2015 NFL Draft Scouting Report: DeVante Parker

DeVante Parker is as good a Wide Receiver prospect as there is in this class. Parker doesn’t nearly get as much press as Amari Cooper and Kevin White but he deserves all the attention he can get. Parker has the potential to be a top class wide out in the NFL.

Strengths

Parker is everything you would want in a receiver. He’s tall at 6’3, has a long, lengthy body frame, great speed (4.45 40 at the combine). He fits the mold of the prototypical number one wide receiver in the NFL.

Parker has two facets of his game that are exceptional.

Gaining yards after the catch, (that may be his best asset of all his skills) and tracking the ball in the air. He is a straight up play-maker with the ball his hands and a threat to make a big play at anytime in the game. During his senior season Parker racked up 855 yards and 5 touchdowns in only seven games. He can turn something into nothing with just a little bit of space.

Parker is a goal-line threat as well.

He has the ability to win every jump ball with any corner back covering him, his athletic ability and size causes goal-line mismatches constantly. He has terrific body control which allows him to make difficult catches like this one against Miami.

Parker displays quickness in the open field and can make defenders miss. He isn’t just a straight line speed guy, he can shake defenders on a dime or in mid-stride. Parker just makes big plays which brings him so much appeal to every NFL team in need of a receiver.

Weaknesses

His weaknesses can all be improved on at the next level. He is not the best of blockers but most prospects coming into this class aren’t. While he does possess great size and length for the NFL, his frame isn’t really fully developed yet. His body needs to fill out more, currently he weighs in at 209 lbs but can definitely put more muscle on his body.

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The lack of strength causes the injury concerns he has. He had surgery on his left foot in college that prevented him from playing in seven games. He also endured a shoulder injury at Louisville as well.

He does some have flaws with his route running and footwork but those can be improved with good NFL coaching and hard work. He is an intense competitor so the work ethic shouldn’t prove to be an issue.

Draft Stock

Parker should be a top-15 lock and is a near guarantee to be the third wide receiver off the board. Miami or Cleveland could be ideal landing spots for DeVante Parker.

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