2022 NFL Scouting Combine: Wide Receiver Notes
The 2022 NFL Scouting Combine is officially here. It looked for a minute that we were in danger of even getting a combine this year. That was before the NFL decided to cancel on their stupid bubble idea.
We’re going to be starting things out on the first day with the quarterbacks, tight ends, and wide receivers. It’s so important to get the wide receiver position right. It’s a weapons league and you’re screwed if you don’t have two good ones. The on-field product we see could drastically alter the 2022 NFL Draft. Let’s go through the wide receiver notes!
*Warning: I’m tired. There’s no chance I’m doing even a small write up on every player.
*John Metchie and Drake London didn’t work out at all. Justyn Ross only benched. He got 11 reps. Ross I thought really needed a strong combine. Huge whiff. I hope he’s injured because he needed to be out there.
Hip, Hip, Hurray For Pickens!
There was no bigger winner today than George Pickens. None. If you pay attention, you know this dude is a monster. He barely played this past year and came back too soon from that ACL injury. 33 on the vert and 10.5 on the broad is whatever.
Pickens has real size at 6-foot-3 and dominated at Georgia as a true freshman. I just didn’t know how fast he was. Problem solved! 4.40? Yeah, this dude is a problem. You can pass. I have the sample size I need.
Ohio State
Chris Olave Stole The Show! Olave has been my WR2 now for a long time heading into this draft. I fucking love the guy. So damn smooth. Hands of steel. Tracks the ball so well in the air. Oh, crazy fast too. Um, 4.29 for the 40? Stop it. Stop it.
I’m sorry, but he’s better than Garrett Wilson. That’s not a knock on Wilson (who I also like). Olave is smoother and crisper in his routes. I didn’t think he was faster (but for sure now is). Now, I do think Wilson is a better athlete. He’s a better leaper and high pointer than Olave. I know Wilson has great play strength too for a guy his size.
The route running is a yes. The twitch? We sure they have that top of the top end? Wilson came in at a 4.37 which is a good time. We’ll take that.
Track Speed!
A lot of fast guys on display. I’m not listing all of them. This link should take you to a stop where all the times become official by the morning. The amount of talent that’s about to enter the league is ridiculous.
Calvin Austin needs some love. Yes, he’s fast. That’s not what needs to be talked about. Out of all the guys on the field, this dude is fast in the short areas. He’s alien in short areas. Has a gear nobody else on the field did running routes. I want him. These Memphis guys all work. Why would it be different with this dude?
The opposite end of the spectrum is Johnny Johnson. Yeah, he’s fast but he looks like a track guy. Not a football player. He catches okay but tracking the ball and just looking like a wide out? Nope.
We knew Jahan Dotson was fast. How bout those damn hands? He wins the hands award (maybe Olave). Dotson had the best gauntlet. Which is important because I’m going to need him to be better than KJ Hamler. I think he might be after today.
I like this Christian Watson. Has some height, weight, speed demon to him. Guy can play.
The Ugly
Dontario Drummond erased his name from my board. Got a nice Jarrett Allen hair piece. Has nothing else going for him. Slow. Even slower in short areas. Won’t work.
Erik Ezukanma & Danny Gray had two ugly reps on the out route in the first group. Both weren’t great in general.
Bad day for Charleston Rambo. Looked clumsy and clueless. Bad hands. Exactly the opposite of what I needed from Rambo who’s raw with talent. Might be a lost cause.
Kevin Austin Jr. looked like slim reaper in a bad way. Not in control at all. Body out of wack.
Pretty sure Tre Turner was the worst player on the field. Looked like a D3 guy. Bad hands. Couldn’t track the ball. Horrible leaper. Zero burst. Can’t play. If Turner doesn’t win that award, it goes to Devon Williams at Oregon who was basically the same guy just not as bad.
Confusing
Gotta be honest; I’m not sure I know what Treylon Burks is? He ran a time I thought was expected. In the 4.5 range is who he is. He’s just really confusing. Not sure he can separate. Looks good going straight and becomes very sudden.
The jumping numbers didn’t pop off the screen (33 for vert, 10.2 for broad). Hell of a strider. Long legs. Tracking is there. Slow through the gauntlet. Play speed in question. His slant route stinks. I’m not sure he even can run routes. Good luck. I got no clue and he’s being projected way too high to be unsure.
David Bell was a touch slow. It’s not a death sentence but he didn’t catch the ball well either. The gauntlet was painfully slow. He’s not fast but you can tell he’s hard to tackle and does a good job chopping his feet.
Skyy Moore flys. Guy can run. Screams weapon. Also saw visions of Andy Isabella and nobody needs that. His gauntlet was kind of all over the place swirving.
Hey, how bout this Kyle Phillips? Struggling in the gauntlet. Screams return man. But the guy had fanastic routes and really exploded. What’s going on here?
I’m tired and ready for bed. Jalen Tolbert had some drops but his route running was there.
Others:
Slade Bolden looks like a 6th round pick for the Patriots? Do you understand? I hope so.
Wan’Dale Robinson. I need more information here. Looks like a running back. Ran fast. Actually pretty good in the drills. Is this another Lynn Bowden or do I need to do my homework?
Vendetta’s Top 5 Wide Receivers
1. George Pickens (Georgia)
2. Chris Olave (Ohio State)
3. Jameson Williams (Alabama)
4. John Metchie (Alabama)
5. Garrett Wilson (Ohio State)
