Sterling Shepard NFL Draft 2016: Scouting Report, Grade for Giants Rookie

POSITIVES

Sterling Shepard is Oklahoma royalty as the son of former great Derrick Shepard. While the younger Shepard may not have great height or length, he's one of the toughest receivers in college football and is a dynamic playmaker from the slot and in the return game.

Shepard's 9 ¾-inch hands are good-sized for a 5'10" receiver and allowed him to catch 86 passes on the season and drop just four targets. In 2014, according to College Football Focus, he dropped just one pass all season. Shepard is a confident, tough receiver who uses his hands to make catches and doesn't let the ball get into his body. His catch radius is big for a small frame thanks to hand strength and a crazy 41-inch vertical jump.

As a route-runner, Shepard has quick cuts and pitter-patter footwork to juke and leave defenders in space. He's tough at the top of his route stem and will work through traffic when press cornerbacks get in his face. Shepard can get nasty and won't back down from competition.

So many people want to typecast Shepard, but he can play inside or outside the hash with success. He's super smooth in his routes and has the hips and feet to create on his own without needing an offensive coordinator to scheme his touches.

NEGATIVES

A smaller frame will automatically place Shepard in the slot for many teams, which may move him down draft boards, as some teams don't value inside receivers as early as outside players.

Shepard's combine times aren't eye-popping outside of his vertical jump. He's quicker than fast and can be caught from behind in space. Press coverage can clog him up at the line of scrimmage until he learns to use his lateral quickness to beat a shooting hand at the line.

There are definitely times when Shepard needs to just run through people instead of going for the highlight-reel jukes and cutbacks.

COMBINE RESULTS

Height: 5'10 ¼"

Weight: 194 lbs.

40 Time: 4.48s

3-Cone: 7.00s

Short Shuttle: 4.35s

PRO COMPARISON: Brandin Cooks, New Orleans Saints
FINAL GRADE: 6.80/9.00 (Round 2—Rookie Contributor)