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In a pass happy league like the NFL, teams are loading up on wide receivers. Having a true No. 1 receiver isn’t enough anymore. A team like the St. Louis Rams can’t really identify their leading receiver, and adding a game-changing receiver like Louisville’s DeVante Parker is certainly tempting.
Parker is ranked by many experts as the 2015 NFL Draft’s No. 3 receiver just behind Alabama’s Amari Cooper and West Virginia’s Kevin White. There is a possibility that both Cooper and White could be gone before reaching the Rams at pick No. 10, but would Parker be a good fit for the Rams? Here’s what we know:
Pros: Glance at some of Parker’s highlights and you’ll see that he has the focus of veteran receiver. He has caught some amazing passes, and it’s mainly because he concentrates on nothing else but the football. Parker doesn’t let pressing coverage psyche him out when going for the football, and he has some of the most reliable hands in the draft. His catching ability made him a favorite target while at Louisville, picking up 855 receiving yards and five touchdowns in just seven games during his senior season.
Parker didn’t seem as fast after his foot injury, which led to many concerns. However, he alleviated some of those fears after running a 4.45 during the NFL Combine. This rose his draft stock considerably, because he already known for making plays after the catch. In fact, in four seasons spent with the Cardinals, he averaged a mind-boggling 17.8 yards after the catch.
Cons: While catching and speed are important, Parker has plenty to learn if he wants to thrive on the next level. He is inconsistent with his routes and ran where he felt like at Louisville. Parker doesn’t have much strength and struggles when it comes to shaking off covering defenders. It’s likely that he will struggle against some of the more aggressive corners in the NFL. Another area where strength isn’t his friend is blocking, especially on running plays. He simply looks lost when it comes to blocking.
Bottom line: Parker has many intriguing qualities, but he is a player that could become lost in the NFL. Improving his route-running is key here. Parker also needs to become more of a team player and blocking is one way he can help improve any offense, but it’s uncertain if he will ever develop those skills.
It might take a while before Parker can make an impact on any team, and the 10th pick might be a bit of a reach for Parker. The only way it would make sense for the Rams to draft him is if they trade down and he is still available. The problem is the demand for receivers are at a premium, so it’s doubtful that Parker will be available later on in the first round.
Source: ESPN.com, Sport-reference.com
You can follow Johnny Gomez on Twitter @Johnny5not6. Be sure to follow Rams Talk on Twitter @TalkRams.
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In a pass happy league like the NFL, teams are loading up on wide receivers. Having a true No. 1 receiver isn’t enough anymore. A team like the St. Louis Rams can’t really identify their leading receiver, and adding a game-changing receiver like Louisville’s DeVante Parker is certainly tempting.
Parker is ranked by many experts as the 2015 NFL Draft’s No. 3 receiver just behind Alabama’s Amari Cooper and West Virginia’s Kevin White. There is a possibility that both Cooper and White could be gone before reaching the Rams at pick No. 10, but would Parker be a good fit for the Rams? Here’s what we know:
Pros: Glance at some of Parker’s highlights and you’ll see that he has the focus of veteran receiver. He has caught some amazing passes, and it’s mainly because he concentrates on nothing else but the football. Parker doesn’t let pressing coverage psyche him out when going for the football, and he has some of the most reliable hands in the draft. His catching ability made him a favorite target while at Louisville, picking up 855 receiving yards and five touchdowns in just seven games during his senior season.
Parker didn’t seem as fast after his foot injury, which led to many concerns. However, he alleviated some of those fears after running a 4.45 during the NFL Combine. This rose his draft stock considerably, because he already known for making plays after the catch. In fact, in four seasons spent with the Cardinals, he averaged a mind-boggling 17.8 yards after the catch.
Cons: While catching and speed are important, Parker has plenty to learn if he wants to thrive on the next level. He is inconsistent with his routes and ran where he felt like at Louisville. Parker doesn’t have much strength and struggles when it comes to shaking off covering defenders. It’s likely that he will struggle against some of the more aggressive corners in the NFL. Another area where strength isn’t his friend is blocking, especially on running plays. He simply looks lost when it comes to blocking.
Bottom line: Parker has many intriguing qualities, but he is a player that could become lost in the NFL. Improving his route-running is key here. Parker also needs to become more of a team player and blocking is one way he can help improve any offense, but it’s uncertain if he will ever develop those skills.
It might take a while before Parker can make an impact on any team, and the 10th pick might be a bit of a reach for Parker. The only way it would make sense for the Rams to draft him is if they trade down and he is still available. The problem is the demand for receivers are at a premium, so it’s doubtful that Parker will be available later on in the first round.
Source: ESPN.com, Sport-reference.com
You can follow Johnny Gomez on Twitter @Johnny5not6. Be sure to follow Rams Talk on Twitter @TalkRams.
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