Updated: Mar 22
With the NFL draft being just over a month away, the free agency hype is slowly coming to a close, and with fresh new draft prospects right around the corner, there's one department which has fans divided, the wide receiver group. With star-studded talent across the board in the wr department, some names like Tetairoa McMillan, Tez Johnson, and Matthew Golden are some of the names that have been floating around the first round, but one in particular has caught eyes more than others.
Early into the whole mock draft frenzy, it was Arizona’s Tetairoa McMillan who was creeping into the top 10, and was by far the most highly anticipated receiver heading into the draft. But after the scouting combine, pro day’s, and the college senior bowl, it looks like McMillans popularity has plummeted pretty badly.
It is getting more and more popular for wide receivers to be picked in the top five let alone the top 10 of the draft, most recently Marvin Harrison Jr, but in this year’s mock drafts, Tetairoa McMillan was consistently finding himself in the top five, being topped to be chosen by teams like the Patriots. But after some months of studying and watching teams, wide receivers like McMillan have slowly started to find themselves in the late rounds of the first round. For example, ESPN’s latest mock draft sees McMillan and Golden both being picked 20th and 22nd, but after time and deliberation, there is enough to argue that Texas’ Matthew Golden should be the first off the board.
In recent analysis, some experts and former players have questioned McMillan’s route running, and believed his praise is simply coming from elite jump ball plays, highlighting his inability to make a short yardage gain. Standing at 6 '5, and 212 lbs, McMillan is a more than effective deep ball weapon, and has the perfect ability to use his size to make his game versatile. But some have noticed his urgency and ability to reach top end speed has some pretty noticeable flaws, something others offer in the draft.
On the other hand Texas’ Matthew Golden has the opposite. Standing at 6 feet flat, and 195 lbs, Golden's speed and ability to make explosive plays after the catch is unmatched in this year's draft class. Being arguably the quickest receiver in the draft in terms of in game plays, Golden would be a perfect speedy option for any team looking for a wr2. It sounds stupid, but Golden's mismatched abilities compared to McMillan could see himself land higher in the draft due to his ability to play a perfect wr2 role. Golden’s switch of speed and modulation is something NFL scouts love to see, and his ability to keep backs on their toes and make mistakes is unlike anyone else in this draft class. It is definitely a possibility we see Matthew Golden sitting around the top 15 in this year's draft, one potential team being the Cowboys. With CeeDee Lambs McMillan like abilities, Golden is the perfect compliment, and a player with his ability, and understanding of what it's like to play for a team in Texas will definitely be something Dallas will consider.
Despite Golden’s amazing intangibles, McMillan on paper is a better receiver in terms of his ability to catch all types of passes, and his NFL ready size is a huge plus. But Golden’s sneaky abilities to play a number of systems may be more attractive to NFK scouts compared to being a one trick pony, only being an elite deep ball receiver. It will be a close call as to who comes off the board first, but don't be surprised if Matthew Golden hears his name called before McMillan.
Comments