Demaryius Thomas Write Up
Very, very seldom do you see 9s awarded in different categories. He got two.
Demaryius Thomas
WR, Georgia Tech
Obviously receiver is a huge need after the trade of Brandon Marshall, and we believe Thomas would have been warranted at their original spot at No. 11. He compares favorably to Andre Johnson, with his outstanding combination of size, athleticism, and aggressiveness after the catch.
PRE-DRAFT ANALYSIS
Hands: Lacks elite hands, which could cause him to struggle a bit. Adjusts well to make tough catches on both low and high passes. Tends to trap passes against his body or double-catch easy passes, which leads to drops. Uses body well to shield defenders and make tough catches. Gets up high to win jump-ball battles over cornerbacks, which makes him a real red-zone threat. Caught 87 percent of the passes he had a realistic chance of catching in the games we evaluated. Grade: 7.0
Patterns: Flashes ability to run sharp and precise routes downfield, but many of his routes in Georgia Tech's triple-option offense were near the line of scrimmage. Shows the athleticism to get in and out of cuts quickly on "out" routes; shows a burst toward the sideline to separate. Shows deceptive speed on deep routes; long stride makes him look like he is not going fast. Separates from defender and often has to slow down to wait for underthrown passes. Grade: 7.0
Run after catch: Is a big-play threat on every touch. Shows excellent quickness turning downfield after the catch; accelerates to full speed in a flash and has the speed to take plays the distance. Can outrun defenders who have angles on him. Uses stiff-arm well on first defender, and runs through would-be tacklers to make big play. Grade: 9.0
Release: Does not explode off the snap, but accelerates and quickly closes cushion on defender. Lacks experience beating jams, but has good stiff-arm that makes us confident he can handle physical NFL cornerbacks. Grade: 5.5
Blocking: Is an excellent blocker who uses his size, strength and competitiveness to eliminate man. Gets after defender quickly. If ballcarrier gets by him, shows real competitiveness hustling downfield to block additional defenders. Is highly competitive coming down the line to make crack-back blocks on linebackers to set the corner for the running back. Will become one of NFL's best blocking receivers. Grade: 9.0
Bottom line: Thomas, a junior, is a big receiver with outstanding athleticism who shows the ability to make big plays -- it is amazing that a receiver playing in an option offense has been able to average over 24 yards per catch. However, he must improve his fundamentals -- especially route-running, catching and recognizing coverages -- after playing in a rudimentary passing attack in college. His broken foot is almost healed, and he eventually will become an elite NFL receiver. He reminds us Calvin Johnson with worse hands but better explosiveness and speed.
Vinnie Iyer analysis
It was inevitable that Denver would land a big, physical, top-end athlete to replace Brandon Marshall. Thomas has the all-around skills to be a star receiver, and unlike the way Marshall behaved up until the point he was traded, Thomas comes to the team with great intangibles.
Correspondent Analysis
How he fits: The Broncos had a desperate need at wide receiver after the Brandon Marshall trade, and in Thomas Denver may have landed a speedier version with similar size. Thomas was a bit of a medical risk after suffering a broken foot before the Combine. But he ran a 4.38 previously, and his 25.1-yard average per catch on 46 receptions as a senior was hard to ignore.
When he'll play: Denver has solid possession receivers in Jabar Gaffney and Brandon Stokley and a shifty route-runner in Eddie Royal. What the team lacked -- even with Marshall -- was a game-breaker who could stretch the field. So Thomas could make an immediate impact in that regard. Quarterback Kyle Orton has fought a perception that he doesn't have a big arm. His ability to throw deep will be tested with Thomas' speed.
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Originally Posted by Ziggy
