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Sammy Watkins is the consensus top wide receiver in this class. Highly touted coming out high school, he did not disappoint when he starred for the Clemson Tigers. He is 6-foot-1, 215 pounds but plays like he's much bigger. This year, he racked up 101 catches for 1464 yards and 12 TDs.
In terms of comparing how I'd grade Watkins to prior high round wide receivers, I'd grade him below A.J. Green and Calvin Johnson, coming in at the Julio Jones and Dez Bryant level. Clearly ahead of guys like Justin Blackmon, Michael Floyd, and Tavon Austin.
Pros
- Gigantic catch radius.
- Acceleration off the charts.
- Physical at the point of the catch.
- Great screen receiver capable of getting YAC.
- Hands catcher who minimizes drops.
- Can break tackles and fight through press coverage consistently.
Cons
- Inexperienced route runner/was not asked to run many routes.
- Despite fantastic acceleration, top end speed is not the best.
Does He Fit With The Giants?
Darn right he does. Fit right in if Hakeem Nicks leaves as the 'X' receiver in the Giants system. With new OC Ben McAdoo, Watkins would be the perfect fit given how many jet sweeps and bubble screens he ran at Clemson. Biggest matchup nightmare in the draft.
Prospect Video
Sammy Watkins, WR, Clemson vs. Ohio State '14 (via SportCutups)
Big Board Rankings
Big Blue View - 3
Mocking The Draft - 5
CBS Sports - 5
Draft Countdown - 6
Draft Tek - 4
Final Thoughts
Sammy Watkins falling to the New York Giants, I'm sorry to say, is likely just a dream. He's a consensus top 5 player by most accounts, and is a blue chip prospect because he not only has the tremendous upside you look for, but production to go along with it. No character concerns to speak of, either.
I anticipate that he will be a force to be reckoned with for years to come at the next level if he develops his full potential. He'd be a perfect fit for this new-look offense, and is one of a few players that I may consider trading up for.