Bralon Addison Declares for 2016 NFL Draft: Latest Comments, Reaction

Oregon Ducks wide receiver Bralon Addison announced his intentions to declare for the 2016 NFL draft on Monday.

Rob Moseley of the university's official athletics website reported the news of Addison's decision. The junior registered team-best totals in receptions (63), receiving yards (804) and receiving touchdowns (10) this past season.     

The following is an excerpt from Addison's official statement, per Moseley:

"

I came here as a kid who wanted nothing more than to play football at a high level. In the process, so much more has happened. [...] I just wanted nothing more than to thank everyone that has been a positive influence in my life academically and athletically during my time here at Oregon: my professors, this entire staff, the fans and everyone else involved.

"

Addison also returned three punts for touchdowns in his past two years playing at Oregon, hinting at how dangerous he is in the open field and at his elite speed. His 2015 campaign was all the more impressive after he missed all of 2014 due to a torn left ACL.

Although he doesn't have prototypical size for an NFL wideout, listed at 5'10", 190 lbs, Addison's game is predicated on quickness and explosive athletic ability. He could well develop into a lethal slot weapon, which ought to make him attractive to prospective draft suitors.

Ducks interim quarterbacks coach Nate Costa recently praised Addison's football instincts in a story that spoke about him possibly staying in Eugene to play QB as a senior, per OregonLive.com's Tyson Alger:

"

He's very talented. You'd be surprised how skilled he is. His biggest thing is he has such a feel for the game. He just kind of feels things out. We've put him in the QB position before just to experiment and we didn't really tell him what the reads were, we just kind of let him do his own thing and he just made plays.

"

It's evident Addison has an innate savvy for the game and could well make a big impact as a rookie. CBSSports.com's projections suggest Addison won't be drafted until the third or fourth round, but he could well be one of the biggest steals among skill players.

Seattle Seahawks standout Tyler Lockett is a decent pro comparison when it comes to evaluating how Addison's game will translate. Lockett fell to the third round in the 2015 draft but has been among the best rookie receivers in all of football.

Several teams probably wish they had a chance to acquire Lockett now. A similar phenomenon could occur when it comes to Addison, though he still has an opportunity to boost his stock through interviews and strong workouts at the NFL Scouting Combine and Oregon's pro day.