2016 NFL Draft: 5 Wide Receivers You Need to Know
By Bob Evans
Nov 29, 2014; Miami Gardens, FL, USA; Pittsburgh Panthers wide receiver Tyler Boyd (23) runs against Miami Hurricanes during the second half at Sun Life Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports
Tyler Boyd, Junior, Pittsburgh
Remember the last time there was a highly rated wide receiver putting up monster numbers at Pitt? Well if you don’t, his name was Larry Fitzgerald and he has kind of been a big deal in the NFL for quite some time now.
Fast forward to 2015, and there is a 6’2” and 200-pound receiver by the name of Tyler Boyd doing big things a little over 10 years after Fitzgerald put up all those big numbers in college. During his first two seasons at Pitt, Boyd caught 163 passes for 2,435 yards and 15 touchdowns—or just around the same numbers that Thomas and Treadwell have posted during their combined collegiate careers.
Thus far in the 2015 season, Boyd is actually ahead of his torrid reception pace from his first two seasons—as he has caught 33 passes for 328 yards and two touchdowns through four games. If you extrapolate that over 13 games, that would put Boyd on pace for 107 catches for 1,066 yards and six touchdowns this season.
So who is Boyd and what can he do at the NFL level?
Well, first off when you watch him on tape—his ability to separate is among the best in this class. Even though he does not have game-breaking speed, the youngster continuously gets away from defenders with ease thanks to his quick moves. He is also very good at catching with his hands and not his body, something that really shows up on film when catching the ball in traffic.
Another player who could be taken during the first round, a DUI will show up as a red-flag to NFL front offices, along with the fact that he isn’t the strongest receiver in the class. Despite this, it would be a surprise to see him taken any later than No. 40 overall in the 2016 NFL Draft.
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