Introduction

Brandon Coleman is a fascinating prospect, because he’s a big-bodied receiver with exceptional physical gifts that should be available on Day 3 of the 2014 NFL Draft, if only because of how deep the wide receiver class is this year. Despite his physical prowess, he is still raw in certain aspects and should not be expected to be a big time contributor in year one.

Measurables

Height: 6’6"

Weight: 225lbs.

Arm Length: 34"

Hand Size: 9 1/4"

40-yd Dash: 4.56 seconds

Bench Press: 21 repetitions

Vertical Jump: 32.5 inches

3 Cone Drill: 7.33 seconds

20-yd Shuttle: 4.51 seconds

Statistics

Receiving Year REC YDS AVG LNG TD 2013 34 538 15.8 56 4 2012 43 718 16.7 85 10 2011 17 552 32.5 92 6

Positives

Tracks the ball well

Natural hands catcher

Excellent catching radius

Gets in and out of his breaks well, creates separation

Good route runner

Physical receiver off the line of scrimmage

Negatives

Doesn’t attack the ball with his height

Raw in most aspects, seems to rely on athleticism rather than technique

Not much of a blocker, although this may have been due to scheme

Conclusion

I would compare Coleman to a raw Vincent Jackson. He has all of the same physical gifts that Jackson has, but his technique isn’t as well developed. There’s a lot to like with Coleman, and he has the potential to develop into a good deep threat with proper coaching.

Would I Draft Him?

The decision to draft Coleman depends on how you view Stephen Hill. They have similar upside and are both similarly raw and need development. If you think Hill is a bust, it may be worth drafting Coleman in the fourth or fifth round. It’s important, though, that you be willing to give him some time to develop; he won’t be ready to go off the bat. Personally, I’m not willing to give up on Hill yet, who is in year three of what the team expected to be a four year development process, so I would probably avoid drafting Coleman unless the value became so great that you couldn’t pass him up, such as the sixth round. Considering how deep this draft is for wide receivers, that isn't outside the range of possibility.