2019 NFL Draft: How should teams evaluate D.K. Metcalf?
The NFL Combine turns some prospects into superstars every year. This year’s top performer was wide receiver D.K. Metcalf. Where will he go in the NFL Draft?
The perfect NFL Draft prospect checks three critical boxes. First, do they have the athletic traits desirable for their position? Yes. Next, are there any off-field which make him less desirable to employ? No. Finally, did they have a productive college career? Yes. If those answers line up you’re probably looking at a first round pick or at worst, a Day 2 selection.
Strengths
Then there’s D.K. Metcalf. He’s a physical freak who had NFL scouts and talent evaluators drooling as soon as he stepped onto the practice field in Indianapolis. The 6-foot-3, 228-pound wide receiver benched 27 reps jumped 40.5 inches and ran a blazing 4.33 40-yard dash. Traits? Check.
Athletically, there’s not much more Metcalf could have done to prove his worthiness at the NFL Combine. The same is true for the film. Metcalf is an aggressor when the ball is in the air, attacking the pigskin and winning at the point of attack. A product of a high-powered passing attack at Ole Miss, Metcalf has exquisite route running ability and elite ball skills.
Once the ball is in his hands, he’s gone. His burst and top end speed make Metcalf a yards after catch monster. With no off-field issues to speak of, Metcalf has rocketed his stock into the first round. There’s no true consensus as to who deserves to be the top receiver in this class and Metcalf has firmly cemented his name into the mix of potential WR1s.
Weaknesses
But it’s that third and final pillar that is giving some teams pause. Metcalf has a huge asterisk next to his collegiate production. Namely, there wasn’t much. Playing alongside fellow draft prospects AJ Brown and DaMarkus Lodge limited the upside Metcalf was able to reach in college.
To date, Metcalf’s best season came in 2017 where he caught 39 passes for 646 yards and seven touchdowns. That doesn’t look that special when compared to Arizona State product N’Keal Harry‘s back-to-back 1,000-yard seasons with 20 combined touchdowns or small-school darling Andy Isabella who racked up 1,698 yards and 13 scores during his senior season at UMass.
Then there’s the stunning 1.6 percent body fat. Some have raised concerns that the ulta-buff body Metcalf carries could actually work against him with so little “padding” to protect him from the vicious hits an NFL wideout takes on a weekly basis. His agility drills were lackluster, raising the legitimate question of whether or not Metcalf is the real deal or just a weight room warrior?
dark. Next. NFL Draft: Projected first round after Combine
Draft expectations
First round wide receivers don’t have the best hit rate over the past several years, which makes the prospect of selecting a wildcard like Metcalf all the more dicey. Quarterback-needy teams and a surplus of elite pass rushers limit the ceiling on where Metcalf will ultimately be selected. At the end of the day, the NFL tends to prioritize traits above all else. Someone is going to see his tape and his workouts and fall in love. Metcalf will be a first round pick.