Scouting the Draft: Devin Street, WR, Pittsburgh

Everyone and their grandmother knows that the New York Jets currently employ a laughable collection of talent at the wide receiver position. They desperately need to pick up a stud in free agency or in the draft, but their work should not stop there. Due to the influx of underclassmen in the upcoming draft, there will be several quality receivers available late. One of my favorite late-round receivers is Devin Street, the Pittsburgh Panthers' senior wideout. Street wasn't highly recruited out of high school, garnering only a two-star rating from Rivals.com. However, he concluded his college career as one of the most productive receivers in the ACC.

Measureables:

Height: 6'4''

Weight: 190 lbs

Class: Senior

Projected 40: 4.56

NFL Draft Projections:

CBS Sports: Round 4-5

Walter Football: Round 2-4

Statistics:

Positives:

Devin Street is one of the best pass-catchers in the draft. He has absolutely fantastic hands and an uncanny ability to spear the ball at its' highest point. Instead of trying to catch with his chest, he prefers to use his strong hands to tear the ball out of the air, or out of cornerbacks' hands. He has great timing and great coordination, which allows him to win jump balls regularly and adjust to mis-throws. He is a good route runner and can work the sidelines well, displaying the ability to drag his feet several times in his tape. Having dealt with an inconsistent situation at quarterback throughout his time at Pitt, Street has developed a knack for being in the right place while his quarterback improvises, often having to peel off his route to come back to the ball. His size is ideal for a wideout, as his 6'4'' frame provides a lengthy target for the quarterback. While he works the sidelines well, he doesn't shy away from the middle of the field, and actually runs a very polished slant route. As Pitt's all-time leading pass-catcher with 202 career receptions, he obviously boasts a substantial college résumé.

Negatives:

While I don't see it in his tape, the main knock on Street has been sub-par speed. His projected 40-time (4.56) leaves quite a bit to be desired. His height is ideal for a receiver, but he is very lanky. With the trend of bigger cornerbacks seizing the NFL by storm, Street needs to bulk up or risk being bullied around the field. His route running is solid at the collegiate level, but he will need to sharpen up a few portions of the route tree. After a solid junior year, many thought Street could be a 2nd round pick. He was ranked in the top 10 of most receiver lists, but a mildly disappointing 2013 saw him drop down most lists. He dealt with a variety of injuries in his senior year, none chronic but each hindering his expected breakout. Although he was quite durable during his first three years, he will need to prove that he can stay healthy. At the next level, his main issue will be his lack of speed. I think he plays faster than his 40 time, but his lack of jets may force him to be a possession receiver (in the mold of Anquan Boldin) rather than a home run threat. He also isn't too shifty and not much of a threat with the ball after the catch.

How Does He Fit:

Going into the 2014-2015 season, the Jets can afford to bring in as many receivers as possible, in the hope that one or more will surprise. While he doesn't look like he'll ever be a pure #1 WR in the NFL, Street has the size and ball-skills to be a prominent red-zone threat. He might not contribute right away, but Street could be quite a find in the 4th or 5th round.

Tale of the Tape: