Chicago Bears: 5 Wide receivers to target in 2020 NFL Draft
K.J Hamler. Scouting Report. Pick Analysis. 2. player. 806. Wide Receiver. Penn State
K.J. Hamler is the type of receiver who puts a lot of pressure on opposing defenses. He is a small receiver (5-9, 178 pounds) but he has the combination of blazing speed (he didn’t run at the Combine due to a hamstring pull but has sub-4.4 speed), quickness, athletic ability, and precise route-running make him a game-breaking threat at any level.
Throw Hamler a short pass and watch him turn it into a big gain. Throw an intermediate pass and watch him slip the defense with his moves. Make it a deep throw and watch him blow past the defender and score a big touchdown.
His body isn’t made to take big hits. Get him the ball in space, however, and have him use his athleticism to gain yards after the catch.
Hamler was projected to be a borderline first-round prospect but with the COVID-19 outbreak shutting everything down teams aren’t able to evaluate him. Despite his abilities, NFL evaluators need to know if he’ll be able to sustain the beatings in the NFL. He is the ultimate high-risk, high-reward prospect.
The biggest compliment one can get is the one you get from your competitors. Cornerbacks around the Big Ten consistently say Hamler was one of, if not the toughest receiver to cover, per TribLive.com. Jeff Okudah of Ohio State is a potential top-five pick in this draft and described Hamler as such:
"Ultimate speed, ultimate quickness."
Minnesota’s Antoine Winfield Jr., another top prospect, also praised Hamler:
"The most difficult matchup [I] faced last season. He’s super fast. He’s a dude."
Hamler copies his game after another small receiver, DeSean Jackson. Jackson is only 5-10 and weighs 175 pounds but just finished his 12th season in the NFL. Over that time, he played in 156 games, made 598 catches for 10,420 yards and scored 55 touchdowns. Along the way, he’s also made some incredible catches.
I’m not saying Hamler is Jackson but he has the tools to be as successful or even more successful. He is a dynamic, exciting player who could help any team win many games.