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

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LUBBOCK, TX – NOVEMBER 10: T.J. Vasher #9 of the Texas Tech Red Raiders makes the catch for a touchdown against Davante Davis #18 of the Texas Longhorns during the first half of the game on November 10, 2018 at Jones AT&T Stadium in Lubbock, Texas. (Photo by John Weast/Getty Images) /

2. TJ Vasher, WR, Texas Tech

TJ Vasher is one of the most interesting prospects in the entire draft pool.

Anytime you hear Vasher’s name, the first thing to follow will likely be “character concerns”. Vasher was suspended in 2019 for a violation of team rules. Although it’s never really been stated exactly what that meant, it’s one of the things that’s consistently come up about Vasher.

On paper, the former Red Raider is a scout’s dream. He’s 6-foot-6, which is an immediate size advantage over almost everyone else on the field. Once you add in his 35.1-inch arms, Vasher turns a 50/50 ball into a 75/25 ball. He runs a 4.5 40-yard dash, which isn’t overly impressive, but for someone his size is quite the feat.

Unfortunately despite the size, athleticism, and pure talent (just YouTube some of his insane catches) the former four-star prospect never put it all together. In a high-flying offensive league like the Big 12 where 1,000-yard receivers seemly grow on trees, Vasher could never eclipse that mark and in fact never really came close with a season-high of 687 yards. He also struggled with drops throughout his time in Lubbock. According to the Texas Tech staff, Vasher’s work ethic ranges from poor to non-existent. That has to change.

Overall, Vasher has all the tools, he just needs someone to supply the foundation. Any number of teams could benefit from such a big receiver, but a spot in Las Vegas with the Raiders would be a good fit. Vegas might not be the best spot for a player with potential off-the-field issues, but he would certainly help Derek Carr on the field.

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