2016 NFL Draft: Hidden Gems Who Can Boost a Stale Passing Attack
The 2016 NFL draft is next week. With two massive trades already in the books, it feels like the first-round drama is only beginning to heat up.
However, the draft is a three-day extravaganza. While the opening round is important, it is only part of the process. Teams that are looking to win the draft will try to dig up the hidden gems of the later rounds.
We're talking about the late picks who wind up being regular contributors at the pro level.
We're going to take a look at potentially impactful pass-catchers who can find a role in an underwhelming offense. We all know that the first couple of rounds are loaded with playmakers, but these aren't the guys we'll be examining.
Instead, we'll look at possible sleeper picks. Looking back to last year, think of guys like Stefon Diggs (selected 146th overall) and J.J. Nelson (159th).
We won't limit our choices to just wide receivers, but since this is a hidden-gems piece, we will only consider players who are widely expected to be Day 3 picks. We'll then take a look at why each of these late-round picks has the potential to make a difference this coming season.
Paul McRoberts, WR, SE Missouri State
1 of 10
| Receptions | Yards | Yards/Rec | TDs |
| 76 | 940 | 12.4 | 9 |
Wideout Paul McRoberts out of Southeast Missouri State is the type of small-school project that NFL teams often choose to gamble on. He has plenty of physical tools and the size that can win at the pro level.
The questions, of course, will stem from his small-school background. NFLDraftScout.com projects him as a seventh-round pick at best.
Bleacher Report NFL Draft Lead Writer Matt Miller, however, sees McRoberts as something closer to a fourth-round talent. Miller even compares him favorably to Jacksonville Jaguars standout Allen Hurns in terms of potential upside.
The reason for McRoberts' high upside—and why he can potentially be an early contributor—is because he has the build and skill set of a capable possession receiver.
At 6'1" and 202 pounds, he can provide a big target in the middle of the field for a quarterback. He has adequate speed—he ran a 4.6-second 40 at his pro day—and he has shown the ability to outjump and outmuscle defenders for the football. His time as a basketball player is likely a major boon in this department.
“I feel like basketball really helped,” McRoberts said during the Senior Bowl, per Stephen Czarda of the Washington Redskins' official website. “Going to get rebounds, going to high-point the ball which helped me in football."
McRoberts will likely take some time to develop into a complete receiver, but his possession skills could make him an immediate asset in most passing schemes.
Jake McGee, TE, Florida
2 of 10
| Receptions | Yards | Yards/Rec | TDs |
| 41 | 381 | 9.3 | 4 |
From a pure production standpoint, Florida tight end Jake McGee isn't likely to wow NFL employers. He has never been a major part of the Florida offense and has never snagged more than 43 passes in a collegiate season.
McGee also has a major leg injury on his resume and is coming out of his sixth year of college football.
There are flashier and more prolific tight ends available in this draft class. NFLDraftScout.com projects McGee as a seventh-round selection at best.
It's true that it could take McGee some time to develop into an NFL starter and to adjust to a heavier workload. However, his physical skills make him an intriguing prospect. At 6'5" and 250 pounds, McGee has the size and strength to out-leverage most defensive backs. His quickness—he ran a 4.78-second 40 at his pro day—is solid enough for him to outmaneuver most linebackers as well.
McGee also has reliable hands to go with a sizable catch radius.
It doesn't seem likely that we'll see McGee step in and dominate at the tight end position like a Rob Gronkowski or even a Gary Barnidge. However, he has all the tools to develop into a respectable starter and should be an immediate contributor in short-yardage and goal-line situations.
Keyarris Garrett, WR, Tulsa
3 of 10
| Receptions | Yards | Yards/Rec | TDs |
| 96 | 1,588 | 16.5 | 8 |
Tulsa's Keyarris Garrett led the nation with nearly 1,600 yards receiving in 2015, but he is far from a finished product.
His eye-popping numbers are the result of a high volume of work in the Tulsa offense. His 16.5 yards-per-reception average is solid but isn't indicative of his being a true deep threat. Garrett is also limited as a receiver, having played most of his snaps from the right side of the field.
Drops have also been a bit of an issue, and he has a 2013 broken leg on his resume.
NFL.com grades Garrett as a developmental player or special teamer.
None of this means that Garrett cannot be an early contributor at the pro level. He may not be an immediate star, but we're still talking about a 6'3" and 220-pound receiver who ran a solid 4.53-second 40 at the combine.
“I’m more of a believer in the traits. [And] Garrett is 6'3", 220 pounds," NFL Films Producer Greg Cosell recently said, per Ben Baskin of SI.com. "He’s fluid, he’s smooth, he catches the ball well, and he works the middle of the field well. He has all the traits.”
Garrett may have a limited role until he can prove capable of working from multiple positions. However, he does have the physical traits of an early contributor.
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Hunter Sharp, WR, Utah State
4 of 10
| Receptions | Yards | Yards/Rec | TDs |
| 71 | 839 | 11.8 | 9 |
Utah State's Hunter Sharp hasn't garnered a lot of media attention leading up to the draft. He has only two years of experience at the FBS level, and it isn't as if Utah State is a powerhouse program.
At 5'11" and 198 pounds, Sharp isn't physically impressive. After running a 4.58-second 40 at the combine, he doesn't wow in the speed department, either.
NFL.com grades Sharp as a developmental prospect or special teams contributor.
Teams that undervalue Sharp could miss out in a big way, however. He is a savvy route-runner with plenty of after-the-catch ability. He can make defenders miss and won't shy away from contact if facing them head on.
Bleacher Report NFL Draft Lead Writer Matt Miller actually rates Sharp as the 12th-best wideout in this year's class, citing the former Aggie's route-running and football IQ as reasons why he can be an early contributor.
Sharp should be able to make an early impact as a slot receiver or even as a receiver-running back hybrid in certain offensive systems. His physicality should also help him rise up a depth chart as a potentially valuable perimeter blocker.
Jaydon Mickens, WR, Washington
5 of 10
| Receptions | Yards | Yards/Rec | TDs |
| 58 | 692 | 11.9 | 2 |
Washington product Jaydon Mickens is likely to wind up as a late Day 3 selection or an undrafted free agent because of his stature.
At just 5'11" and 170 pounds, Mickens doesn't have the look or the build of an NFL-caliber receiver. NFLDraftScout.com pegs him as a seventh-round selection at best.
A team that is willing to give Mickens a chance, however, could be pleasantly surprised. He operates well in small windows and is quick in and out of his breaks. His sharp cuts and ability to accelerate quickly give him the potential to be an early contributor as a situational slot receiver.
Mickens doesn't possess elite straight-line speed, but his foot speed is adequate. He clocked a 4.51-second 40 at his pro day.
More impressive were Mickens' 6.58-second three-cone drill and 3.87-second short-shuttle times. Both were faster than those posted at the combine by Notre Dame speedster Will Fuller. This isn't to suggest Mickens is a receiver of Fuller's caliber, only to show just how quick Mickens can be in short spaces.
This short-area quickness should allow Mickens to find a home and produce, especially in a short-yardage and timing-based passing attack.
De'Runnya Wilson, WR, Mississippi State
6 of 10
| Receptions | Yards | Yards/Rec | TDs |
| 59 | 905 | 15.3 | 10 |
Mississippi state wideout De'Runnya Wilson finds himself low on most draft boards because of an excruciatingly slow 40 time. He ran the 40 in just 4.85 seconds at the combine and ran a barely better 4.78 at his pro day.
NFL.com grades Wilson as a developmental prospect.
If he cannot find ways to improve his speed or polish his route-running, Wilson isn't likely to develop into a high-volume pass-catcher at the NFL level. However, he can likely still contribute early because of his size.
Wilson stands at a towering 6'5" and 224 pounds. He should realistically have an advantage in virtually any jump-ball situation, which gives him value as a situational player and red-zone target.
Bleacher Report NFL Draft Lead Writer Matt Miller recently wrote the following:
"Wilson can dominate cornerbacks on contested passes and has strong enough hands to secure the ball in a fight. Wilson's background as a star high school basketball player shows in how he times and executes his play on jump balls. He's a natural threat in the red zone given his size, catch radius (33 ⅞-inch arms) and leaping ability.
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Things could get interesting with Wilson if he can somehow find a way to add to his frame without losing what speed he does have. A team could then use him as a bit of a receiver-tight end hybrid and move him all over the formation to find a mismatch.
Tyler Ervin, RB, San Jose State
7 of 10
| Receptions | Yards | Yards/Rec | TDs |
| 45 | 334 | 7.4 | 2 |
Though he might not be the biggest or most physical runner in this year's draft, San Jose State's Tyler Ervin does have a few traits that should endear him to potential NFL employers. He has tremendous top-end speed, and if his spot on this list didn't already give it away, he's a productive pass-catcher.
Over the past two seasons with the Spartans, Ervin has logged 74 receptions, 640 yards and three touchdowns. Though he might not be a downfield threat as a receiver, he should fit nicely into a rhythm-based offense and as a receiving weapon out of the backfield.
Make no mistake, though, Ervin does possess the type of speed needed to hit the home run when he gets into space. He ran a 4.41-second 40 at the combine and improved his time with a blazing 4.34-second 40 at his pro day.
The downside is that Ervin is thinly built at 5'10" and 192 pounds. Some teams may even see him as a better fit as a slot receiver or gadget player because of this. This is also why he is likely to be a Day 3 selection.
NFLDraftScout.com projects Ervin as a fourth- or fifth-round pick.
Ervin is a capable runner—he rushed for 1,601 yards last season—but any team that is looking to boost its passing attack from the backfield would be wise to consider him.
Mike Thomas, WR, Southern Mississippi
8 of 10
| Receptions | Yards | Yards/Rec | TDs |
| 71 | 1,391 | 19.6 | 14 |
Southern Mississippi wideout Mike Thomas finished the 2015 season ranked seventh in the NCAA with nearly 1,400 yards receiving. Yet, he has barely been a blip on the proverbial draft radar to date. Probably better known as the other Mike Thomas in this year's draft, he is projected as a fifth- or sixth-round pick by NFLDraftScout.com.
In the right environment, however, Thomas could prove to be a steal. At 6'1" and 200 pounds, he has adequate size for the position, and his straight-line speed—he ran a 4.53-second 40 at his pro day—shouldn't be a concern.
The knock on Thomas is that he is a bit raw and isn't an exceptional athlete. While he did only play two years at the FBS level, this could mean that he still has plenty of room to grow. If so, he could become a star at the pro level. He was darn impressive on the collegiate field last year.
"The game tape never lies," Thomas said at the Southern Miss pro day, per Patrick Magee of the Mississippi Sun Herald. "[Scouts] told me I did pretty good today, but game film tells the tale."
Thomas' game tape tells the story of guy with the physical tools and the drive to be a successful NFL receiver.
Read more here: http://www.sunherald.com/sports/college/conference-usa/university-of-southern-mississippi/article68073277.html#storylink=cpy
Ben Braunecker, TE, Harvard
9 of 10
| Receptions | Yards | Yards/Rec | TDs |
| 48 | 850 | 17.7 | 8 |
Harvard tight end Ben Braunecker was a dominating force in the Ivy League last season and had one of the more prolific seasons of any tight end in college football. The question is whether he can transition from playing the likes of Yale to the likes of the Denver Broncos.
From a physical standpoint, Braunecker seems to have the goods. He isn't an especially tall tight end, but at 6'3" and 250 pounds, he should have little trouble finding a role at the pro level.
Braunecker also has an impressive bit of quickness and athleticism for a guy his size. He logged a 4.73-second 40 at the combine to go with a 4.2-second short shuttle and a 35.5-inch vertical jump. Braunecker also ripped off 20 reps on the 225-pound bench press.
The traits he flashed at the combine suggest his 2015 numbers were not a fluke. Though he may not tower over opposing linebackers or defensive backs, he can find way to win in the passing game.
"Braunecker can win as a route-runner," Bleacher Report NFL Draft Lead Writer Matt Miller recently wrote. "He sets up defenders with stems and shakes. He's able to sink his hips and chop his feet before exploding into his break. Braunecker has the power to redirect when a defensive player gets his hands on him."
It's actually a bit surprising that Braunecker isn't garnering more attention this close to the draft. NFLDaftScout.com rates him as a fourth- or fifth-round selection, and he could prove to be a steal on Day 3.
Chris Moore, WR, Cincinnati
10 of 10
| Receptions | Yards | Yards/Rec | TDs |
| 40 | 870 | 21.8 | 7 |
There are a couple of knocks on former Cincinnati standout Chris Moore that have him looking like a late-round draft pick.
Moore was more of a chunk-play receiver with the Bearcats this past season, yet he doesn't have the type of elite straight-line speed that NFL teams look for in a potential speed merchant. His 40-yard combine time of 4.53 seconds is adequate but not eye-opening.
Moore isn't the most fluid route-runner either, which could be why NFLDraftScout.com projects him as fifth- or sixth-round pick.
However, Moore does have the physical traits of a future NFL receiver. At 6'1" and 206 pounds, he has the body to provide an open target, and he seems to have the willingness to do so too. Bleacher Report NFL Draft Lead Writer Matt Miller recently wrote the following:
"Moore worked the middle of the field at every level in the Cincinnati offense, showing off his big-play ability stretching the field while also doing dirty work on underneath routes. Moore's catch radius is big enough to grab the ball on errant throws, and he's flexible enough to go low to get grounders or leap and go after 50-50 balls.
"
While he will likely need to add some polish to his game, Moore is an intriguing downfield pass-catcher who could emerge as a solid No. 3 or No. 4 receiver with the right team.
All combine/pro-day numbers and measurements via NFL.com.
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