NFL Draft 2015: WR Prospects For The Falcons

As we move closer to the draft, team needs become more solidified with free agent acquisitions and re-signings. With the start of free agency on March 10, we’re likely to know a lot more about where the Falcons (and many other NFL teams) are going to be focusing their energy in the draft. With breakdowns of offensive line and tight ends already on the books, it’s now time to move on to another position of need for Atlanta: wide receiver.

With the Falcons moving on from Harry Douglas and Roddy White nearing the end of his career, the team will undoubtedly be in the market for multiple WRs. The free agent class looks to be fairly weak, with crown jewel Randall Cobb choosing to stay in Green Bay (for a significant discount). Luckily for the Falcons, this draft class appears to be chock full of talent in just about every round. Atlanta will need to start grooming White’s eventual replacement while finding young, affordable depth.

Under new offensive coordinator Kyle Shanahan the offense will likely involve more 2-TE sets, creating less snaps for a third WR. This gives the Falcons more options with their picks: they won’t need their new WR(s) to come in and provide immediate production from day one. Atlanta can afford to develop someone if they so choose. Which makes the business of predicting who they will draft all the more difficult, and entertaining.

As before, I was watching for players at the Combine that: a) performed well, b) fit the scheme the Falcons are going to run, and c) represented a good value at their projected draft position.

Here are the wide receivers that I believe are good fits for the Falcons in the 2015 NFL Draft.

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Kevin White (West Virginia)

Projected Round: 1st (Top-10 likely)

Notable Stats: 6’3, 215. 4.35-forty (T-3rd best). 23 bench press reps (T-best).

Let’s be honest here: the Falcons will not be looking for a WR with their #8 pick. However, in a situation where all the pass rushers they want are gone, the team could decide to go BPA instead of trading down or reaching for a second-tier prospect. In that case, you likely won’t get better value than Kevin White.

It’s a close race right now between White and Amari Cooper for the #1 wide receiver ranking, but after White’s spectacular Combine performance I am giving him the nod. White is not the polished, spectacular route runner than Cooper is, but he has the advantage everywhere else. With a blazing fast 4.35-forty time coupled with his size (6’3, 215), White evokes images of a less-developed Julio Jones. He’s a dominant pass catcher that uses his strength and size to bully defenders off the ball. White has a terrific release off the line of scrimmage and has the ability to create separation on a variety of routes. He’s a hard runner that is tough to bring down after the catch, and someone that can be depended on to make the difficult catches in traffic. White has improved markedly since 2013, when he transferred from JUCO, in both his route running and catching ability.

The primary concern about White was his top-end speed, but that concern has been put to bed with his Combine performance. He can sometimes struggle with press coverage and will need to improve in that area against NFL corners. His blocking technique could definitely use some work, but he certainly has the strength (WR-best 23 bench reps) to be successful in that area. White is also not particularly agile after the catch, and relies more on his strength to escape tackles than elusiveness.

If the Falcons are looking for BPA at 8 and White remains on the board, he is undoubtedly the best choice. He doesn’t fill the team’s biggest need, but White would give the Falcons the most fearsome WR tandem in the NFL for years to come. I still believe this is very unlikely to happen, so don’t get too excited.

Breshad Perriman (UCF)

Projected Round: 1st-2nd

Notable Stats: 6’2, 212. 4.52-forty (unofficial). DNP in Combine due to injury.

Another big-bodied receiver, Perriman is a prospect that I have watched for several years. He’s got the size/speed combination that NFL teams love, and I was really puzzled as to why he started out the season as a 4th round prospect. Teams seem to have taken notice, however, and Perriman is now likely to be a late 1st/early 2nd selection. He reminds me a lot of Kelvin Benjamin: a prospect with ideal measurables that is just not polished enough to be firmly in the top WR discussion.

Perriman possesses great acceleration which allowed him to easily defeat defenders off the line of scrimmage. He has the physical traits and body control of an elite route-runner: able to stop and start on a dime and make sharp, accurate cuts. Perriman is able to consistently get separation using his speed and routes, and is a fearsome deep threat. He has an impressive catch radius and lots of highlight reel receptions that showcase his vertical ability. Perriman has also shown an ability to dominate smaller defenders, using his size to cut them off from the ball. He’s a threat after the catch as well, with plus agility in space and the speed to take it to the house on every play. His run blocking is also solid, which the Falcons seem to value.

Despite having all the traits of an elite route-runner, Perriman isn’t quite there yet. He’s used to blowing by defenders with his athleticism, and his routes are raw and unrefined. Perriman will need to work on selling his routes more consistently at the NFL level, as he often gave inconsistent effort when he knew the ball wasn’t coming to him. He also tends to wait on the ball rather than helping his QB by working back to him. Chief among the concerns, however, are his hands: they just aren’t great, and he has struggled at times to make catches that other times he easily completes.

The Falcons will likely start looking for a WR with their 2nd pick, and Perriman could present good value if he escapes the 1st round. Atlanta needs to start grooming a new #2 receiver to pair with Julio, and Perriman has all the tools to be that guy. He actually recalls a young Roddy White in many ways, and if Robiskie could fix White’s hands, he certainly can do the same with Perriman’s.

Nelson Agholor (Southern California)

Projected Round: 2nd

Notable Stats: 6’0, 198. 4.42-forty.

Possibly the WR that impressed me the most at the NFL Combine, Nelson Agholor is an intriguing prospect. He looked to be one of the best receivers in many of the catching drills, and impressed with a quick forty time (4.42, the same as Amari Cooper). The Falcons will certainly start their search for a new WR in the 2nd round, and they may be intrigued by Agholor’s hands: he may be the best possession receiver in the draft.

Agholor is a pure competitor, and you can see the fire he plays with on every snap. He is a good route-runner with excellent instincts at the position: he seems to have a knack for feeling out zone coverages and can find ways to get open if his QB is in trouble. Agholor has great hands and can make all the tough catches, including over the middle and in traffic. He’s dangerous after the catch, with good agility and acceleration to escape would-be tacklers. In his highlights he appears to be an expert at tracking the ball and making tip-toe receptions along the sidelines. He’s good at locating the first down marker and getting there by any means necessary. Agholor also appears to be an excellent returner, and could find himself taking up the role early in his career.

The main concern about Agholor, and the reason he isn’t considered a 1st round prospect, is that he may be limited to a slot receiver role in the NFL. He struggles with press coverages and has issues with his play strength. Long, strong cornerbacks seemed to hold him up and kept him from creating much separation. Although he does have solid speed, he’s unlikely to blow by NFL defenders and doesn’t scream vertical threat. Many NFL scouts question his physicality and ability to hold up to the punishment he’ll take as an inside receiver. Although he’s willing to block, he doesn’t possess the strength to be successful at it.

Agholor could be the next great slot receiver in the NFL. He has the hands and agility to be successful as a slot receiver, and can come in and start immediately as a returner. For the Falcons, he could be a talented #3 option in the passing game and insurance for Devin Hester, with the idea of being groomed to take over that role in the future.

Rashad Greene (Florida St.)

Projected Round: 2nd-3rd

Notable Stats: 5’11, 182. 4.53-forty.

Rashad Greene is a receiver that I’ve been a fan of for quite a while. Although his stock seems to have gone up as we get closer to the draft, I still think he represents exceptional value in the 3rd round. In fact, I have mocked him to the Falcons before, believing that he would be a good fit for a team needing a WR to come in and contribute immediately. Here’s what I had to say about Greene in that mock draft:

Greene is a gifted athlete with the ability to play multiple WR positions. He is a fast (4.47), fluid, and agile runner that is an expert at making cuts and coming up with a big play (14.3 career yards/catch). Greene excels at creating separation with his routes, and possesses elite acceleration. He has excellent field awareness and is adept at making catches over the middle and near the sidelines.

The downside to Greene is his thin frame (6-0, 180) that raises questions about his durability, although he did not miss a single game from 2012-14. In addition, he lacks play strength and offers little to nothing as a blocker in the running or screen game. Hands have also been an issue, as Greene had 7 drops in his junior year and tends to rely too much on his body to make the difficult catches. Still, Greene could come in and contribute immediately on the outside or in the slot for Atlanta.

If the Falcons can get Greene with their 3rd round pick, he’d be a steal. He doesn’t have eye-popping size or speed, but he’s a polished player who seems to play at his best in big games. Greene is an NFL-ready receiver that could turn in to a special player, with the fire and competitiveness that a coach like Quinn loves.

Tre McBride (William & Mary)

Projected Round: 3rd-4th

Notable Stats: 6’0, 210. 4.41-forty. 4.08-second 20 yard shuttle (5th best).

A player that impressed me greatly at the Combine, Tre McBride could be the unsung hero of this draft class. He’s a small school prospect that had a very good Combine (he was near the top in virtually every drill), and looked fluid and relaxed in the receiving drills. I’ve been a fan of McBride for awhile, mocking him to the Falcons in my most recent draft. McBride’s stock has gone up a lot since then (I had the Falcons taking him in the 6th), but I believe he is still a good pick in the 4th, or perhaps even 3rd round. Here’s what I had to say about him:

Tre McBride is a polished receiver with amazing hands. McBride is a small school receiver with good size (6-0, 205) and speed (4.44), which allowed him to outmatch many opponents in traffic and in jump-ball scenarios. McBride may have some of the best hands in the entire draft, as he seems to make any catch (including ridiculous ones) look quite easy. He has impressive body control and is an expert at tracking the ball and making the tough catches. His catch radius is outstanding, which helped him compensate for several poor throws by his QB every game. McBride is unafraid of contact, and excels at making receptions in traffic, over the middle, or near the line of scrimmage. His route running has improved every year, and he also is a good zone-beater.

McBride’s primary weakness is that his speed doesn’t seem to show up in games. He has difficulty getting away from defenders to make the big plays. McBride’s acceleration off the line of scrimmage seems to be merely average, and he has difficulty creating separation with his routes. He also still needs to improve his route running in several facets. Most scouts center their concerns on his inability to get open, particularly against the inferior competition he faced in college.

McBride has the potential to come in and immediately contribute for the Falcons as a possession receiver in the slot or on the outside and on special teams. At worst, he should be a solid backup that won’t drop the ball if called upon to make a tough catch. After his Combine performance, he’s put to rest some concerns about his speed and athleticism. The Falcons could be getting a gifted receiver with the potential to truly be a difference-maker in the NFL, particularly if given an offseason to work behind Roddy White.

Chris Conley (Georgia)

Projected Round: 4th-5th

Notable Stats: 6’2, 213. 4.35-forty (T-3rd best). 45.0 in. vertical jump (best). 139.0 in. broad jump (best).

The man who “won the Combine”, Chris Conley was a very obscure prospect until his impressive performance in Indianapolis. Possessing ideal measurables (6’2, 213) and blazing speed (4.35), Conley has the athletic traits of a superstar WR in the NFL. While some have Conley getting looks in the 4th round, I think his best value will be in the 5th round, and that’s where I’d have the Falcons take him.

Conley is a big, fast WR that needs to work on a few finer points of the position. He is a solid route runner that uses his surprising speed to fool DBs into giving him a smaller cushion, allowing him to create a lot of separation. He’s a deep threat with good acceleration and tracking skills, and an ability to adjust his path to complete the tough catches. Conley has excellent hands, showing his ability as a “hands-catcher” on his tape and also impressing in receiving drills at the Combine. He has knowledge of a variety of different routes, and also has found success finding the open spaces in zone coverage. Has the strength to succeed as a run-blocker.

However, Conley doesn’t run the cleanest routes and could stand to improve in that area. He struggles against press coverage and bigger DBs have given him fits at the line of scrimmage. Despite his athleticism, he’s never flashed much ability in space or out of the backfield. Conley isn’t all that dangerous after the catch and doesn’t provide much as an underneath or slot presence. His production was never very good while at Georgia, but that can possibly be attributed to the run-heavy scheme.

Conley is a good fit for a team looking to develop an outside receiver in the short-term. He has the speed and hands to challenge down the field, and his off-the-charts athleticism means that with a little seasoning, he could become a good or even great receiver in the NFL. All indications are that he’s also a high character guy with a team-first mentality. If he’s available in the 5th round, or perhaps even the 4th, the Falcons should definitely take a long look.

Stefon Diggs (Maryland)

Projected Round: 5th-6th

Notable Stats: 6’0, 195. 4.46-forty.

A player that was pretty much unknown to me until the Combine, Stefon Diggs impressed me with his speed and success in the receiving drills. He’s got the build of an elite slot receiver that can kick outside in a pinch, and has often drawn comparisons to ex-Falcons WR Harry Douglas. He’ll also be available later in the draft if the Falcons are trying to pick up multiple receivers. While new offensive coordinator Kyle Shanahan prefers 2-TE sets to 3-WR sets, I won’t stop mocking slot receivers to the Falcons until they get a TE worthy of being the #3 target. In the 6th, Diggs may be the guy with the best value for that position.

Diggs is known as a great athlete, and was a 5-star player coming out of high school. He has excellent hands, as seen during the receiving drills at the Combine, and grabs the ball out of the air with ease. His body control is amazing, often finding ways to adjust to throws that were barely catch-able. His route running is very good, and he can create separation with his timing and his breaks. Diggs is able to make all the tough catches that you would expect in an elite slot receiver, and is not afraid to go after contested balls. He’s spectacular in space and after the catch, using his incredible and instant acceleration to run away from defenders, and his agility to make them miss. Has a potential future at kick returner in the NFL.

Several concerns about Diggs center on whether or not he can be successful against NFL-caliber DBs. Most of his production came against slot corners in college. He doesn’t offer much in the blocking game, despite giving adequate effort. Diggs isn’t the biggest guy and can be intimidated against larger, more physical defenders. He has been known to stop his routes short to avoid big hits. Diggs also suffered two back-to-back season ending injuries (broken leg, lacerated kidney), but the nature of those injuries make them more flukey than anything in my mind.

Despite the Falcons potentially using the slot position less often, Diggs provides a gifted athlete with great hands that could potentially be groomed into Hester’s eventual replacement in the return game. He’s a weapon in space and could be a reliable #3 option in the passing game in time. For a 6th round pick, that’s an excellent value.

J.J. Nelson (UAB)

Projected Round: 6th-7th

Notable Stats: 5’10, 156. 4.28-forty (best). 127.0 in. broad jump (5th best).

The Dri Archer of the 2015 draft class, J.J. Nelson was clocked with the fastest forty-time at the Combine, beating out noted speedster Phillip Dorsett (who had the 2nd-fastest time at 4.33). That speed alone makes him an interesting prospect, particularly with the good hands he showed in the receiving drills. As a 7th round developmental prospect, the Falcons could certainly do worse.

Nelson’s best and most notable attribute is his speed, and he’s without a doubt the fastest player in the 2015 draft class. He’s quick and agile in space, with an ability to create separation in a small area and on comeback routes. His hands are good, as he looked relaxed and confident in the receiving drills at the Combine. Nelson has plus concentration and is good at competing for high throws. He had most of his success as a returner, notching 4 touchdowns and an impressive 38.7-yard return average. That may be his best position in the NFL, as well.

His primary weakness is his size: he’s tiny, at 5’10 and only 156 lbs. Teams will undoubtedly want him to put on weight. He offers little to nothing in the blocking game, and will get easily pushed around by defenders. Despite his impressive speed, he lacks the suddenness one would expect. His route running is relatively raw, and he will need serious work in that area to be a successful NFL receiver. Nelson isn’t as dangerous after the catch as he should be, and his durability will certainly be questioned.

He’s a raw, developmental prospect, but the speed is intriguing at the very least. Nelson has the hands to make it as an NFL returner, but I question whether or not he can offer anything in the passing game. I say it’s worth a 7th round pick to find out, as he could turn into a dynamic player in the future.

Darren Waller (Georgia Tech)

Projected Round: 7th-UDFA

Notable Stats: 6’6, 238. 4.46-forty. 11.35-second 60 yard shuttle (4th best).

A favorite of Falcons fans and Georgia natives, Darren Waller has the size/speed combination that you just can’t teach. While he didn’t stand out as one of the best receivers in the receiving drills, he certainly stood out in his speed: running a 4.46 at 6’6, 238 is a major achievement. Some team will certainly take a risk on him with their 7th round pick, and I think the Falcons should be that team.

Waller immediately stands out as a huge target, possessing ideal size for an outside receiver. Couple that with his impressive speed and you get a player than can potentially dominate at the NFL level. He’s shown the ability to block out smaller defenders, using his height to his advantage. Waller has good hands, and presents an almost un-coverable target on jump balls and back shoulder throws. His body control is exceptional for his size, and can be seen in several tip-toe catches along the sidelines and endzone. He’s a legitimate deep threat with incredible vertical speed, and he’s always a threat to take it to the house against single coverage. Waller shows confidence and fearlessness on the field, and will compete for balls in traffic.

Waller just isn’t a polished receiver, however, and lacks several fundamentals of the position. His route running is raw at best, and he will need significant time to learn and practice the finer points of the position at the NFL level. His blocking should be better (seeing as he almost has TE size) and he seemed to struggle in this area in college. He doesn’t create as much separation as he should and can get crowded by smaller defenders. Waller didn’t see many targets over his career, and doesn’t have the production that someone with his measurables should have.

A developmental prospect with real upside, Waller has the size/speed combination that scouts love. He doesn’t have the production or polish, however, and will likely need a season or two of development to reach his full potential. Still, he could be a great #2 option for the Falcons after Roddy White’s retirement, and you don’t see guys with his measurables come around every day. The Falcons should run to the podium if he’s available in the 7th round.

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There are quite a few options for WR-needy teams in this years draft class in just about every round. I believe the Falcons will choose to ignore the position in free agency and add 1-2 pieces via the draft. The major question is: when? I think the most likely position would be the 3rd round. There are several legitimate options there (Rashad Greene, Tre McBride, possibly Nelson Agholor) that I believe represent the best value. Any of those guys could come in and provide meaningful snaps from day 1. I could also see Atlanta picking up another developmental prospect in the later rounds too, perhaps one of Nelson or Waller.

Stay tuned in the coming days for my next Draft Breakdown, where I go over another position of interest for the Falcons: running back. The Falcons currently have only one RB under contract for 2015 in Devonta Freeman, and they will certainly be looking to add to the position in the 2015 Draft. Javorius Allen, anyone?

Make sure to follow me on Twitter @TRSKevinKnight for the latest breaking news involving the Falcons. I would be happy to answer any questions you have about prospects, free agents, or the team in general! As always, Rise Up and go Falcons!

In case you missed any of my previous Draft Breakdowns, here they are:

Previous 2015 Draft Breakdowns

Offensive Line

Tight End

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