2018 NFL Draft: 5 Big-bodied wide receiver targets for San Francisco 49ers
Auden Tate
Had Deondre’ Francois not suffered a season-ending injury in the first week of the 2017 season, then Auden Tate’s numbers could have been considerably more impressive. He finished 2017 with 40 receptions for 548 yards and 10 touchdowns but, though the raw numbers are not there, the upside most definitely is.
At 6-4 and 225 pounds, Tate is a natural high-pointer of the football and can make spectacular grabs, but it is the way in which he tracks the ball that is most impressive about his game.
A lot to like about Auden Tate, the thing that stood out to me was how well he tracks the ball and his late hands. They don't come out until last second. Almost no window for DBs for breakup pass pic.twitter.com/zl80goHC8H
— Nicholas McGee (@nicholasmcgee24) January 18, 2018
Tate tracks the ball extremely well over his shoulder and showcases late hands, not bringing them up until the last second, severely limiting opposing defenders’ window to disrupt passes at the catch point. Consistently able to win inside against man coverage and unafraid to use his hands to generate separation, Tate has shown an intriguing ability to gain a step to gain a step on defenders deep.
Whether that translates to the NFL remains to be seen, but if it does then Tate, despite issues with fighting the ball and generating separation off the line as well as limited evidence that he can create yardage after the catch, should be able to produce in a significant way and is a raw talent the Niners need to have a close eye on.