fastest receivers in the NFL Draft. (USA Today, Image) |
As the 2015 NFL Draft draws closer we’ll profile some of the players that may be on the Patriots radar. Some of these players have already been linked to New England as possible targets others, we feel would be a great fit.
Check out our earlier 2015 NFL Draft profiles on PatsFans.com:
DE/OLB Nate Orchard from Utah
WR Tyrell Williams from Western Oregon
DT Jordan Phillips from Oklahoma
DT Carl Davis from Iowa
RB David Johnson from Northern Iowa
CB Steven Nelson from Oregon State
OLB Zack Hodges from Harvard
CB Ronald Darby from FSU
WR Devin Funchess from Michigan
OG A.J. Cann from South Carolina
RB Mike Davis from South Carolina
ILB Benadrick McKinney from Mississippi State
OLB Hau’oli Kikaha from Washington
T Jeremiah Poutasi from Utah
OLB Kyle Emanuel from North Dakota State
RB Jay Ajayi from Boise State
WR Jamison Crowder from Duke
CB Kevin Johnson from Wake Forest
DT Eddie Goldman from Florida State
LB Shaq Thompson from Washington
OG Tre Jackson from Florida State
CB Marcus Peters from Washington
CB Eric Rowe from Utah
RB Jeremy Langford from Michigan State
For a team that has one of the most explosive offense’s in the NFL the past several years, the Patriots have had a pretty poor record at developing wide receivers. Maybe this season will be the year that they strike gold in what is a deep class of talented wideouts.
The Patriots don’t really have a burning need at wide receiver, having all three top WRs return for 2015. Julian Edelman, Brandon LaFell and Danny Amendola aren’t the most talented trio in the NFL, but they certainly got the job done in 2015.
With Brian Tyms re-signed, Brandon Gibson and Kevin Dorsey brought in as well as the return of a healthy Aaron Dobson, they have a solid group. If there was one element missing it may be a burner on the outside that can stretch the defense vertically as well as horizontally and open things up underneath.
Phillip Dorsett from Miami is a burner in every sense of the word, being a threat to take it to the house every time he touches the ball. Dorsett played four years at Miami, appearing in 45 games with 30 starts and had 121 catches for 2132 yards for a 17.6 yard per reception average and 17 touchdowns. After missing some time in 2013 with a partially torn MCL, Dorsett returned in 2014 with a bang, catching 36 passes for 871 yards for a ridiculous 24.2 yard average and 10 touchdowns for the Hurricanes.
He’s a track star on the field, following up an excellent time of 4.33 in the 40 at the NFL Combine with a blazing 4.28 at Miami’s Pro Day. Dorsett also ran a 6.70 in the Three-Cone Drill at the combine.
Very quick off the line with the burst to leave defenders in the dust once he gains a step on them, Dorsett can stretch the defense and has good ball skills once the pass in the air. Has good moves and is slippery in space, Dorsett isn’t afraid to work the middle of the field despite his small size (5’9, 185), and catches the ball with his hands away from his body.
Dorsett is a willing blocker but his lack of size/bulk make him only so-so in that regard. Not a good route-runner, he wins with speed, rounding off his routes and has had too many focus drops. Limited vision in the return game has left him with modest production in punt returns (5.4 yd avg) and Kickoffs (19.1 avg), despite his blistering speed.
However with some coaching at the next level, that could be a nice niche for him to earn reps in the NFL.
Pros:
- Speed, speed, and more speed 4.28 at his Pro Day makes him one of the fastest WRs
- Creates big plays after the catch, with a 24.2 average per reception
- Excellent leadership and work ethic, one of the hardest workers on his team
Cons:
- Size and strength is an issue for the NFL, can win with speed only
- Durability may be an issue at the next level
- Must improve route running and ball security
Where can the Patriots can get him?: The Patriots already have one of the most potent offenses in the NFL, how could a player like Dorsett help? Getting him the ball in space is a big play waiting to happen and with the Patriots’ Tom Brady already having the big targets of being Rob Gronkowski and Julian Edelman, Dorsett would see a lot of single coverage.
With some coaching at the next level, Dorsett on the Patriots could be not only a big play producer in the offense but on special teams as well where his speed would make him a very dangerous man in space.
But NFL teams love speed and with his performances at the NFL Combine and his Pro Day, his stock right now is at his highest and may probably go in the first round of the Draft. A couple of notable national writers have him going as high as the Top 20 which would take the Patriots right out of the equation.
Although undersized and may have some durability issues, he’s a bit like the Colts T.Y. Hilton, once he gets the ball in his hands anything can happen. It would be a surprise if the Patriots took a shot at him in Round 1 but stranger things have happened. Dorsett will be a fun player to watch in the coming season.
Here is a highlight film of Dorsett at Miami:
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