Allen Lazard Scouting Report

Photo from Kelby Wingert, Iowa State Daily

Written by Christian Lysek

Iowa State WR Allen Lazard Scouting Report:

Measurables: 6’4-1/4’’, 227 lbs, 9-7/8’’ hands, 32-1/2’’ arms

Year (Age): Redshirt Senior (22)

Career stats by year: 

2017- 13 games, 71 catches, 941 yards, 10 TDs

2016- 12 games, 69 catches, 1018 yards, 7 TDs

2015- 11 games, 56 receptions, 808 yards, 6 TDs

2014- 12 games, 45 catches, 593 yards, 3 TDs

Combine:

40-yard dash: 4.55 seconds

Vertical Jump: 38 inches

Broad Jump: 122 inches

Bench Press: 17 reps

Strengths: Allen Lazard looks like a WR1. He is tall, musculed out, and has enormous hands. The main concern I would have with a player that big is that he might be a limited athlete, but he does not look like one on film. Lazard is surprisingly fast on vertical routes and can blow past corners, even if they are if off coverage. Lazard does a good job against press coverage too, as he is too strong to jam off of the line of scrimmage. Lazard’s good route running and big frame also keep corners from making plays on the balls. Lazard move in and out of his breaks pretty fast for a big man and is good at disguising his intentions from corners. Lazard’s best attribute, however is his hands. Iowa State’s quarterbacks threw some of the ugliest passes I have ever seen and Lazard somehow caught every one if them. It doesn’t matter if the ball is a perfect spiral rocketing towards the ground or a floating jump ball, Lazard turns these 50-50 balls into 90-10 catches. He has impeccable concentration when the ball and strong hands to rip it away from defenders. On top of this, Lazard is a pretty decent blocker who gives effort.

Weaknesses: The only real flaw Lazard has is his inability to pick up yards after the catch. He does not accelerate fast enough to pull away from defenders, and he lacks the shiftiness in the open field to evade tacklers. This affects his effectiveness when catching passes over the middle of the field, where YAC is very important. While Lazard is a decent blocker, he needs to hold blocks longer for it to be a true strength.

Pro Comparison: Mike Williams

The Chargers first round pick last season, Mike Williams isn't known for speed, but rather great hands, concentration, and an ability to adjust to any ball. Lazard won't be drafted quite as high, but their skillsets are comparable.

Three Teams that Fit: The Bills need wide receivers after losing all of their best ones in free agency and trades (Sammy Watkins, Robert Woods, Marquis Goodwin). Pick up Lazard somewhere in the first two rounds would give the Bills a true number one wide receiver with size and downfield ability. The Browns whiffed on Kenny Britt and could use a big wide receiver since Corey Coleman is small and the Jury is still out on Josh Gordon. Lazard would fit the bill and could catch all of those ugly throws Brown’s quarterbacks toss. The Bears also need a WR1 for their young quarterback, and Lazard would be the perfect option in the second round given his size and hands.

Where he should go: Top 50 Picks

Where he (probably) will go: 3^rd Round

If you enjoyed this article, be sure to follow me @4DownScouting on Twitter for more great content!

Combine Results courtesy of MockDraftable.com, Drop Percentage courtesy of Pro Football Focus, Career Statistics courtesy of sports-reference.com/cfb, Date of Birth courtesy of Scout Hub

Michael Gallup Scouting Report

Written by Christian Lysek

Photo from Alex Gallardo, Associated Press

 

Colorado State WR Michael Gallup Scouting Report:

Michael Gallup took an underdog path to the draft. He went unrecruited out of high school and signed with a JUCO school in Kansas. After an impressive two seasons, he signed on to play for Colorado State, posting two back to back 1000-yard seasons and earning a Senior Bowl invite. As the NFL draft approaches, he is one of my favorite wide receivers in the class. Here's why:

Measurables: 6’3/4’’, 205 lbs, 31-1/2’’ arms, 9-1/4’’ hands

Year (Age): Four Year Senior (22)

Career stats by year: 

						Receiving				Rushing				Scrimmage
Year	School	Conf	Class	Pos	G	Rec	Yds	Avg	TD	Att	Yds	Avg	TD	Plays	Yds	Avg	TD
*2016	Colorado State	MWC	JR	WR	13	76	1272	16.7	14	4	15	3.8	0	80	1287	16.1	14
*2017	Colorado State	MWC	SR	WR	13	100	1418	14.2	7	0	0		0	100	1418	14.2	7
Career	Colorado State					176	2690	15.3	21	4	15	3.8	0	180	2705	15.0	21

Drop Rate: 4.9%

Pro Day: 

40-yard Dash: 4.62 seconds

Vertical Jump: 34 inches

Broad Jump: 122 inches

3-cone Drill: 6.95 seconds

20-yard Shuttle: 4.37 seconds

60-yard Shuttle: 11.84 seconds

Bench Press: 10 reps

Tape Evaluation:

Strengths: Michael Gallup has an ideal skill set for a possession receiver. He has good size at a little over 6 feet tall, and his vertical jump is respectable at 36”. What really sets him apart are his hands. He has strong, clamp-like hands that can snatch passes away from his body and maintain control of the ball through contact. This makes him ideal for fade routes, back shoulder throws, and passes in traffic over the middle of the field. Gallup is also a solid route runner who does a nice job of forcing a corner back to flip their hips, leaving them a step behind. When the ball is in his hands, Gallup turns upfield and breaks through contact like a running back. His agility isn’t the best, but he shakes off plenty of DBs. Gallup is also a willing blocker who can sustain blocks downfield.

Weaknesses: While Gallup does create separation when releasing inside, he struggles to get past corners outside the numbers. His lack of elite speed and good technique keep him right in the DB’s pocket instead of a step ahead of him, limiting his deep threat ability. There are also times where Gallup flat out does not try and catch poorly thrown balls, instead opting to try and draw a pass interference penalty. It isn’t the end of the world, but I would rather him make the tough catch than rely on refs.

Pro Comparison: JuJu Smith-Schuster

JuJu Smith-Schuster shined a rookie for the Steelers thanks to his strong hands, YAC ability, and physical play style. Despite not having elite speed outside the numbers, his work in other areas of the field is too valuable to keep on the bench. Gallup has a similar playing style and skillset, and I envision him adopting a similar WR2 role as Smith-Schuster has in the NFL.

 Teams that Fit: The Brandon Marshall signing didn’t work out at all for the Giants, so finding a compliment to OBJ on the outside should be a priority. Gallup’s skill set compliments Beckham’s very well. The Titans could use another receiver in the room as Corey Davis, Taywan Taylor, and Rishard Matthews have yet to stand out. Gallup would be a nice addition to boost the group. The Seahawks could use an outside receiver after the loss of Paul Richardson, and Gallup’s physical style of play would be a welcome addition in Seattle.

Where he should go: 2^nd Round

Where he (probably) will go: 3^rd Round

Conclusion:

Michael Gallup doesn’t have the highest ceiling, but his strong hands and physical play style are sure to make him a productive WR2 in the NFL.

If you enjoyed this article, be sure to follow me @4DownScouting on Twitter for more great content!

Combine Results courtesy of MockDraftable.com, Drop Percentage courtesy of Pro Football Focus, Career Statistics courtesy of sports-reference.com/cfb, Date of Birth courtesy of Scout Hub

D.J. Moore Scouting Report

Photo by Eric Mulholland, USA Today Sports

Written by Christian Lysek

Maryland WR D.J. Moore Scouting Report:

Measurables: 6', 210 lbs, 31-5/8'' arms, 9" hands

Year (Age): True Junior (21)

Career stats by year: 

2017- 12 games, 80 catches, 1033 receiving yards, 8 receiving TDs, 5 rushes, 61 rushing yards, 1 rushing TD

2016- 13 games, 41 catches, 637 receiving yards, 6 receiving TDs, 11 rushes, 55 rushing yards

2015- 11 games, 25 catches, 357 receiving yards, 3 receiving TDS, 1 rush, 9 rushing yards

Special Teams: 15 punt returns, 153 punt return yards, 15 kick returns, 334 return yards

Combine:

40-yard dash: 4.42 seconds

Vertical Jump: 39-1/2 inches

Broad Jump: 132 inches

3-cone drill: 6.95 seconds

20-yard shuttle: 4.07 seconds

60-yard shuttle: 11.18 seconds

Bench press: 15 reps

Strengths: D.J. Moore is an offensive weapon. His primary position is slot receiver, where he uses his quick feet to run crisp routes and burn corners. He has good enough hands to catch the ball at all three levels of the field, but he is truly special when he gets the ball in his hands. Moore is a YAC monster who combines his running back like frame with great agility to make huge gains. Because of this, Moore can catch passes, take carries out of the backfield, and return punts and kicks with great success.

Weaknesses: While Moore is a very good overall weapon, he isn’t an elite receiver. He has a small catch radius and struggles to consistently make tough catches whether it be a jump ball or just catching passes in traffic. He does give an effort while blocking, but his size limits his effectiveness and he doesn’t have the greatest technique. While he is a versatile player, his lack of size will make him a pure slot receiver.

Pro Comparison: Golden Tate

Golden Tate is the NFL's YAC king. He works best from the slot, where he uses his sure hands to catch balls in traffic and then turn into a running back upfield. He has been a vital part of the Lion's passing game, just as D.J. Moore should be for some team.

Three Teams that Fit: The Texans thought they were getting a versatile offensive weapon with Braxton Miller, but that pick has not panned out to this point. D.J. Moore would be a good third receiving option to DeAndre Hopkins and Will Fuller. The Dolphins might lose Jarvis Landry in the offseason, and if they do, Moore would be a good replacement for him in the slot. The Chargers have plenty of big-bodied outside receivers, but a consistent underneath threat and offensive weapon could benefit this inconsistent offense.

Where he should go: 2nd Round

Where he (probably) will go: Top 50 picks

If you enjoyed this article, be sure to follow me @4DownScouting on Twitter for more great content!

Combine Results courtesy of MockDraftable.com, Drop Percentage courtesy of Pro Football Focus, Career Statistics courtesy of sports-reference.com/cfb, Date of Birth courtesy of Scout Hub

Calvin Ridley Scouting Report

Written by Christian Lysek

Alabama WR Calvin Ridley Scouting Report:

Photo from Cedric Mason, Touchdown Alabama Magazine

Calvin Ridley burst onto the College Football seen as a true freshman in 2015, racking up over 1000 receiving yards on a National Title team. After that, however, his production plateaued, failing to build on the enormous hype. Despite this, Calvin Ridley might be the best wide receiver in this class and is a near-lock for the first round. Here’s why:

Measurables: 6’1/2’’, 189 lbs, 31-5/8’’ arms, 9-1/8’’ hands

Year (Age): Three Year Junior (23)

Career stats by year: 

						Receiving				Rushing				Scrimmage
Year	School	Conf	Class	Pos	G	Rec	Yds	Avg	TD	Att	Yds	Avg	TD	Plays	Yds	Avg	TD
*2015	Alabama	SEC	FR	WR	15	89	1045	11.7	7	1	2	2.0	0	90	1047	11.6	7
*2016	Alabama	SEC	SO	WR	15	72	769	10.7	7	5	21	4.2	1	77	790	10.3	8
*2017	Alabama	SEC	JR	WR	14	63	967	15.3	5	2	17	8.5	0	65	984	15.1	5
Career	Alabama					224	2781	12.4	19	8	40	5.0	1	232	2821	12.2	20

Drop Rate: 7.2%

Pro Day: 

40-yard Dash: 4.43 seconds

Vertical Jump: 31 inches

Broad Jump: 110 inches

3-cone Drill: 6.88 seconds

20-yard Shuttle: 4.41 seconds

Bench Press: 15 reps

Tape Evaluation:

Strengths: Calvin Ridley makes playing wide receiver look effortless. He is a silky-smooth route runner. He makes sharp cuts at the top of his routes and is deceptive in his intentions, which helps him create separation. Not that he even needs it, because Ridley is blazing fast on film, frequently beating corners deep. If he didn’t have a running back for a passer, Ridley would statistically be the best receiver in the country. When the ball is in the air, Ridley does a great job adjusting to poorly thrown passes and securing the catch. Once the ball is in his hands, Ridley is can stop on a dime to evade defenders and gain yards after the catch. For his size, Ridley is also a good blocker due to the run heavy offense he is in.

Weaknesses: Ridley doesn’t have the build or skill set of a traditional WR1. He has a skinny frame for how old he is, and it limits his effectiveness against stronger outside corners or big nickels. Ridley also doesn’t play well above the rim, as he doesn’t come down with many contested catches he has to jump for. Ridley will be 24 when the season starts, which isn’t terrible, but suggests his slight frame may be maxed out.

Pro Comparison: Emmanuel Sanders

Emmanuel Sanders has always been on the WR2/WR1 border, but there is no question he has been a high quality player in the NFL. Whether it be in the slot or on the outside, Sanders produces thanks to his speed, route running, and hands. I see Ridley being used in a similar role as Sanders, and I think  he will have a similar level of impact in the pros

Three Teams that Fit: If he falls to them, the Panthers need to take a long, hard look at Calvin Ridley. He would bring speed, good route running, and reliable hands to a team that lacks all of the above. The Coboys did sign Allen Hurns, but he hasn’t accomplished much over the past two seasons, nd Ridley could end up being a much better player in the long run. The Ravens need wide receivers like plants need water, so bringing in Calvin Ridley along with Michael Crabtree will go a long way to help this receiving corps.

Where he should go: 1^st Round

Where he (probably) will go: 1^st Round

Conclusion:

Calvin Ridley is a versatile weapon that can win in the slot and outside the numbers. He is a day one impact player and should be one of the first receivers taken off the draft board.

If you enjoyed this article, be sure to follow me @4DownScouting on Twitter for more great content!

Combine Results courtesy of MockDraftable.com, Drop Percentage courtesy of Pro Football Focus, Career Statistics courtesy of sports-reference.com/cfb, Date of Birth courtesy of Scout Hub