2015 NFL Draft: Why Tyler Lockett Could Be a Late-Round Steal
If you've been paying attention to the 2015 NFL draft, then you already know about Jameis Winston, Leonard Williams and Amari Cooper. In fact, you've probably already scripted out the first round by now.
But what is your team going to do in the second or third day of the draft? Which wide receiver or 3-technique is your team going to nab in the fifth round?
For NFL teams, hitting is a must in the early rounds. But it's equally important that they hit in the middle and late rounds, too.
One sleeper many teams have kept or should keep an eye on is former Kansas State Wildcats wide receiver Tyler Lockett.
Lockett isn't listed next to Cooper or Kevin White, and he won't go in the first or even the second round for that matter. But he has the chance to be an instant-impact player and a steal for the team that nabs him late.
Finished Among College Football Top Wideouts
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Lockett was among college football's best wide receivers in 2014.
Last season, Lockett finished third among Division I NCAA schools in receiving with 1,515 yards. In comparison, first-round hopefuls like White (1,447), Nelson Agholor (1,313) and Breshad Perriman (1,044) all finished with lesser totals.
Lockett also tied for the fourth-most receptions with 106. The Wildcats speedster started the season off slow, too, hauling in 17 through his first four games. Lockett brought in 12 receptions against Texas Tech and finished the season off with 57 grabs over the final five games.
Other projected first-round receivers, including Cooper and White, finished with 124 and 109 catches on the year, respectively.
In addition, Lockett's 11 receiving touchdowns were tied for the 13th-highest total.
In other words, Lockett has big-time college production, which helped him to rank among the best in the nation. The majority of other college wideouts to accomplish those sorts of accolades are all projected as higher picks in the upcoming draft.
A Return Threat
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In addition to being Kansas State's top receiving target in 2014, the 5'11", 175-pound Lockett also doubled as a return man.
The quick, elusive Lockett is a threat to run back a kickoff or punt to paydirt anytime he can find the light. During his time in Manhattan, Kansas, Lockett registered six return touchdowns.
Teams are constantly searching for players who can fill a multitude of roles. Lockett, in addition to being a wide receiver, can return kicks and punts and contribute on special teams. Somebody that versatile can help fill multiple jobs for one roster spot, something NFL general managers and coaches truly covet.
Elite Speed and Quickness
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Any concerns about Lockett's physical attributes were put to rest very quickly during the 2015 NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis.
Lockett posted a 4.4-second 40-yard dash time and a 6.89-second three-cone drill time. That confirmed not only the speed but also the quickness the wideout often showed on film.
In analyzing Lockett's film, ESPN Scouts Inc. draft analyst Todd McShay raved about Lockett's physical gifts:
"Lockett is elite in the areas that matter most on this list: acceleration, lateral quickness and change-of-direction ability. I can't count the number of times I'd see him make the first guy miss on tape, and he has the best ability to string together multiple moves in the open field of any player in this class.
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Plays Bigger Than His Frame
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The biggest knock on Lockett on scouting is his measurables. Lockett is 5'11" and 175 pounds, and he lacks the big frame that NFL teams covet in other wide receivers like former first-round picks, such as Mike Evans or Kelvin Benjamin.
Lockett made up for a lack of size with his speed and quickness, evident by the 559 yards he recorded on receptions of 20 or more downfield last season, according to Pro Football Focus writer Gordon McGuinness. That doesn't mean he can't be physical, though.
According to McGuinness, Lockett uses a combination of speed, strong footwork and his vertical abilities to make plays, which may serve him well at the next level.
"He plays much bigger than his 5'11", 175-pound frame suggests, going up to win the ball at the catch point when needed," McGuinness wrote. "An impressive route runner, he has quick feet that allow him to quickly get open and find holes in zones well."
Played Best Against the Best
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The other knock on Lockett is that his production largely stemmed from taking advantage of Big 12 defenses.
The point is valid—to a degree—as the major sum of Lockett's numbers came against conference opponents over the final five weeks of the season.
Much like a system quarterback or one who plays with inferior talent around him, there are exceptions.
Kansas State's nonconference schedule included games against the Auburn Tigers and the UCLA Bruins, among others, as well as legitimate Big 12 contenders. And Lockett's success against those foes speak for itself.
Against FBS Power Five Conference teams only, Lockett led the nation in receptions of 10 yards or more with 61, according to cfbstats.com. That's more than White, Agholor, Cooper and Jaelen Strong—all also ranked in the top 15.
According to ESPN's KC Joyner, Lockett also ranked first in the nation in red-zone receptions with 19 and receiving yards with 171. He finished tied for third in 20-plus-yard catches against Power Five teams, according to cfbstats.com.
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