2022 NFL Draft: WRs

[G08]

Eeee.....

[wab]

He might be a little tooooo much.

[Ditka’s dictaphone]

Talented - check
Young - check
Violent - check, check, check

Sounds like he’s Poles guy

[alexwilkins]

Dai'Jean Dixon from Nicholls State has some great tape from this past year. He tested pretty average at the combine, but he has put up some pretty impressive games against the FBS teams he's played. Probably won't get drafted, but I like him.

[thunderspirit]

Dai'Jean Dixon from Nicholls State has some great tape from this past year. He tested pretty average at the combine, but he has put up some pretty impressive games against the FBS teams he's played. Probably won't get drafted, but I like him.

Dixon was accused of sexual assault coming out of high school on Louisiana. Many details aren't public, and the accuser allegedly recanted the story after several months, so draw whatever conclusions you will from that.

But the Bears have typically not been interested in such players.

[G08]

David Bell...

Where are we on this kid? His combine numbers were pretty atrocious:

1.56/2.66/4.68 (his 10/20-yard splits are fine, that 40 is brutal)

4.57 20-yard shuttle isn't great either



But then I turn on the tape...

This kid can play, man. Smooth route runner, very good hands, can go up and attack the ball. His athletic numbers also don't match what I see with how seamless he is coming out of a stop/curl route and making a defender miss. This dude is an enigma for me.

[Moriarty]

David Bell...

Where are we on this kid? His combine numbers were pretty atrocious:

1.56/2.66/4.68 (his 10/20-yard splits are fine, that 40 is brutal)

4.57 20-yard shuttle isn't great either



But then I turn on the tape...

This kid can play, man. Smooth route runner, very good hands, can go up and attack the ball. His athletic numbers also don't match what I see with how seamless he is coming out of a stop/curl route and making a defender miss. This dude is an enigma for me.

Unless he improves considerably at Pro Day, I wouldn't touch him until really late.

[G08]

David Bell...

Where are we on this kid? His combine numbers were pretty atrocious:

1.56/2.66/4.68 (his 10/20-yard splits are fine, that 40 is brutal)

4.57 20-yard shuttle isn't great either



But then I turn on the tape...

This kid can play, man. Smooth route runner, very good hands, can go up and attack the ball. His athletic numbers also don't match what I see with how seamless he is coming out of a stop/curl route and making a defender miss. This dude is an enigma for me.

Unless he improves considerably at Pro Day, I wouldn't touch him until really late.

I wouldn't hate him at the bottom of round 2... his tape, to me, is better than his numbers.

Could he be another Anquan Boldin? Jarvis Landry? [meaning better player than athletic tester] etc etc


I still really like George Pickens the player, I just worry he might be a fucking knucklehead.

[southdakbearfan]

I like Watson from NDSU.

[thunderspirit]

David Bell...

Where are we on this kid? His combine numbers were pretty atrocious:

1.56/2.66/4.68 (his 10/20-yard splits are fine, that 40 is brutal)

4.57 20-yard shuttle isn't great either



But then I turn on the tape...

This kid can play, man. Smooth route runner, very good hands, can go up and attack the ball. His athletic numbers also don't match what I see with how seamless he is coming out of a stop/curl route and making a defender miss. This dude is an enigma for me.

Unless he improves considerably at Pro Day, I wouldn't touch him until really late.

I don't think he's worth a Day 2 pick with that size and athleticism, but couldn't object pretty much any time on Day 3.

He's a true junior (doesn't turn 22 until December) who's been pretty productive since day 1 in a Power 5 conference. He's not likely to ever be dynamic because of his physical ability, but I think he can be a starter.

[Ditka’s dictaphone]

I like Watson from NDSU.

[wab]

David Bell...

Where are we on this kid? His combine numbers were pretty atrocious:

1.56/2.66/4.68 (his 10/20-yard splits are fine, that 40 is brutal)

4.57 20-yard shuttle isn't great either



But then I turn on the tape...

This kid can play, man. Smooth route runner, very good hands, can go up and attack the ball. His athletic numbers also don't match what I see with how seamless he is coming out of a stop/curl route and making a defender miss. This dude is an enigma for me.

I kind of get an Anquan Boldin vibe from him.

[Moriarty]

Pickens made a weird choice (IMO) coming out this year. If he goes back next year to show that he's healthy and put up some numbers I think he's a first rounder next year. I like him as a player but I'm curious about his motivation and plan. Maybe he has a personal reason to come out?

Yeah, I'm really shaking my head there.

Has a nice debut season for a Freshman
He doesn't improve on it at all the next year
Spends almost all of the next hurt

and then decides to move on?


Is he

• Extremely terrified of another injury and never getting a taste of any NFL money?
• Extremely confident and figures whatever he loses by going on Day 2 now (20Mish) instead of Day 1 next year, he'll makeup by hitting FA 2 yrs earlier
• Just immature and not much of a quality decision maker?

[G08]

Pickens made a weird choice (IMO) coming out this year. If he goes back next year to show that he's healthy and put up some numbers I think he's a first rounder next year. I like him as a player but I'm curious about his motivation and plan. Maybe he has a personal reason to come out?

Yeah, I'm really shaking my head there.

Has a nice debut season for a Freshman
He doesn't improve on it at all the next year
Spends almost all of the next hurt

and then decides to move on?


Is he

• Extremely terrified of another injury and never getting a taste of any NFL money?
• Extremely confident and figures whatever he loses by going on Day 2 now (20Mish) instead of Day 1 next year, he'll makeup by hitting FA 2 yrs earlier
• Just immature and not much of a quality decision maker?

In an interview I saw he did mention concern of another injury and missing out on the NFL. It's understandable in my world.

[southdakbearfan]

He may have an insurance policy that only goes so long after injury as well.

[karhu]

Pickens made a weird choice (IMO) coming out this year. If he goes back next year to show that he's healthy and put up some numbers I think he's a first rounder next year. I like him as a player but I'm curious about his motivation and plan. Maybe he has a personal reason to come out?

Yeah, I'm really shaking my head there.

Has a nice debut season for a Freshman
He doesn't improve on it at all the next year
Spends almost all of the next hurt

and then decides to move on?


Is he

• Extremely terrified of another injury and never getting a taste of any NFL money?
• Extremely confident and figures whatever he loses by going on Day 2 now (20Mish) instead of Day 1 next year, he'll makeup by hitting FA 2 yrs earlier
• Just immature and not much of a quality decision maker?

Another way to look at it is that he led the team as a freshman with a drafted QB who played all 14 games, then posted lesser numbers as the team's best WR alongside a QB who probably won't be drafted and who missed two games. Last season's a wash aside from his big catch in the championship game.

If he's healthy, or even if he's nearly there, I like him.

[Z Bear]

Watson > Pickens > Pierce

That is my preference for R2 receiver. I will be pretty disappointed if we do not nab one of the three. There are other guys I like and think can be good. But those three just seem like they could be REALLY good if they apply themselves.

[Grizzled]

Watson > Pickens > Pierce

That is my preference for R2 receiver. I will be pretty disappointed if we do not nab one of the three. There are other guys I like and think can be good. But those three just seem like they could be REALLY good if they apply themselves.

I'd also like to see them doubledip. Snag Wan'dale Robinson, Calvin Austin, one of those guys who is electric with the ball in his hands.

[Ditka’s dictaphone]

Watson or Dotson as first WR pick for me.

Thornton or Danny Gray as second WR pick

[wab]

My preference for R2
Garrett Wilson (who could get pushed out of R1 by a couple of other high risers (I think Watson is a R1 guy).
George Pickens
John Metchie
David Bell (not a great pure athlete but he has an Aquan Bolden vibe to him that I can't ignore).
Alec Pierce (I think he has an outside shot to go in R1)

R3:
Khalil Shakir
Romeo Doubs
Sky Moore (only if they think Pringle is the X)
Wan'Dale Robinson
Kyle Phillips

[G08]

My preference for R2
Garrett Wilson (who could get pushed out of R1 by a couple of other high risers (I think Watson is a R1 guy).
George Pickens
John Metchie
David Bell (not a great pure athlete but he has an Aquan Bolden vibe to him that I can't ignore).
Alec Pierce (I think he has an outside shot to go in R1)

R3:
Khalil Shakir
Romeo Doubs
Sky Moore (only if they think Pringle is the X)
Wan'Dale Robinson
Kyle Phillips

Garrett Wilson might be the first WR off the board man

Day 2 targets I like in no particular order:

Christian Watson (elite H/W/S guy, might not get out of the first round)
George Pickens (if healthy and deemed to not be a headcase... has a relationship with Justin Fields)
Skyy Moore (might be more of a slot WR)
Jahan Dotson (great route runner, better hands)
Alec Pierce (doesn't play as athletically as his metrics suggest, but he has excellent deep speed and extremely long arms to highpoint the ball)
David Bell (his athletic metrics are trash, but you watch him play and you'll see excellent feet/concentration and very good hands)

Forgot to add Jalen Tolbert as well

[G08]

Khalil Shakir

I like him too... quick twitch Bobby Wade(?)

[thunderspirit]

Yeah, I'm really shaking my head there.

Has a nice debut season for a Freshman
He doesn't improve on it at all the next year
Spends almost all of the next hurt

and then decides to move on?


Is he

• Extremely terrified of another injury and never getting a taste of any NFL money?
• Extremely confident and figures whatever he loses by going on Day 2 now (20Mish) instead of Day 1 next year, he'll makeup by hitting FA 2 yrs earlier
• Just immature and not much of a quality decision maker?

Another way to look at it is that he led the team as a freshman with a drafted QB who played all 14 games, then posted lesser numbers as the team's best WR alongside a QB who probably won't be drafted and who missed two games. Last season's a wash aside from his big catch in the championship game.

If he's healthy, or even if he's nearly there, I like him.

I'm not sure what to make of Pickens.

That freshman year (at age 18) was very good, but he didn't improve on it in 2020 and then tore his ACL. Do you give him a pass for 2020 because, well, 2020? Do you give him kudos for coming back after the ACL and playing in the championship game when he probably shouldn't have? Does the non-Jake Fromm factor matter when looking at market share of receiving yards (25.4% with Fromm in 2019/22.7% without in 2020)?

It's a similar problem I face with Justyn Ross: comparably very good freshman year (age 18 through December 15 in 2018, 25.8% market share of receiving yards), no real improvement as a sophomore (22.3% market share) even with Trevor Lawrence still at QB, then missed a whole season with injury before last year's 26.1% market share. How do you grade the freshman year without the context of what came after?

[G08]

@thunderspirit I think poor QB play and a heavier emphasis on the run didn't help Pickens out at all (ran more than they threw in 2020).

I think, and this is strictly watching him as a WR, he has #1 traits in terms of route-running, athleticism, and ball skills.

If he's 100% healthy -- which is a big IF -- AND he's not a character concern, I think he's a #1 WR in the NFL.

[Ditka’s dictaphone]

Garrett Wilson might be the first WR off the board man

I think you’re right, certainly expect Wilson to go before Olave

[G08]

Nice cutups of Alec Pierce...

[RichH55]

There are ALOT of WR

[crueltyabc]

How do you guys feel about Justyn Ross as a boom-or-bust alternative to drafting a smaller slot type if Poles goes OT at 39 and there's a run on the second tier guys like Pickens and Watson? I'm starting to warm up to the idea that some minor injuries plus a dropoff at QB at Clemson were more of the problem than his skill in recent years.



The wingspan at 1:30 and playmaking you see throughout... not typically available in the late 2nd/early 3rd

[wab]

How do you guys feel about Justyn Ross as a boom-or-bust alternative to drafting a smaller slot type if Poles goes OT at 39 and there's a run on the second tier guys like Pickens and Watson? I'm starting to warm up to the idea that some minor injuries plus a dropoff at QB at Clemson were more of the problem than his skill in recent years.



The wingspan at 1:30 and playmaking you see throughout... not typically available in the late 2nd/early 3rd

I like him but congenital fusion of the neck and spine isn’t something I’d consider minor injuries.

Having said that, he is healthy now by all accounts.

[crueltyabc]

Lol I saw the “susceptible to stingers” part and not the “because of a condition requiring major surgery” part