I really like Dotson but I’ve seen less of him. I don’t think he’s redundant to Moore because they have different skills but I do want a bigger guy. There is a way taking him is the right move but certain things have to happen. He’s a really good scheme fit. He is the best YAC guy in the class and might have to best hands in the class too. I don’t think he is the same level of route runner as Moore and even though Daniel Jeremiah praised his routes, I don’t feel like that’s what I saw necessarily. If the Jets go DE and CB in round 1 and he’s there at 35, I could get behind that pick.
I don't get why you think London has a much higher floor than Burks. Burks has better hands and doesn't drop the ball like London. If London's hands are as good as you claim, he shouldn't be dropping the ball as much as he does. If they're focus drops, then that's a problem as well. IMO it doesn't matter how fast or how great a route runner a WR is, or even his size, if he drops a lot of passes, then he's not worth a damn. The #1 prerequisite for WRs should be having great hands and being reliable/dependable to catch the ball when it is thrown his way. Burks has every one of the top WRs in this class beat hands down. He is also one of the top 2-3 in terms of speed, in size, in versatility, in using his body well, in high pointing the ball. The other issue is that with his thin frame, London's physical style is probably going to keep him sitting on the bench injured, whereas Burks frame can withstand the hits.
While what you say might be true. It limits the offense and makes it more predictable. Smaller WRs means smaller catch radiuses and smaller windows. It also means that the DBs have the size advantage on them, so it probably means fewer completions with physical DB play. In the red zone if you basically only have a tall TE to throw to (I don't recall seeing Davis running fades or catching a lot of TDs in the Red Zone, but I may be mistaken), that makes it very easy for the D to defend. If you've got taller WRs and tall TEs, then they don't know who to cover, and the QB can always throw the ball up and let the WR climb the ladder and go get it. This is true for 3rd & 4th down throws as well. I just don't understand anyone wanting another small WR. If you were a Jets fan during the days of Moss and Coles, you saw it bite the Jets in the ass quite a few times. They were harder to see downfield, DBs were able to bully them, and it cost us wins.
My preference is to add a bigger target at WR to complement our current group. However, with the current rules, smaller WRs have less of a handicap then what they had in years past. Some of the best in the league are 6ft or under. I know many believe we will go WR at 10, but I think it's more likely late 1st, or day 2, so I'm looking more into these options. Some I have watched more so than others. I haven't watched much of Dotson, but I liked the little I saw.
Smaller WRs may have less of a handicap in terms of the rules and DBs mugging them, but they are still handicapped with smaller windows, smaller catch radiuses, and are harder to see and get the ball downfield unless they have a lot of separation. They're generally not good on fade routes, and unless they have springs for legs, the QB is not able to throw the ball up and let them go get it. That's not true with bigger, taller WRs. I know that there are a lot of good WRs in the NFL who are smaller, but that doesn't mean that we need to go add another smaller WR, or that a bigger WR can't be good and bring us everything the small WR can and more.
London was the entire USC offense. He had 88 receptions in just 8 games… over a 17 game season that’s 187 receptions which is literally a 20% boost over the current NFL receptions record. Most of his drops were contested catches because they basically just threw him the ball every play, and some were focus drops but I mean 2 of them were in a game where he had 13 freakin catches, and another 15. Would you really complain if a NYJ WR stat line in a game read: 13 Rec, 170 yards, 2 TD, 2 drops? Or 15 Rec, 171 yards, 2 drops? Just watch him play, he catches almost everything thrown his way. The way they used him plus his volume of targets makes those drops zero concern for me. I doubt any NFL team would use him as a such a high percentage of their offense. He had double digit receptions in 5 of his 8 games, with a max of 16. He broke 130 yards in 6 of his 8 games, and broke 160 yards in 4 of his 8 games. Not a single one of the other 1st round WR’s even came close to touching his receptions per game this season, so I’m not surprised he has more drops.
I'd rather have a WR who had 8-10 catches 170 yards, 2 TDs and no drops. Those two drops could have cost the team the game. Burks was Arkansas' offense, and he played against much better defenses and more talented players than London did.
From everything I read so far he played every game in 2019 and 2020 so durability should not be that much of a concern either. The minor knocks on him is separation on short routes, speed off the line, and using his hands more on deep passes, but overall he is quite a complete player.
Just different opinions but right now London is my number 1 choice for WR. Burks has had drops issues over his college career as well, less in 2021 though.
I think he uses his hands on deep passes, but the other knocks I agree with. I think he plays physically both before and after the catch.
I might have characterized that wrong, but on deep passes, they implied rather than extending his hands he is more likely to use close body shoulder pad type catches.
I don’t know I think he is really good at high pointing the ball, adjusting to the ball, and extending his arms. Just what I saw
Maybe at some point earlier in college, but I read that he has among the most reliable hands of any WRs in this draft class, especially among the top WRs in this draft class. Besides getting better and improving is what you want to see. London had a drop rate of 8% this past season. It doesn't matter to me if they were in contested catch situations or not. Actually, since I think he will have problems getting consistent separation in the NFL, it's even more of a problem that he tends to drop them in contested catch situations, than it would be if he were wide open. On contested catches is the very time that we would need him to come through with the tough catch. IMO that's part of the reason for going with a taller WR, so when the QB is in a jam, he can just throw the ball up and let the WR go get it. Burks doesn't have that issue. It's fine that London is your #1. No one said that we had to agree, and we do disagree. I'm sticking with Burks all the way. He would have to have major character issues, or be incredibly dumb or lazy for me to change my mind about him.
I disagree with the bold. Not missing any games in college is great, but it is no predictor of how he will fare in the NFL. With his thin frame, aggressive physical nature, and with DBs being better and stronger in the NFL, and LBs faster, I could see him getting banged up and injured quite a bit. Smaller WRs who are more elusive and quicker can avoid those big hits. Thicker-framed WRs like Burks can absord those hits and even dish them out to DBs. I could definitely be wrong, but imo if London wants to stay healthy and on the field in the NFL, he will either need to put on about 20 lbs of muscle or he will need to stop being so physically aggressive and work on being more elusive.
Guys I'm really into Jermaine Johnson. I think he's legitimately in the conversation at 4th overall, and I really like how he interviews. I think I like him better than Thibodeaux to be honest.
Initially, I didn't like him, but after reading what you and some others have said about him, I've come around. I would be happy with Johnson or KT at #4 or #10, Ojabo at #10, or Ebiketie at #35 or #38. I didn't include Hutch because I think there's a zero chance he's sitting there at #4.
It may not be scientific or logical, but I've become really gun shy about taking players from FSU. It doesn't mean I wouldn't take necessarily, but I'd sure want to do due diligence on him - his character, work ethic, does he rely on only his physical skills or does he have an exceptional feel for the game - these are traits I look for in a Top 10 pick. Does he have them?
Yeah he really does have a good feel for the game and had to work very hard to get where he is. Also, he played Junior College as a Freshman, then got offers and went to Georgia for Sophomore and Junior seasons. He only transferred to FSU because Georgia was so loaded at DL he wanted more playing time to boost draft stock. So the foundation of his NCAA Football education was with the vaunted Georgia Defense. Not really a true Florida State guy.
You think he has to be taken as high as #4? Is he that much better than some others I've seen slotted in the 30s and 40s? IOW: In your opinion (which I value highly) is he a "can't miss" Edge?
He looked dominant at the Senior Bowl but I think @Sundayjack said he has a reputation for being lazy? I may have misinterpreted.
