2018 NFL Draft: DaeSean Hamilton offers big-play ability

Former Penn State football wide receiver DaeSean Hamilton will serve as a big play-making pass catcher at the professional level.  Where will he go in the 2018 NFL Draft?

More: 2018 NFL Draft preview, player profiles and latest mock drafts

Credited with being one of the catalysts to help turn the Penn State Nittany Lions football program over recent years, four-year starter DaeSean Hamilton has the experience and football IQ to make it at the professional level.

Hamilton has been consistent ever since his freshman year, where he posted a career high 899 yards on the season.

Despite the high number of yards, it turned out to be his lowest average yards per catch season, as he had not broken out of his shell. He was still one of the main points of the offense as he also posted a career high 82 catches, but as he matured within the Penn State system, he also became a more dangerous threat down the field. Hamilton finished his senior year with 857 yards, but this time on just 52 catches. He also had nine touchdowns through the air compared to just two his freshman campaign.

Strengths

Of course, a four-year starter is a selling point for NFL teams, especially when it is on a team that has been as successful as the Nittany Lions in recent years. Hamilton bolsters big-play capability as he is strong and big enough to go up and pull down and catch, but also quick enough to get into the position he needs to be in. Nearly 80 percent of Hamilton’s 52 catches in 2017 went for first downs, meaning that the offense trusted him with getting things done.

Hamilton is consistent in his route running and never tries to take shortcuts. This allows him to present himself with the best possible chance to make a play every down.

Weaknesses

Most of Hamilton’s intangible assets that he holds are not NFL-ready, such as his speed, strength, etc. Hamilton made the most of his play at Penn State using smart route running and careful positioning. He tends to play at one speed and has not shown the ability to turn it up an extra gear, mainly because he has not needed to in most cases.

In order for Hamilton to be an effective NFL receiver, preferably at the slot position, he will need to get better at bursting off the line and maintaining a high speed throughout his routes with the ability to explode away from the defense when needed.

Next: NFL Mock Draft 2018: Complete 7-round projections

Draft Expectations

Hamilton might not serve as a No. 1 or No. 2 receiver for the time being on any NFL roster, but for teams looking for experience and consistent in their depth chart, Hamilton will be a safe bet for a lot of squads.

Projection: Round 4