Scouting the Draft: Brandon Coleman, WR, Rutgers

Introduction

Brandon Coleman is a fascinating prospect, because he’s a big-bodied receiver with exceptional physical gifts that should be available on Day 3 of the 2014 NFL Draft, if only because of how deep the wide receiver class is this year. Despite his physical prowess, he is still raw in certain aspects and should not be expected to be a big time contributor in year one.

Measurables

• Height: 6’6"
• Weight: 225lbs.
• Arm Length: 34"
• Hand Size: 9 1/4"
• 40-yd Dash: 4.56 seconds
• Bench Press: 21 repetitions
• Vertical Jump: 32.5 inches
• 3 Cone Drill: 7.33 seconds
• 20-yd Shuttle: 4.51 seconds

Statistics

Positives

• Tracks the ball well
• Natural hands catcher
• Excellent catching radius
• Gets in and out of his breaks well, creates separation
• Good route runner
• Physical receiver off the line of scrimmage

Negatives

• Doesn’t attack the ball with his height
• Raw in most aspects, seems to rely on athleticism rather than technique
• Not much of a blocker, although this may have been due to scheme

Conclusion

I would compare Coleman to a raw Vincent Jackson. He has all of the same physical gifts that Jackson has, but his technique isn’t as well developed. There’s a lot to like with Coleman, and he has the potential to develop into a good deep threat with proper coaching.

Would I Draft Him?

The decision to draft Coleman depends on how you view Stephen Hill. They have similar upside and are both similarly raw and need development. If you think Hill is a bust, it may be worth drafting Coleman in the fourth or fifth round. It’s important, though, that you be willing to give him some time to develop; he won’t be ready to go off the bat. Personally, I’m not willing to give up on Hill yet, who is in year three of what the team expected to be a four year development process, so I would probably avoid drafting Coleman unless the value became so great that you couldn’t pass him up, such as the sixth round. Considering how deep this draft is for wide receivers, that isn't outside the range of possibility.