Big WR's reach for draft status

02.25.2009

Michael Crabtree's foot injury became headline news at the NFL Scouting Combine, but another interesting tidbit came out of Crabtree's time in Indianapolis.

After being listed at 6-foot-3 during his sparking redshirt sophomore season last fall, Crabtree measured at just over 6-foot-1. Because the tape shows Crabtree playing like he's 6-foot-6, that's likely not a huge deal.

But many of his peers in this draft fit the "big" receiver mold, and with the way Larry Fitzgerald dominated the postseason last month it's clear that size is a trait that certainly won't hurt this bunch of receivers as they jockey for position April 25-26.

With no offense intended for the little guys, here's a look at some of the bigger receivers in the 2009 NFL Draft and how they may have helped themselves in Indy.

Darrius Heyward-Bey, Maryland

It's his eye-popping speed that gets your attention first, but Heyward-Bey has very long arms and actually looks taller than the 6-foot-2 he measured. It's not a surprise that he clocked the combine's fastest 40-yard dash time (4.30), and though some want to see more consistency before getting too excited about his highlight reel, it's an extensive one. And it's likely he'll be seen jumping for lobs in NFL endzones sooner rather than later.

Louis Murphy, Florida

Percy Harvin is the Florida receiver who shows up in the first round in many mock drafts, but the scouts know about Murphy, too. His unofficial 40 time was faster than Harvin's, and his posted time of 4.43 was just behind Harvin's and still very impressive for a man his size. Murphy measured just under 6-foot-3 and 203 pounds. He was overshadowed at Florida (not just by Harvin) but has the tools to succeed in the NFL.

Ramses Barden, Cal Poly

The biggest of the big receivers in Indy (6-foot-6, 229) looks like he's even bigger, if you can believe that. His job is now to make NFL teams believe he's ready to play with the big boys after dominating I-AA competition in college. He ran the 40 in 4.57 - very fast for his size - and also represented himself well at the Senior Bowl. If scouts believe there's more to the Vincent Jackson comparison than just the college background, he could be a first-day pick.

Kenny Britt, Rutgers

He needed just three seasons to become the Big East's all-time leading receiver and now brings his 6-foot-3, 218-pound frame to the NFL. He's another whose long arms mean very few balls are actually uncatchable, and he comes in with momentum. Part of his strong finish to 2008 was a 12-catch, 151-yard game at West Virginia, and all 7 of his touchdowns came after mid-October.

Brian Robiskie, Ohio State

Just a consistent, hard-working producer, Robiskie (just under 6-foot-3) used the Combine to show that any talk of him not being fast enough was a misconception. He's not going to win the Big Ten 100 meters, but with his background, his soft hands and big frame, he might end beating the other receivers in this class in the race to post a 100-yard game this fall.

Patrick Turner, USC

Statistically, he didn't have the type of career he'd probably envisioned on a loaded USC offense. But the Nashville native still stands out at 6-foot-5, and he's played in a pro-style. He might have to beat a stigma after the last two big USC receivers have been disappointing as pros, but he can reach up and beat just about any cornerback, and that should earn him a shot.

Hakeem Nicks, North Carolina

Here's an example of why Crabtree coming in shorter than listed last fall isn't that big (pun intended) of a deal: Nicks plays like he's 6-foot-4. He plays faster than his listed 40 time, too, and he catches everything in the zip code. At 6-foot-3, he might be the first pick in the draft; he still could be a first-rounder at 6-foot. Watch his Meineke Bowl highlights against West Virginia. It's likely you'll then watch them again (and again, and again). Wow.