Brandon Wilson NFL Draft 2017: Scouting Report for Cincinnati Bengals' Pick

Measurables

Height	Weight	40 Time	Arm Length	Hand Size	3-Cone
5'10 1/8""	198 lbs	4.40s	N/A	N/A	7.09

 

POSITIVES

Brandon Wilson did it all for the Houston Cougars in college, playing offense, defense and special teams. He was predominantly a corner in college but will be making the full-time transition to running back at the next level. Wilson had only 41 career carries at Houston, so teams will have to do a good deal of projecting. What Wilson has working for him is his pro day workout. At 5'10", 198 pounds, Wilson blazed a 4.40-second 40-yard dash and had an impressive broad jump of 11'1" and a 41-inch vertical. Those athletic numbers will generate buzz with teams. Wilson also brings dynamic kick return ability to whoever drafts him, averaging 25.5 yards per return and returning two kicks for touchdowns. With such a small workload in college, he won’t have the miles on his body that most other prospects have. His open-field vision, elusiveness and top-end speed make him an exciting raw prospect. His versatility is a bonus, not only his ability on special teams but the fact that he could be an emergency stopgap in the secondary as well.

          

NEGATIVES

Anytime you make a full-time transition from a position, there can be significant growing pains, especially when you are switching sides of the ball. Wilson is strictly an athletic upside pick at this point, though with his athleticism it’s a very high upside. He will need to learn to run between the tackles, succeed in pass protection and develop a route tree. There are a ton of hurdles in his way, and he is unlikely to make an early impact in the NFL.

 

PRO COMPARISON: Christine Michael, Green Bay Packers

FINAL GRADE: 5.25/9.00 (Backup Caliber—Round 7)

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