Strengths: When building the ideal wide receiver prospect, some of the first things I want are natural strength, aggressiveness and the want to get the damn ball more than anyone else on the field. Receivers that can win at the catch point, turn and bulldoze through defenders but still have the svelte movement skills required to create separation are very difficult to find.
Laquon Treadwell is that receiver.
Although not necessarily the immense upside player like Odell Beckham because his feet are not as dangerous, Treadwell has an impressive trait-filled body to work with. He has excellent size, length and his body is well-developed. Treadwell plays big, but dropped weight to increase his explosiveness as well. He wins at every point in his route. Off the line, good luck trying to jam him. He’s too physical and active with his upper body. His lower body isn’t lacking, either. He accelerates without wasting motion at the line of scrimmage. This forces many cornerbacks into off-man or zone. Thanks to his newfound speed in 2015, this isn’t ideal for defenses either.
Treadwell’s ability to eat the cushion from off-defenders forces them to play their hand early. Although he isn’t a 4.3-type player or has the quickness to break angles, he complements his powerful frame and hands with above average movement ability. This goes for vertical routes and sharp cuts alike. He’s able to win any anything asked of him, with the experience desired of running every single route. His specialty is back-shoulder fades and curls, which allow him to play the ball and use his frame to make the reception.
Blocking is another tremendous positive for Treadwell. He is brutal on the perimeter, pancaking cornerbacks multiple times a game. This isn’t a huge factor in the grand scheme of things, but I’d much rather have someone without questionable effort than someone with it.
Weaknesses: I think it is fair to wonder whether Treadwell is able to create enough separation to demand anything but man coverage. His speed certainly improved after he dropped about 10 pounds between his sophomore and junior seasons. This was apparent as watching him win on go-routes a handful of times in even a small sample size. But in general he will be facing stronger and faster corners in the NFL. He’ll need a quarterback with great trust and decent placement to give him the targets he deserves.
Treadwell generally has great hands but did suffer from a number of drops this year. He tends to turn his head and try to create too quickly at times. He has the ability to be a fantastic possession target, but that’s an area where I think his focus can improve. Also a steadier dose of passes his way will help. His surrounding situation at Ole Miss led to many passes going elsewhere.
Outlook: Although I don’t think Treadwell is that Dez Bryant-type prospect yet, the skillset is there to be a high end No. 1 receiver. Compared to past classes, he is right there with the Sammy Watkins and Odell Beckham-type of prospects. I’m not a big fan of receivers high in the first-round unless they have multiple trump cards. Treadwell has several, including his physicality, personality, hand strength and overall explosiveness for his size. He has few weaknesses right now, and seeing him so effective even when heavier helped illustrate his ability to convert contested catches regularly. So even if NFL CBs play him better (they will), he has shown the talent to be productive when the margin for error is small.
Value: 8.9 – High First Round
Comparison: Andre Johnson
Laquon Treadwell is that receiver.
Although not necessarily the immense upside player like Odell Beckham because his feet are not as dangerous, Treadwell has an impressive trait-filled body to work with. He has excellent size, length and his body is well-developed. Treadwell plays big, but dropped weight to increase his explosiveness as well. He wins at every point in his route. Off the line, good luck trying to jam him. He’s too physical and active with his upper body. His lower body isn’t lacking, either. He accelerates without wasting motion at the line of scrimmage. This forces many cornerbacks into off-man or zone. Thanks to his newfound speed in 2015, this isn’t ideal for defenses either.
Treadwell’s ability to eat the cushion from off-defenders forces them to play their hand early. Although he isn’t a 4.3-type player or has the quickness to break angles, he complements his powerful frame and hands with above average movement ability. This goes for vertical routes and sharp cuts alike. He’s able to win any anything asked of him, with the experience desired of running every single route. His specialty is back-shoulder fades and curls, which allow him to play the ball and use his frame to make the reception.
Blocking is another tremendous positive for Treadwell. He is brutal on the perimeter, pancaking cornerbacks multiple times a game. This isn’t a huge factor in the grand scheme of things, but I’d much rather have someone without questionable effort than someone with it.
Weaknesses: I think it is fair to wonder whether Treadwell is able to create enough separation to demand anything but man coverage. His speed certainly improved after he dropped about 10 pounds between his sophomore and junior seasons. This was apparent as watching him win on go-routes a handful of times in even a small sample size. But in general he will be facing stronger and faster corners in the NFL. He’ll need a quarterback with great trust and decent placement to give him the targets he deserves.
Treadwell generally has great hands but did suffer from a number of drops this year. He tends to turn his head and try to create too quickly at times. He has the ability to be a fantastic possession target, but that’s an area where I think his focus can improve. Also a steadier dose of passes his way will help. His surrounding situation at Ole Miss led to many passes going elsewhere.
Outlook: Although I don’t think Treadwell is that Dez Bryant-type prospect yet, the skillset is there to be a high end No. 1 receiver. Compared to past classes, he is right there with the Sammy Watkins and Odell Beckham-type of prospects. I’m not a big fan of receivers high in the first-round unless they have multiple trump cards. Treadwell has several, including his physicality, personality, hand strength and overall explosiveness for his size. He has few weaknesses right now, and seeing him so effective even when heavier helped illustrate his ability to convert contested catches regularly. So even if NFL CBs play him better (they will), he has shown the talent to be productive when the margin for error is small.
Value: 8.9 – High First Round
Comparison: Andre Johnson