A few weeks ago, I took you through some running back targets that I find overvalued at this stage of the draft process. Now it is time to look at some wide receivers that I currently feel are being overvalued at their current mock draft projection.
I will highlight four wide receivers getting buzz right now that I expect to fade before or during the NFL Draft.
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- College: Purdue
- Height: 6″2
- Weight: 205lbs
- 40 Time: 4.51 seconds
There is a lot of buzz around David Bell, and there is a lot to like. For someone of his size, he can get open and change direction well. He has also shown that he can thrive in the slot and line up wide. There were a lot of throws made by his quarterbacks, both Aiden O’Connell and Jack Plummer, where Bell would make his way into a wide-open space. However, this is a decent receiver class, and taking Bell over some of the other talent you can get in the second round would be extremely risky. The most obvious question mark about Bell is his speed. He’s not that quick, and I worry Bell will struggle to beat corners in the NFL. He will find some success, don’t get me wrong, but he is going to have a difficult time putting up elite numbers unless he can find new ways to beat some of the more aggressive defensive backs.
Even if he beats his corners, his technique leaves a lot to be desired. When digging through his tape, he consistently lets the ball come into his chest or near his pads instead of extending his arms to grab. If he does this in the NFL, it could lead to possible interceptions. And, if Bell does not fix this, he won’t get the trust of his quarterback enough to see enough of the opportunities. Bell also has a pretty narrow route tree. He will struggle with the concepts and the route tree in his rookie year. He also cannot block, which will be a problem regarding his usage and getting on the field to start. Bell will need to improve in this area massively.
I don’t expect Bell to be productive in year one and he feels like too much of a risk for me. I would struggle to take him before the fourth round. Bell is more likely a round three pick in this draft, however, he is currently being mocked at pick 50 which is the middle of the second round. That is far too high in my estimation.
- College: Georgia
- Height: 6″3
- Weight: 200lbs
- 40 Time: 4.59 seconds
People reading this will think it is harsh to put Pickens in an article like this. He has shown himself as physically gifted. Pickens demonstrated great hands, great route running potential, no fear for contact, going over the middle, and catching over his shoulder. Before his injury, he was looking like a day one pick. However, Pickens tore his ACL. The combine is make or break for Pickens. Currently, Pickens is going at pick 53, which is just too high without the combine and understanding where he is physically.
The two major concerns I have with Pickens are as follows:
- His speed. He’s not explosive, and he is certainly not quick. His ACL injury is only going to make this worse. This is a huge concern. This worry can be ignored if he runs in the 4.40s at the combine. However, I doubt that happens. It is a huge red flag.
- His character. This is a player with a ton of off-the-field issues in addition to his on-field concerns. Kirby Smart, head coach of the Georgia Bulldogs, has called Pickens “undisciplined” and “a seven or eight-year-old” with some of his behavior. He has squirted water at opposing quarterbacks out of bounds, punched players on the field leading to ejection, and has violated several team rules in the past. That is going to put a lot of scouts off. Very few teams will take the risk on Pickens with other red flags.
There is very little chance I see him going in the second round of the NFL Draft with all of this. For me, the character concerns, mixed with the speed, make him more likely a late third or even fourth round player. However, it could work out for him this way. Later draft capital should alleviate some pressure to succeed immediately, and he would then be able to better concentrate on excelling in the NFL. Tyreek Hill was a fifth round pick. Antonio Brown was a sixth round pick. A lot of the talent is there. He needs to work on speed and getting his head on straight.
- College: Kentucky
- Height: 5″11
- Weight: 185lbs
- 40 Time: 4.38 seconds
Robinson will need to have the combine of his life and showcase everything he has. Because, even despite that, I cannot see how an NFL team drafts Robinson in the second round of the NFL Draft. Robinson is an incredible athlete. He is explosive, confident, can jump well, and catch the ball well, using his feet to make the most of situations and gain an advantage. There is also a gadget player element to Robinson. He could easily take snaps at running back, similarly to how Deebo Samuel does now.
However, there are some concerns. The most obvious is he has been playing wide receiver for only a year. He is a converted running back. He has not run many routes and hasn’t studied many route concepts. As a result, he needs a lot of work in route running, completing his routes, and beating defenders. This will be even more important given his build and frame. Robinson is a tiny wide receiver and will be beaten off the ball if he doesn’t run his route to perfection. I can also see him being knocked off his route at the line of scrimmage. Robinson also has a limited catch radius, which will only suit him in the slot position. Will NFL teams risk a tiny, inexperienced wide receiver with one year of tape in the second round? Probably not.
I have a day 3 grade on Robinson. It wouldn’t shock me if he went late on day 2. However, if he went in the second round, I would question the GM who selected him with such a valuable pick.
- College: Western Michigan
- Height: 5″10
- Weight: 195lbs
- 40 Time: 4.30 seconds
Skyy Moore is getting so much buzz right now that his inclusion on this list will stop people in their tracks. Lots of folks love small school guys. Heck, I love small school guys. Everybody loves an underdog. However, Skyy Moore is not worth taking in the third round of the 2022 NFL Draft.
Moore was initially recruited as a corner and converted to wide receiver at Western Michigan. This does give Moore a unique perspective on the game. Also, Moore does have great hands. He has very few drops, including an impressive four last year and seven overall in his college career. However, Moore is only a slot receiver. He will not be commanding many targets outside. Also, Moore lets the ball go into his chest a little too much. Sometimes, he needs to extend his hands. In the MAC, you can get away with that sort of timing. In the NFL, you cannot. The question surrounding Moore is, ultimately, is he worth a day two pick for a slot receiver who has not faced any elite competition in his career?
If Moore had more to his game, then perhaps. However, he doesn’t. Moore is a terrible blocker. And, while he is fast, he isn’t elite fast. Moore will make men miss at the next level. And, he can probably become a sufficient and useable slot receiver in the NFL. However, with him currently being mocked in the third round, I don’t see what he will add to a team unless they are in serious need of a slot receiver to be ready to compete for a ring in 2022. That is a minimal list of teams that will fit into that profile, which is why I see Moore sliding into the 4th, or, more than likely, the fifth round of the draft. He will undoubtedly be one to watch on draft day and see where he lands.
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Adam Murfet is a featured writer at FantasyPros. For more from Murf, check out his archive and follow him @Murf_NFL.
