You're right, you aren't giving Evans enough credit. He's play maker and turns an average catch into a big play. Evans isn't slow, not a burner, but how many players his size have superior speed??? Megatron maybe??? Not many! Lee isn't even in Evans class as far as production and ability in 2013, the tape doesn't lie. Watkins may have a higher ceiiling, and is a better athlete, but NOBODY can deny Evans' production and that's what counts in the NFL, not that you're the fastest wideout at the combine. I would say Evans has helped Johnny Manziel. Numerous times the play breaks down and Johnny scrambles and Evans adjusts his route to make the play....so it works both ways.
I agree he's not on the same level. He's still pretty impressive. I see him as a late 2nd rounder maybe 3rd right now. If they don't go with a WR in round 1 he could be a player to grab later.
What Lee is capable of is a distance memory of last year. Unfortunately, right or wrong, poor team play hurts Lee's draft status. Lee should become a a good NFL WR, I base my opinions and rankings production and play making ability. Right now Lee might not even be a 1st Round pick. College is all about production, athletic ability and making plays in ranking players and their draft status. Comparing Ball to Evans and their production and NFL success is a very poor comp. Your Ball analogy just makes no sense. As I mentioned earlier, Watkins is a freak of nature athlete that is a superior playmaker, but to say he's better than Evans is wrong. If both were available when the Jets are OTC, it would be a close call, I might give Watkins a slight edge, but not a "snap him up in a heartbeat" move. Saying it's a " WR's job" in reference to Evans, that's correct Evans make's Johnny look good in coming back to get open on broken plays, a lot of college WRs don't have a clue how to adjust on the fly. I'm not dissing Manziel he's a great player, it's a union of two players making each other better. Evans would do well with any other top QB in College football. One thing that is a given, no one can deny Evans is the best WR in College Football, so far in 2013. I've been following the NFL draft and studying players for over 20 years and Evans just passes the eye test on how receivers are suppose to play the NFL Game.
Youre not wrong. He's winning on jump balls because he's bigger. He runs one route and waits for Manziel to throw it up to him. Bust factor is there with him for sure. In and out of cuts in small spaces separates the big guys like Dez and Demaryius vs the James Hardy's. 6'5 receivers arent the norm. Megatron is a once in a lifetime freak. Still think Watkins is #1 and Rashad Greene ends up being #2.
Although he's ineligible I personally think Laquon Treadwell is one of the best receivers in CFB right now. Excited to see how he pans out. The prototypical size pops out at me, closer to the A.J. Green, Dez Bryant, Julio Jones type than watkins lee or evans are.
On the topic of WRs in the draft, I would really love snagging Brandon Coleman with our 2nd rounder assuming he's there. We could really re-stock our offensive weapons in this draft.
Agreed I don't understand why he is so underrated if he played at Notre Dame or Ohio State he'd be mentioned as a top 3 WR prospect.
CBS Sports has us either taking Mike Evans or Marquise Lee http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/draft/mock-draft
This 100% x 3. Evans is good, but it can't be a better fit for Marty's system than Marqise Lee. This is a very smart, and great route-runner, with great hands. He's got the size and speed that Marty has always had, and has always had success with. I also like Watkins a lot, more than Evans for this system. Actually, I like him probably more than Lee, but I'd be ecstatic with either.
This sounds like all the same crap we heard about Tavon Austin last year and he can't even get on the field. I wouldn't even think about drafting a receiver until the third round. If the want to pick up a FA or make a trade that might be different.
Evans is actually a great route runner, and he has about as much speed as someone like Brandon Marshall. As we have seen with our dear 2nd round pick in Hill, speed and measurables aren't everything. Evans just gets open. He is by no means slow; he's actually a pretty fast guy, especially for his size. Now he wont run a 4.4, but I would not be surprised by a low 4.5. His hands are magnets and through his physical play and route running, he is pretty much always open. Lee may be a better "fit", just because he's smaller and a little bit faster, but Evans is the better player and Im sure Marty would love to have him in this offense. He certainly has a high ceiling. Have you really watched him run routes? Because he's pretty damn good, and for someone his size, he can get in and out of cuts as well as you would like. Also, he is someone that can use his size because he can without a doubt go up and high point a ball. Hill on the other hand may only be an inch shorter, but he plays like a player who is 7 inches shorter than Evans.
Last year was an extremely weak WR class. The majority of the year, the top WR was a JUCO transfer 1st year D1 extremely raw WR, only to be taken over by a 5'8 speedster. These are true WRs.
It's comical that people think Evans is slow. Look at Evans YAC, it's incredible, you can't be too slow with huge numbers like that. Evans route running is fine, in fact, he routinely comes back to the ball to bail out Johnny when he's on the move. I've seen every play of Evans this year and he's a gifted physical receiver. Anyone that thinks Lee is a better player than Evans needs to open their eyes. I'm tired of the poor QB play, "woe is me excuses". Facts are facts, Stats are stats....and Evans is the more productive player in 2013. I also take it with a "grain of salt" of what people say about who's a better fit in the Jet's system. I tend to remember all the hate on the Richardson pick that he doesn't fit Rex's defense.
You'd have two receivers who are 6"4' + running short routes. The long ball would be great , and they'd stretch the field like no other, but we'd have one guy who's route running is "fine" and another who's route running isn't good. Marty's offense had these players going in on short routes a lot of the time. I wouldn't mind Evans if we got another smaller good route running receiver and just run a spread offense with Hill and Evans stretching the field. After all, you know more than me about these guys, so I'll take your word on Evans. I wouldn't mind it if we took him, but I thought that Lee or Watkins are better fits for Marty's system.
Evans with Holmes(with a pay cut) coming back would be nice. But I don't care who we get, we need to get a 1st round talent on offense. This draft should be mostly for offense. A TE in the 2nd would complete this team as super bowl contender. Let's do this!
Marty is on record saying he likes guys who are good in space. That means guys who know how to get separation against man, find holes against zone & can create chunk yards after the catch. That doesn't exactly describe Evans..but I'm not sure you pass on an athlete like him. He has rare body control similar to Calvin Johnson. You'd like to see him alittle quicker in & out his breaks but that can come w/ time.Afterall, the game of football is still relatively new to him. This appears to be an elite Calvin Johnson/Julio Jones type prospect. As for other guys who fit what Marty typically likes. You have to look at Watkins,Lee,Coleman, & Montclief. All are explosive types who can make plays in space & get behind a defense.