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The WRs of the 2024 Draft
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Hawg73
Mediocre with flashes of brilliance
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I really had no idea who Tyler Hughes was, so thanks for the detail. I've been suspicious that Troy Brown, Mr. Patriot, was not necessarily a top positional coach,
but couldn't really know one way or the other.
As somebody that shares Tyquan's last name who had watched him carry Baylor to wins when he was doubled on every play and their only real offensive weapon, I was
really excited to see him come here. While he's shown a few flashes of real speed, even I could see how poor he was at keeping his feet inbounds or coming
back on the ball to help his QB out. He'd just sit there waiting on it and the DB would have time to close and kill the play. DBs could cut off his routes and take him out of the play
with positioning and footwork and he couldn't get free. Even though he has skinny legs Tyquan is wiry strong and blocked surprisingly well, but he got hurt and missed
chunks of time which set his development back. He was officially "made of glass" in the eyes of many. He was a bust and another broken brick in the draft wall that
ultimately collapsed on BB. Bill couldn't draft a top WR to save his life.
Last season, in the middle of the worst offensive dysfunction we've seen here since the Dick McPherson days, I thought I saw signs that he was busting out of it
at times. He seemed to be quicker out of his breaks and was getting open only Mac or Zappe didn't have time to find him or would not look his way, but you could see
there is definitely something there. He was just so raw coming out and so slow to develop that everybody quit on him, but I'll keep a candle burning that a fresh approach can turn his
speed into real production, but understand that ship might have already sailed. I blame my brother for buying a Thornton jersey before he'd played in an NFL game
and I let him know about it.
Thornton, Juju and Boutte. Certainly there are players you are talking about here that can upgrade our much-maligned WR group.
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Troy had no formal training to be a WR coach and really had no business doing it, imo. I mean, players aren't naturally coaches since perspectives are very different.
You brought up Boutte and there's value there especially if Jayden Daniels becomes our pick at 3. Those 2 were pretty good together at LSU. Regardless, I was very
disappointed Boutte was put in a closet for the year in favor of a gimpy Juju. I'm also disappointed Juju is still on the roster but that's a different story altogether.
Maybe Bourne will perform well along with KJ Osborne and D Douglas. That's not a bad frontline trio even though we don't have a true X other than Thornton.
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Hawg73
Mediocre with flashes of brilliance
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I'm thinking that after this draft, Tyquan might be our ex-X, but maybe Van Pelt will
be able to get something more out of him.
It's been really hard to try to get it through my head that our former offense, so tough to pick up
for many players over the years, is now a thing of the past.
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Tier 3
18. Jalen McMillan, 6'1", 195. Washington. Grade 83.4. Rotational starter who has starter level traits when playing to his strengths.
Comp. Romeo Doubs
McMillan has enough skill to become a weekly contributor with extensive work in the starting lineup early in his career provided he has the right team fit in terms of scheme and existing talent on the depth chart. McMillian is a smooth operator with releases and route setups. He’s patient but sudden with his movements, has good footwork combinations, and excels with double moves—even with short routes in the red zone. McMillan has good weight drop with hard breaks. He must work on lapses with his footwork on speed breaks so they are
flatter and he doesn’t give opponents an opportunity to cut off or undercut targets. McMillan can create after the catch with or without blockers. He makes the first man miss and occasionally the second. He sets up his lead blockers well, but has some difficulty with multiple blockers and doesn’t recognize when he has an open lane or should remain patient behind them. He can veer into unblocked defenders when he has a clear path behind his teammates. He has enough power to work through contact from cornerbacks, but he won’t display dynamic power beyond that. He must tighten his ball security at all times rather than make dramatic changes when he sees pursuit closing on him. Overall, McMillan could contribute and produce right away in a spread system, especially with routes that get him into space against zone defenders and selected one-on-one matchups against nickel corners, safeties, linebackers, and some CB3s. As he adds more to his route game, McMillan could become a reliable starter as a secondary option. While it’s possible he grows into a primary option if he takes his route game to another level and gets stronger physically, he’s probably closer to his NFL upside than a lot of prospects ranked in the same tier. He doesn't have 1 specific thing that is special to give him success in the NFL. I see him as an inside WR3 or WR4 who needs to be matched up against a CB3 or CB4 to be productive. I have more detail and if we draft him on day 3 I'll revisit this at that time.
No injuries noted.
18. Jalen McMillan, 6'1", 195. Washington. Grade 83.4. Rotational starter who has starter level traits when playing to his strengths.
Comp. Romeo Doubs
McMillan has enough skill to become a weekly contributor with extensive work in the starting lineup early in his career provided he has the right team fit in terms of scheme and existing talent on the depth chart. McMillian is a smooth operator with releases and route setups. He’s patient but sudden with his movements, has good footwork combinations, and excels with double moves—even with short routes in the red zone. McMillan has good weight drop with hard breaks. He must work on lapses with his footwork on speed breaks so they are
flatter and he doesn’t give opponents an opportunity to cut off or undercut targets. McMillan can create after the catch with or without blockers. He makes the first man miss and occasionally the second. He sets up his lead blockers well, but has some difficulty with multiple blockers and doesn’t recognize when he has an open lane or should remain patient behind them. He can veer into unblocked defenders when he has a clear path behind his teammates. He has enough power to work through contact from cornerbacks, but he won’t display dynamic power beyond that. He must tighten his ball security at all times rather than make dramatic changes when he sees pursuit closing on him. Overall, McMillan could contribute and produce right away in a spread system, especially with routes that get him into space against zone defenders and selected one-on-one matchups against nickel corners, safeties, linebackers, and some CB3s. As he adds more to his route game, McMillan could become a reliable starter as a secondary option. While it’s possible he grows into a primary option if he takes his route game to another level and gets stronger physically, he’s probably closer to his NFL upside than a lot of prospects ranked in the same tier. He doesn't have 1 specific thing that is special to give him success in the NFL. I see him as an inside WR3 or WR4 who needs to be matched up against a CB3 or CB4 to be productive. I have more detail and if we draft him on day 3 I'll revisit this at that time.
No injuries noted.
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19. Ja'Lyn Polk, Washington, 6'2", 205. Grade 83.1 Rotational starter who has starter level traits when playing to his strengths.
Comp. Marquez Callaway
Like McMillan above, Polk has elements of his game that he executes like a top starter, but not often enough to solidify that role in an offense immediately. There are also unknowns about his game due to his limited role in Washington’s offense that may mean he lacks certain skills to become an every-down option. Polk has the speed to start as a slant-flanker hybrid. Because he spent a lot of time as an inside receiver at Washington and against off-coverage at Texas Tech, Polk’s tool box of releases is too small to project an immediate starting role as a flanker.
Polk also doesn’t execute the releases he knows with the consistency to bait veteran defensive backs. The switch goes on and off with the nuance and detail required to become a skilled starter when facing tight man-to-man coverage. It's as if he gets confused in what he should do or panics when he gets pressed by a CB. He lacks the explosion to stack defenders giving him a cushion, but on the occasion when he’s facing tight man or a shallow cushion, Polk can stack defenders mid-route. He should do it more when given clear opportunities to do so.
Polk is good at using his stems to manipulate opponents playing off him. He can turn them around with the way he works a stem. When facing tight coverage in the vertical game that’s trailing him, Polk uses his hands effectively to reinforce his separation without pushing off. This makes him a good back-shoulder receiver. He must develop greater confidence to attack defenders at full speed with stems that lead into hard breaks back to the quarterback. He has a good three-step break with sudden weight drop, but he isn’t maximizing the separation because he’s not attacking the stem as hard as he could. The strength of Polk’s game is his pass-catching. He high-points and pulls the ball away from the reach of a defender in his
chest. He’s an adept worker at the boundary who has the awareness and technique to get in bounds multiple ways. Polk has no issues as a ball tracker. He only leaves his feet for high targets when necessary. He can extend and turn through high targets on the move across the field without leaving his feet. He also has late hands on back-shoulder high-points against tight coverage. It’s one of the best things about Polk’s receiving game because he can make late turns on back-shoulder targets even against trailing defenders and earn the ball before the defender registers what happened. He’s a good decision-maker after the catch, turning down the learn transition opportunity to get downfield late in the half to make sure he exits the boundary. Polk pulls through reaches to his frame and legs, he can win head-on with a cornerback when his pads are low into the collision, and bounce off glancing shots to his arms, including substantial hits from a safety. Polk is a playmaker from the slot who might develop the technical acumen to be the same as a flanker. The question is whether his game can continue to grow, or will he never leaves that zone where he’s a rotational contributor with occasionally meaningful statistical production based on matchups. He fits best in a spread offense where he’s the slot option who can work inside-out on vertical routes to the boundary and win inside off play-action. He must develop a better contrast between patience and suddenness with his releases and route setups. Polk is a fun player to watch. He’ll probably be a fun player to watch when he earns targets in the NFL. He’s the type of player who could remain on that fence between meaningful contributor and starter for a while.
Comp. Marquez Callaway
Like McMillan above, Polk has elements of his game that he executes like a top starter, but not often enough to solidify that role in an offense immediately. There are also unknowns about his game due to his limited role in Washington’s offense that may mean he lacks certain skills to become an every-down option. Polk has the speed to start as a slant-flanker hybrid. Because he spent a lot of time as an inside receiver at Washington and against off-coverage at Texas Tech, Polk’s tool box of releases is too small to project an immediate starting role as a flanker.
Polk also doesn’t execute the releases he knows with the consistency to bait veteran defensive backs. The switch goes on and off with the nuance and detail required to become a skilled starter when facing tight man-to-man coverage. It's as if he gets confused in what he should do or panics when he gets pressed by a CB. He lacks the explosion to stack defenders giving him a cushion, but on the occasion when he’s facing tight man or a shallow cushion, Polk can stack defenders mid-route. He should do it more when given clear opportunities to do so.
Polk is good at using his stems to manipulate opponents playing off him. He can turn them around with the way he works a stem. When facing tight coverage in the vertical game that’s trailing him, Polk uses his hands effectively to reinforce his separation without pushing off. This makes him a good back-shoulder receiver. He must develop greater confidence to attack defenders at full speed with stems that lead into hard breaks back to the quarterback. He has a good three-step break with sudden weight drop, but he isn’t maximizing the separation because he’s not attacking the stem as hard as he could. The strength of Polk’s game is his pass-catching. He high-points and pulls the ball away from the reach of a defender in his
chest. He’s an adept worker at the boundary who has the awareness and technique to get in bounds multiple ways. Polk has no issues as a ball tracker. He only leaves his feet for high targets when necessary. He can extend and turn through high targets on the move across the field without leaving his feet. He also has late hands on back-shoulder high-points against tight coverage. It’s one of the best things about Polk’s receiving game because he can make late turns on back-shoulder targets even against trailing defenders and earn the ball before the defender registers what happened. He’s a good decision-maker after the catch, turning down the learn transition opportunity to get downfield late in the half to make sure he exits the boundary. Polk pulls through reaches to his frame and legs, he can win head-on with a cornerback when his pads are low into the collision, and bounce off glancing shots to his arms, including substantial hits from a safety. Polk is a playmaker from the slot who might develop the technical acumen to be the same as a flanker. The question is whether his game can continue to grow, or will he never leaves that zone where he’s a rotational contributor with occasionally meaningful statistical production based on matchups. He fits best in a spread offense where he’s the slot option who can work inside-out on vertical routes to the boundary and win inside off play-action. He must develop a better contrast between patience and suddenness with his releases and route setups. Polk is a fun player to watch. He’ll probably be a fun player to watch when he earns targets in the NFL. He’s the type of player who could remain on that fence between meaningful contributor and starter for a while.
We'll be able to know pretty much right away how true this is, once they get on the field this year.
The more I think about it, and go back and watch, and look at the results, the more convinced I am that Troy Brown was a terrible hire.
It's funny, Odunze's the one of these three without the aggressive marketing campaigns (although I don't think Harrison's is huge, the TV Draft people have been on him for a year), but to me, he's the only one within hailing distance of Harrison in terms of a prospect. There is a lot of WR talent in this draft, so most teams in the 1st/2nd should end up pretty happy, but I think in terms of 'which of these receivers is going to be in the discussion for best in the league in 3 years', it's Harrison, and Odunze. And if Odunze works enough to get his footwork (especially on the line, and cuts in routes) up to Harrison's level (and it's not like he's far away, it's seriously the only real difference I see between the two), there's no reason he wouldn't be in that discussion.
In other words, someone's going to be super-happy having Odunze fall to them at like pick 12.
Hawg73
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I believe MHJ, Rome, Nabers and Thomas Jr. are all going to be worth a first rounder. I think we're splitting hairs with the 1st 3 names, but MHJ, just doesn't
seem to get the YAC the other two do.
I'm no WR scout, but when I watch Nabers I see not just speed, but an ability to change gears radically between juke steps, sort
of like a waterbug, and it would appear to be damn near impossible to not get off balance with everything he throws at you. I'm
not saying he's better overall than Odunze, but after I watched him for a while, Rome looks noticeably slower.
I'm just glad that my favorite whipping boy, Myles Bryant, has left Foxboro in FA so we will never have to watch him try
to cover Nabers. At least for us. I think he'll trip over his own feet and fall before the ball is even snapped. Normally he didn't do
that until the guy he was on made his 2nd cut. I swear I saw that happen 20X just last season.
I'd give a slight nod to Nabers as best in show, but any one of them would be the best guy we've had in years.
seem to get the YAC the other two do.
I'm no WR scout, but when I watch Nabers I see not just speed, but an ability to change gears radically between juke steps, sort
of like a waterbug, and it would appear to be damn near impossible to not get off balance with everything he throws at you. I'm
not saying he's better overall than Odunze, but after I watched him for a while, Rome looks noticeably slower.
I'm just glad that my favorite whipping boy, Myles Bryant, has left Foxboro in FA so we will never have to watch him try
to cover Nabers. At least for us. I think he'll trip over his own feet and fall before the ball is even snapped. Normally he didn't do
that until the guy he was on made his 2nd cut. I swear I saw that happen 20X just last season.
I'd give a slight nod to Nabers as best in show, but any one of them would be the best guy we've had in years.
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I almost ranked them 1a,b and c. The truth is that who gets drafted 1st depends on the fit for the drafting team. I chose Nabers because he does everything very well.
Odunze is right there, though. MJH does most everything but has that bad habit of letting balls get into his hip/waist using the underhanded position when he should
be reaching out for the ball overhanded. He had 2 drops against GA doing exactly that. It's going to be decided by what flavor of ice cream the 3 drafting teams want.
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The next group I'll simply rank and give a report if the Pats draft a player
20. Malachi Corley
21. Xavier Weaver
22. Tyler Harrell
23. Roman Wilson
24. Devontez Walker
Tier 4
25. Jamari Thrash
26. Cornelius Johnson
27. Hayden Hatten
28. Tahj Washington
29. Devaughn Vele
30. Tejhaun Palmer
20. Malachi Corley
21. Xavier Weaver
22. Tyler Harrell
23. Roman Wilson
24. Devontez Walker
Tier 4
25. Jamari Thrash
26. Cornelius Johnson
27. Hayden Hatten
28. Tahj Washington
29. Devaughn Vele
30. Tejhaun Palmer
Good write up on Baker chev.
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I've been asked where Keon Coleman is in my rankings. The short answer is "he's not". He can't get separation against man coverage. That limits him to being a big slot and
he'd only be marginal there. The Pats had best look elsewhere for their receivers and I'm certain they are aware of Coleman's short comings.
This just came out yesterday which sums up my assessment
View: https://twitter.com/MattHarmon_BYB/status/1780337252322705474
I love that the Bills paid high draft capital for this kid. NO separation. NO brains. What a waste of a pick.
View: https://twitter.com/Matt_Bove/status/1784336221361045968
Didn't I hear that he was picked because Josh Allen wanted him??
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I hope that's true. Let Allen make all the personnel decisions!
I watched that highlight film. Baker looks adequately fast when he needs to be.
Hawg73
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I suppose adequately fast can be good if the guy does a lot of other stuff right, but
I would have preferred we invested in somebody that was sub 4.4
Still, to my untrained eye I would think Polk and Baker look like pretty good prospects. It's
going to be hard to believe that these were both solid picks until we see production
on the field, but, on paper, our WR group is better than it has been in a while and could
be average-ish.
That's a far cry from where we've been.
A single TD per game doesn't really seem like a mountain to overcome, but were that the case
last year we could have finished well over .500.
Well, Jerry Rice was never the fastest receiver in the league, but he managed to get open a lot, and score a lot of TDs.
I'm not saying either Polk or Baker is the next Rice, or even anything close, but they may bring enough to raise the level of play of the offense to where it complements the defense, instead of being a drag on it.
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