Player Profile: DeAndre Hopkins

DeAndre Hopkins

Height:  6'1
Weight:  214
School:  Clemson
Position:  Wide Receiver
Ranking:  #4 Wide Receiver
Projection:  2nd Round

Strengths
-Good size of a possession receiver (6'1 214)
-Large hands (10") allow him to catch everything in sight
-Long arms (33 3/8") make it easier to pluck balls out of the air.
-Great leaper (36") that allows him to out jump defenders for the ball
-Good body control allows him to adjust in the air
-Understands how to use his body to shield defenders
-Good athlete.  Played on the Clemson basketball team for a year.
-Knows how to run great routes.  Sets his routes up and uses good foot quickness
-Good fundamentals allows him to excel in run blocking
-Has a nasty streak when blocking in the run game.  Takes pride
-Has a knack for making big catches
-Durable.  No major injuries.

Weaknesses
-Average speed at best. (4.51 40)
-May have trouble creating separation
-Doesn't offer much after the catch
-Does let the ball get to his pads on occasion
-Will have a few focus drops
-Not going to give you much down the field

Summary
DeAndre Hopkins didn't get a lot of attention at Clemson due to Sammie Watkins being opposite of him, but everybody is starting to see why NFL teams are coveting him.  Hopkins is a sneaky good athlete who uses his quickness and savvy route running to get open on short and intermediate routes and move the chains.  Pair that up with his huge (10") hands he catches everything in sight.  He has good size and knows how to use it shielding defenders off and bullying them in the run game.  Now what holds Hopkins back from being one of the elite receivers in this class is he doesn't have great speed and causes him to have low after the catch numbers and not pose much of a threat down the field.  Hopkins will probably never be an elite #1 wide receiver in the league, but he could thrive as an elite #2 receiver.  Hopkins reminds me a lot of Reggie Wayne.  Look for him to go somewhere in the high to mid second round, but I wouldn't be shocked if somebody took him in the late first.