This WR Group Vexes Me (Draft)

[Magilla_Gorilla]

This wide receiver group is really hard for me to get a handle on. In my mind there is a clear #1, but after that there are 3 or 4 players who I think could be the next best receiver out of this draft. I'm curious how everyone else has them ranked/what you think

*I should add that I am all in for signing a WR and drafting one in the first round. We need to come out of this off-season with legitimate targets for Jay to throw to. Tice will get this OL straightened out, and the defense can limp along for one more season - IMO we need to set Jay up with a legitimately dangerous offense. WR, TE, and RB's all weapons moving forward.

Justin Blackmon
I don't care if he runs a 4.75 - if we can trade up to get him - we do it.

Michael Floyd
I like Floyd quite a bit - but I wonder if his attitude / or injury issues are going to make his a not too spectacular career. Talent-wise I feel like he is definitely a #1 WR in the NFL - I just don't know if he has what it takes to make it happen. That bowl game performance is a huge red flag.

Kendall Wright
I think Wright might be the most talented in the group - but I think his size and the offense at Baylor make for legitimate concerns. The kid catches everything thrown at him and is Devin Hester like in the open field - but at 5'10" I don't know that he can really be the threat the Bears are looking for. He puts as much effort into every play as anyone can - and I think I'd love to see him in a Bears uniform - but the size scares me.

Alshon Jeffery
Huge in every sense of the word. Huge catching radius for Jay to throw to, and has great hands. I'm worried about his speed - as he doesn't seem to get much separation, even at the college level. Very physical though, and is more than willing to fight a corner for the ball. In college he had no problem over-powering those little guys - but can he do that in the NFL? You would have expected him to come in in better shape for his final year - so thats a red flag. But if you want a guy, who as a #1 is going to outjump, out hustle, out last, and over-power the defender to get the ball - Jeffery is that guy. That said I am worried he might test out slower than our TE's.

Mohamed Sanu
In the words of Charlie Kelly 'WILDCARD'. Sanu intrigues me as much as anyone in this draft. Sanu is a tenacious runner who spent quite a bit of time at QB in Rutgers wildcat offense his first two seasons. Getting punished by linebackers regularly Sanu was one of those players who just wouldn't stop. This season was his first as a full time WR - and he came up big for Rutgers with 115 catches and 7 TD's. While he's likely more of a possession receiver - he does have good size and would be a big target for Jay to throw to (6'2" 215). I just don't know enough about Sanu at this point. I'd love to grab him in the Second if he's still there and if the Bears go a different direction in the First.

Ryan Broyles
Torn ACL in November ended the season of one of the most productive college receivers over the last two seasons. I'd take a flyer on him in the late rounds. He could be a high reward type player assuming he recovers.

[Chewie]

I've seen more tape on the first three, to be honest, but just looking at those three I'd rank them as you have them listed :

1) Blackmon
2) Floyd
3) Wright

As I mentioned in another thread, I've seen Wright listed higher than Floyd in other places as he doesn't come with the character concerns and he has more speed but when you're talking about the better fit for Cutler, I think Floyd's the guy. He's a big target, great hands, a good red-zone target, and can adjust to bad balls. If it takes a couple #1s to move up in the top 3 and get Blackmon you think about it but probably pass - esp if you already have struck gold in free agency with the likes of either Jackson, Bowe, or Colston.

Gotta do your research, though, and investigate those red flags that come with Floyd. When you're drafting a guy still still has a breath tester in his car, you've got to do your homework. If you have to take him off your board then so be it. We can do worse than picking up a Mike Wallace/Percy Harvin type in Wright.

[Friend_Of_Haley]

I haven't watched enough of these guys, but size just isn't a concerm for me. What we really need is an estsblished WR and looking at the established recievers available, many of them will be big targets, plus bennett has decent size and should make a good top 3 reciever. Add in size with TE whether it be Davis or someone new and we should have plenty of size. Mike Wallace, Wes Welker, Steve Smith, Hines Ward... Could go on with just as many small success stories at WR as big ones. Talent is the main concern. Bennett is the only guy with actual reciever skills.

That being said, I'm all for BPA in rd1. We have enough holes that we should consider any position at that spot. WR or DE would be the most ideal though.


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[DJhitek]

I think Wright is the most complete wide receiver in this class and like Magilla I'm not that concerned about Blackmons speed, I just question his concentration level at times.

I'm not a huge fan of Floyd and Jeffery is a guy who was very inconsistent and got booted from his last bowl game. I like Sanu and I think I would trade my two thirds to get in the second if he somehow fell but other then that. I would draft Wright without hesitation.

[DJhitek]

BTW, Sanu has all the tools to be an elite receiver and mismatch in the slot, tremendous hands and yards after the catch ability and zero fear to go over the middle.

Rutgers breeds them right, Kenny Britt and Rice are pretty good examples of high level offensive players that might have been overlooked a bit.

[IWannaGoHIGHER]

Honestly if Wright was 3 inches taller we'd be having a conversation on wither he or Blackmon is the better prospect. That's how I honestly feel. He's got the speed, the quickness, the hands, the toughness, really the only thing missing is the height (not the only thing but I'm speaking in generalities. If no one falls to us who plays a position of need then I'd take Wright with that pick. I know he doesn't have the size but he's got everything else and Steve Smith proved you don't need to be 6'3 to be a dominate receiver. And to be honest you give Cutler time and as long as this guy can get open (which he can) I have no doubt Cutler can get him the ball.

Floyd and Jeffery I'm not really sold on either. Both have character issues and some work ethic issues (Jeffery more then Floyd) and that really worries me. Sanu is intriguing and if he were to somehow fall to us in the second I'd be all over that guy (only way I see us getting him sans trade). But WR is deep this year so I think we can get some good guys to develop. McNutt, Jones, Quick, Broyles, Randle are all guys I'd be interested in the middle rounds.

[Chewie]

The only thing I don't see w/Wright is whether he's able to go up and fight for the ball and that's what I want my receiver to do. Steve Smith may be a smurf but he can fight with the best of them that's what makes the height thing a moot point with him.

Corners that went up against Baylor didn't challenge Wright so it's an unanswered question. Does he have that "my ball" mentality (that Knox never did) ? Does he have enough speed to get separation so that it doesn't even matter ?

Sure Floyd has warts but - guess what - we're picking at #19 here. I think the potential reward outweighs the risks. I think he's going to be a beast at the combines, though....he may not even be there.

[BIGGIEsmalls 23]

whether he's able to go up and fight for the ball and that's what I want my receiver to do.

This is exactly what Cutler (The Bears) have been missing. From what I've seen since he got here, Jay Cutler seems to naturally throw his passes a little high. Now, I don't know if that's because he was accustomed to Brandon Marshall or not. He puts the ball in a position for a receiver to GO catch it, but that's different than a receiver WAITING to catch it. Hester & Knox are receivers that, 95% of the time, WAIT for the ball. We need guys that are gonna GO & take the ball.

It's actually been a problem for the Bears for years. Although Rex Grossman was not the answer for us, Mushim Mohammed did him no favors. The "nail in the coffin" pick that was thrown by Rex in the Superbowl was more on Mohammed than Rex. Mohammed decided to WAIT for the catch, but if he had decided to GO & take the ball, we would have won that Superbowl.

Sorry for having a flashback moment on you guys, but such is life for this Bears fan .

[heir_jordan22]

Blackmon will be an elite receiver.

From what I've heard Wright will be a lot like mike Wallace but I havent watched him because he doesn't fit what we need at wr.

Alshon Jeffrey imo will be a bust because he's always grossly out of shape. He could be like dwayne bowe if he actually put forth effort into staying in shape.

A lot of good 2nd tier guys: sanu, Jones, mcnutt, criner. But wr is our biggest need and therefore should be addressed in the first round.

Michael Floyd. My guy. Great size, hands, route running. And I think his speed is underrated. He won't be the best wr in the league, but I think he can make a couple pro bowls, especially if he's cutler's go to guy.

[IWannaGoHIGHER]

I mean I'd love it if our number 1 was a 6'4 guy who could go up and get it. And I agree a guy with that type of skill set is a better fit and more of what the Bears need. But I just personally think Wright is a better overall WR prospect then anyone not named Blackmon.

But this is all a moot point right now. I might change my whole opinion after the combine. What if Jeffery comes in amazing shape? What if Floyd runs a **** 40? What if Wright is taller then we think? I don't know the answer. But I feel like we'll get a lot better feel for this argument after the combine is over.

[Chewie]

To that point....
http://www.turfshowtimes.com/2012/2/11/2790059/2012-nfl-draft-michael-floyd

The debate about the top receivers in the 2012 NFL Draft figures to be more of the more heated discussions leading up to this year's event. One name in the mix among first rounders is Notre Dame wide receiver Michael Floyd. After missing the Senior Bowl last month, he needs to make a big splash at the Combine later this month. And he might be primed to according to Tony Pauline of SI.com.

Floyd missed the Senior Bowl to recover from injuries sustained late in the season. He plans to to run at the Combine, and he might impress with the results. Per Pauline, Floyd's forty time should beat expectations. Some have Floyd running a 4.54 forty right now. If he were to get that number down to the upper 4.4s, his draft stock would catch fire.

[Magilla_Gorilla]

To that point....
http://www.turfshowtimes.com/2012/2/11/2790059/2012-nfl-draft-michael-floyd

The debate about the top receivers in the 2012 NFL Draft figures to be more of the more heated discussions leading up to this year's event. One name in the mix among first rounders is Notre Dame wide receiver Michael Floyd. After missing the Senior Bowl last month, he needs to make a big splash at the Combine later this month. And he might be primed to according to Tony Pauline of SI.com.

Floyd missed the Senior Bowl to recover from injuries sustained late in the season. He plans to to run at the Combine, and he might impress with the results. Per Pauline, Floyd's forty time should beat expectations. Some have Floyd running a 4.54 forty right now. If he were to get that number down to the upper 4.4s, his draft stock would catch fire.

Yeah - if Floyd comes out and runs a blistering 40 - then there is no chance he falls to us, even with the breathalyzer in his car.

I'm ready to take a chance on Alshon - even with questions about his desire and dedication.

[DJhitek]

Floyd just doesn't scream dynamic receiver to me, he is not a terribly nimble guy and never really saw him break many tackles. He is great in traffic though and his hands are actually one of the strongest I've seen on tape. I'm not his biggest fan honestly, maybe it's my ND fandom that clouds my vision.

[Chewie]

Catching up on my draft room "tape"....Alshon Jeffery is interesting. He clearly lacks the straight line speed but he does something to compensate for that - he fights with his hands to get in position and he gets his body in between himself and the defender and uses his huge wingspan to reach out and grab the ball. Will it work in the pros? I dunno. But once he gets the ball in his hands, he sure looks difficult to bring down - he knows how to use his off arm to his advantage.

I'm seeing comparisons to Seattle's Mike Williams and that's not exactly what you want in Round 1. I want a big target - sure - but you've got to get some *some* separation especially with Cutler as your QB. I'm guessing he runs a 4.6 at the combine.

Sanu doesn't look like 1st round material. Probably needs some seasoning.

[DJhitek]

^^^I disagree about Sanu, he has a first round skill set IMO. He probably won't run anything faster than a 4.55-4.60 which keeps him from being in Wright/Floyd territory.

[Chewie]

^^^I disagree about Sanu, he has a first round skill set IMO. He probably won't run anything faster than a 4.55-4.60 which keeps him from being in Wright/Floyd territory.

Smells like a sig bet. Ask emperor how those work out.

[DJhitek]

^^^I disagree about Sanu, he has a first round skill set IMO. He probably won't run anything faster than a 4.55-4.60 which keeps him from being in Wright/Floyd territory.

Smells like a sig bet. Ask emperor how those work out.

Haha...what are we betting on? That he gets drafted in the first round?

I'm not willing to bet on that because I've acknowledged he will probably fall. I don't see that many receivers getting drafted in the first round. But I disagree about the talent, I like him better then Floyd.

[Chewie]

^^^I disagree about Sanu, he has a first round skill set IMO. He probably won't run anything faster than a 4.55-4.60 which keeps him from being in Wright/Floyd territory.

Smells like a sig bet. Ask emperor how those work out.

Haha...what are we betting on? That he gets drafted in the first round?

I'm not willing to bet on that because I've acknowledged he will probably fall. I don't see that many receivers getting drafted in the first round. But I disagree about the talent, I like him better then Floyd.

Argh. I thought we had something there. Hard to bet on something like the 1st year success of Floyd vs Sanu because so many things go into their stats that are out their control (QB, offense, injuries, starting role). We'll just agree to disagree. I think I've got NFL GMs on my side, though. Does that count for something?

[DJhitek]

Argh. I thought we had something there. Hard to bet on something like the 1st year success of Floyd vs Sanu because so many things go into their stats that are out their control (QB, offense, injuries, starting role). We'll just agree to disagree. I think I've got NFL GMs on my side, though. Does that count for something?

Haha...most mock drafts have Sanu in the first round so at least the NFL anaylists have him in that grade. I agree though, making such a bet would be a bit skewed and would depend on situation/role.

[emperorjones]

^^^I disagree about Sanu, he has a first round skill set IMO. He probably won't run anything faster than a 4.55-4.60 which keeps him from being in Wright/Floyd territory.

Smells like a sig bet. Ask emperor how those work out.