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NFL Draft 2021: 5 potential Day 3 wide receiver and tight end steals

By Sonny Martinez

LUBBOCK, TEXAS - SEPTEMBER 26: Receiver T.J. Vasher #9 of the Texas Tech Red Raiders celebrates after catching a touchdown pass during the second half of the college football game against the Texas Longhorns on September 26, 2020 at Jones AT&T Stadium in Lubbock, Texas. (Photo by John E. Moore III/Getty Images)
LUBBOCK, TEXAS - SEPTEMBER 26: Receiver T.J. Vasher #9 of the Texas Tech Red Raiders celebrates after catching a touchdown pass during the second half of the college football game against the Texas Longhorns on September 26, 2020 at Jones AT&T Stadium in Lubbock, Texas. (Photo by John E. Moore III/Getty Images) /
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Tennessee wide receiver Josh Palmer (5) runs the ball after a successful catch during a game between Alabama and Tennessee at Neyland Stadium in Knoxville, Tenn. on Saturday, Oct. 24, 2020.102420 Ut Bama Gameaction
Tennessee wide receiver Josh Palmer (5) runs the ball after a successful catch during a game between Alabama and Tennessee at Neyland Stadium in Knoxville, Tenn. on Saturday, Oct. 24, 2020.102420 Ut Bama Gameaction /

4. Josh Palmer, WR, Tennessee

Josh Palmer will likely not be a No. 1 superstar receiver, but whoever takes him will be getting someone that can make an impact as a three or four.

Palmer’s career at Tennessee was decent: 99 receptions, 1,514 yards, and seven touchdowns. One of the things you have to wonder about Palmer is how his numbers would have looked had the quarterback situation on Rocky Top not been a disaster for much of his four seasons. Nonetheless, he did become Tennessee’s top receiver in 2020.

Coming from the SEC, Palmer has faced off with (and even beat) some current and future NFL stars so he does have experience against elite players, and even though the NFL is the best of the best, playing against those types of talent can only benefit a player. Of his four touchdowns in 2020, one came against South Carolina, one against Alabama, and two against Georgia. Beating Georgia for 36 and 27 yards, respectively, had Tennessee on top against the Bulldogs at the half before the wheels fell off defensively.

Despite his big-play ability and physicality, there are question marks surrounding Palmer’s production. The aforementioned quarterback issues didn’t help, but the truly elite receivers always find a way. In four seasons, Palmer never caught more than 35 balls in a season. The flip side to that is he doesn’t drop many passes, so if the ball is within reach, he’ll find a way to make the catch.

Palmer will be best in a system where he’s able to just run vertical and make the catch. Kansas City would be an excellent spot for Palmer to land and if that’s where he ends up, he could become one of Patrick Mahomes’ secret weapons.

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