Return specialists in the draft

[Urgent]

Given 11 picks, the Patriots may take a look at return specialists, as they did last year.

Even if Slater has a huge turnaround, it might make sense to have some competition at this position.

At kick return, Hobbs is one of the best. With Bodden and Springs, and the potential development of Wheatley and Wilhite, and the possibility of a corner in the top four picks, there's a possibility Hobbs will be moved to the slot, and be fresher for kick returns.

At punt return, I would love to have a specialist and get Welker out of that spot. He's good but not terrific at punt return, but it's always a risk and it's a few more hits a game.

Here are the top return prospects in the draft:

Name          School     Size        40 time   225 reps Vert  Broad  3-Cone  Return stats
Mic. R. Garvin	FSU	5-7.5 174	4.26		36	10-8	7.0     30.1 KR, 1 TD
Brandon Tate	UNC	5-11.7 183	ACL					27.7 KR, 22.6 PR
Jeremy Maclin	MO	6-0.1 198	4.45		35.5	10-0	7.1	24.0 KR, 1 TD, 11.7 PR, 1 TD
Travis Shelton	Temple	5-11 185						31.30 KR, 1 TD
Aaron Brown	TCU	6-1 196	        4.49					29.2 KR, 1 TD
Bryan Williams	Akron	5-11 200	4.38					29.0 KR, 0 TD
Tristan Davis	Auburn	5-9.3 212	4.43	18	31	9-9	7.3	27.4 KR, 2 TD
Mike Wallace	Miss	6-0.1 189	4.33	14	40	10-9		24.6 KR, 1 TD
Joe Burnett	C. FLA	5-9.3 192	4.57	22	36	9-10	6.7	28.7 KR, 14.5 PR
Mike Thomas	Arizona	5-8.0 187	4.40		40.5	10-6	6.6	22.6 KR, 13.5 PR, 2 TD
Marcus Thigpen	Indiana	5-9.0 185	4.47	21	35	10-6	7.2	22.4 KR, 0 TD
Austin Collie	BYU	6-0.7 200	4.53	17			6.8	27.5 KR, 0 TD
Derr. Williams	PSU	5-11.4 198	4.48	18		9-7	7.0	25.8 KR, 2 TD
DJ Moore	Vandy	5-8.7 184	4.53	17	40	9-10	7.0	14.4 PR, 0 TD
Jairus Byrd	Oregon	5-10.1 201	4.58	15	35		6.8	12.3 PR, 1 TD
Kory Sheets	Purdue	5-11.1 203	4.47	15	37	10-1	7.2	18.5 KR

 

[bakes781]

I think Mike Thomas would be the ideal guy at his size and speed. Brandon Tate would be worth taking a risk late as well.

 

[Urgent]

At kick-off return, Michael Ray Garvin is the big threat. Huge speed - in fact, he lost his starting corner position when he took the spring off to train with the US Olympic team for last summer's track and field. For football, he is tiny, and is a pure returner.

Travis Shelton is another similar pure speed returner, with the top kick return average in the draft. He was reportedly measured at 4.3 at Temple's Pro Day. He's a wide receiver.

Bryan Williams is a great kick returner and possible back-up corner with great speed and some size.
Aaron Brown is another great kick returner and third-down back, a possible Kevin Faulk successor. As a running back, he put up a 5.5 yard per carry average, so he is certainly a viable back-up.

 

[Box_O_Rocks]

Tate has been in for a visit and BB worked Burnett out on campus.

 

[Urgent]

Brandon Tate and Joe Burnett are the top dual-threat returners, and both are viable players.

Tate had phenomenal return stats early in the season before getting injured, with a 28 yard kick return average and 23 yard punt return average. He's also a vertical threat as a wide receiver, with a 24 yard-per-catch average. Note that he's visited Foxboro, but could not work out at his Pro Day.

Burnett is a favorite corner here. He also had terrific kick-off and punt return stats, as well as 16 INT's over his career at a lower level, but tested very slow at 4.57 at the Combine.

CB DJ Moore, WR Mike Thomas, and CB Jairus Byrd round out the punt return candidates.

Moore was considered one of the top corners before measuring short, slight, and slow. He excelled at punt returns, and has great hands for the INT.

Thomas is a speed slot receiver and excellent punt returner.

Byrd is a second-tier corner, also testing very slow and showing excellent hands.

Any of Tate, Burnett, Moore, Thomas, or Byrd would be punt return upgrades and back-ups at corner or wide receiver.

 

[patchick]

I'm on the Burnett bandwagon too, since his combo of PR & CB skills makes him a solid candidate for the 45 each week. He looks like a good value as a mid-round CB in the classic Pats style: not big, not great straight-line speed, but plenty of quickness, field vision and ball skills.

Just for fun...

A. Samuel 5-11 185 4.49/2.66/1.59 09 35 1/2 10'00" 4.14 6.95

J. Burnett 5-10 192 4.58/2.59/1.55 22 35 1/2 09'10" 4.25 6.68

 

[Irish Hooligan]

I'm on the Burnett bandwagon too, since his combo of PR & CB skills makes him a solid candidate for the 45 each week. He looks like a good value as a mid-round CB in the classic Pats style: not big, not great straight-line speed, but plenty of quickness, field vision and ball skills.

Just for fun...

A. Samuel 5-11 185 4.49/2.66/1.59 09 35 1/2 10'00" 4.14 6.95

J. Burnett 5-10 192 4.58/2.59/1.55 22 35 1/2 09'10" 4.25 6.68

not sure why but I found that comparison quite interesting