The way football is played in today's modern NFL requires players to know more than just one position, especially if you're a wide receiver. When coaches, general managers, and scouts evaluate a players' tape, they're looking for consistent production, separation at the line of scrimmage, physicality, and a firm knowledge of the route tree.
Tuesday afternoon, Las Vegas Raiders General Manager Mike Mayock addressed the masses at the 2020 NFL Scouting Combine, fielding myriad questions from the national media. One question in particular piqued my interest though; Mayock was asked why rookie wide receivers take a while to transition to the NFL level, and his answer said a lot about what he's looking for in this year's draft class.
"I think there are several reasons.

Reason number one: The lack of quality press coverage in college football," he said. "When you've got a grown man trying to keep you off the line of scrimmage that's competent, long, and tough that's a different issue. That's number one."

"Number two: When you are able to get off the line of scrimmage and the picture changes, the coverage changes, you could go from being the third option on the backside to the first option on the front side. You got to filter that on the run without slowing down, so think about it, when you have to slow down and you're thinking, what happens? Physically you're slower, you're not there [mentally]," Mayock explained. "Why do guys not look as quick in college? That's usually the biggest tell tale is that they're confused. They're not sure where they're going."

"I think number three is just how much offense you have to absorb," he said. "I've met with some of the college wideouts this year and what they're doing… half of them are looking at the sideline and they have their own individual coach telling them what route to run. Jon Gruden's head would explode. You better get in there and get in the huddle and learn three positions not one, and what he's asking you to learn is mind boggling. I think those are the three main reasons why rookie wide receivers aren't what they should be in the NFL."

half of them are looking at the sideline and they have their own individual coach telling them what route to run.

Mike Mayock wrote:

I'm a little confused by this statement. Is he saying that NFL teams are assigning individual coaches to rookie wide receivers to ease their transition into the league, or is he saying that in college, wide receivers are relying on individual coaches to know what routes to run in lieu of learning the offense. If it's the latter, 1) how are college teams able to afford to keep so many coaches on staff; and 2) have college offenses really become so complex that receivers struggle to memorize their assignments?

Originally Posted by: Nonstopdrivel 

I get that the transition is huge for some of these WRs, but what I cannot understand is why some coaches don't just simplify things for the rookies while they learn. Maybe your rookie will not know the playbook, but if they can master 30 or 40% of it why not allow those players to get reps on where they can be best utilized? Deebo and Hollywood looked great this year as rookies. Their teams must have been doing something right and perhaps it was just simplifying their playbook as they grow and learn the system.

Originally Posted by: TheKanataThrilla 

K.J. Hamler to Packers in first round of 2020 mock draft 
by Freddie Boston

Wide receiver K.J. Hamler could be a first-round target for the Green Bay Packers.

Green Bay Packers general manager Brian Gutekunst hoped to add an “explosive offensive player” before the trade deadline but was unable to. In the first round of the 2020 NFL Draft, could Penn State wide receiver K.J. Hamler be the answer?

Phenomenal after the catch, Hamler is one of the most exciting receivers in this year’s class. He’s fast, explosive and fun to watch.

In Cody Williams’ latest mock draft for NFL Spin Zone , Hamler goes to Green Bay with the 30th overall pick.

With Hamler’s speed and ability to line up just about anywhere, it would be fun to see how Matt LaFleur would use him in his offense. He could be a great option in the slot and would give the Packers a receiver capable of getting open deep.

Hamler is 41st in NFL.com analyst Daniel Jeremiah’s top 50 prospect rankings  for this draft class.

“Despite his limited size/frame, he’s very effective working in traffic,” Jeremiah wrote.

The biggest concern with Hamler is his size. According to Charles Robinson of Yahoo , Hamler measured at 5-foot-8 at the combine. Typically, the Packers tend to avoid smaller receivers in the draft.

The three receivers Gutekunst drafted in 2018 are all over 6-foot. J’Mon Moore is 6-foot-3, Marquez Valdes-Scantling is 6-foot-4, and Equanimeous St. Brown is 6-foot-5.

Despite that, Gutekunst said that it’s about what a receiver can add to the offense.

“I don’t think we would not draft a player just because he wasn’t tall enough,” Gutekunst said on Tuesday at the NFL Scouting Combine, according to Wes Hodkiewicz of Packers.com . “We had Randall Cobb here who was a really good player for us for a long time. He certainly didn’t meet some of the height requirements.”

While Hamler’s size is a slight concern, he makes up for it with his speed and ability after the catch.

If the Packers decide to address the offense on Day 1 of the draft, there will be a talented group of wide receivers to choose from. A few receivers will likely be off the board, but there shouldn’t be any concerns about the depth of talent in this class.

If Hamler is still available, he’ll be one of the prospects the Packers should seriously consider.

Freddie Boston wrote:

Wide receiver K.J. Hamler could be a first-round target for the Green Bay Packers.

Originally Posted by: Nonstopdrivel