Greg Childs: 6 Traits That Make NFL Draft Prospect an Ideal Pro

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In today's pass-happy NFL and with the expanded use of four- and five-receiver sets, depth at the receiver position is key. 

However, no team can afford to spend a ton of high picks on one position. Finding gems in the later rounds is key to success, and Childs could be an excellent find in the middle rounds of the draft. 

Injuries have hampered his success at Arkansas, but if he can stay healthy at the next level, he could turn out to be a steal, and here's why. 

Size

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At 6'3", 217 lbs, Childs certainly has the frame to be a huge target in the NFL, particularly in the red zone. 

While being tall and strong is certainly an asset for any receiver, knowing how to use one's size is another skill in itself. Too many large-framed receivers let their size hamper their athletic ability to separate and run good routes.

But this is not the case for Childs.

Despite his size, Childs runs routes as good as a 5'11" receiver. 

His frame also comes in handy when blocking downfield, as he is able to overpower smaller and less physical cornerbacks. 

Route Running

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One of the most important traits for a wide receiver is balance, as it allows them to get in and out of breaks without wasting movement, allowing them to create as much separation as possible. 

Childs, despite his large frame, excels in this area. He take a lot of pride in the precision of his routes in terms of exactly when to turn and look for the football. 

Route-running is an area that a lot of young receivers struggle with when they enter the NFL, but Childs has shown the ability to make the transition as seamless as possible. 

Lateral Agility and Speed

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Speed and agility are things that cannot be taught in the NFL. Either a player has been working hard on their own to develop lateral quickness, or they have simply relied on their natural ability to catch the football their entire careers. 

Guys like Greg Childs, who have worked their tails off to develop their speed, will reap the benefits at the next level. Those who have relied on their natural ability in college will quickly find that it will not get them far in the professional ranks. 

Childs' quickness helps him separate quickly at the line of scrimmage. The fact that he is good in this area is more impressive because of his size, as smaller receivers with less body to control tend to excel in this area. 

To top it off, Childs has the speed to be a consistent downfield threat. 

"Plucking" Ability

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In the NFL, corners are too good to be beaten cleanly, giving the quarterback a clear target to throw to. More often than not, the onus is on the receiver to make a play on a jump ball in tight, single coverage. 

Childs already has the size to compete in the NFL, but he also boasts the ability to time his jumps and "pluck" the ball out of the air at its highest point. 

This quality makes Childs a terrific red-zone option who will draw double teams. 

Blocking

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This is another example in which Childs' size comes in handy. With his larger frame, Childs simply overpowered the competition when it came to blocking on the perimeter. 

Receivers are not paid per block, so the fact that Childs is willing to get his hands dirty for this teammates is a testament to the kind of team player he is. 

Intangibles

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Too often, young players are unable to handle the demands of being an NFL player, and their career pays the price. 

By all accounts, Childs is a great teammate and a hard worker with a ton of ability. If he was able to avoid the injury bug that kept his numbers down at Arkansas, he would potentially be a first-round selection. 

Childs will likely be a mid-round pick, which will give him a nice chip on his shoulder for when he gets onto the campus of an NFL team facility.

If he can stay healthy, Childs could turn out to be one of the best steals of the entire draft.