NFL Draft: Standout offensive players from the 2017 Senior Bowl

Ralph’s Standout Wide Receivers

Cooper Kupp, Eastern Washington: The Eastern Washington wideout was among the select handful that were consistently dominant at their respective positions, as he put on a clinic in terms of beating his man and coming down with the football.

From Day One, Kupp was schooling every corner in front of him by beating both Desmond King and Jourdan Lewis with his quickness off the line and instant acceleration out of his breaks.

In addition, the all-time receptions, yards and touchdowns leader in FCS history is a pure snatcher of the ball. He makes it a point to catch everything with his hands.

Kupp totally undressed Brendan Langley in one drill by cutting inside of him on a slant the first time and soon after left the corner standing in the middle of field by feigning a quick move inside and suddenly breaking outside on the uncontested reception.

The third-generation football player seems to get open more on his head fakes and stutter steps than with pure speed, but separation—not straight-line speed—is real key to success for anyone that makes a living catching the football.

This four-time FCS All-American just has a natural feel for breaking free from the defender in front of him.

But Kupp also came down with contested catches while also showing the ability to get open by breaking down his defender and coming back to his quarterback, as he did on one connection with Peterman.

On game day, the aspiring NFL pro had a minimal role by recording two grabs for 14 yards. One of those catches, though, was of the one-handed variety that Kupp secured while diving to the ground.

The bottom line with this 6-foot-2 ½” pass catcher is that he didn’t even need to step on the field Saturday given what he showed from Tuesday through Thursday.

Watching Kupp compete and effortlessly reel in throws outside of his frame might remind some fans of Jordy Nelson, although the young weapon informed NFL Network analysts that he patterns his game after Larry Fitzgerald.

The former Big Sky Conference standout certainly has the skills and confidence to be just as productive as both of those grizzled veteran receivers.

Zay Jones, East Carolina: Hearing others commenting on how you catch “everything” has to be the ultimate compliment for any receiver, but Jones did that and so much more in Mobile, as the 6-foot-2 prospect has undoubtedly elevated his draft stock.

It would be difficult to envision Jones not hearing his name called within the Top 50 picks three months from now.

Production has never been a question with the former East Carolina Pirate, who led the FBS in receptions (158) and receiving yards (1,746), but scouts wanted to know if he could beat people deep due to how he mostly played in the slot during his time in Greenville.

Jones impressed on both deep and shallow routes, including crossing patterns, slants and downfield shots.

He was too quick off the line for Rasul Douglas in one drill in which the cornerback couldn’t get a hand on the lanky receiver to force him to the outside.

Langley later found out that Jones could be just as tough to deal with even when you do get your hands on him with the American Athletic Conference (AAC) phenom accelerating away from his man on another pass play.

On Saturday, Jones was one of the game’s shining stars by reeling in six catches for 68 yards and a touchdown.

Among his highlights were a 10-yard catch that required him to elevate and go into full extension in order to come down with the ball on 3rd-and-5.

Later in the first quarter, the Dallas, TX native went up high in the back of the end zone to secure a poorly-thrown Peterman pass, which would have been a touchdown if the receiver could have kept both feet in bounds.

After having another score called back, Jones was back in the end zone again on a play in which he beat Arthur Maulet on a shallow slant where he needed to have a tight grip on the ball with his opponent desperately attempting to rip out of his clutches.

This fast riser has the size, versatility and body control that will allow him to have an immediate impact on whatever team he gets drafted by.

His fearlessness to make contested catches and ability to adjust to balls thrown away from his body are traits that will pay immediate dividends in any type of system.

The fact that his father, Robert, was a three-time Super Bowl Champion with the Dallas Cowboys doesn’t hurt either.

Trent Taylor, Louisiana Tech: Generously listed at 5-foot-8, Taylor is as quick as a hiccup in the slot and defensive backs struggled mightily in trying to keep the Conference USA phenom under wraps in practice.

In one drill versus Lewis, Taylor didn’t let the corner’s stab knock him off his route. Instead, he used his start-and-stop ability to throw his man off balance and spun around toward to the quarterback to secure the sideline throw.

The undersized pass catcher proved to possess the ability to run several different routes, but he’s the type of player that NFL teams will want to get out in space on short flares and dump-offs due to his quickly eat up yards.

His change-of-direction skills after the catch will make Taylor one slippery customer that should be able to run by, under and around defensive backs especially on chain-moving third-down plays.

The former Louisiana Tech slot man wasn’t featured in the actual Senior Bowl game (one reception on two targets), but put in a solid enough week to solidify his draft standing.

Dan’s Standout Wide Receivers

Taywan Taylor, Western Kentucky: After a strong week down in Mobile, Taylor really proved he belongs among the top receivers in this year’s draft class. According to Pauline, Taylor “was the smoothest receiver on the field this week, making catches at full speed and immediately working down the field for yards after catch.”

Scouts raved about Taylor’s explosiveness in the open field and ability to create separation through precise route-running and sharp breaks. While Taylor only recorded one reception on two targets in the Senior Bowl game, the former Western Kentucky wideout showed consistent hands throughout the week of practice.

Both in one-on-one drills and team periods, Taylor hauled in contested catches and showed excellent concentration to track the ball in the air. He also fought through defenders to create yardage after the catch and take the ball upfield for big plays. He was perhaps the best player on the field during Wednesday’s practice.

While many will overlook Taylor because he only measures in at 5-foot-11 and 198 pounds and played at a smaller school, the dynamic receiver has the speed, explosiveness, and tenacity to be an effective boundary receiver in the NFL.

Josh Reynolds, Texas A&M: Reynolds had a bit of an up-and-down week. He dealt with a few drops in practice, but then he also made several eye-popping receptions. This theme continued on Saturday during the Senior Bowl game.

Reynolds finished as the game’s leading receiver with 96 yards and a touchdown on six receptions. Reynolds made his hay down the sidelines, hauling in passes over his shoulder or tiptoeing near the sideline.

His most impressive catch came in the second quarter when Reynolds gained a step on cornerback Brendan Langley down the sideline and hauled in a 39-yard touchdown reception from quarterback Davis Webb. Reynolds showcased impressive concentration and ball tracking ability on the catch. His length (6-3, 190) was also on display, which gives him a distinct advantage as a receiving target.

Reynolds could be a very good receiver at the next level if he shows more consistency and limits the number of drops. He possesses the combination of length, speed, and athleticism to make him a very effective boundary receiver in the NFL. He’s also great at the catch point and adjusting to the ball in the air.

Reynolds’ week down in Mobile may confirm he’s a Day 2 receiver in the draft.