Milwaukee Journal Sentinel - Packer Plus
Receiver talent runs deep
Editor’s note: This story was published April 13, 1996. It was edited here for space.
Green Bay — Ohio State’s Rickey Dudley has almost unparalleled physical gifts and could develop into the second coming of Kellen Winslow.
Not since New England made Irving Fryar the first pick in 1984 has a National Football League draft been led off with a wide receiver. Southern California’s dynamic Keyshawn Johnson could be the No. 1 choice next Saturday.
While Dudley and Johnson are the leading men, both the quality and quantity of their supporting casts makes this a harvest of plenty at receiver.
Green Bay’s Mark Chmura made the Pro Bowl and, in February, signed a new contract averaging $1.6 million. As good as Chmura is, one personnel director said Dudley, USC’s Johnny McWilliams and Washington’s Ernie Conwell were better than Chmura right now and that Eastern Kentucky’s Jason Dunn had the potential to be.
In the modern era, the years by which wide-receiver drafts are measured are 1988 (Tim Brown, Sterling Sharpe, Michael Irvin, Anthony Miller, Brian Blades and Brett Perriman) and 1978 (Wes Chandler, James Lofton and John Jefferson).
“I think this is potentially a better class than 1988,” New Orleans general manager Bill Kuharich said. “There’s 16, 18, 20 wide receivers that will play in this league.”
Johnson and Dudley are too special to last long in the draft. But Ohio State’s explosive Terry Glenn, Syracuse’s fluid Marvin Harrison and Mississippi State’s talented Eric Moulds considered the best three of the other wideouts might be chosen later than expected because the shortage of defensive standouts could create an early run there.
“This is the key to the draft,” one scout said. “The team that does the best job on the receivers will have the
best draft.”
Height, weight and speed are the foundation of the evaluation process. To understand the stir created by Dudley (6 feet 61⁄2 inches, 248 pounds, 4.49 seconds in the 40-yard dash), it is instructive to compare his measurables with Winslow and the six firstround tight ends of the 1990s.
Winslow, the 13th pick in 1979, was 6-5, 242 and ran about 4.68.
The last six first-round tight ends were Eric Green (6-41⁄2, 274, 4.8), Derek Brown (6-51⁄2, 252, 4.78), Johnny Mitchell (6-21⁄2, 258, 4.7), Irv Smith (6-3, 255, 4.74), Kyle Brady (6-6, 262, 4.82) and Mark Bruener (6-41⁄2, 251, 4.82).
“I wasn’t there at Dudley’s workout (March 8), but I’m told it was the damndest thing they’d ever seen,” Atlanta scout Dick Corrick said. “They thought he would be fast, but in the 4.6s. That would have been super.
Well, he’s in the 4.4s. Kellen Winslow had good speed, but he didn’t have that kind of speed.”
WIDE RECEIVERS
Journal Sentinel pro football writer Bob McGinn assesses the top receivers available in the NFL draft. Included is each player’s school, height, weight, time in the 40-yard dash and round in which he is projected to be selected.
1. KEYSHAWN JOHNSON, Southern California 6-3 220 4.53 1
“He’s the popular big wide receiver of today,” said Jerry Reichow, Minnesota’s scouting director. Dangerous after the catch, fearless inside and unbelievably focused on the ball. Plays best in the most important games. Loves to talk trash and has been prone to incit
ing the opposition. “Spent some time in the reformatory, but it doesn’t seem to have left any ill effects on him,” one scout said. “He’s very open and a good, hard-working kid. I see him being a very, very good, consistent player . But I don’t see him being an impact player, because he doesn’t have the speed.”
2021 lookback: Drafted: 1st round, 1st overall by Jets. NFL games: 167. Pro Bowls: 3. All-pro first-team selections: 0.
2. TERRY GLENN, Ohio State 5-101⁄2 183 4.43 1
Unknown backup to Joey Galloway and Chris Sanders in 1993-’94 before exploding into stardom in ‘95. “I don’t know if he’s as good as Galloway, but he’s a great competitor who made a hell of a lot of spectacular plays,” said Mike Allman, Seattle’s personnel director. Disappointed scouts with 4.48 clocking March 8 but ran in low 4.4s Wednesday. A one-year wonder some teams wish was more dependable. “He probably should have stayed in another year, but he has great physical ability,” said Ron Hughes, Detroit’s director of player personnel.
2021 lookback: Drafted: 1st round, 7th overall by Patriots. NFL games: 137. Pro Bowls: 1. All-pro selections: 0.
3. MARVIN HARRISON, Syracuse 6-0 180 4.35 1
Lithe big-play threat averaged 20.4 yards on 142 career receptions. “Natural athlete, good kid, good hands, good returner,” one scout said. Played well with a broken thumb in the post-season, then ran a fabulous 40 in spring workout to cement mid-first round status. Slight build is a concern. “I questioned his toughness a little bit,” 49ers scout John Brunner said.
2021 lookback: Drafted: 1st round, 19th overall by Colts. NFL games: 190. Pro Bowls: 8. All-pro selections: 3. Hall of Fame: 2016.
4. ERIC MOULDS, Mississippi State 6-1 205 4.60 1
Stock declining because of sullen attitude and checkered past. “He’s been pampered and babied,” one scout said. “Not wholesome.” Another personnel director said: “Doesn’t work hard or rehab hard. People are scared to death of him. A high-risk guy who could selfWorld-class destruct.” Terrific kickoff returner and a smooth receiver with a knack for making acrobatic catches. “Really an excellent player with great athleticism,” Raiders scout Jon Kingdon said.
2021 lookback: Drafted: 1st round, 24th overall by Bills. NFL games: 186. Pro Bowls: 3. All-pro selections: 0.
5. DERRICK MAYES, Notre Dame 6-0 201 4.55 1-2
Overweight as a senior and erratic working inside, but lost 15 pounds over the winter and excelled at the Senior Bowl and combine. “He is on the rise,” Buffalo general manager John Butler said. “He ran well at his workout.” Thick buttocks and powerful build draws comparisons with Sterling Sharpe. Catches the high ball in crowds. “I’d say Mayes might be the best if he stays healthy,” said Billy Devaney, San Diego’s director of player personnel. “We think he’s a lot like Michael Irvin.”
2021 lookback: Drafted: 2nd round, 56th overall by Packers. NFL games:
58. Pro Bowls: 0. All-pro selections:
0.
6. EDDIE KENNISON, Louisiana State 5-111⁄2 191 4.45 1-2
“He’s really only played one year, but he’s got everything and he belongs up there with those guys,” said Hughes. track athlete and probably the best punt returner in the draft. Instant acceleration but will need route refinement. “He’s not a proven product,” said one scout. “He doesn’t catch the ball real well.”
2021 lookback: Drafted: 1st round, 18th overall by Rams. NFL games: 179. Pro Bowls: 0. All-pro selections: 0.
7. ALEX VAN DYKE, Nevada 5-111⁄2 193 4.51 1-2
Junior-college transfer who caught 227 passes for 3,100 yards and 26 touchdowns in just two seasons. “The production is just phenomenal,” Butler said. Exceptional hands and outstanding routes. “A really strong runner,” said one scout. “Strong. Mentally will hold him back from greatness.” Had one of the lowest scores (6) in the draft on the 50-question Wonderlic intelligence test.
2021 lookback: Drafted: 2nd round, 31st overall by Jets. NFL games: 42. Pro Bowls: 0. All-pro selections: 0.
8. BOBBY ENGRAM, Penn State 5-10 186 4.59 2
Compared favorably by some scouts to his former teammate, O.J. McDuffie of the Miami Dolphins. “Hell of a playmaker,” one scout said. “He’s got a knack to play football. He’ll be a 4.6 guy in gear and on wet grass, dry grass, turf. You can go by all this workout (stuff) all you want to, but Engram is a football player.” Productive three-year starter and top punt returner, but ordinary speed still is a turn-off to some teams.
2021 lookback: Drafted: 2nd round, 52nd overall by Bears. NFL games: 176. Pro Bowls: 0. All-pro selections: 0.
9. MUHSIN MUHAMMAD, Michigan State 6-2 217 4.45 2
Career appeared over in ‘93 when he was sentenced to 90 days in the county jail when a weapons charge violated his probation for marijuana possession. Given a reprieve by former coach George Perles, earned starting job in ‘95 and shocked scouts with boffo combine workout. “When he came there he couldn’t catch a pass, but he had some great games at the end of the year,” Hughes said. Highly competitive and so physical some teams might try him at free safety.
2021 lookback: Drafted: 2nd round, 43rd overall by Panthers. NFL games: 202. Pro Bowls: 2. 1.
All-pro selections:
10. AMANI TOOMER, Michigan 6-3 197 4.38 2-3
Owns a 40-inch vertical jump and looks the part. Seemed to regress as a senior and didn’t make many big plays. Excellent straight-line speed but not very maneuverable. “Could be one hell of a player,” said one scout. “One of those typical guys that’s come out of Michigan now. Doesn’t extend himself quite like he should.”
2021 lookback: Drafted: 2nd round, 34 overall by Giants. NFL games: 190. Pro Bowls: 0. All-pro selections: 0.
OTHERS: Stepfret Williams, Northeast Louisiana; Bryan Still, Virginia Tech; Patrick Jeffers, Virginia; Terrell Owens, Tennessee-Chattanooga; Sir Mawn Wilson, Syracuse; Iheanyi Uwaezuoke, California; Jahine Arnold, Fresno State; Dietrich Jells, Pittsburgh; Reggie Barlow, Alabama State; Chris Doering, Florida; Joe Horn, former Itawamba (Miss.) Junior College / CFL Memphis Mad Dogs; Phillip Riley, Florida State; Jermaine Lewis, Maryland.
TIGHT ENDS
1. RICKEY DUDLEY, Ohio State 6-61⁄2 248 4.49 1
Chiseled. “He looks at his position like Sterling Sharpe looked at his,” said Jerry Angelo, Tampa Bay’s director of player personnel. “Pumped. I guess he’s like Kellen Winslow or Russ Francis.” Still, an unfinished product in every area, especially blocking. “This guy might not be as strong and physical as Ben Coates, but he’ll be just as good a receiver and should develop into a decent blocker,” said Tom Boisture, the Giants’ director of player personnel.
2021 lookback: Drafted: 1st round, 9th overall by Raiders. NFL games: 108. Pro Bowls: 0. All-pro selections: 0.
OTHERS: 2. JOHNNY MCWILLIAMS, S. California; 3. JASON DUNN, E. Kentucky; 4. ERNIE CONWELL, Washington; 5. MARCO BATTAGLIA, Rutgers.
THE REST: Brian Roche, San Jose State; Scott Slutzker, Iowa; Tony Johnson, Alabama; Henry Lusk, Utah; Lovett Purnell, West Virginia; Jarius Hayes, North Alabama; Jay Riemersma, Michigan.