Palmer hopes to follow Claypool's path
Last year, Chase Claypool burst onto the NFL scene. This year, another Canadian born and raised wide receiver hopes to do likewise.
Josh Palmer of Brampton, Ont., left the University of Tennessee last month to enter the coming NFL draft, forgoing his final year of NCAA eligibility.
Palmer is generally regarded as about the 17th-20th best wideout in the draft, set for April 29-May 1.
Annually one of the most accurate pre-draft analysts, Dane Brugler of Theathletic.com says Palmer “has vacuum hands and natural tracking skills to win the catch point, registering only four drops (none in 2020) on 164 targets in his college career.
“Overall, Palmer doesn't have an explosive gear, but his downfield work, ball skills and toughness are NFL quality. He projects as a depth piece with starter potential in the right situation.”
Brugler rates the six-foot-1¼, 210-pounder as his No. 19 receiver. For perspective, an average of 32 wide receivers per year have been drafted since 2016, with the 15th annually going off the board between late in Round 3 and early in Round 5, and the 20th between late in Round 4 and early in Round 6.
With Round 1 conducted on the first night of the draft and Rounds 2-3 on the second, at this point Palmer projects as an early pick on Day 3. He might even have a shot at Round 3 late on Day 2. Brugler says this year's receiver class is so talented it is comparable to last year's, which set an NFL draft record with 13 taken in the first two rounds.
“This class will have more receivers drafted in the top three rounds than last year's (which numbered 15),” Brugler wrote.
Where is Palmer hearing he might be drafted?
“I have no clue. I couldn't tell you. I don't know,” the 21-yearold told Canadian reporters Thursday on a video conference call. That uncertainty could be a good sign.
Palmer's draft stock has risen since he turned heads during Senior Bowl week, Jan. 25-30, where many of the top 2020 draft class players get measured, gauged and interviewed while practising for, and playing in, the premier U.S. college post-season all-star game in Mobile, Ala.
In that game, Palmer caught two passes for 27 yards, including a 14-yard touchdown toss from Texas A&M QB Kellen Mond.
NFL Network's lead draft analyst, Daniel Jeremiah, praised Palmer that week, noting “there wasn't a lot of buzz about him coming into the week, but I thought he was really consistent … smooth and fluid in 1-on-1 (practice reps).”
Palmer, like all Senior Bowl participants, got to meet scouts and coaches from all 32 NFL clubs.
“I was able to show scouts what I could do,” Palmer said. “I was able to make a lot of connections.”
Last year the Pittsburgh Steelers made Claypool the 11th receiver drafted (49th overall) in Round 2.
The Abbotsford native wound up having one of the most productive seasons of any NFL offensive rookie in 2020. He ranked fourth among rookies and tied for 44th overall in receptions with 62, his nine TD receptions led all first-year NFL players and his 11 overall TDS tied for 14th among all non-kicking scorers.
“He had a phenomenal year,” Palmer said. “It was great to see him flourish in the NFL.”
Palmer grew up in Brampton concentrating on three sports: soccer, basketball and football. He played soccer “for a bunch of teams” near Brampton, specializing as a goalkeeper, which surely helped to refine his hand-eye co-ordination at a young age.
He played basketball in Brampton and Mississauga.
As a teenager, Palmer played for the Burlington Stampeders and Brampton Bulldogs club teams, while starring as a receiver in Grades 9-10 on the junior football team at St. Roch Catholic Secondary School in Brampton. It was then he decided to make the NFL his career goal. For that reason he made what he now calls a “business” decision: relocating as a billeting student to Fort Lauderdale, Fla., to attend juggernaut high school football power St. Thomas Aquinas. He played two seasons there, catching eight TD passes as a senior before accepting a scholarship offer from Tennessee.
Palmer's best chance to move up NFL teams' draft boards is to run a blazing time in the 40-yard dash at his Tennessee pro day in Knoxville on March 25.
Palmer's goal? To break the 4.5-second barrier.
“I'm hoping to run anything in the 4.4s,” Palmer said. “No specific (goal). Just anything within the 4.4 range.”
Claypool ran a 4.42 last year.