The truth why the Dallas Cowboys won’t draft your favorite prospect
Garrett Wilson, WR, Ohio State
Reasons: Deep Separation Quickness against Zone Coverage, Competitive Toughness, Hands for Contested Catches
Games Watched: Oregon, Maryland, Michigan
Garrett Wilson had an awesome combine on Thursday only needing one attempt to run a blazing 4.37 40-yard dash. While it might not alleviate some play speed concerns, every team does know he can turn on the jets at any given time. If anything, it likely proves Wilson’s film is littered with moments of inconsistent effort and inadequate competitive toughness. This leads me to my next point!
Garrett Wilson has the athleticism to win in every part of the field. His very good foot quickness helps him set up some elite releases against press coverage and he can eat up free space stressing DBs in phase from off coverage. At 5-feet-11, he has average height and he uses it to sink his hips and change direction in short areas. He even displays good football IQ to locate soft spots and manipulate blind spots of defensive backs in zone coverage to work down the field and towards the boundaries.
The only issue is he doesn’t do it consistently, and it’s not because he can’t, it’s because he won’t.
He doesn’t attack all deep routes the same and he wastes separation quickness in the process. The competitive toughness issues extend to his run blocking where his marginal aggressiveness and physicality to block downfield cuts runs short or force the ball carrier to elude defenders he should be able to cut off.
For a guy who’s touted as a stronger receiver, he certainly doesn’t act like it at times. Even his contested catch ability is limited showing inconsistent hands to maintain a grip on the ball through contact. He does show a good ability to catch passes above his frame in the open field, but for whatever reason throw a defender into the mix and he’s a slightly different receiver.
Why do I bring this up? The Dallas Cowboys offense runs primarily from 11 personnel, with three receivers on the field having receivers that are willing to engage in run blocking becomes imperative. It’s an important trait to consider and something Amari Cooper, Michael Gallup, and CeeDee Lamb are capable of doing. I’m not saying Wilson can’t do it, I am saying his lack of desire to do it likely resonates with the scouting staff. Players like Treylon Burks and Drake London have good run blocking throughout their film and likely won’t receive effort questions from Will McClay, Chris Hall, and company.
The scouting process tried to highlight character so teams know the type of player and person they are getting when they draft someone. Seeing someone this athletic not show effort on the field does bring up questions, questions that are probably answerable, but questions nonetheless.
Onto Drake London!