See you in 2018!

I’m taking a sabbatical from scouting this year. A lot of other projects to work on and won’t be able to devote enough time. But thanks for visiting!

2016 NFL Draft

Here is where you will be able to access all of the information I’ve put together related to the 2016 NFL draft.

Positional Rankings

• Quarterbacks
• Running Backs
• Wide Receivers
• Tight Ends and Fullbacks

Tre Roberson, QB/DB, Illinois State-FCS – 2016

Vikings, UDFA. Transferred from Indiana to Illinois State-FCS for 2014 season. Has the athleticism to be able to transition to wide receiver or defensive back in the pros and has enough quarterbacking skill to make a nice multi-purpose practice squad/scout team QB. If the Vikings try to go Joe Webb with him, he needs a couple of years of development before he could be trusted to run an NFL offense – even for short periods.

Positives: Versatile, and switched from quarterback to defensive back for the NFL draft. Very good vertical leap and broad jump for the position. Adequate upper-body strength. Throws with above-average arm strength and adequate velocity. Above-average accuracy rolling to either his right or his left. Fair anticipation and is able to hit receivers coming out of their breaks. Shows very good escapability inside the pocket. He moves well inside the pocket and keeps his eyes downfield. Is able to step up in the pocket under outside pressure and doesn’t always just cut and run. Knows when to throw the ball away on the run. Able to make pretty quick decisions. Seems to go through progressions rather than lock onto single target. Able to throw with either touch or velocity, but is still learning when to vary it. Good speed, lateral quickness, and open field vision. Shows better ball security technique running down the field than he does inside the pocket. In the red zone, he extends plays well with his feet.

Negatives: Below-average height and bulk for a quarterback – built more like a wide receiver or defensive back. Has run a read option system at both Indiana and Illinois State, so he isn’t really a pro-style quarterback. Below-average accuracy and timing at all levels. Release varies from 3/4 to sidearm – and it may be a problem having such a low release point at his height. Doesn’t consistently step into his throws, and passes will fall short when he doesn’t. Sometimes shows late recognition in the red zone on the move. Suspect red-zone decisions and will throw across his body for interceptions. Pretty poor ball security moving in the pocket and holds the ball far away from his body in one hand while being tackled. Broke left leg in September 2012 and missed rest of season, redshirting. Below-average decisions under pressure and will throw across his body to traffic.

Pre-Draft Projection: Undrafted free agent.

Darius Jackson, RB, Eastern Michigan – 2016

Cowboys, Round 6.

Postseason Events: NFLPA Bowl.

Positives: Great height and above-average bulk for the position – built more like a wide receiver. Elite athleticism, with excellent vertical leap, broad jump, and track speed. Very good ability to change directions with burst in his pro day measurements.

Negatives: Seems very indecisive both behind the line and in the open field, and dances too much without gaining yards. Inconsistent hands. Suspect concentration when he knows a hit is coming. Below-average lateral quickness in his pro day measurements.

Pre-Draft Projection: Undrafted free agent.

Tyler Higbee, TE, Western Kentucky – 2016

Rams, Round 4.

Postseason Events: NFL Combine.

Positives: Was a redshirt senior. Very good height and adequate bulk for the position. Great hand size.

Negatives: Below-average pass blocker and has trouble sliding his feet to stop outside rushers. Missed last six games of 2015, including the bowl game. Had knee surgery in December 2015 and still wasn’t ready for his pro day in March 2016. Below-average upper-body strength.

Tyreek Hill, RB/WR/KR, West Alabama-D2 – 2016

Chiefs, Round 5. 2014 transfer from community college to Oklahoma State, then to West Alabama-D2.

Positives: Also ran track for Oklahoma State. Above-average hands and can extend consistently. Falls forward after contact. Keeps his balance pretty well after contact. Field kicks cleanly on the run. Changes directions quickly and is pretty crisp out of his breaks as a route runner. Patient on kick returns and will wait for his blocks. Pretty agile and quick.

Negatives: Charged with domestic abuse against pregnant girlfriend in December 2014 and was dismissed from the team.

Pre-Draft Projection: Undrafted free agent.

Ranking the WRs in the 2016 NFL Draft

1. Tyler Boyd
2. Laquon Treadwell
3. Josh Doctson
4. William Fuller
5. Corey Coleman
6. Braxton Miller
7. Bralon Addison
8. Sterling Shepard
9. Michael Thomas
10. Devon Cajuste
11. Malcolm Mitchell
12. Pharoh Cooper
13. Roger Lewis
14. Trevor Davis
15. Leonte Carroo
16. Charone Peake
17. Thomas Duarte
18. Jordan Payton
19. KJ Maye
20. Cody Core
21. Mike Thomas
22. Jaydon Mickens
23. Keyarris Garrett
24. Joshua McKissic
25. Devin Lucien
26. DJ Foster
27. Paul Turner
28. Deandre Reaves
29. Andy Jones
30. Chester Rogers
31. Maurice Harris
32. Chris Brown
33. Devin Fuller
34. Alex Erickson
35. Aaron Burbridge
36. Daniel Braverman
37. Rashard Higgins
38. Willie Quinn
39. Jalin Marshall

Tyler Boyd, WR/PR/KR, Pittsburgh – 2016

Declared early for the 2016 NFL Draft.

Postseason events: NFL Combine.

Positives: Above-average height and adequate bulk for the position. Above-average hand size. Runs with above-average game speed and quickness. Runs above-average routes, and is quick and clean in his breaks. Gets good separation on hitch routes. Above-average open-field vision on punt returns. Generally very good, natural hands and can extend well. Catches with hands consistently without double clutching. Good effort on off-target passes, and will lay out for the catch. Excellent concentration on difficult catches, even when being heavily interfered with. Pretty good concentration and can come down with passes even after he slips in his routes. Looked smooth on sideline drill at the Combine. Tracks passes pretty well over his inside shoulder. Runs like a running back after the catch, with good balance after contact, and can contort his body to keep moving. Very nimble on the sidelines. Seems pretty strong and isn’t easy to bring down one-on-one. Very patient on kick returns. Is able to improvise when outside runs are defended. Willing to lower his shoulder at the end of runs instead of ducking out of bounds. Lines up all over the field in 2015 bowl game – even as a running back. Seems to be very aware of where the first down marker is, and will stretch out while being tackled. Fields punts fearlessly in traffic – sometimes too fearlessly. Gets upfield quickly on kick and punt returns. Seems decisive on returns. Tough – dislocated finger on left hand in September 2014 but missed no time. Adequate track speed and lower-body explosiveness in Combine testing.

Negatives: Below-average vertical leap. Below-average upper-body strength. Arrested for DUI in June 2015 and suspended from first game. Will sometimes runs backwards after fielding punts.

Projection: Round 2. Personally, I would give him a high Round 1 grade.

Laquon Treadwell, WR, Mississippi – 2016

Vikings, Round 1. Declared early for the 2016 NFL Draft.

Postseason events: NFL Combine.

Positives: Good height and very good bulk for the position – nearly H-back size. Adequate hand size. Runs pretty good routes, and completes his routes to create separation. Gets good position against defenders on fade routes, leaving himself enough sideline to adjust to the pass. Knows to get past the first down marker on his routes. Generally good hands and can extend well – even over the middle. Tracks well over his inside shoulder. Strong hands and can tear the ball away from defenders. Willing to catch over the middle. Above-average concentration on contested passes. Above-average balance after contact. Versatile, and is a former high school quarterback.

Negatives: Will occasionally let passes get to his body. Below-average vertical leap for the position. Below-average lower-body explosiveness in Combine drills. Below-average upper-body strength. Below-average quickness side to side and when accelerating out of cuts in pro day tests. Broke left fibula and sprained left ankle in October 2014 and missed rest of season.

Pre-Draft Projection: Round 1.

Josh Doctson, WR, TCU – 2016

Washington, Round 1. Transferred from Wyoming to TCU in 2011.

Postseason events: NFL Combine. Invited to Senior Bowl, but withdrew before the week.

Positives: Good height and above-average bulk for the position. Adequate hand size. Quick off the line and runs with above-average speed. Fast enough to get separation from coverage when he gets a clean release. Consistently good hands and can extend and adjust – going up to get the ball at its highest point well. Can extend to snag passes sailing out of bounds. Tracks passes well over his inside shoulder. Adjusts well to the back-shoulder pass and to passes thrown behind him. Runs pretty well after the catch. Okay downfield blocker. Good vertical leap and lower-body explosiveness in Combine drills. Above-average ability to change directions with burst in Combine drills. Adequate upper-body strength.

Negatives: Not much separation on routes when cornerbacks are physical with him or when he doesn’t fight off press coverage. Below-average track speed for the position, though he seemed to run faster in games. Broke hand in March 2015 and was out for spring practices. Broke left wrist in November 2015 and missed the rest of the season.

Pre-Draft Projection: Round 1.

Bralon Addison, WR/PR, Oregon – 2016

Declared early for the 2016 NFL Draft.

Postseason events: NFL Combine.

Positives: Adequate bulk and hand size for the position. Runs with good speed and acceleration. Very quick change of direction ability, and is quick into his breaks as a route runner. Generally good hands and concentration – looks passes into hands, and can catch passes with a hit, and can catch bobbled passes. Adjusts consistently well to passes thrown behind him. Looked smooth on sideline drills at the Combine. Very good effort on jump ball passes and will go up and get the ball. Above-average open-field vision and shows fair balance after contact for yards after the catch. Fairly reliable fielding hands on punt returns and makes smart fair catch decisions. Strong downfield run blocker. Adequate lateral quickness in pro day drills. Adequate ability to change directions with burst in Combine and pro day drills.

Negatives: Below-average height for the position. Has some trouble with fast passes. Gets inconsistent positioning on punts and kicks. Consistently below-average track speed for the position and generally below-average explosiveness in Combine drills. Below-average upper-body strength. Tore his left ACL during spring 2014 practices and missed the season.

Projection: Round 6. Personally, I’d give him a Round 2 grade, but I seem to love Addison’s game more than most.