DRAFT TRACKER 2021

McKinley overcame a steady string of NFL-caliber depth at his position and an off-field arrest in 2019 to finally flash some potential as a pro prospect. He made a series of big catches for the Irish and was instrumental in their upset win over Clemson in the regular season. He has outstanding size and the frame to box out defenders and shield the catch. He's a little tight-legged, which turns him into a more linear, readable route-runner and he lacks the short-area wiggle to escape easily from press or separate out of breaks. He's an athletically limited downfield threat, so becoming a more physical presence throughout the route will be essential for him in carving out roster space for himself.

Ball-winning power forward with athletic talent to work above the rim and make highlight-reel catches from time to time. Adams' short-area quickness is below average and he's unlikely to threaten pro cornerbacks with his top-end speed. That means they will sit down and be ready to read and jump any route breaks underneath. He lacks the crisp breaks to gain separation, so he will need to prove he can be just as competitive underneath on possession routes as he is on jump balls downfield. The bottom is line Adams must sharpen his focus and consistently catch the ball.

Jones was moved around the field in 2020 in an attempt to get him the ball in a variety of spots. Ultimately, he lacks the long speed to threaten defenses and doesn't play with enough urgency as a route runner, which could lead to him wearing coverage around the field. He's OK in the catch-and-run quick game underneath but the athletic traits might fail to impress in the pros for a player who projects as a limited possession receiver.

Tall target with long arms and proportional frame who could struggle on the next level due to inconsistencies in his game. He's a lackluster route runner who lacks the burst or top-end speed to create separation. He's a smooth pass catcher with sudden hands who can win 50/50 throws with his length, but doesn't do nearly enough with his frame to keep smaller cornerbacks from making aggressive challenges for the catch. Jackson's lack of explosiveness means he must make route running and physicality much higher priorities since contested catches will follow him.

Jump-ball specialist with the tracking and ball skills to bring in the catch in one-on-one battles in space. Nunn has good size and acceleration, which he uses effectively when working down the field. He has outstanding instincts when it comes to altering tempo to help keep his body between the defender and the football. However, as a route runner, he misses the mark. He doesn't work with much leverage or attention to detail, which allows cornerbacks to read him and jump on top of his breaks. That said, Nunn has enough interesting tape to get a look as a priority free agent.

Outside receiver with size who doesn't always use it as effectively as he will need to in the future. Hardy is not very fast from an NFL perspective, but has shown improvement as a route-runner. He understands how to leverage routes and uses crisp feet to open windows for his quarterback. When coverage is tighter, he doesn't use his frame effectively enough to keep the coverage from impacting the catch. While there is size and skill that work in his favor, he might not be threatening enough on any of the three levels to make it in the league.

Big possession target with above-average catch talent but below-average speed. McClain tested very poorly in short-area quickness drills at his pro day, which is a red flag in terms of his ability to beat press and then uncover underneath. He's extremely confident against man coverage but looks lost when working against zone. He has above-average body control, poise and hand strength to make contested catches on all three levels. His 2019 season was a little more consistent than his 2020 performance, but McClain has pro size and ball skills to create competition in camp.

A two-year starter and former five-star signee with Ohio State, Grimes has excellent size and physical traits, but plays with lower-body tightness that could limit his press release and route-running. His routes might not be able to generate much apprehension or indecision from NFL cornerbacks. Grimes needs to establish himself as a deep-ball threat, as his contested catch ability leaves much to be desired on all three levels. He had a productive season in a loaded offense, but he might not have the separation potential or dynamic athleticism to make it.

Outside receiver with the size to intimidate smaller corners once the ball is in the air, but they are sure to be right there with him. His ball-tracking and catch instincts make Mack a fun study, but projecting him into the pro game is a challenge. He's a build-up runner with below-average top-end speed and lacks even functional shiftiness underneath to separate. While contested catches will be a concern, the bigger issue could be simply getting off the ball cleanly against NFL press.

The son of a former NFL wideout, Blake Proehl displays an instinctive feel for finding softs spots in space and catches with sudden but soft hands. He can leap and attack it in the air or drop low and scoop up the worm burners. However, the deep speed isn't threatening. He is unable to sink and separate quickly in and out of breaks. Without a vertical push or short-area suddenness, it is hard to project him outside or from the slot. He produced at a consistent level at East Carolina and will get a look in camp but could be a longshot to make a roster.

Big receiver who tested well coming out of high school and is likely to do the same before the 2021 NFL Draft. This is an important bit of information, as height, weight, size and explosiveness always catch the eyes of NFL evaluators. However, the tape will show a linear route-runner who struggles to get off press. He primarily poses a third-level threat but has below-average contested-catch talent and suspect hands. Eagles is a one-dimensional wideout who hasn't mastered his one dimension, but teams are often willing to take shots on players with rare physical gifts, which could land Eagles on a practice squad.

High-cut with exceptionally long limbs featuring rare height and length that can stress smaller corners. Vasher's long strides can overtake cornerbacks on over routes but he's not a naturally fast runner as a vertical option. Getting into his routes could be a problem as teams will consistently press and physically challenge him throughout the game to make him prove he can get away and keep his patterns on schedule. The highlight reel catches he makes above-the-rim offer a glimpse of unique ball skills but the question will be whether or not he can even get to the phase of the rep with his lack of play strength and separation explosiveness.

Team captain and high-end athletic tester who is currently a better athlete than receiver. Wedington has decent size, adequate speed and explosive hips and foot quickness. He's primarily a catch-and-run receiver asked to make things happen with the ball in his hands but does have some three-level traits to work with. He will need to be coached up as a route-runner, but the bigger concern will be his lack of competitiveness in taking control of the catch space and outworking his opponents. His return talent gives him a little bit of a boost, but practice squad might be the early goal.

Outside wideout with good size and build-up speed but lacking the functional short-area movement and catch focus to consistently work the short and intermediate routes. The long touchdown totals from 2020 are nice but Fitzpatrick hasn't shown the ability to operate as a complete wide receiver over the years. He has a chance to go on Day 3, but could have an uphill battle for a roster spot.

Has the size but lacks the functional speed teams are looking for out of a pro receiver. He's a high-character player with focused ball skills and an ability to make the sudden catch in tight quarters, but he's typically smothered from whistle to whistle when facing quality press-man coverage. Ausbon will need to play a much more rugged brand of football to create more separation through physicality, but even then, he will see a high percentage of contested catches.

Mitchell's ability to win throws with his catch radius might be appealing, but his below-average hands and difficulty finding space underneath are concerns. He's so long and leggy that getting off press will be a problem, and most of his translatable success will come on the move on crossing routes or down the field on jump-ball throws. He needs better play strength to work against NFL cornerbacks on all three levels.

Outside receiver with good size and 2018 tape that created some buzz for him while at North Texas. Drops have been an issue throughout his career, though, as Bussey's ball-tracking and ball skills are both inconsistent. He could create some vertical separation before his 2019 ACL injury, but appeared to be a step slower in 2020, which put more focus on his sparse route tree and below-average hands. We could see athletic improvement another year removed from his injury, but the skill set lacks NFL promise.

Outside receiver with a long, linear frame who is the author of impressive production during his time at Memphis. He's a long strider who lacks suddenness and play strength, so getting off of an NFL press may require additional work and maybe even scheme help. He requires a passing attack that keeps him on the move, where his athleticism and stride length can work in his favor. The ball skills are there on the deep throws but his hands and focus on the first two levels are too hit-and-miss at this point. Coxie's potential might be limited to a WR4/WR5 roster spot, at best.

Michigan transfer who failed to impress at Texas with just 10 catches over eight games in 2020. He might have a team willing to bring him in based upon the size and traits. However, the route-running, competitiveness at the catch point and overall ball skills of an NFL talent are hard to find on tape. He needs to play to his size and improve as a ball tracker on deep throws to give himself a shot.

Slot target with good size and testing but below-average production. Lees is a high school quarterback turned wideout who is a better athlete than receiver at this time. He needs to use his foot quickness and agility to unlock his potential as a route runner in order to open more catch windows. If he can play a faster, more sudden brand of football, he will have a chance to make a practice squad.