Instant Fantasy Analysis - Round 6

[The Football Guru 212]

WR Donovan Peoples-Jones, Browns

A former five-star receiver coming out of high school, Peoples-Jones has about all the measurables a team could ask for a receiver (6-2, 212; 4.48, 44.5-inch vertical, 11' 7" broad, 33.5-inch arms). Unfortunately, the production didn't match the workout numbers at Michigan. It's worth wondering how much of that was a product of uneven quarterback play with the Wolverines. Part of his disappointing production was due to a lack of attention to detail in his route-running, which could be due to an overreliance on his athletic ability. He also lacks the kind of suddenness one would expect with his explosiveness. The reason he gets a mention here is Cleveland's depth chart at receiver behind Odell Beckham Jr. and Jarvis Landry in relatively bare. It's possible Peoples-Jones never evolves into anything more than a situational deep threat, but it's just as likely his athleticism allows him to be much more than that.

[The Football Guru 212]

QB Jake Luton, Jaguars

Jacksonville landed what it hopes is its long-term quarterback in the sixth round last season in Gardner Minshew, and it goes back to that well again here. Isaiah Hodgins - a receiver prospect likely to get drafted soon - made him look better than he is at times during his stay in Corvallis, but Luton has some tools to work with that could allow him to challenge Minshew if he slips in Year 2. Even if he can't move particularly well, Luton values the ball and possesses more than enough arm strength. More than likely, he will spend the next year or two developing as Minshew's primary backup.

[The Football Guru 212]

WR James Proche, Ravens

Baltimore addressed the slot on Day 2 with Devin Duvernay and go back there late on Day 3. Fortunately, whereas Duvernay is more of a "power slot", Proche wins with good hands and plus route-running. The SMU product is like his draft classmate in that he possesses very good ball skills. Proche will almost certainly be limited to slot duties in large part because he struggles against physical coverage, and his size (5-11, 201) contributes to his relative inability to do much after the catch.

[The Football Guru 212]

WR Isaiah Hodgins, Bills
Height/Weight: 6' 4"/210
College: Oregon State
NFL Comp: Cameron Meredith

Ultimately, the primary job of every receiver is being able to catch the ball and do it consistently. Arguably no prospect in this draft does that better than Hodgins, who was credited with only three drops on 249 catchable passes in his career per Pro Football Focus. His ball skills may be the best in this draft class, and that's a noteworthy thing - especially considering the fact he has some nuance and savvy to his route-running for being such a tall receiver. For football fans who have been around a while, he's got some Ed McCaffrey to him.

On the downside, while he was able to get vertical in college due to his craftiness, he looks every bit like the 4.61 runner on tape that he showed himself to be at the NFL Combine. He also offers very little after the catch (11 broken tackles on 176 career catches, per PFF) and isn't strong enough to this point to deal with physical coverage, which might force him to be a slot for the foreseeable future. With that said, he's got a chance to be a solid possession receiver and red zone contributor in the not-too-distant future. He's going to have trouble breaking through the Stefon Diggs-Cole Beasley-John Brown trio right away, but he's resourceful enough to contribute right away if one of those players goes down.