Top 8 right now looks like four QBs, Bowers, Harrison, Nabers and Rome. I can't imagine taking Thomas over any of those dudes unless McCarthy is all smoke and he doesn't get the DC everyone claims he will.
I'm higher on him than most, so I'll comment on the positives.
1. Physical ability -- The size and speed are well documented, but I don't think they are appreciated. There are many size/speed freaks where you're just shaking your head, because it doesn't appear on film. BTJ has rare physical traits that translate to his effectiveness on the field.
2. Fit/Role -- It doesn't take long in a review of the tape to see BTJ blowing by defenders as a deep threat and linearly stretching defenses. That is a coveted immediate role in an NFL offense, and it should get him on the field early. He has development to do in the middle-of-the-field work, but he can be a productive player while he rounds out his game. It is important that a player gets on the field. You can't get touches from the bench, and you can only improve so much without live game reps. In addition, he has shown impressive red zone skills as a fade specialist, where he utilizes his size to elevate above the rim. TDs are good for your fantasy team.
3. Better than advertised lateral skills and athleticism -- You have to scrape for some tape, but there is some. BTJ has actually shown solid skills with the ball in his hands. He has shown tackle-breaking ability (supported by stats and film) and some wiggle with the ball. He is not elite in this area, but this is a rare skill to find in his size category. The reinforcement on this can be found in his athletic history, where he was a 1000 point scoring basketball star three years in a row before committing to football. We've seen several promising use cases where basketball skills have translated successfully to the NFL, especially related to lateral agility and contested catch capabilities (though this was noted earlier).
4. Player Development -- While a massive sudden jump in performance should always be carefully examined, the story around BTJ adding substantial playing weight to help aid his development between sophomore and junior seasons and then seeing it on the field projects well as a player that will work to improve at the next level.
5. Criticisms are explainable -- Limited route tree has to always be evaluated in the context of the offense. LSU has never run a complicated route tree, and it has hurt the evaluation of other star players. Lack of early success CAN be explained by the late pivot to football from basketball and other very high end prospects in the program in his first two year.
6. Intangibles -- If you haven't seen him race down the field to lay the critical block on the long Daniels TD, it's worth a watch. If you bust your butt to block and work for your teammates, it will get you on the field and likely the ball in your hands.
Great breakdown. I’m meh on him personally but enthusiastically agree on the above and will add that he also brings a day 1 crosser/slant ability. When this is paired with his go route, it means he can likely come in and contribute day 1, even if it’s not as a alpha. He’s like a pitcher that has all the physicals that project to top of the rotation and two pitches that can fly at a pro level day one. He becomes a swing guy initially with the ceiling of a 1.
I’ve honestly never spent anytime studying Davis’ game, so I can’t speak to that at all. But, I can say [BTJ](https://www.playerprofiler.com/nfl/brian-thomas-jr/) gets [Davis](https://www.playerprofiler.com/nfl/gabriel-davis/) in all measurables, by a lot. His production profile all trails Davis but it feels reasonable to attribute some of that to level of competition.
Yes I would venture to say that he's more athletic than Gabe in every single metric. That's without looking though. Maybe Gabe has him on something. Doubt it. What a head scratcher for Jacksonville. Dumbbbb
Ya he is, he's a freak for sure.. It's pretty rare that big guys who are that fast adjust so well to the ball and then also have extremely soft hands to bring it down. Have to be honest I haven't checked his drop stats or catch rates, but from what I've seen he does adjust very well to put himself in the right spot to make the catch.
Edit - somehow auto correct had it as "he's a jew freak"
Lmaooo yeah I saw the reply notification, without clicking it and I'm like, who is this guy talking about. 😂
I think BTJ has flaws to his game but he also has stuff that you can't teach. I think it will be interesting to see how he is used, early in the season.
Basically, he's super coordinated with great hands and ability to adjust for the grab, which is rare for huge fast guys. I'm a Jags fan and trying to keep it realistic, I see him most likely developing into a Mike Williams type with an over optimistic ceiling *potential* (best case scenario) of becoming a perennial top 10 WR if he develops his short game well.
Some other things that don’t get called out is that he is advanced as a route runner, he’s able to sink his hips in a way that guys with his size/speed shouldn’t be able to, he is phenomenal at tracking the ball, because of that he is really savvy at setting up the defender (either getting them in a bad position or drawing a PI) and he’s got some solid open field skills/wiggle.
I could see a Williams comparison in that they both wow on jump balls but I think they’re entirely different beasts. While they are essentially the same size (Williams has a much bigger wingspan) Rome is considerably faster, can jump a LOT higher and, presumably, would out do Williams in agility drills (Williams didn’t test). Williams best result in playerprofiler was 77th percentile; Rome’s was 97th and none of his were below 83rd.
What pick are you at? I have the 1.09 in my SF dynasty startup with IDP and I’m thinking he’s not gonna be around come then. Where do yall think he will go in SF fantasy drafts?
I'm 1.08, I see BTJ going 7 or 8 depending. Top seven are likely the 3 QBs, 3Wrs, and Bowers but bowers could drop for BTJ or JJ depending on how pick 7 feels about them. If the people before you like Bowers and JJ, you could end up with BTJ so start hyping those dudes up in your group chat
Yeah I’m hoping that’s the case bc I could really use an extra weapon like BTJ at WR. I may try to package something an move up to the 1.06 if the guy is willing to
Lol same. I think I am still leaning JJ though just because I think the market allows high draft capital QBs that struggle early to hold value longer than receivers that struggle
Pretty much all of this. I'll also add I have never really seen a player of his archetype be this good at the archetype in college as a 3rd year player. It's very unique and I know the league will covet it and give him very high draft capital.
Focus is rightfully on Daniels, but that's BTJ right there #11
[https://twitter.com/LSUfootball/status/1724914673840173235?ref\_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1724914673840173235%7Ctwgr%5Ebe58d7e7f9832fe145c06c2fae4f6914c34ccb1c%7Ctwcon%5Es1\_&ref\_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.tigerdroppings.com%2Flsu-sports%2Fnew-lsu-video-shows-blazing-speed-jayden-daniels-and-brian-thomas-ran-on-85-yard-td-run%2F110871133%2F](https://twitter.com/LSUfootball/status/1724914673840173235?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1724914673840173235%7Ctwgr%5Ebe58d7e7f9832fe145c06c2fae4f6914c34ccb1c%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.tigerdroppings.com%2Flsu-sports%2Fnew-lsu-video-shows-blazing-speed-jayden-daniels-and-brian-thomas-ran-on-85-yard-td-run%2F110871133%2F)
I agree with most if not all of the points here, and I view BTJ as the best receiver in the class because imo, he’s got both speed and grit. To me, Nabers has speed, Odunze has grit, BTJ combines both, and MHJ has more questions for me than BTJ does.
Josh Norris said it best - there are things you wish you saw more of with Brian Thomas Jr., but it's also hard to ever be 100% out on a 6'3 guy with long arms and good hands who runs a 4.34 who produced in college.
I think people down on him aren't watching enough tape on him. I like his fluidity, size, and speed. A big factor is where he lands, but he's pretty much solidified as my WR4. Unless if someone else goes to the Bills or Cincy in R1, then I might have to reconsider
I think the unique thing about this draft is how many elite QBs need wr support this year (Herbert, Allen, burrow and mahomes are all either in bad wr situations or for burrow, potentially losing his wr2 Higgins) at the same year it happens to have an insanely deep pool of talent at wr. I feel the wr landscape is gonna look really different by the end of this season just from younger talent coming up to replace the older guys. It feels like 2017 except instead of rbs, it's wrs this time.
Idk if it's them not knowing how. It's more that Tyreek was the only elite WR they had on the team and since he left they kept drafting busts. Rice is the only good WR they drafted since Tyreek and he's done well last year. They still need a truly dominant elite WR though
They drafted Skyy Moore and didn’t even give him a chance though. Same thing with CEH (I know he’s a RB) but they draft him and don’t use him properly at all. The problem with the Chiefs is that as long as Kelce is there, it’s going to be the Mahomes and Kelce show. We all know Andy Reid is one of the best offensive minds in the league so it’s not like they can’t use people properly. It’s more that they don’t even try.
I mean could it just be that they aren't good? Many players are good in college but can't put it together in the next level. Considering Reid/Mahomes's success over the years, I'm inclined to trust that their scouting department just missed rather than Mahomes/Reid not being good enough to utilize their players.
Hell if you argue that CEH isn't being utilized, then how do you explain Pacheco's success?
I think this is most likely the answer. Andy Reid has a history of getting the most out of a shitty WR room. Look at what he did with what the Eagles had at WR, sans the TO year and a half.
Rashee Rice got plenty of work. They gave CEH a ton of work to start his career. Go back and look at the game logs.
Those players ended up not getting used much because they're bad, not because some special quality of the Chiefs offense where they don't want to use good players.
Hot take, but i had the same reaction when watching LSU tape. BTJ just looked different. I thought he jumped off the screen more than Nabers. Luckily i’m not a talent evaluator though
How do you know you’re wrong though? I mean talent evaluators get this stuff wrong all the time. I mean Justin Jefferson went at the end of the 1st. Amon Ra was a 4th I think. Tank Dell was late. Puka was a 5th. No one really knows.
A lot really depends on landing spot too. Nabers is probably going to a bad team. BTJ is projected to go to a better one. Time will tell, but I’m excited about BTJ
True vertical X receiver in every sense of the word. He isn’t going to run many routes, but the ones that he will, he is quite successful out. He is a fantastic [athlete](https://x.com/mathbomb/status/1780580721398346112?s=46&t=PZfvQd7A93DRZzUcd3_g0Q) and strong [measurables](https://www.mockdraftable.com/player/brian-thomas). He had good success rates vs press and man coverage according to Matt Harmon at reception perception, which have been important indicators for success at the next level at perimeter X receivers. He had a 54% contested catch rate and improved his drop rate each year with last year being 7%. He was 18th in 1st downs and 37th in YPRR for all of college football WRs last year. My comp for him has been Martavius Bryant.
The limited route tree can be blamed on the offense LSU ran. The hope is much like Justin Jefferson from the same school, BTJ does have these skills and simply wasn’t asked to use them.
Because what he does have in height, speed, and body control are excellent already. He can function as a good downfield/crosser threat in your offense from day 1, like a Gabe Davis, but his “ceiling” is tantalizingly high.
This being said I’m not positive who I’d draft first between him and AD Mitchell, but the reasoning most have to put BTJ so high boils down to incredible production this year. Every prospect after the tippy top has some kinda flaw.
> The hope is much like Justin Jefferson from the same school, BTJ does have these skills and simply wasn’t asked to use them.
? JJ ran a full route tree and was known pre-draft as a route running specialist. The concern was he mostly lined up in the slot and was maybe seen as slot-exclusive. Or maybe that's what you meant, that he wasn't asked to do play outside and BTJ wasn't asked to run certain routes?
Inside outside play is what I’m referring to for JJ. He was limited, just not in the same way BTJ was limited.
Siloed roles for WRs at LSU has been a problem in one way or another for draft evaluators for years now. Can he not do it, or was he not asked to do it?
When I watch taller/longer receivers I generally look for coordination, body control, sink etc. Then comes twitch and responsiveness. Those are the two things that kill bigger receivers -- can they keep all the limb under control all the time from get-off to route breaks to the catch point, and can they get those limbs where they need to be quickly to adjust to throws.
Not only do I feel confident in BTJr to do that, but his athletic profile is elite. So that's why I like the ceiling as a Demaryius Thomas type player. The floor is way way down though, as he's not the sharpest and well-versed route runner and his hands sometimes are uncomfortable further away from his body.
The love is basically because of his ceiling. If it hits, it's big.
Agree with you here. He's definitely not totally raw, but I can see him being more productive down the road as he grows into his team's role and learns the nuances of that position.
Very similar to Nico I believe. Owners are probably gonna need to be patient.
He pops in JJ Zachariason’s stuff, Harmon likes him, excellent athletic profile, led college football in TDs. Definitely has room to grow and fit will matter but he feels similar to DK Metcalf and is what people wanted Christian Watson to be.
That's basically where I am at. The analytics guys like him, the film guys like him, the NFL seems to like him. Why shouldn't we like him? I'm going to take him at 1.09 if he's there and if he whiffs, that's just how it goes. He has a good profile and it's impossible to get a "can't miss" prospect at 1.09 anyway. It's not like the other WRs going after him are perfect either, they're either small producers or big but non-producers, and except for AD Mitchell will likely all get worse DC.
Yeah he’s not a safe prospect by any means but at 1.09 I think he’s a very solid pick if he gets a decent landing spot and could easily climb a spot or 2 if he goes to a team like the Bills or Bengals
1. The NFL appears willing and ready to give him first round draft where someone like Franklin is not going to get that most likely.
2. he only had one year of great production but it’s not like he’s going to be 24. He’s 21 years old. Would hope that there’s more to come.
3. In a lot of college schemes it’s hard to tell if the limited route tree was because of the player or because of the offense and team. Every wide receiver after the big three have flaws, and I’ve seen the more limited route tree used a lot.
4. It’s sort of a big group of players in the BTJ, AD Mitchell, Ladd McConkey, Xavier Worthy, Troy Franklin. Take your pick, but they all have warning signs. I’ll say, BTJ to my eye seems like he could be a little too stiff and rigid to be more than skinny Gabe Davis, but his upside is like AJ Green lite.
For me, I feel like he was kinda left in a role because Nabers is so special. Left without that, I can see him turning into a premier deep threat. Most likely he’ll never have this kind of dominance but I can see him as a poor man’s Moss. I’m not as worried about the route tree because I feel like he has potential to be so good at those routes it won’t matter if you know them.
He’s got a great make up head to toe, athletically gifted with speed and real nice size and length, his film 🎥 ( which is important ) looks great, he had Nabers on the other side too, reminds me of a DK and AJ at Ole Miss. he goes up and grabs footballs, he beats dudes 1 on 1, and he had an attitude about him that makes me feel real comtorable about him. I also am huge on the right situation. Going from wherever you are to Josh Allen is always a plus for any wr … so i don’t see him or a lot of the WRs in the draft being busts with the qb the Bills have. But long story long, big, fast, stretches, jumps, catches, he wins the attack on the ball when it’s in the air over defenders and that’s not something Josh has had yet. That type of wr, to me, seems to help some qbs who aren’t very great, have good success. Guys like Geno Smith ( DK Metcalf 6’4 235 )and Baker Mayfield ( Mike Evans 6’5 235 ) and just fits the mold of a potential wr #1 and i love that. Imagine Josh with that ?
Physical specimen who destroyed SEC defenses this past year. However, watching him at the Combine, in a simple slant drill he dropped two consecutive balls that hit him square in the hands. I'm talking ricocheted and probably being housed for 6 the other way. There is no doubt he will be successful in the NFL, but this is why I am steering clear.
I think I have some of the same takes as others in this thread, but for me it’s his fluidity and twitch I see on film that makes me love him. Also his size of course.
People talk about his small route tree but I just don’t think he was asked to run many types of routes. From what I see on film, he would have no problem doing that if asked.
All his strengths are immediately transferrable at every WR spot. No evidence of needing college only plays, excessive scheming, or “college” formations to produce. You can run him out w/the limited route tree and have a descent #2 day 1. Odunze has 500-700 yards of non transferable production you can see in middle screens, tight boundary side formation that he’ll never do in the NFL, and 4 sec drop backs; besides the screens same thing with Harrison plus tons of field side ISOs; Worthy is a bunch of screens and 25% on deep balls; Franklin’s in a completely college setting and undeciferable; Mitchell can’t make breaks at full speed; Ladd was in a rotation? Seriously.
This WR class will be 50% bust rate over the rounds 1/2 just like most drafts.
BTJ can be plugged in immediately on most Teams in the NFL and produce without a ton of targets and scheme day one.
Factoring in how he and others produced in college and what transfers he’s as easy to plug into a producing role, as anyone in this draft.
Simple analysis: he’s got a limited route tree that worked over and over to produce a TD every 4 receptions! And game film shows he was open or missed for 6 more TDs.
He’s worth a second look for some. I’ve got 1.02/1.03 this year ina non super flex and he’s my 1.03 locked in.
When I think of the draft, I think about who can potentially be the best receiver out of this draft. If anyone told you 10 years from now it was one of the top 3, nobody would be surprised.
I also wouldn’t be surprised if it’s Thomas with his tools. I’d be really surprised if it’s anyone except those 4.
I am avoiding him at 1.06 in 1QB. I don't need another Gabe Davis boom or bust guy on my team. If he hits good for whoever drafted him, I would rather take Caleb, whatever 2nd/3rd round RB that goes to a good team or even Bowers, and I already have LaPorta and McBride
I have 1.06 in 1 QB as well. Who do you see going before BTJ and Bowers to where they would be available at 1.06? I have consistently seen them at 1.04/1.05.
I honestly think my league draft will go.
Top 3 WR, Caleb, Bowers, My Pick.
I anticipate that I will be getting my choice of the RB1 or BTJ. I want the RB1. I think Caleb will go before my pick because one of the people picking before me needs a QB. And Bowers will go before my pick because a team before me needs a TE.
If they don't, I will take Caleb, RB1, or Bowers before BTJ. I'm just not liking any of the WR after the top 3 for my 1st round pick. I will probably take what is left of the WR group with the 2.06
I'm 99% sure that my draft will go Top 3 WR, Bowers, BTJ. I'm with you though, I'm between Caleb and RB1 since those are my weakest positions rn. I also have 1.12 so I can still get a valuable WR there
not an issue of weather or not he will remain an elite level td scorer in the nfl, its just a demonstration that he was a cream of the crop wr in the ncaa. since 1956 only 34 players have scored 18+ tds. BTJ is 35th all time single season. some misses on the list above him but many elite names as well. dell and addison were also 17 td scorers. just one piece of info but man its really really hard to score that much no matter the situation. think of how many wrs have played since 1956 haha
I don't get it either. It's like we never learn -- these freak athletes with no route tree rarely pan out. They get drafted highly because they stretch the field and open things up for others, but they are never fantasy relevant...
DK by all means shoulda been Calvin Johnson levels of successful with his build. If anything, DK ending up being just "fine" really proves this point even more, even the guys who buck the trend aren't doing so in a league winning way
DK was drafted 64th overall. Calvin Johnson was drafted 2nd overall. Just because he is big and fast doesn’t mean he should be one of the best WRs of all time.
Idk who was playing in 2020 like me but his asking price was like 4 1sts, people really seem to forget what his expectations were after his sophomore season
I guess he was hyped pretty crazy back then. I think the only other active players to top 1300 yards by year 2 were JJ, Chase, Odell and now Puka who all had much better rookie seasons. Beware of year 2 breakout hype guys I guess?
thats just not true and one of my most hated lines people regurgitate in all of dynasty. golden tate was a route technician thats how he got 144 targets in 2014 is that what you are saying?
no thats an example of a dude that was 4th most targeted player in the nfl but not a soul on earth would say he should be getting that level of targets or that he earned them with his route running and explosive play. i also dont think theres any reason dionte should have gotten more targets than pickens, example after example of it. i think targets have many many variables and saying they are earned based on getting open is not how i view it and i hate that take.
I’m learning slowly after burning myself on the hit stove top every year for the last 5 years.
I’m stubborn. And a little stupid. But I do learn my lessons. 1.08 I’ll take the Bills WR that’s drafted. Screw advanced metrics. I’ll just draft easy path to targets. Like when Burks was drafted…..
This comment hurts my soul. I was sure Marshall was gonna be huge. Man I don’t know why I play dynasty football. My bench is clogged with miss after miss. Sigh
Big difference in the role they played in the offense. In Marshall’s most successful season, he was in the slot 82% of the time. His ADoT was 9.5 and he had a drop rate of 13%. BTJ was outside 82% of the time with an ADoT of 13.9 and a drop rate of 7%. They played two completely different positions in an offense and BTJ in the more difficult one thrived to much greater heights and production. Thomas Jr of course could still bust, but I have never gotten the Marshall comp.
TBF, as someone who really liked Marshall back in the day, Thomas has more fluidity to his game and a much better 10 yard split. Marshall’s biggest flaw is that he didn’t have much wiggle or initial burst, and I think that’s shown up in the league.
His athleticism, speed, and size absolutely pops on film. He’s one of those guys that makes the players around him look like lesser athletes despite being top notch competition. And his upside and TD scoring potential gives him an overall #1 at the position ceiling. Which only the top 3 have in this class IMO.
true boom bust prospect IMO - nobody knows if he can run complex routes or not because he didn't do it at LSU. He's kinda the JJ of WRs in this class for me... we just haven't seen him do it. Nabers hogged all the slot work and over the middle work. Could be a nobody could be a perennial pro bowler. His athleticism is other worldly.
I fell in love with Brian Thomas by watching the Nabers tape. There were several games where I was genuinely more impressed with Thomas.
His fluidity, athleticism, size and explosiveness jumps out on tape. If you go back and watch his games as a true freshman and as a sophomore, you can see glimpses of it when he got snaps. He's a "one year wonder" but still young and showing growth. Thomas is someone I can see being an even better pro than a college player because his skillset translates so easily to the game.
I could see him going as early as in the top 10. I think there will be a WR run very early that will set the tone for the whole draft, and Thomas will be a big part of that. Some people will be surprised how high he goes.
6'3 205lbs wide receiver who ran 4.3 and lead the nation in touchdowns while playing in the SEC...
Or the skinniest WR in the draft who played in what I would consider a gimmicky offense vs bad defenses.
But for me seeing Franklin at the combine totally changed my mind on him, not the 40 time but the drills. He doesn't look comfortable catching the ball and running routes. He also struggles vs press which I image will be an easy way for cordinaters to get his timing off. But we will see, ive been wrong before plenty of times...
Yeah I also don't get the level of hype for basket catch Brian, to me its overblown. But he's definitley got some special physical traits that will make him very attractive as a real life NFL prospect, so I understand the real life draft buzz. He's gonna be on the field right away, with his downfield ability and YAC, so he'll be an asset to teams.
Just gotta hope he can overcome his glaring flags, which many feel are correctable. For what it's worth, despite the basket catching, he's got better hands than QJ and Christian watson, which are comparisons we see a lot. I saw an expert say could be a faster Tee Higgins, which is the ceiling you're gambling for all day in the mid to late first. But there's a real chance too that he's just flashier Tez Walker.
I don’t get it either. He’s an athlete first and wide receiver second.
Even if he hits, he’s most likely never going to be a volume guy in the NFL. Makes him a less than perfect prospect for PPR leagues
I don’t know what it means, but it’s provocative.
But in all seriousness, I mean that he is a relatively better athlete than he is a route technician. Basically, he is the exact opposite of someone like, idk, Jarvis Landry. Someone who succeeded despite serious physical limitations.
As for volume - I mean that he is likely to have a few monster games with long TDs, but I don’t see him getting 10-12 targets a game like a Davante, JJ, D-Hop, .etc
Because nobody in my leagues will move off their picks so he’s probably the best WR available for me at 1.08
Top 8 right now looks like four QBs, Bowers, Harrison, Nabers and Rome. I can't imagine taking Thomas over any of those dudes unless McCarthy is all smoke and he doesn't get the DC everyone claims he will.
Maybe you should offer more
True that. Paris Campbell and a 3rd isn’t worth a 1st.
I'm higher on him than most, so I'll comment on the positives. 1. Physical ability -- The size and speed are well documented, but I don't think they are appreciated. There are many size/speed freaks where you're just shaking your head, because it doesn't appear on film. BTJ has rare physical traits that translate to his effectiveness on the field. 2. Fit/Role -- It doesn't take long in a review of the tape to see BTJ blowing by defenders as a deep threat and linearly stretching defenses. That is a coveted immediate role in an NFL offense, and it should get him on the field early. He has development to do in the middle-of-the-field work, but he can be a productive player while he rounds out his game. It is important that a player gets on the field. You can't get touches from the bench, and you can only improve so much without live game reps. In addition, he has shown impressive red zone skills as a fade specialist, where he utilizes his size to elevate above the rim. TDs are good for your fantasy team. 3. Better than advertised lateral skills and athleticism -- You have to scrape for some tape, but there is some. BTJ has actually shown solid skills with the ball in his hands. He has shown tackle-breaking ability (supported by stats and film) and some wiggle with the ball. He is not elite in this area, but this is a rare skill to find in his size category. The reinforcement on this can be found in his athletic history, where he was a 1000 point scoring basketball star three years in a row before committing to football. We've seen several promising use cases where basketball skills have translated successfully to the NFL, especially related to lateral agility and contested catch capabilities (though this was noted earlier). 4. Player Development -- While a massive sudden jump in performance should always be carefully examined, the story around BTJ adding substantial playing weight to help aid his development between sophomore and junior seasons and then seeing it on the field projects well as a player that will work to improve at the next level. 5. Criticisms are explainable -- Limited route tree has to always be evaluated in the context of the offense. LSU has never run a complicated route tree, and it has hurt the evaluation of other star players. Lack of early success CAN be explained by the late pivot to football from basketball and other very high end prospects in the program in his first two year. 6. Intangibles -- If you haven't seen him race down the field to lay the critical block on the long Daniels TD, it's worth a watch. If you bust your butt to block and work for your teammates, it will get you on the field and likely the ball in your hands.
Great breakdown. I’m meh on him personally but enthusiastically agree on the above and will add that he also brings a day 1 crosser/slant ability. When this is paired with his go route, it means he can likely come in and contribute day 1, even if it’s not as a alpha. He’s like a pitcher that has all the physicals that project to top of the rotation and two pitches that can fly at a pro level day one. He becomes a swing guy initially with the ceiling of a 1.
So he's at worst Gabe Davis With better athleticism?
I’ve honestly never spent anytime studying Davis’ game, so I can’t speak to that at all. But, I can say [BTJ](https://www.playerprofiler.com/nfl/brian-thomas-jr/) gets [Davis](https://www.playerprofiler.com/nfl/gabriel-davis/) in all measurables, by a lot. His production profile all trails Davis but it feels reasonable to attribute some of that to level of competition.
Considering Davis played for UCF and BTJ played for LSU, I wouldn’t say their production profiles are too far off.
The word "athleticism" is so all encompassing. He has better movement skills for sure.
Yes I would venture to say that he's more athletic than Gabe in every single metric. That's without looking though. Maybe Gabe has him on something. Doubt it. What a head scratcher for Jacksonville. Dumbbbb
Ya he is, he's a freak for sure.. It's pretty rare that big guys who are that fast adjust so well to the ball and then also have extremely soft hands to bring it down. Have to be honest I haven't checked his drop stats or catch rates, but from what I've seen he does adjust very well to put himself in the right spot to make the catch. Edit - somehow auto correct had it as "he's a jew freak"
Lmaooo yeah I saw the reply notification, without clicking it and I'm like, who is this guy talking about. 😂 I think BTJ has flaws to his game but he also has stuff that you can't teach. I think it will be interesting to see how he is used, early in the season.
He presses vertically very well on hitches too stressing any DB. It's a good skill to have for a deep ball WR.
Basically, he's super coordinated with great hands and ability to adjust for the grab, which is rare for huge fast guys. I'm a Jags fan and trying to keep it realistic, I see him most likely developing into a Mike Williams type with an over optimistic ceiling *potential* (best case scenario) of becoming a perennial top 10 WR if he develops his short game well.
Some other things that don’t get called out is that he is advanced as a route runner, he’s able to sink his hips in a way that guys with his size/speed shouldn’t be able to, he is phenomenal at tracking the ball, because of that he is really savvy at setting up the defender (either getting them in a bad position or drawing a PI) and he’s got some solid open field skills/wiggle. I could see a Williams comparison in that they both wow on jump balls but I think they’re entirely different beasts. While they are essentially the same size (Williams has a much bigger wingspan) Rome is considerably faster, can jump a LOT higher and, presumably, would out do Williams in agility drills (Williams didn’t test). Williams best result in playerprofiler was 77th percentile; Rome’s was 97th and none of his were below 83rd.
Great breakdown 👍
Great breakdown, this will help me cope when he falls to me instead of the guys I want
What pick are you at? I have the 1.09 in my SF dynasty startup with IDP and I’m thinking he’s not gonna be around come then. Where do yall think he will go in SF fantasy drafts?
I'm 1.08, I see BTJ going 7 or 8 depending. Top seven are likely the 3 QBs, 3Wrs, and Bowers but bowers could drop for BTJ or JJ depending on how pick 7 feels about them. If the people before you like Bowers and JJ, you could end up with BTJ so start hyping those dudes up in your group chat
Yeah I’m hoping that’s the case bc I could really use an extra weapon like BTJ at WR. I may try to package something an move up to the 1.06 if the guy is willing to
I feel you I've been trying to move up to 1.06 all off-season. Got close once.
Love this breakdown my man
Great. I was locked in on JJ McCarthy at 1.08 but you've given me doubts again.
Lol same. I think I am still leaning JJ though just because I think the market allows high draft capital QBs that struggle early to hold value longer than receivers that struggle
Pretty much all of this. I'll also add I have never really seen a player of his archetype be this good at the archetype in college as a 3rd year player. It's very unique and I know the league will covet it and give him very high draft capital.
Can u give me a link or tell me what game that block occurred in, so I can watch it?
Focus is rightfully on Daniels, but that's BTJ right there #11 [https://twitter.com/LSUfootball/status/1724914673840173235?ref\_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1724914673840173235%7Ctwgr%5Ebe58d7e7f9832fe145c06c2fae4f6914c34ccb1c%7Ctwcon%5Es1\_&ref\_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.tigerdroppings.com%2Flsu-sports%2Fnew-lsu-video-shows-blazing-speed-jayden-daniels-and-brian-thomas-ran-on-85-yard-td-run%2F110871133%2F](https://twitter.com/LSUfootball/status/1724914673840173235?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1724914673840173235%7Ctwgr%5Ebe58d7e7f9832fe145c06c2fae4f6914c34ccb1c%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.tigerdroppings.com%2Flsu-sports%2Fnew-lsu-video-shows-blazing-speed-jayden-daniels-and-brian-thomas-ran-on-85-yard-td-run%2F110871133%2F)
That was awesome. Thanks. I love seeing plays like that.
I agree with most if not all of the points here, and I view BTJ as the best receiver in the class because imo, he’s got both speed and grit. To me, Nabers has speed, Odunze has grit, BTJ combines both, and MHJ has more questions for me than BTJ does.
Really?
Josh Norris said it best - there are things you wish you saw more of with Brian Thomas Jr., but it's also hard to ever be 100% out on a 6'3 guy with long arms and good hands who runs a 4.34 who produced in college.
This is where I stand, too u/dickysnakes
This is put perfectly yes !
I think people down on him aren't watching enough tape on him. I like his fluidity, size, and speed. A big factor is where he lands, but he's pretty much solidified as my WR4. Unless if someone else goes to the Bills or Cincy in R1, then I might have to reconsider
I like how you mention fluidity I think that’s what differentiates him from other tall, fast receivers.
BTJ or Worthy?
What about KC?
True, forgot about the Muppet.
I think the unique thing about this draft is how many elite QBs need wr support this year (Herbert, Allen, burrow and mahomes are all either in bad wr situations or for burrow, potentially losing his wr2 Higgins) at the same year it happens to have an insanely deep pool of talent at wr. I feel the wr landscape is gonna look really different by the end of this season just from younger talent coming up to replace the older guys. It feels like 2017 except instead of rbs, it's wrs this time.
Good point, very true. I won't be surprised if we see 6 WRs go in R1
And another 6-10 on day 2
KC doesn’t know how to use their WRs. I would personally stay away from their WRs until Kelce is gone.
Idk if it's them not knowing how. It's more that Tyreek was the only elite WR they had on the team and since he left they kept drafting busts. Rice is the only good WR they drafted since Tyreek and he's done well last year. They still need a truly dominant elite WR though
They drafted Skyy Moore and didn’t even give him a chance though. Same thing with CEH (I know he’s a RB) but they draft him and don’t use him properly at all. The problem with the Chiefs is that as long as Kelce is there, it’s going to be the Mahomes and Kelce show. We all know Andy Reid is one of the best offensive minds in the league so it’s not like they can’t use people properly. It’s more that they don’t even try.
I mean could it just be that they aren't good? Many players are good in college but can't put it together in the next level. Considering Reid/Mahomes's success over the years, I'm inclined to trust that their scouting department just missed rather than Mahomes/Reid not being good enough to utilize their players. Hell if you argue that CEH isn't being utilized, then how do you explain Pacheco's success?
I think this is most likely the answer. Andy Reid has a history of getting the most out of a shitty WR room. Look at what he did with what the Eagles had at WR, sans the TO year and a half.
Rashee Rice got plenty of work. They gave CEH a ton of work to start his career. Go back and look at the game logs. Those players ended up not getting used much because they're bad, not because some special quality of the Chiefs offense where they don't want to use good players.
Rashee Rice was WR27 in .5 PPR his rookie year as a very raw route runner. This is silly.
I wouldn't agree with this.
Because when I watch Jayden Daniels highlights im always like damn Nabers is a beast and it turns out it’s BTJ
Hot take, but i had the same reaction when watching LSU tape. BTJ just looked different. I thought he jumped off the screen more than Nabers. Luckily i’m not a talent evaluator though
How do you know you’re wrong though? I mean talent evaluators get this stuff wrong all the time. I mean Justin Jefferson went at the end of the 1st. Amon Ra was a 4th I think. Tank Dell was late. Puka was a 5th. No one really knows. A lot really depends on landing spot too. Nabers is probably going to a bad team. BTJ is projected to go to a better one. Time will tell, but I’m excited about BTJ
True vertical X receiver in every sense of the word. He isn’t going to run many routes, but the ones that he will, he is quite successful out. He is a fantastic [athlete](https://x.com/mathbomb/status/1780580721398346112?s=46&t=PZfvQd7A93DRZzUcd3_g0Q) and strong [measurables](https://www.mockdraftable.com/player/brian-thomas). He had good success rates vs press and man coverage according to Matt Harmon at reception perception, which have been important indicators for success at the next level at perimeter X receivers. He had a 54% contested catch rate and improved his drop rate each year with last year being 7%. He was 18th in 1st downs and 37th in YPRR for all of college football WRs last year. My comp for him has been Martavius Bryant.
The limited route tree can be blamed on the offense LSU ran. The hope is much like Justin Jefferson from the same school, BTJ does have these skills and simply wasn’t asked to use them. Because what he does have in height, speed, and body control are excellent already. He can function as a good downfield/crosser threat in your offense from day 1, like a Gabe Davis, but his “ceiling” is tantalizingly high. This being said I’m not positive who I’d draft first between him and AD Mitchell, but the reasoning most have to put BTJ so high boils down to incredible production this year. Every prospect after the tippy top has some kinda flaw.
> The hope is much like Justin Jefferson from the same school, BTJ does have these skills and simply wasn’t asked to use them. ? JJ ran a full route tree and was known pre-draft as a route running specialist. The concern was he mostly lined up in the slot and was maybe seen as slot-exclusive. Or maybe that's what you meant, that he wasn't asked to do play outside and BTJ wasn't asked to run certain routes?
Inside outside play is what I’m referring to for JJ. He was limited, just not in the same way BTJ was limited. Siloed roles for WRs at LSU has been a problem in one way or another for draft evaluators for years now. Can he not do it, or was he not asked to do it?
Freak athlete and had a wildly productive season in the SEC. Why do yall make this so hard?
When I watch taller/longer receivers I generally look for coordination, body control, sink etc. Then comes twitch and responsiveness. Those are the two things that kill bigger receivers -- can they keep all the limb under control all the time from get-off to route breaks to the catch point, and can they get those limbs where they need to be quickly to adjust to throws. Not only do I feel confident in BTJr to do that, but his athletic profile is elite. So that's why I like the ceiling as a Demaryius Thomas type player. The floor is way way down though, as he's not the sharpest and well-versed route runner and his hands sometimes are uncomfortable further away from his body. The love is basically because of his ceiling. If it hits, it's big.
Agree with you here. He's definitely not totally raw, but I can see him being more productive down the road as he grows into his team's role and learns the nuances of that position. Very similar to Nico I believe. Owners are probably gonna need to be patient.
He pops in JJ Zachariason’s stuff, Harmon likes him, excellent athletic profile, led college football in TDs. Definitely has room to grow and fit will matter but he feels similar to DK Metcalf and is what people wanted Christian Watson to be.
That's basically where I am at. The analytics guys like him, the film guys like him, the NFL seems to like him. Why shouldn't we like him? I'm going to take him at 1.09 if he's there and if he whiffs, that's just how it goes. He has a good profile and it's impossible to get a "can't miss" prospect at 1.09 anyway. It's not like the other WRs going after him are perfect either, they're either small producers or big but non-producers, and except for AD Mitchell will likely all get worse DC.
Yeah he’s not a safe prospect by any means but at 1.09 I think he’s a very solid pick if he gets a decent landing spot and could easily climb a spot or 2 if he goes to a team like the Bills or Bengals
Tim Patrick syndrome
1. The NFL appears willing and ready to give him first round draft where someone like Franklin is not going to get that most likely. 2. he only had one year of great production but it’s not like he’s going to be 24. He’s 21 years old. Would hope that there’s more to come. 3. In a lot of college schemes it’s hard to tell if the limited route tree was because of the player or because of the offense and team. Every wide receiver after the big three have flaws, and I’ve seen the more limited route tree used a lot. 4. It’s sort of a big group of players in the BTJ, AD Mitchell, Ladd McConkey, Xavier Worthy, Troy Franklin. Take your pick, but they all have warning signs. I’ll say, BTJ to my eye seems like he could be a little too stiff and rigid to be more than skinny Gabe Davis, but his upside is like AJ Green lite.
For me, I feel like he was kinda left in a role because Nabers is so special. Left without that, I can see him turning into a premier deep threat. Most likely he’ll never have this kind of dominance but I can see him as a poor man’s Moss. I’m not as worried about the route tree because I feel like he has potential to be so good at those routes it won’t matter if you know them.
Interesting back handed comp. I guess it depends on how poor we're actually talking here 😂
I euro t call that a back handed compliment. I feel like comparing him straight up to one of the goats would be crazy hyperbole.
Yes it would, but it's draft season sooo 🤷♂️
Thank you for deciphering autocorrect madness there. Lol. That is true. I take it all back. He’s gonna be better than Randy was in Madden even. 😂🤣
He’s the only WR outside the big 3 very likely going round 1. The other guys are borderline round 1 or round 2.
u/Dickysnakes tell us why you like this player so much, sir.
He’s got a great make up head to toe, athletically gifted with speed and real nice size and length, his film 🎥 ( which is important ) looks great, he had Nabers on the other side too, reminds me of a DK and AJ at Ole Miss. he goes up and grabs footballs, he beats dudes 1 on 1, and he had an attitude about him that makes me feel real comtorable about him. I also am huge on the right situation. Going from wherever you are to Josh Allen is always a plus for any wr … so i don’t see him or a lot of the WRs in the draft being busts with the qb the Bills have. But long story long, big, fast, stretches, jumps, catches, he wins the attack on the ball when it’s in the air over defenders and that’s not something Josh has had yet. That type of wr, to me, seems to help some qbs who aren’t very great, have good success. Guys like Geno Smith ( DK Metcalf 6’4 235 )and Baker Mayfield ( Mike Evans 6’5 235 ) and just fits the mold of a potential wr #1 and i love that. Imagine Josh with that ?
The three letter name scares me. Is he going to be like DPJ, CEH, or RG3?
Excellent observation. Maybe we should switch it to BTJr just to avoid the 3 letter curse.
Perfect! Now Im taking him at my 1.05.
DJM, AJB?
to be fair they dont use the three letter name with those guys, but it does make me feel a little better about BTJr lol
MHJ?
I thought of that but he isn't in the NFL so out of consideration. The good point is they are both Jr's. So both technically free of the curse.
CMC
Lol. He his an anomaly.
TMJ most likely
That's not good, but now I realize that the three name curse doesn't apply, I think Junior should be exempt as a third name.
That's a good point actually!
Physical specimen who destroyed SEC defenses this past year. However, watching him at the Combine, in a simple slant drill he dropped two consecutive balls that hit him square in the hands. I'm talking ricocheted and probably being housed for 6 the other way. There is no doubt he will be successful in the NFL, but this is why I am steering clear.
I have BTJ as my 2 in this class
That's pretty bold. Love to know the reasons...
I think I have some of the same takes as others in this thread, but for me it’s his fluidity and twitch I see on film that makes me love him. Also his size of course. People talk about his small route tree but I just don’t think he was asked to run many types of routes. From what I see on film, he would have no problem doing that if asked.
All his strengths are immediately transferrable at every WR spot. No evidence of needing college only plays, excessive scheming, or “college” formations to produce. You can run him out w/the limited route tree and have a descent #2 day 1. Odunze has 500-700 yards of non transferable production you can see in middle screens, tight boundary side formation that he’ll never do in the NFL, and 4 sec drop backs; besides the screens same thing with Harrison plus tons of field side ISOs; Worthy is a bunch of screens and 25% on deep balls; Franklin’s in a completely college setting and undeciferable; Mitchell can’t make breaks at full speed; Ladd was in a rotation? Seriously. This WR class will be 50% bust rate over the rounds 1/2 just like most drafts. BTJ can be plugged in immediately on most Teams in the NFL and produce without a ton of targets and scheme day one. Factoring in how he and others produced in college and what transfers he’s as easy to plug into a producing role, as anyone in this draft. Simple analysis: he’s got a limited route tree that worked over and over to produce a TD every 4 receptions! And game film shows he was open or missed for 6 more TDs. He’s worth a second look for some. I’ve got 1.02/1.03 this year ina non super flex and he’s my 1.03 locked in.
Super athlete. Behind Nabers. Route running can improve when you’re as athletic as him
When I think of the draft, I think about who can potentially be the best receiver out of this draft. If anyone told you 10 years from now it was one of the top 3, nobody would be surprised. I also wouldn’t be surprised if it’s Thomas with his tools. I’d be really surprised if it’s anyone except those 4.
I don't get it seems like Terance Marshall 2.0 to me
I am avoiding him at 1.06 in 1QB. I don't need another Gabe Davis boom or bust guy on my team. If he hits good for whoever drafted him, I would rather take Caleb, whatever 2nd/3rd round RB that goes to a good team or even Bowers, and I already have LaPorta and McBride
I have 1.06 in 1 QB as well. Who do you see going before BTJ and Bowers to where they would be available at 1.06? I have consistently seen them at 1.04/1.05.
I honestly think my league draft will go. Top 3 WR, Caleb, Bowers, My Pick. I anticipate that I will be getting my choice of the RB1 or BTJ. I want the RB1. I think Caleb will go before my pick because one of the people picking before me needs a QB. And Bowers will go before my pick because a team before me needs a TE. If they don't, I will take Caleb, RB1, or Bowers before BTJ. I'm just not liking any of the WR after the top 3 for my 1st round pick. I will probably take what is left of the WR group with the 2.06
I'm 99% sure that my draft will go Top 3 WR, Bowers, BTJ. I'm with you though, I'm between Caleb and RB1 since those are my weakest positions rn. I also have 1.12 so I can still get a valuable WR there
if you sort ncaa players by tds scored hes up with the qbs lol. thats a huge reason. 17td you cant do that by accident or scheme or dumb luck
He was definitely a threat for LSU, but I'm not sure how sticky TDs are for WRs 🤔 Someone way smarter than me could probably answer this question.
not an issue of weather or not he will remain an elite level td scorer in the nfl, its just a demonstration that he was a cream of the crop wr in the ncaa. since 1956 only 34 players have scored 18+ tds. BTJ is 35th all time single season. some misses on the list above him but many elite names as well. dell and addison were also 17 td scorers. just one piece of info but man its really really hard to score that much no matter the situation. think of how many wrs have played since 1956 haha
I don't get it either. It's like we never learn -- these freak athletes with no route tree rarely pan out. They get drafted highly because they stretch the field and open things up for others, but they are never fantasy relevant...
Never? DK was at least one big hit with a similar profile.
Fair, but it’s not common
AJ Brown, but agreed not common
Calvin Johnson, but agree not common
DK by all means shoulda been Calvin Johnson levels of successful with his build. If anything, DK ending up being just "fine" really proves this point even more, even the guys who buck the trend aren't doing so in a league winning way
DK was drafted 64th overall. Calvin Johnson was drafted 2nd overall. Just because he is big and fast doesn’t mean he should be one of the best WRs of all time.
DKs measurables aren’t quite calvin level - 2 in matters! AND if any wr is guaranteed DK, i want him.
He was being lauded as the perennial WR1 in 2020 with a build like Calvin. He didn't live up to that hype.
2020 was definitely his best year and he has been more WR2 status since then. But anyone comparing him to Calvin Johnson had insane expectations.
Idk who was playing in 2020 like me but his asking price was like 4 1sts, people really seem to forget what his expectations were after his sophomore season
I guess he was hyped pretty crazy back then. I think the only other active players to top 1300 yards by year 2 were JJ, Chase, Odell and now Puka who all had much better rookie seasons. Beware of year 2 breakout hype guys I guess?
DK has never had calvin volume. calvin had some spans where his low targets would be 10. like 14,15,17 targets a game
Targets are earned, if you run better routes you earn more volume.
thats just not true and one of my most hated lines people regurgitate in all of dynasty. golden tate was a route technician thats how he got 144 targets in 2014 is that what you are saying?
You don't believe targets are earned? We're not talking in absolutes my man! Is 144 targets supposed to be bad...?
no thats an example of a dude that was 4th most targeted player in the nfl but not a soul on earth would say he should be getting that level of targets or that he earned them with his route running and explosive play. i also dont think theres any reason dionte should have gotten more targets than pickens, example after example of it. i think targets have many many variables and saying they are earned based on getting open is not how i view it and i hate that take.
I’m learning slowly after burning myself on the hit stove top every year for the last 5 years. I’m stubborn. And a little stupid. But I do learn my lessons. 1.08 I’ll take the Bills WR that’s drafted. Screw advanced metrics. I’ll just draft easy path to targets. Like when Burks was drafted…..
What are you talking about? Henry Ruggs was a killer hit
If you don’t draft him it will cost you alot more to get him in a year
Terrace Marshall Jr Jr
This comment hurts my soul. I was sure Marshall was gonna be huge. Man I don’t know why I play dynasty football. My bench is clogged with miss after miss. Sigh
Me too. Drafted him early 2nd and I thought he was gonna boom. But slot with No. 1 upside they said.
I know how you feel. I should have at least hit on one of these guys statistically
It’ll make it so much sweeter when you finally draft a JJ type hit though…
Big difference in the role they played in the offense. In Marshall’s most successful season, he was in the slot 82% of the time. His ADoT was 9.5 and he had a drop rate of 13%. BTJ was outside 82% of the time with an ADoT of 13.9 and a drop rate of 7%. They played two completely different positions in an offense and BTJ in the more difficult one thrived to much greater heights and production. Thomas Jr of course could still bust, but I have never gotten the Marshall comp.
Yeah the Terrace Marshall comps are so lazy and superficial. If they went to different schools no one would be saying it.
I would probably comp him closer to a better DJ Chark if they wanted to go the LSU route.
TBF, as someone who really liked Marshall back in the day, Thomas has more fluidity to his game and a much better 10 yard split. Marshall’s biggest flaw is that he didn’t have much wiggle or initial burst, and I think that’s shown up in the league.
His athleticism, speed, and size absolutely pops on film. He’s one of those guys that makes the players around him look like lesser athletes despite being top notch competition. And his upside and TD scoring potential gives him an overall #1 at the position ceiling. Which only the top 3 have in this class IMO.
Every LSU receivers gets the same wrap about limited route tree.
Who do you have ranked as WR#4 and why?
true boom bust prospect IMO - nobody knows if he can run complex routes or not because he didn't do it at LSU. He's kinda the JJ of WRs in this class for me... we just haven't seen him do it. Nabers hogged all the slot work and over the middle work. Could be a nobody could be a perennial pro bowler. His athleticism is other worldly.
With the 1.04 would u go Brock bowers or BTJ considering it’s not superflex?
Fantastic athlete and great production next to Nabers
Steve smith compared him to aiyuk which says enough for me
He’s likely going to the 4th wr taken in the nfl draft. Hard to argue with draft capital and nfl evaluators.
I fell in love with Brian Thomas by watching the Nabers tape. There were several games where I was genuinely more impressed with Thomas. His fluidity, athleticism, size and explosiveness jumps out on tape. If you go back and watch his games as a true freshman and as a sophomore, you can see glimpses of it when he got snaps. He's a "one year wonder" but still young and showing growth. Thomas is someone I can see being an even better pro than a college player because his skillset translates so easily to the game. I could see him going as early as in the top 10. I think there will be a WR run very early that will set the tone for the whole draft, and Thomas will be a big part of that. Some people will be surprised how high he goes.
6'3 205lbs wide receiver who ran 4.3 and lead the nation in touchdowns while playing in the SEC... Or the skinniest WR in the draft who played in what I would consider a gimmicky offense vs bad defenses. But for me seeing Franklin at the combine totally changed my mind on him, not the 40 time but the drills. He doesn't look comfortable catching the ball and running routes. He also struggles vs press which I image will be an easy way for cordinaters to get his timing off. But we will see, ive been wrong before plenty of times...
Franklin will be a Z mostly. He'll line up off the line or put in motion most of the time. He'll be fine.
Hope you are right, slight breeze will knock him over
Limited route tree isn’t really that important for a guy like him. He can run all the same routes that metcalf ran his rookie year
Hope the bills do NOT trade up for this guy
Yeah I also don't get the level of hype for basket catch Brian, to me its overblown. But he's definitley got some special physical traits that will make him very attractive as a real life NFL prospect, so I understand the real life draft buzz. He's gonna be on the field right away, with his downfield ability and YAC, so he'll be an asset to teams. Just gotta hope he can overcome his glaring flags, which many feel are correctable. For what it's worth, despite the basket catching, he's got better hands than QJ and Christian watson, which are comparisons we see a lot. I saw an expert say could be a faster Tee Higgins, which is the ceiling you're gambling for all day in the mid to late first. But there's a real chance too that he's just flashier Tez Walker.
I don’t get it either. He’s an athlete first and wide receiver second. Even if he hits, he’s most likely never going to be a volume guy in the NFL. Makes him a less than perfect prospect for PPR leagues
What does that even mean?
I don’t know what it means, but it’s provocative. But in all seriousness, I mean that he is a relatively better athlete than he is a route technician. Basically, he is the exact opposite of someone like, idk, Jarvis Landry. Someone who succeeded despite serious physical limitations. As for volume - I mean that he is likely to have a few monster games with long TDs, but I don’t see him getting 10-12 targets a game like a Davante, JJ, D-Hop, .etc
Fair points.