This is the continuation of my series on who the Seattle Seahawks should target in the NFL Draft. I looked at some of the defensive line prospects last week, and now I am moving on to wide receivers.
Seattle does not have a glaring need at wide receiver. The team has several very good players and good depth overall, but NFL teams always need more pass catchers.
If the Seahawks find another playmaker at receiver, they will be very hard to stop in 2019. Doug Baldwin and Tyler Lockett are two dynamic wideouts and they have great chemistry with Russell Wilson. But there are times when defenses can corral them, and Wilson needs somewhere else to go.
This year’s draft has a lot of talented receivers, so let’s see which ones the Seahawks should grab.
Marquise Brown, Oklahoma, 5’11” 160 lbs.
Brown is one of the fastest players in the draft, if not the fastest. He is a very undersized receiver at 160 pounds, but you hope his speed keeps him injury free. Brown is nothing if not a playmaker; he played two years for Oklahoma and snagged 132 catches with 17 touchdowns. He averaged more than 18 yards per catch, too. Brown would be an excellent player for the Seahawks. His speed and playmaking could match Lockett’s and make Seattle’s play action passing game even more deadly. There is a real chance Brown could be taken in the first round, especially if his 40-yard dash time is around 4.3 seconds.
Deebo Samuel, South Carolina, 6’ 208 lbs.
Samuel has been one of my favorite collegiate receivers for a few years now. Samuel played only 18 games in his first three years, partly because of injuries, and only pulled in five touchdowns. This sounds like he wasn’t making plays, yet he scored seven rushing touchdowns during that time. Samuel just needs the ball in his hands to impact a game. He never broke 1,000 yards receiving in his four years as a Gamecock, but he commanded a lot of attention from opposing defenses as he was the best player on the field for South Carolina most of the time. Samuel does a good job catching the ball with his hands and he runs very crisp routes. He is above average in every part of his game.
David Sills, West Virginia, 6’4” 203 lbs.
Sills has had two full seasons as a wide receiver after arriving at WVU as a quarterback. During those seasons Sills has been uncoverable in the end zone. He has 33 receiving touchdowns in the past two years and averaged almost 16 yards per catch too. Sills is the guy you want going up for a jump ball; he can outwork a lot of defensive backs with his jumping ability. He isn’t someone who will create much after the catch, but he usually does not have to. He can be an NFL quarterback’s safety blanket.
Lil’Jordan Humphrey, Texas, 6’4” 225 lbs.
I love watching this guy play. He is a such a competitor and can catch anything thrown near him. I first took notice of him when I would hear his name pop up every time I watched Longhorn highlights. So, I started paying more attention to him and he makes plays all the time in big moments. Humphrey scored 12 touchdowns in the past two years for Texas; he scored 10 receiving and two rushing. He was targeted mostly from the slot and used in short and medium routes. Humphrey can make plays once the ball is in his hands as well. He showcases good ball-carrier vision and can break tackles with his big frame. He won’t run past a lot of people, but he knows how to use the speed he has.
Hakeem Butler, Iowa State, 6’6” 225 lbs.
Butler is the quintessential big receiver. He is at his best near the end zone, catching back shoulder throws and high pointing the ball. He can be unguardable at times with smaller defenders, because he knows how to use his size to shield defenders from the ball. Butler will not be the guy to get open because of his route running or quickness, but he has good long speed and is a bully with the ball in his hands. He can run angry at times and is an asset in the run game, he can block like a tight end. Butler scored 18 touchdowns in his three years and averaged almost 20 yards per catch, proving he is not just a short-yardage receiver.
