WRs to watch

[Demi]

If you're trying to make the Comparison between Patterson and Williamson, I'd say you need to rewatch the kid. Patterson will be a far better talent then Williamson ever was.

An NFL front office watched Williamson and decided to draft him higher then Patterson will go. Same goes for plenty of guys. While in hindsight it's easy to say (well to be fair it was said at the time), there are still questions about Patterson, a lot more then I read about any of the other top receivers. There are some questions about all of them, but nothing as broad as what I'm reading about Patterson.

and ftr "catching" is a problem with a lot of the kids mentioned in the top of the draft. None of them that I have seen compare to Williamson's inability to catch.

I didn't mean anyone directly compared him to Williamson. I just meant reading that specific scouting report it reads like what one would say of Williamson after he washed out of the NFL. And not sure I'd want to take a chance on a guy with that many question marks.

I think I'd take any of the top receivers over him in a heart beat!

[dead_poet]

@evansilva: Mike Mayock's updated WR rankings: 1) Codarrelle Patterson 2) Tavon Austin 3) Keenan Allen 4) DeAndre Hopkins 5) Robert Woods.

[Demi]

So much for that!

We'll see Mayock! We'll see!

[saint33]

An NFL front office watched Williamson and decided to draft him higher then Patterson will go. Same goes for plenty of guys. While in hindsight it's easy to say (well to be fair it was said at the time), there are still questions about Patterson, a lot more then I read about any of the other top receivers. There are some questions about all of them, but nothing as broad as what I'm reading about Patterson.
I didn't mean anyone directly compared him to Williamson. I just meant reading that specific scouting report it reads like what one would say of Williamson after he washed out of the NFL. And not sure I'd want to take a chance on a guy with that many question marks.

I think I'd take any of the top receivers over him in a heart beat!

I honestly believe that scouting has come a long way in a short time in the NFL. Not to say there aren't busts anymore, but I think GMs have at least caught onto many of the obvious traps, such as drafting a guy because of his 40 time, which is why Williamson was drafted at the time.

Anyways, I'm certainly not saying Patterson is without fault, and I don't think he's a can't miss prospect. I understand your concerns with him, there is a legit bust potential with the kid. I personally think, while he does have a number of issues as a "WR" that will need work (most of them coachable) the kid has a special talent when the ball is in his hands. And that usually translates well to the NFL (although some may understandably point to Reggie Bush or Peter Warrick). I think that's where this kid makes up for his faults. The kid has the talent to take it to the house at any moment, and make very big plays in spite of his obvious flaws. If he can take his incredible YAC ability to the NFL, he will could be a game changer early in his career. And I mean that even with all his flaws as they are now, if a team can work out his kinks, he has potential to be an elite WR in the NFL.

So IMO, I think he's worth the risk. But I do see where the concern comes from, I just thought the Williamson comparison was a little over the top. Not to mention, just the mention of TW's name can put me in a bad mood

[mondry]

Out of all of um I'd prefer hopkins, he looks like the best WR to me and that's more important imo than the talent of patterson / austin. Too many guys breeze through college on talent and athleticism and that means they rarely develop the actual technique and skills of an NFL WR. Turns out in the NFL everyone's pretty talented so once that advantage goes away it's struggle time.

Crabtree is a good example, selected 10th overall his first few years would have many calling him a bust. He's improved though as a WR and so it's working out, but for every crabtree that finally gets it and works to be a WR, there's many who just never do.

[CaptainKirov]

Out of all of um I'd prefer hopkins, he looks like the best WR to me and that's more important imo than the talent of patterson / austin. Too many guys breeze through college on talent and athleticism and that means they rarely develop the actual technique and skills of an NFL WR. Turns out in the NFL everyone's pretty talented so once that advantage goes away it's struggle time.

Crabtree is a good example, selected 10th overall his first few years would have many calling him a bust. He's improved though as a WR and so it's working out, but for every crabtree that finally gets it and works to be a WR, there's many who just never do.

It also comes with character as well. Alot of these busts are mega divas, crabtree was no exception either, he matured because the team actually gave him time.

[CaptainKirov]

Aaron Dobson - WR - Player

According to CBS Sports draft analyst Dane Brugler, NFL scouts' opinions are "all over the board" on Marshall WR Aaron Dobson.

Dobson's range is considered anywhere from the first to the fourth round. Brugler suspects his likely draft position is somewhere in between. At 6-foot-3, 210 with 40 times in the 4.4s, Dobson is an intriguing size/speed prospect. According to STATS ICE, Dobson didn't drop a single pass last season, although he had a tendency to disappear in games.
Source: Dane Brugler on Twitter

STRENGTHS: Savvy route-runner whose body control and reliable hands made him a standout at the Senior Bowl. Good attention to detail. He sets up defensive backs well, selling his routes to push defensive backs deep even on running plays and showing off strength and determination as a downfield blocker. He also consistently worked his way back to the quarterback. Can leap high, contort his body and haul in difficult passes in deep coverage. Very good hand-eye coordination and shows the ability to make the difficult reception look easy. Is consistently able to make the reception despite defenders in close proximity. Voted team captain in 2012.

WEAKNESSES: May be a better football player than athlete and therefore may lack upside. Good, not great quick-twitch athleticism to make defenders miss in tight quarters and does not possess elite top-end speed. Smaller than expected hands (8 1/2") given his size. Is not the punishing blocker his size would indicate, though he made improvements in this area as a senior.

COMPARES TO: Sidney Rice, WR, Seattle Seahawks -- Possessing impressive height, good overall athleticism and the ability to make the tough reception in traffic, Dobson could emerge as a starting caliber split end despite less than ideal straight-line speed.

--Rob Rang

[PurpleKoolaid]

Out of all of um I'd prefer hopkins, he looks like the best WR to me and that's more important imo than the talent of patterson / austin. Too many guys breeze through college on talent and athleticism and that means they rarely develop the actual technique and skills of an NFL WR. Turns out in the NFL everyone's pretty talented so once that advantage goes away it's struggle time.

Crabtree is a good example, selected 10th overall his first few years would have many calling him a bust. He's improved though as a WR and so it's working out, but for every crabtree that finally gets it and works to be a WR, there's many who just never do.

Hmm I thought you were one of the vocal ones saying PH couldnt be a number 1 WR because of his size, playing in the slot, etc. Hopkins is about the same size and not as fast.

[PurpleKoolaid]

What are you talking about? Hopkins is 2 inches taller(6'1") and 25lbs heavier(214lbs). That is nowhere near the same so e as Harvin.

Hes still short. For a wide out. Thats what im talking about. Thats what people on this board were saying when I was saying PH is a #1 WR.

Hopkins isnt close to PH. No on is. But that doesnt mean we should go after these short WRs. We already have 2 slot guys.

[mondry]

What are you talking about? Hopkins is 2 inches taller(6'1") and 25lbs heavier(214lbs). That is nowhere near the same so e as Harvin.

Yeah, I'm confused as well!

[PurpleKoolaid]

So 2 inches makes him a wideout over PH? Hes half as fast, and about 1/10th as ellusive, yet being 2 inches taller makes him a real wideout. Interesting.

[Mothman]

6'1" isn't short for a wide receiver. Most NFL WRs probably fall into the 6' to 6' 3" range, although there are obviously receivers outside that range. I think the average NFL CB is about 5' 11" .

[losperros]

Not just the 2 inches, no. I'm simply saying your statement of him and Harvin being the same is not correct. And yes I believe 2 inches and 25 lbs makes a huge difference at a wr position. An as far as Harvin being twice as fast... Harvin ran a 4.41 an Hopkins ran a 4.51 so Harvin is definitely faster I will give you that. As far as being elusive, I don't really care. An outside receiver needs to be a fluid route runner, be able to seperate from a corner and have sure hands. But Harvin was not a good route runner from what we saw( could have just been role related?). Hopkins is one of the best route runners in the draft. That plus his size advantage is what makes him a better candidate for an outside WR position.

I'm getting really tired of the 40 yard dash times. That's a track event and has little to do with football speed. Just to make everyone happy, Hopkins ran a 4.41/40 during his pro day after receiving coaching from the Clemson track staff. So great, he beat up a stopwatch. BTW, Harvin's personal best was 4.32/40. He also set four state track records in high school and won several gold medals at the state championships. A WR can be fast, yet not as fast as Harvin. Very few NFL players can beat Percy in a foot race.

The thing is both Hopkins and Harvin bring signature styles to the game. They are two completely different players and can't really be compared.

I understand PurpleKoolaid's concern. I was also under the impression the Vikings want an outside WR that can get separation, stretch the field, and make big plays. However, Hopkins has made a college career of doing just that. He's a long strider (very important for deep routes) that has excellent sustained speed (also important for deep routes). I would be happy if the Vikings picked him.

[John_Viveiros]

The issue I have with WR's, especially in the first round, is that there aren't really safe picks at that position. Draft history is littered with guys who show major ability in college and just don't cut it in the pros. I was reading up on last year's draft, and kept coming across the names of players I had never heard of in the NFL - and who were pretty high choice WR's.

And the odd thing is... Jarius Wright ended up being one of the more productive WR's in the league, both in a season long sense (roughly #10) and in a per-game sense (#5), even though he was the 16th (by my count) WR chosen. And he had an offense that wasn't sending the ball his way as much as, say, the Packers offense would. Frankly, just having the same level of production for a full season next year will be very good for a third receiver, and in the lower range for what one would expect of a #2 guy (around what we can expect from our offense - QB play and focus on the run - I would say).

So I guess I'm letting myself off the "draft a WR in the first round" bandwagon. Maybe a guy (or two if we trade down) in the second round. I think there's better value and more need in letting the Austin/Allen/Patterson triangle pass us by and selecting a couple guys that are more likely to be solid five-year starters.

[mondry]

The issue I have with WR's, especially in the first round, is that there aren't really safe picks at that position. Draft history is littered with guys who show major ability in college and just don't cut it in the pros. I was reading up on last year's draft, and kept coming across the names of players I had never heard of in the NFL - and who were pretty high choice WR's.

And the odd thing is... Jarius Wright ended up being one of the more productive WR's in the league, both in a season long sense (roughly #10) and in a per-game sense (#5), even though he was the 16th (by my count) WR chosen. And he had an offense that wasn't sending the ball his way as much as, say, the Packers offense would. Frankly, just having the same level of production for a full season next year will be very good for a third receiver, and in the lower range for what one would expect of a #2 guy (around what we can expect from our offense - QB play and focus on the run - I would say).

So I guess I'm letting myself off the "draft a WR in the first round" bandwagon. Maybe a guy (or two if we trade down) in the second round. I think there's better value and more need in letting the Austin/Allen/Patterson triangle pass us by and selecting a couple guys that are more likely to be solid five-year starters.

Exactly that, great post. Time and time again evaluators and coaches see guys like Patterson and Austin and think "i'll take this talent and athleticism and mold him, sculpt him into a great receiver" and they convince themselves they can do it and it'll work so they fly up the draft boards. "If i can just get my hands on him he'll be a probowler for sure!"

Turns out what is more important is your route running, your hands, body control, and technique. So someone who isn't that "impressive" like Jarius Wright in upside (no one looked at him like they could IMPROVE him via coaching) but was actually decent at those things NFL WR's need to be decent at, ends up being productive and as you said (by your account) the 16th WR chosen.

Would love to see Patterson or Austin on the board when we pick so Spielman can trade down and get a boat load from one of those teams thinking "we'll make this guy great."