Wide receiver

Oklahoma

5-10 192

Draft board overall prospect rank: #42

Draft board overall wide receiver rank: #5

Overall rating: 78 (2^nd round)

40 time: 4.57

Games watched: Oklahoma/Texas Tech, Oklahoma State/Oklahoma, Oklahoma/Baylor, Oklahoma/Kansas State, Oklahoma/Texas

Positives

·         The NCAA’s all time leading receiver (349 catches for 4586 yards and 45 touchdowns)

·         Incredibly adept at getting open

·         Deadly after the catch, with the ball in his hands

·         Works the middle of the field incredibly well

·         Quicker than fast

·         Some deep ability

·         Great hands, very reliable

·         Not afraid to go over the middle

·         Incredibly tough

·         Great work ethic

·         High character, team leader

·         Worked back from torn ACL to a 4.57 40 in 5 months

·         4.4 speed when at 100%

·         Cuts well

·         Great in the open field

·         Very good route runner

·         Oklahoma’s offense went in the toilet when he got hurt

Negatives

·         Undersized

·         Coming off a torn ACL

·         Lacks elite speed to compensate for his lack of size

·         Played in a pass heavy, explosive offensive that could have inflated his stats

·         Always had a great quarterback throwing to him

·         A willing blocker, but too small to be a good blocker

·         Spread offense and a limited route tree (but did incredibly well with what he was given)

NFL Comparison: Poor man’s Wes Welker

Wes Welker is such a unique player and everyone is always trying to find the “next” one. It seems there is one prospect every year compared to Wes Welker. Every top slot receiver prospect is deemed the next Wes Welker and none pan out as so. I’ve never given this comparison, but of any of the wide receiver prospects in the past few years, Broyles has the most similarities to the Patriots slot receiver. He probably won’t be quite as good, but as a Patriots fan, with Welker aging, I would be ecstatic if they were to use a 2^nd or 3^rd round pick on Broyles to be his successor. He’s a very similar style player and he would compliment Tom Brady very well.

I think he’s the most underrated prospect in this draft class. I had a 1^st round grade on him before he got hurt. The ACL tear was damaging to his stock, but it also did two things to improve it. For one thing, Oklahoma’s offense went into the toilet without him (and tanked Landry Jones’ draft stock at the same time). For another thing, it solidified his amazing toughness and work ethic. In just 5 months, he went from tearing his ACL to running in the 4.5s at his Pro Day. He described himself at 75%, which is amazing (and not unlike Welker’s recovery from a similar injury). He’s a hard worker and a high motor player who is a great locker room guy.

At full speed, he’s probably a 4.4 player. He doesn’t have the elite speed to make up for his lack of size, but you can say the same thing about Welker. He’s quicker than fast and an incredible route runner who finds the seams in the defense, gets open short with ease, and can make tough catches over the middle. He’s got great hands and rarely drops a pass. He’s going to catch a lot more balls (already the FBS’ all time leading receiver) in the slot in the NFL in the right system. After the 2^nd round, he’d be an absolute steal. I have a high 2^nd round grade on him.