Who is the most boom-or-bust player in this draft?

Garoppolis · 2019-04-22T15:12:55-07:00

Why not, we've talked about everything else. Which player in this draft has the highest ceiling and the lowest floor? From what I could see online, these are the guys most often mentioned as boom-or-bust players in this draft. Marquise Brown is lightning fast and had a very productive college career, but he's 5'9" and 166 pounds, and coming off Lisfranc surgery on his foot. We don't know if he will be as fast after the injury, and, being rather tiny for an NFL receiver, he may be a higher injury risk. Hakeem Butler is big, strong, and fast, and has a knack for one-handed circus catches. Now if he could only make the routine catches. His drop rate of 16% is troubling. His route running also needs work. Rashan Gary put up great numbers at the combine for a player his size, but his numbers in college were less impressive. He often seemed to disappear in games. Was that how he was used, or is it a motivational issue? D.K. Metcalf ran a 4.33 40 time, which is spectacular for a 6'3" receiver, but his college stats don't reflect those numbers. His teammate A.J. Brown had more receptions for more yards in 2018 than Metcalf had in 3 seasons at Ole Miss. His straight line speed is unquestionable, but there are concerns about his change of direction. His combine times in the 3-cone drill and 20-yard shuttle were terrible. Kyler Murray had great production this year and is clearly a talented athlete. That said, he was only a starter for one season, in which he had a great offensive line and a receiver who is expected to be a first-round pick. But obviously, the primary concern is his height. He was the shortest QB measured at the combine since 2003. Ed Oliver is athletic and versatile, but undersized. Some people worry that he might get pushed around in the run game, and have suggested moving him to ILB. The recent success of Aaron Donald suggests that a smaller and faster DT can succeed, but is Oliver that caliber of player? Jeffery Simmons is a premier talent with two red flags - he tore his ACL at the combine, and he was arrested for assaulting a woman when he was in high school. He was reportedly a model citizen at Mississippi State. Deionte Thompson is an athletic ballhawk with great instincts, who was considered a definite first-round pick until inconsistent performances vs. Oklahoma and Clemson raised some concerns. He didn't participate in drills at the combine or the Alabama pro days, because he is recovering from wrist surgery. He's a physical player, but given his slim frame, that may not be a good thing. He also was arrested for assault in high school. Greedy Williams has size, speed, and ball skills, but tends to avoid contact, which is probably why run support is not seen as a strength. Some think his play regressed from his first season to his second. Feel free to vote, and to suggest other candidates. This draft seems to have more players than usual who are not sure things, but could be great, so maybe I missed the best choice.

Apr 22, 2019 at 3:16 PM

Waterbear
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Who is the most book-or-bust player in this draft?

....Alan Page

/thread

Apr 22, 2019 at 3:21 PM

Heroism
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That's easy: DK Metcalf and Rashan Gary.

[ Edited by Heroism on Apr 22, 2019 at 3:22 PM ]

Apr 22, 2019 at 3:31 PM

eastcoast49ersfan
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Posts: 4,112

Marquise Brown and DK Metcalf for injury concerns if nothing else. WR is also dependent on the QB and scheme. Rashan Gary will be decent against the run if nothing else. He'll be able to play strongside DE for someone even if he never turns out to be a great player.

Apr 22, 2019 at 3:37 PM

socal9er42
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Wu-......errr, Rashan Gary

Apr 22, 2019 at 3:47 PM

Nastastical
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Metcalf should win this poll in a landslide.

This kid could legit be scary dominant or one of the biggest bust of recent memory if he's selected very high.

Apr 22, 2019 at 3:52 PM

Phoenix49ers
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Even if book.

Apr 22, 2019 at 3:53 PM

Phoenix49ers
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Posts: 132,832

Originally posted by Nastastical:
Metcalf should win this poll in a landslide.

This kid could legit be scary dominant or one of the biggest bust of recent memory if he's selected very high.

This. He could be a beast receiver or an injury prone bust.

Apr 22, 2019 at 5:18 PM

9moon
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I'd have to say Bosa.

He's built reminds me so much of a FB..

Apr 22, 2019 at 5:33 PM

Garoppolis
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The poll is going about the way I would have expected so far. I voted for Simmons. I think he would have been a top 5 pick were it not for the injury, and there's still a chance he has the best career of anyone in this draft. But, y'know, we 49ers fans know what a gamble it is to draft a guy with a recent ACL injury. I'm curious to see where he's drafted.

Apr 22, 2019 at 5:42 PM

#10

MoeJontana84
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Posts: 1,626

Metcalf, on the perception that he is so disgustingly physically gifted that he can get away with being mechanically flawed if the team who drafts him just spams him on go routes and he burns the DBs.

Apr 22, 2019 at 5:45 PM

#11