Cleveland Browns: 2017 NFL Draft Projected Targets
By Peter Smith
Slot Receivers
Curtis Samuel, Ohio State
Age: 20 (Born August 11th, 1996)
Height: 5-11
Weight: 196 lbs
40 Yard Dash: 4.31s
Broad Jump: 9’11″
Vertical: 30″
3-Cone: 7.09s
Shuttle: 4.33s
Bench: 18 reps
Production: 97 carries for 771 yards (24.1 percent), 74 receptions for 865 yards (31.1 percent), 15 total touchdowns (25.4 percent)
Notes: Samuel is far more than a slot receiver, but that is absolutely a role he can and should have in the NFL. The question with Samuel is just how much more a team wants him to do in their offense.
Taywan Taylor, Western Kentucky
Age: Unavailable
Height: 5-11
Weight: 203 lbs
40 Yard Dash: 4.5s
Broad Jump: 11′
Vertical: 33.5″
3-Cone: 6.57s
Shuttle: 4.21s
Bench: 13 reps
Production: 136 receptions for 1,803 yards (35.4 percent), 12 touchdowns (27.9 percent)
Notes: Taylor accounted for 3,197 receiving yards and 34 touchdowns and 17 100-yard receiving games. He set records for the greatest receiving year in school history as a junior and then topped most all of them as a senior.
Jerome Lane, Akron
Age: 21 (Born March 9, 1996)
Height: 6-2.125
Weight: 226 lbs
40 Yard Dash: 4.62s
Broad Jump: 10′4″ (10’5″ at Pro Day)
Vertical: 35″ (37″ at Pro Day)
3-Cone: 6.87s
Shuttle: 4.12s
Bench: 16 reps
Production: 62 receptions for 1,018 yards (33.2 percent), 6 touchdowns (24 percent)
Notes: Lane started as a linebacker at Akron before switching to receiver for the past two seasons, declaring as a junior. His father, Jerome, was the 23rd pick of the 1988 NBA Draft out of Pittsburgh.
Keevan Lucas, Tulsa
Age: 22 (Born April 10, 1995)
Height: 5-9.125
Weight: 192 lbs
40 Yard Dash: 4.55s
Broad Jump: 9′11″
Vertical: 32.5″
3-Cone: 7.23s
Shuttle: 4.43s
Bench: 11 reps
Production: 81 receptions for 1,180 yards (34.2 percent), 15 touchdowns (45.4 percent)
Notes: Lucas suffered a torn patella tendon that ended his 2015 season. He has overcome a great deal of loss in his life including his mother and grandmother within a couple days of each other when he was 14. And despite having a father in and out of prison, he has flourished at Tulsa both personally and in terms of his football future.
Shelton Gibson, West Virginia
Age: 22 (Born March 20, 1995)
Height: 5-11.125
Weight: 203 lbs
40 Yard Dash: 4.5s
Broad Jump: 9′10″
Vertical: 32″
3-Cone: 6.83s
Shuttle: 4.2s
Bench: 8 reps
Production: 43 receptions for 951 yards (28.4 percent), 8 touchdowns (30.7 percent)
Notes: Gibson led the Mountaineers in receiving the past two seasons after Kevin White went to the NFL. He played on the outside in Morgantown but his athletic ability is more suited to play in the slot in the pros.
Austin Carr, Northwestern
Age: 23 (Born Dec. 25, 1993)
Height: 6-0.25
Weight: 202 lbs
40 Yard Dash: 4.62s
Broad Jump: 9′8″
Vertical: 33.5″
3-Cone: 6.7s
Shuttle: 4.07s
Bench: 16 reps
Production: 90 receptions for 1,247 yards (39.1 percent), 12 touchdowns (54.5 percent)
Notes: Broke out as a senior with two and half times more receptions, triple the yards and six times the touchdowns as any other receiver on the team. Carr has been All-Academic Big Ten the past three seasons.
Cooper Kupp, Eastern Washington
Age: 23 (Born June 15th, 1993)
Height: 6-1.75
Weight: 204 lbs
40 Yard Dash: 4.61s (4.56s at Pro Day)
Broad Jump: 9’8″
Vertical: 31″
3-Cone: 6.75s (6.53s at Pro Day
Shuttle: 4.08s (4.10s at Pro Day)
Bench: DNP
Production: 117 receptions for 1,700 yards (30.2 percent), 17 touchdowns (31.4 percent)
Notes: Dominated the FCS competition he faced, but also showed extremely well at the Senior Bowl where he was consistently able to create separation and make plays. Kupp was awarded just about every award possible during his career at Eastern Washington and was a four-time Consensus FCS All-American.
Riley McCarron, Iowa
Age: 23 (Born June 16, 1993)
Height: 5-9
Weight: 188 lbs
40 Yard Dash: 4.36s (Pro Day)
Broad Jump: 10′4″
Vertical: 40.5″
3-Cone: 6.47s
Shuttle: 3.96s
Bench: DNP
Production: 42 receptions for 517 yards (25.9 percent), 4 touchdowns (23.5 percent)
Notes: McCarron only has one year of production and it was in a year where Iowa’s passing game was less than prolific. Age also works against him, but if a team believes he can contribute early, that shouldn’t be a major detriment given his incredible athletic ability. He also returned seven punts and averaged 21.1 yards per and had a touchdown.
Al Riles, Louisiana Lafayette
Age: 23 (Born Sept. 17, 1993 )
Height: 6-0
Weight: 210 lbs
40 Yard Dash: 4.48s (Pro Day)
Broad Jump: Unavailable
Vertical: Unavailable
3-Cone: 6.72s
Shuttle: 4.01s
Bench: 18 reps
Production: 60 receptions for 729 yards (31.4 percent), 2 touchdowns (16.6 percent)
Notes: Riles started as a linebacker for the Ragin’ Cajuns before switching to receiver for each of the past two seasons. Given his advanced age and relative rawness at the position, he is not likely to be drafted, but he could be a worthwhile undrafted free agent.