2011 NFL Draft Scouting Report: Jonathan Baldwin, Pitt
By Editorial Staff
Jonathan Baldwin– WR- Pittsburgh
6-5 225lbs Junior
Stats:
2008- 18 receptions, 404 yards, 3 touchdowns
2009- 57 receptions, 1111 yards, 8 touchdowns
Pros:
When you look at Jonathan Baldwin the first thing you notice is his unbelievable size. At 6-5 Baldwin is an immediate mismatch for most cornerbacks. Not only is Baldwin tall but he also possesses great strength. His size and strength allow him to make plays on jump balls and in tight coverage. Those skills also make him a great Red Zone threat. When watching video of Baldwin another thing that jumped out at me is that he always gets the ball at its highest point and doesn’t allow the ball to get to his chest. Baldwin also excels at finding the opening in a defensive zone and settles nicely in those openings.
Cons:
While watching some film on Baldwin I noticed that he is rarely wide open. Most of his catches come with defensive backs either on his back or very near him. This draws some concerns about his ability to get separation. This will be something to watch closely this season because if he can’t get separate at the college level he will struggle in the NFL. Another concern is with his route running speed. He tends to slow down too much when coming in and out of his breaks.
Thoughts:
With Baldwin’s great size and strength he is a quarterback’s best friend. He will make plays on a lot of poorly thrown balls. A quarterback can count on Baldwin to be the first to touch the ball in a jump situation. The concerns about Baldwin’s separation and routes can be overcome with a good Junior season. The one thing he has going for him is the size which will, in most cases, overcome the lack of separation. Baldwin sits on the fringe of our 2011 NFL Draft Prospect Big Board and comes in at #5 in our 2011 Wide Receiver Rankings.
Projected Round:
Baldwin’s upside and potential will likely keep him in the first round discussion. I would be very surprised if he makes it out of the first round.