2018 Draft Prospects

[DKphin]

SS Troy Apke, Penn St. 6-1 200

SS #28


Combine Results:
Arm - 32 3/8
Hand - 8 3/8
40 - 4.34
Bench - 16
Vertical - 41.0
Broad - 10'11"
3 Cone - 6.56
20 yd. shuttle - 4.03
60 yd. shuttle - DNP

Strengths
Showed in spring that he has the ability to beef up into the 210-pound range. Gets downhill against the run. Plays with good recognition of blocking schemes. Urgent to rush into his run fit and do his job. Adequate force as a striker. High school sprinter with decent straight-line speed. Has footwork and enough agility to survive and recover when crossed up by route fakes. History of special teams performance will help. Was MVP of the NFLPA game.
Weaknesses
Needs to gain more intel from quarterback when playing on top. Below-average recognition and is slow to shade and close on throws. Takes questionable angles to throws. Needs to take a stand and squeeze a route near goal line rather than guarding grass. May lack lateral agility to handle man coverage responsibilities in NFL. Missed tackles plague him. Will undershoot pursuit angles to the perimeter and is inconsistent striking from a balance posture.
Draft Projection
Round 7/PFA
Bottom Line
Apke's production in key indicators for the position, like ball production and tackle consistency, are lacking. With just one year as a full-time starter, there simply isn't enough impressive tape to get excited about. He has decent size and could put together a solid workout, but may not offer enough range in coverage or thump as a tackler to ever be a full-time contributor. Apke may need to find his niche on special teams to earn any early playing time.

http://www.nfl.com/draft/2018/profiles/troy-apke?id=2560123

 

[DKphin]

FS Tre' Flowers, Oklahoma St. 6-3 202



Combine Results:
Arm - 33 7/8
Hand - 9
40 - 4.45
Bench - 18
Vertical - 34.5
Broad - 10'2"
3 Cone - DNP
20 yd. shuttle - DNP
60 yd. shuttle - DNP

Strengths
Productive and extremely long. Has arm length and range for extended tackle radius and to challenge passes that other safeties won't get to. Good straight line speed. Plays with desired football intelligence. Closes early on throws and can stop a play before it turns into "run after catch" yards. Effort as downhill tackle is solid. Looks to stick with everything he's got when wideouts enter his air space. Comes from a family of athletes and his uncle played seven years in the NFL.
Weaknesses
High cut with gangly basketball frame. Doesn't look like an NFL safety. Play strength is lacking. Could struggle to handle box duties. Can be jostled at the break point by physical tight ends and receivers. Hips are tight and movement in space is fragmented. Lack of fluidity shows up when forced into coverage role. Grab and ride finisher with too many missed tackles in his background. Needs to square-up rather than arm tackle.
Draft Projection
Rounds 5-6
Sources Tell Us
"Some scouts are high on him because he's in on a lot of plays but he's close to being a reject for us because of his body type. He's really linear and he is slow to open his hips and run. I don't think he can be trusted as an NFL tackler either." -- NFC team regional scout
Bottom Line
Flowers is a long-armed, lanky safety with solid instincts but limited by hip tightness and a lack of fluidity. Flowers' length has helped with tackle and ball production, but his lack of adequate man cover skills could be an issue if offenses target him in space. His thin frame and inconsistencies as a tackler will concern some teams. Backup safety is his ceiling.

http://www.nfl.com/draft/2018/profiles/tre-flowers?id=2560037

 

[DKphin]

RB/FB Ryan Nall, Oregon St. 6-2 232



Combine Results:
Arm - 31 1/2
Hand - 10
40 - 4.58
Bench - 15
Vertical - 33.0
Broad - 10'2"
3 Cone - 6.95
20 yd. shuttle - 4.16
60 yd. shuttle - 11.57

Strengths
Broad chest with musculation in his upper and lower body. Plays with good sense of space in identifying and squeezing into run creases. Drops pad level when working through the hole. Above average vision as inside runner. Won't just drop his head and bull forward at the first sign of traffic. Glides behind lead blocks and runs with patience. Has lower body strength to push through arm tackles and create additional yardage. Punishes tacklers when he loads up his lead shoulder into contact. Utilized in pass game. Has experience as H-back and may offer position flexibility if he makes a roster.
Weaknesses
Very tight in the hips. Slow to gather weight and make a sharp downhill cut. Dull feet are unable to make sudden cuts and elusive movements. Needs wide open runway outside the tackles. Running style is limited. Gets in trouble quickly when he gets cute or tries to bounce runs wide. Lacks ability to handle early traffic or string moves together. Has trouble creating enough early acceleration to create tackle-breaking power.
Draft Projection
Round 7/PFA
Bottom Line
Nall is a "get what's blocked" runner who struggles to access the agility or burst needed to work outside the tackles. Nall does offer a fairly decisive downhill option with good vision who sees the hole and will hit it without dancing. Once he gets up a head of steam, Nall is able to finish with some power, but gaining the head of steam is challenging for him at times. Nall may offer some short yardage potential, but it wouldn't be shocking to see a team try and convert him to a fullback or H-back in the pros.

http://www.nfl.com/draft/2018/profiles/ryan-nall?id=2560233

 

[DKphin]

TE Chris Herndon, Miami 6-4 253



Combine Results:
Arm - 32 7/8
Hand - 9 1/4
40 - DNP
Bench - 21
Vertical - DNP
Broad - DNP
3 Cone - DNP
20 yd. shuttle - DNP
60 yd. shuttle - DNP

Strengths
Long-limbed frame has room for growth. Former high school wideout with plus athletic ability for the tight end position. Good release quickness into routes. Rarely used deep but has that ability. Stride length allows for get-away separation from linebackers. Dangerous after the catch. Used as catch-and-run option on bubble screens. Can make first tackler miss or drop his pads depending on what situation calls for. Blocks with good pad level and desired hip roll at point of attack. Works to improve positioning as blocker. Blocked in-line and as H-back across formation and in space.
Weaknesses
Uses knock-kneed stance in-line. Play strength doesn't always match listed size. Hands are too deliberate and wide leading to poor placement. Consistently gives away his frame as blocker. Struggles as block finisher. Goes through the motion as route-runner. Rolls into route breaks. Lethargic underneath and slow to open to his quarterback. Inconsistent hands. Slow to make hands catch-ready at times. Needs to do better job of bodying up defenders in space. Had season-ending surgery on MCL in November.
Draft Projection
Rounds 4-5
Sources Tell Us
"He's a good athlete and has ability to make big plays which is what I care about. He's not a soft blocker either. He's just really raw with everything. I'm okay with that. You take those guys later and you let your coaches develop them. It's all coachable for him." -- AFC team executive
NFL Comparison
Ricky Seals-Jones
Bottom Line
Herndon's athletic ability will flash on tape, but his college production was pedestrian and he's still very raw. He has TE2 potential if he can improve his upper body strength and hand placement as a blocker. While Miami used him as a "run after the catch" option, NFL teams may lock in on his ability to threaten defenses on the second and third levels. Herndon has exciting athletic ability, but there is still plenty of room for improvement before he becomes a factor in the NFL.

http://www.nfl.com/draft/2018/profiles/chris-herndon?id=2559968

 

[DKphin]

OT Desmond Harrison, West Georgia 6-6 292

LT #68


Combine Results:
Arm - 34
Hand - 10 3/8
40 - 4.90
Bench - DNP
Vertical - DNP
Broad - DNP
3 Cone - DNP

Strengths
Rare combination of physical and athletic traits. Carries long arms and a frame that is ready for more weight. Has tremendous flexibility and twitch. Moves like a small forward in basketball. No reach block or backside cutoff is too hard for him from an athletic standpoint. Looks to snatch up opponents' frame with strong hands and hold them close. Tape is filled with nasty block finishes that occasionally leave the frame. Has foot quickness to handle edge speed. Able to respond to mistakes with plus reactive athleticism. Uses rapid redirect to slam door on inside moves. Can lead the charge on pull blocks and screens and adjusts to targets in space. Dominated competition across from him this year.
Weaknesses
Has a checkered background that will need to be vetted. Signed with University of Texas in 2013 out of JUCO but played in just seven games (no starts) before being dismissed in the offseason for multiple team violations. Played first football this season since his dismissal. Extremely raw. Gets out of stance a step slow. Has limited experience against quality competition. Defaults to unnecessary waist-bending. Needs to add much more muscle and core strength. Could be pulled and knocked off-balance by savvy opponents. Footwork can be a mess in pass sets. Hand placement and punch timing are inconsistent. Instincts are below average and struggles to process twists quickly.
Draft Projection
Rounds 3-4
Sources Tell Us
"You can see how athletic he is and all that, but he didn't play anyone and he's got some character issues that you better be sure on before you just draft the athlete. No doubt about his talent though." -- NFC team director of scouting
Bottom Line
Boom-or-bust prospect who has elite length and athletic ability but is missing the consistency and resume of future NFL starter. Harrison's West Georgia tape is filled with jaw-dropping plays but he was overwhelming inferior competition and doing it without much technique. Harrison looked light on tape and his Senior Bowl weigh-in at 279 is sure to scare teams about his ability to carry enough mass on his frame. He has alluring athletic traits but he has to prove he can keep his weight up.

http://www.nfl.com/draft/2018/profiles/desmond-harrison?id=2559866

 

[DKphin]

DT Lowell Lotulelei, Utah 6-2 327



Combine Results:
Arm - 33
Hand - 9 5/8
40 - DNP
Bench - 28
Vertical - DNP
Broad - DNP
3 Cone - DNP
20 yd. shuttle - DNP
60 yd. shuttle - DNP

Strengths
Plays with fast hands and a physical punch. Able to fight to the edge against playside blocks and push his way up the field against attempted reach blocks. Recognizes and diagnoses play direction. His 2016 tape showed a player with decent foot quickness and determination who was able to beat blockers to the spot. Can set an edge and drive through blocker's outside shoulder with a sharp, upward punch. Has talent to beat single blocks. Could become a space-eater if he works with better pad level.
Weaknesses
Lacks height and overall length with arms that look very short. Below average body composition by NFL standards. Carries bad weight and doesn't work on it hard enough according to scouts. Plays too tall and doesn't have as much anchor as he could. Will give way to double teams and get pushed around at times. Effort appears to be optional for him on this year's tape. Won't make as many plays out of his area as teams would like. Scouts say he wasn't 100 percent healthy at times this season. Sluggish post-snap movement made him completely ineffective as a pass rusher this year.
Draft Projection
Rounds 6-7
Sources Tell Us
"I was high on him before the year started but he was a major disappointment. He knew this was his year to play well and make money but he did nothing to get rid of all that excess weight and his tape wasn't very good." -- AFC Director of College Scouting
Bottom Line
Scouts have serious concerns about Lotulelei's love of football and overall work ethic. He was slow and sloppy this season and his quickness suffered badly because of it. Teams looking to draft him will have to be leaning on his 2015 or 2016 tape because he was a reject in 2017. If he doesn't commit himself to the work it takes to be a pro, he will have a hard time sticking around. If he does flip that switch, he could become a solid rotational tackle.

http://www.nfl.com/draft/2018/profiles/lowell-lotulelei?id=2559815

 

[DKphin]

DE Jalyn Holmes, Ohio St. 6-5 283



Combine Results:
Arm - 34
Hand - 10
40 - 4.82
Bench - 25
Vertical - 32
Broad - DNP
3 Cone - DNP
20 yd. shuttle - DNP
60 yd. shuttle - DNP

Strengths
Long-limbed with frame to pack on more functional muscle. Looks awkward in movements, but is sneaky strong. Can shudder a blocker's pads with strong pop from his hands. Conversion of speed to power as a bull rusher is impressive when he gets momentum rolling downhill. Played inside a scheme that asked defensive linemen to give themselves up with slants which limited production. Has length and natural power to become a more dominant player at point of attack. Long levers suit him as an interior pass rusher. Has a spin move that could become a weapon.
Weaknesses
Doesn't play with much suddenness or quick-twitch. Tight hips cause sluggish lateral movement. Has trouble sinking and scrapping against down blocks due to high center of gravity. Won't "out-athlete" opponents. Stagnant in stop-start situations. Lack of speed and quickness limit range as a tackler. Offers very little pass rush talent as a 4-3 defensive end. Long strider with limited upfield burst to challenge the edge. Takes too long to loop and attack the pocket on twists. Needs to improve hand usage.
Draft Projection
Round 3
NFL Comparison
Henry Anderson
Bottom Line
Holmes doesn't rush well enough to be a 4-3 end and needs more strength to fit into 3-4 fronts. However, if he improves his hand usage and adds lower body strength, he has the potential to become an effective 3-4 end with the ability to push the pocket as an interior rusher in sub packages. Holmes lacks the explosiveness to be a starter who will fill up the stat sheet, but he has intriguing size/strength potential that could make him a better pro than college player.

http://www.nfl.com/draft/2018/profiles/jalyn-holmes?id=2559874

 

[DKphin]

ILB Genard Avery, Memphis 6-0 248



Combine Results:
Arm - 31
Hand - 10 1/8
40 - 4.59
Bench - 26
Vertical - 36
Broad - 10.4
3 Cone - 6.90
20 yd. shuttle - 4.36
60 yd. shuttle - DNP

Strengths
State champion powerlifter. Lower body built like a tank. Well-balanced through contact with plus body control. Consistency of production across the board is impressive. Can scrap and scramble to win second half of the rep and find his work. Flashes straight-line burst to close as rusher and in ball pursuit. Plays with better sink and flow in space than anticipated. Worked on pass rush moves before 2017 with former All-Pro defensive end Chuck Smith. Hands are active early as rusher to force the tackle's hand (literally). Uses strong, well-timed slap to dislodge blocker's outside hand. Has experience as inside linebacker. Able to play over tight ends and has special teams value.
Weaknesses
Hand usage needs work at point of attack. Tries to work around blockers rather than punching and controlling. Drops eyes when engaging blockers and will lose track of the football. Instincts and diagnosis from inside linebacker is below average. Tardy starter in flows to perimeter gets him caught behind blocks. Pass rush is tight-hipped around the edge. Will need more work creating rush plan if playing on the edge. Defaults to arm tackles. Will gather feet into contact, at times, rather than bringing his full force to the ball carrier.
Draft Projection
Rounds 5-6
Sources Tell Us
"I think he's really interesting as a prospect because of his size and his versatility. I wanted him to be a better pass rusher that he actually was on tape, but we can work with it. I'm sure our (special) teams coach is going to love him." -- NFC defensive assistant
NFL Comparison
Elandon Roberts
Bottom Line
Avery is a big linebacker with a history of production whether he's playing inside or outside linebacker. While he's a little tight-hipped, his movement in the open field is generally unencumbered. While Avery offers some versatility, his best spot appears to be as a 4-3 strong-side linebacker with plus special teams ability.

http://www.nfl.com/draft/2018/profiles/genard-avery?id=2560128

 

[DKphin]

SS Jordan Whitehead, Pittsburgh 5-10 198



Combine Results:
Arm - 31
Hand - 10 1/8
40 - DNP
Bench - 21
Vertical - DNP
Broad - DNP
3 Cone - DNP
20 yd. shuttle - DNP
60 yd. shuttle - DNP

Strengths
Fearless downhill hitter. Gets up a head of steam and lowers the boom. Can short-circuit wide flowing run plays when his trigger is right and he's running the alley. Has straight-line speed to range from the hash over the top. Brings cornerback experience. Comfortable matching in man coverage from the slot. Possesses make-up speed when beaten. Willing to leave his man and rotate to help play the pass. Good special teams cover potential. Could have gadget potential as he rushed for 362 yards and three touchdowns on 8.4 yards per carry while at Pitt.
Weaknesses
Relies on athletic ability over technique. Undersized and could face durability concerns if he's parked near the line of scrimmage. Rigid lower body restricts lateral movements. Production doesn't come close to matching the talent. His freshman season was his best. Managed just three career interceptions with limited passes broken up. Instincts and awareness from deep safety are below average. Too easily drawn out of position and suffered from mental busts. Inconsistent when asked to help over the top. Play-action can suck him up. Linear pursuit creates issues with angles as a tackler.
Draft Projection
Round 5
Sources Tell Us
"He's just an average player right now. There is some talent there, but he doesn't make game-changing plays and he made a ton of mental mistakes this year." -- AFC team area scout
NFL Comparison
Jalen Mills
Bottom Line
Whitehead is undersized which makes playing near the line of scrimmage a challenge and his instincts as a high safety were troubling as he allowed too many big plays. Teams may look to utilize him as a hybrid defensive back in sub packages with the ability to cover the slot and handle run support duties against teams who run the ball out of three wideout personnel groupings. Whitehead needs to run well because his lack of production will already hurt his draft cause.

http://www.nfl.com/draft/2018/profiles/jordan-whitehead?id=2560028

 

[DKphin]

FS Sean Chandler,Temple 6-10 205





Combine Results:
Arm - 30 3/4
Hand - 8 1/4
40 - 4.65
Bench - 16
Vertical - 34.5
Broad - 9'11"
3 Cone - DNP
20 yd. shuttle - 4.62
60 yd. shuttle - DNP

Has evolved into a roaming free safety who serves as the last line of defense—he played cornerback during his first two seasons but he seems to be missing some of the tenacity in 2017 that we have seen out of him in years past. There has been a coaching change and his playing time has been noticeably decreased; he was absent for nearly the entire first half against Navy. Has a nose for the football and is a sound tackler. Possesses solid footwork and tends to usually be in the right place at the right time. Has earned a reputation for being the hardest worker on the team. Quiet leader but teammates take notice when he does speak up, according to players. He took it upon himself to conduct offseason workouts in high school, according to his head coach. Was known to have a positive influence on Tavon Young (Ravens), rubbing off his maturity and has even been credited by some, with helping to mold him a better overall player/person. He did miss four games in 2016 due to a leg injury. In terms of his background, this player comes from nothing. He grew up in six different homeless shelters in Camden, New Jersey until the seventh grade. Nicknamed ‘Champ.’ Four-year starter. Hybrid player who can play cornerback or free safety at the next level depending on scheme.

http://nfldraftbible.com/scouting-report-sean-chandler-db-temple-2/

 

[SCLSU Mud Dogs]

QB Quinton Flowers, South Florida 5-10 214



Combine Results:
Arm - 30 7/8
Hand - 9 3/4
40 - 4.63
Bench - DNP
Vertical - DNP
Broad - 9'4"
3 Cone - 6.81
20 yd. shuttle -4.57

http://www.nfl.com/draft/2018/profiles/quinton-flowers?id=2560034

Despite him playing for a rival and being undersized, I love Flowers. He's a great player.

 

[DKphin]

CB Jaire Alexander, Louisville 5-10 196



Combine Results:
Arm - 31 1/8
Hand - 9 1/2
40 - 4.38
Bench -14
Vertical - 35.0
Broad - 10'7"
3 Cone - 6.71
20 yd. shuttle - 3.98
60 yd. shuttle - DNP

Strengths
Athletic and tough. Came back for last three games of the season despite missing multiple games due to sprained knee and a broken hand. Eyes stay on quarterback when he's able. Aware and instinctive. Spots traffic from zone and squeezes passing lanes. Carries playmaking traits. Quick response time when quarterback begins release. Smooth mover with plus acceleration to chase. Feet are light and sudden. Crowds and mirror receiver's release without panicking. Stays connected to routes. Pattern reader capable of sudden stops to mirror comeback routes. Aggressive attacking catch point. Climbs on top of receivers and rips arms through potential catches. Has decent recovery burst on the deep ball. Communicative with teammates.
Weaknesses
Gangly frame unlikely to carry much more good weight. Injuries and missed time make 2017 tape tricky to evaluate. Avoided excess contact with blockers and appeared to lack his typical brand of aggressiveness. Needs to play with better knee bend from press. Read routes and created opportunities to attack throws but defaulted to the safe play. Can get grabby in man coverage. Allows base widen and loses balance during transitions from time to time. Gave up too many redzone touchdowns in 2016. Inconsistent getting head around in time to find the football. Inconsistent finisher as tackler and may struggle to get off of NFL blocks.
Draft Projection
Rounds 2-3
NFL Comparison
Teez Tabor
Bottom Line
Twitchy and quick, Alexander is an instinctive cornerback with the ability to anticipate routes and the quickness to close on throws and make plays on the ball. He tape in 2017 was uneven due to issues with a sprained knee which could raise concerns over his durability considering his slender build. When healthy, he has the potential to become a second cornerback, but teams may view him as a full time nickel cornerback who is able to avoid the rigors of excessive run support.

http://www.nfl.com/draft/2018/profiles/jaire-alexander?id=2560102

 

[DKphin]

QB Logan Woodside, Toledo 6-1 213



Combine Results:
Arm - 31
Hand - 9 3/4
40 - 4.79
Bench -DNP
Vertical - 31.5
Broad - 8'7"
3 Cone - 6.94
20 yd. shuttle - 4.15
60 yd. shuttle - DNP

Strengths
Gritty and determined. Has been an underdog quarterback from high school to college. Naturally accurate on all three levels. Posted adjusted completion percentage (eliminates throws behind the line of scrimmage) of 65 percent with 73 touchdowns over last two seasons. Throws with necessary ball placement to pick at man coverage. Able to throw targets open. Good recognition of coverages and decision making is solid. Ball comes out on time and with some anticipation. Game against Miami wasn't too big for him. Gives his receivers a chance to make a play. Has adequate pocket awareness and mobility.
Weaknesses
Falls well below NFL guidelines for size. Weighed just 206 pounds at NFLPA game. Big touchdown total from 2016 appears to be an outlier. Benefitted from offense designed to make deep safety a non-factor. Feasted on one-on-one downfield matchups. Long-strider in his delivery. Release features a small windup. Floats throws to field side. May not have the arm strength to make all the NFL throws. Struggled in postseason throwing three interceptions in his bowl game and just average week of NFLPA practices.
Draft Projection
Priority Free Agent
Bottom Line
Woodside is an undersized quarterback with a very average arm who overcomes his deficiencies with good football intelligence and above average accuracy. His lack of size will be an immediate turn-off for most teams, but his competitive nature and ability to throw it where he wants to could give him an outside shot of finding work for a West Coast offense that values his accuracy and decision-making.

http://www.nfl.com/draft/2018/profiles/logan-woodside?id=2560196

 

[DKphin]

RB Kerrton Johnson, Auburn 5-11 213



Combine Results:
Arm - 32 1/2
Hand - 9 3/4
40 - DNP
Bench -11
Vertical - 40.0
Broad - 10'6"
3 Cone - 7.07
20 yd. shuttle - 4.29
60 yd. shuttle - DNP

Strengths
All-State basketball player in high school who plays with fast feet. Has instant burst to rocket through the line and onto the second level. Gear shifter with access to a variety of speeds. Accelerates around edge defender and then gears down for downhill cut. Uses strong stiff-arm to dump angle tackles. Runs with juice and courage inside. Showed toughness and heart as a banger in upset win over Alabama. Creates with burst and physicality. Never gives in and squeezes everything he can from the run. Pinball back with the churning feet and contact balance to carom off tacklers and restart the run. More likely the hammer than nail when finishing. Goes from bursting to eluding to making the tackler feel it. Third down option who understands protections and rarely busts. Looks to square up one-on-one targets and has toughness to become even better in NFL. Effective on screens, swings and check-downs. Adjusts to throws outside his frame.
Weaknesses
Angular, upright runner with thin hips. Scouts are concerned that the combination of his frame and running style could lead to durability issues. Segmented downhill mover. Can be a step slow to navigate fluid running lanes. Likes to see a clear point of entry. Runs with average feel for lane development. Needs to learn to balance patience with urgency downhill. Upright running style. Yardage doesn't come easily. Doesn't avoid enough punishing hits. Hip tightness restricts ability for lateral cuts. Leggy and could struggle to avoid early penetration in backfield.
Draft Projection
Rounds 1-2
Sources Tell Us
"Sometimes he plays with that Le'Veon Bell style where he glides until he sees it and then 'bang'. I thought he was a really competitive runner this year and he can play on all three downs so he has early value." -- NFC team regional scout
NFL Comparison
Tevin Coleman
Bottom Line
Has unusual build for the position with a linear frame and thin hips. Johnson proved that he was more than tough enough to carry a heavy workload to help Auburn impose their will on the ground. Johnson runs with good burst and is adept as both an inside and outside runner, but is more likely to become a grinder than a slasher on the next level. Johnson offers three-down value and could become an early starter, but his frame may not be able to hold up over the long haul if he's forced into high carry totals.

http://www.nfl.com/draft/2018/profiles/kerryon-johnson?id=2560052

 

[DKphin]

WR Deon Cain, Clemson 6-2 202



Combine Results:
Arm - 33
Hand - 8 3/4
40 - 4.43
Bench -11
Vertical - 33.5
Broad - 9'7"
3 Cone - 6.71
20 yd. shuttle - 4.37
60 yd. shuttle - 11.78

Strengths
Size is a plus. Movement is fluid and feel for the position comes naturally. Gets into routes with vertical push and forward lean. Uses quick slaps to grease his way past press coverage. Glides in his routes and maintains excellent pace throughout. Legit deep target with jet gear to get vertical once he clears defender's edge. Willing hand fighter downfield. Physical when ball is in the air. Had focus drops but won't gator arm it in traffic. Understands optimal catch angles and adjusts accordingly. Quick pluck-and-tuck mechanism as a pass-catcher. Tap dancer near the boundary. Keeps dig routes from drifting and allowing safeties into the catch-point. Talented after the catch. Has shake to elude and allows tacklers a taste of aggressive stiff-arm. Adequate competitiveness as a blocker.
Weaknesses
Failed to post expected production jump after taking over WR1 duties from Mike Williams. Targeted more but production declined in almost every meaningful category. Will need to expand his route tree as a pro. Doesn't separate as much as he could underneath. Can run routes with more urgency and suddenness. Fluctuations with focus has plagued him. Has seen drop rate increase in each of the last two seasons. Needs to play stronger through his routes. Appeared to get flustered at times by length and size across from him. Penalized 10 times over three years with a majority being false starts.
Draft Projection
Round 2
NFL Comparison
Roddy White
Bottom Line
Cain is a classic Clemson receiver with a good combination of size and speed and an underappreciated feel for the position. Cain's routes are smooth, but also show an understanding of coverage. Cain has the pure speed to attack over the top, but he should be a competitive option on all three levels. His drops are more a function of concentration than ability, but it needs to be improved. Cain has the chance to become a very good NFL starter but is better suited to handle the WR2 rather than a role as the alpha target.

http://www.nfl.com/draft/2018/profiles/deon-cain?id=2560147