Player Profile
4. DeAndre Hopkins, 6'1", 214 (passes 2/5 of the criteria)
If BB decides to change his WR draft philosophy, Hopkins is the guy to do it with. While Colts fans have their eyes on Allen, fans of the Ravens and Steelers love this guy.
Hopkins is one of the best technicians at his position in this draft class. He knows how to tell a story as a route runner with both his hands, torso, and feet. This makes Hopkins a good short and intermediate receiver versus man and zone coverage. He can use his hands to swipe a defender at the top of his stem and gain position with his turns. He uses a variety of releases with his feet to get inside and outside versus tight man coverage. Hopkins shows good feet as a route runner and ball carrier, changing direction in tight space to work away from pursuit or break back to the pass. This is a particularly strong aspect with his routes. I like his ability to chatter his feet and drum his arms at the top of his stem and into his break but his hips are stiff and he isn't the most fluid runner. He's a bit rigid but it works for him.
Hopkins has good hands and demonstrates that he can snatch the football thrown away from his body and at the first available window as the ball arrives. He does a good job catching passes high or low in tight coverage and with his back to the quarterback. Hopkins is also a sure-handed receiver with strong skill at adjusting to the football in the air. He can make diving catches or high-point the ball in traffic. He finds openings in zone coverage and will vary his speed or position to maximize his position for the QB to deliver the ball. If he can develop a little stronger skill against press coverage I think with his build and style, he can have a very good career if he lands on a team with a good quarterback.
Hopkins' down field speed is good enough but not great. He has to work on getting position ahead of the defender early enough to maintain a cushion from the sideline so his quarterback has more room to throw the fade. He has learn to punch and swipe against press coverage and avoid getting pushed to the boundary. Revis would eat him alive right now. I'd like to see better use of his hands during his releases. He tends to get by with his feet & needs to use his hands more throughout the route but especially getting off the LOS.
At one point, Hopkins was the top WR prospect on my board. Route techniques, skill in tight coverage, plays on 50/50 balls, and catches after contact with displays of flypaper hands will do that. His speed is a bit of a question mark and the upside of the players I ultimately ranked ahead of him spelled the slight difference. Hopkins is a solid & dependable receiver & that could appeal to BB.
Hopkins would be a top-three receiver in most draft classes.
NFL comparison is Hakeem Nicks
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oTJjRlGOCjk
