Bob McGinn-scouts/personnel thoughts on the draft - Page 2

WR up first

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Bob McGinn WR rankings

Bob McGinn's annual draft rankings are starting to be released and the WR group dropped today. For those who aren't familiar with McGinn, he has been doing this for decades, is highly reputable and is well ingrained in the scouting community.

As you'll see it's not a great class to be needing a WR with several of the top guys having some work ethic/diva concerns. Take the diva characterizations as you will as we know there are plenty of examples of successful receivers that meet this criteria.

**Quotes on the overall class:** “There’s maybe three or four top guys,” an AFC executive said. “There’s a lot of Day 3 meat. It’s not very top-heavy.”

“This receiver group is terrible,” an NFC personnel man said. “Absolutely terrible. There’s nothing here. Guys are going to move up a round or two just because it’s a terrible year. A third-rounder is going to be taken in the first and a fourth-rounder in the second. That’s how weak this group is. And it’s been great the last X amount of years.”

**#1 Tet McMillan:** “He’s big and strong, and he’s fast enough,” a third scout said. “He’s going to be one of those guys that will line up in a West Coast-type offense and beat you down on his routes and throw you off and make plays. That’s what he does. He’ll work the middle of the field between the numbers and just give you a headache all day*long. He’s a No. 1 (receiver). He’s a hard worker. Sky’s the limit.”*

*“The 2023 film is a lot better than this year,” a fifth scout said. “He was in protection mode this year. There’s stuff on film this year that’s just gross. The lack of competitiveness is just disturbing at times. Very undisciplined route runner. Big-play potential but too many times it didn’t happen. Not overly physical for a big guy but he’s got natural ball skills. His feet are awesome for a 6-4 dude. He’s a real smooth operator. He’s slippery in run-after-the-catch and he’s got pretty good speed. It’s just, which guy are you going to get? He’s a really immature kid. He’s a poster child for this NIL shit. They kiss his ass to get him to stay and then they do what they want.”

**#2 Matthew Golden:** “He is a great kid, and he could rise because of who he is,” said a third scout. “There’s not a whole lot of negatives on him other than (size). He’s fast enough to play outside. He doesn’t have runaway, home-run speed as a returner but it’s good enough.” Third-year junior from Houston. “Crafty little guy,” a fourth scout said. “Doesn’t have great hands. Not much magic after the catch. You have to get it to him quick. Just a guy, really. I don’t see him being a starter.”

**#3 Luther Burden:** “You wish you had bigger and faster for outside but he’s a good enough player to do it,” one scout said. “He’s probably most effective in the slot. There’s some really strong comparisons to Deebo Samuel. He’s got great hands. Really natural after the catch. Has vision, elusiveness, strength, toughness. One of the worst practice players you’ve ever seen but his talent on the field makes you take notice. There’s times when his routes are lacking but it’s more like effort and discipline (than) talent.**"**

“He’s a 5-star, they kiss his ass for three years just to keep him there,” another scout said. “The girlfriend is his manager. The mom is a problem. But he’s a good player on Saturday and he’s very ordinary Monday through Friday. That’s an area he’s really going to have to improve. I thought his tape from 2023 was better than 2024 but I also thought the quarterback play was a little better a year ago. If you take him you’re gritting your teeth that you’re going to have a (Sunday) player who isn’t going to add much to your team the other five, six days of the week. He’s a shaky first-rounder and a little more of a second-rounder because you can’t get anybody to really sign off on a clean bill of health as far as the personality and the intangibles.”*

**#4 Emeka Egbuka:***“He’s got really good hands and great instincts. He’s got good vision and he’s physical with the ball in his hand. He’s tough. He’s just not a speed demon like the guys we’ve known down through the years. Second round makes total sense. Good football player. You can put him at X or the slot. You want him as a matchup problem because he’s got size and he’s physical.”

“He’s a solid second-rounder,” a second scout said. “There’s no flash to him or anything like that. He’s a second or third receiver. I don’t think he’s a*go-to guy. He doesn’t make anything wow.” Five-star recruit from Steilacoom, Wash. “He’s like Jaxon Smith-Njigba but not as good,” a third scout said. “He’s a slot guy. Not very explosive. Good hands, not much run after the catch. He’s OK. He’s a third guy.”

**#5 Isaiah Bond:** “Prototypical what you would think of in a wide receiver: just generic boilerplate, selfish, diva wide receiver,” said one scout. “But, God, he’s got an incredible skill set. He’s really fast and he’s athletic. He can win with speed, with quickness. His run after (the catch) is amazing. Great ball skills. You wish a guy with his skill set had a better overall body of work in terms of production. He’s first-round talent but combine character and production and whether he goes there I don’t know.”*

“Doesn’t separate well, average hands. He’s not very good. Not productive at all.” Led his high-school team in Buford, Ga., to three state titles. Also won state championships in the 100 meters (10.48 personal best) and 200 meters (21.05). “He’s not very big but has big-time speed and athletic ability and good hands,” said a third scout. “He’s tough despite his size.”

**My view:** From a talent level, Tet seems to be the only one who should be in consideration at 8. Even if the Panthers are high on Golden or another receiver from this class it would be likely bypassing a better prospect on the defensive side at a position of need. I'll continue to be in the camp that a defensive player will be taken at 8 and a WR would be an option in a trade back scenario.

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