A long-limbed wideout with a nice set of mitts, Paul McRoberts is hoping teams take a chance on him in the closing stages of the draft.
The NFL Draft is filled with small-conference stars.
Paul McRoberts happens to be one of them.
The Southeast Missouri State product dominated the Ohio Valley Conference, totaling 76 catches for 940 receiving yards and nine touchdowns last season. He even finished as the school’s all-time leader in touchdown receptions (29).
While McRoberts will attempt to shed the perception that he was only productive against mediocre competition, there are other factors at play holding the standout receiver back.
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Let’s take an in-depth look at his draft stock.
Vitals
Ht: 6-2
Wt: 202 pounds
Class: Senior
Hometown: St. Louis, MO
Prospect Video
Strengths
The most impressive aspect of McRoberts’ game is his physic. The 6-foot-2, 202-pounder sports long arms with an equally lengthy stride. There’s not much that he won’t be able to at least get a fingertip on, as McRoberts’ catch radius is as sizable as his large mitts. He makes good use of his big-bodied self and will aggressively fight for any jump ball. McRoberts may not be a real threat after the catch, but he’s a hard-runner that’ll always work for extra yardage.
Weaknesses
For how great of an advantage McRoberts has in terms of his size, he simply doesn’t play up to it with any consistency. The former Redhawk gets roughed up and re-routed too often by cornerbacks, and he’ll find it increasingly difficult to create separation in the pros. Without much game-changing speed or quickness, McRoberts will also have to rely more on his hands and ability to make the tough catches. Even that’s a shaky proposition, though, as he struggled in college at timing his leaps.
Verdict
McRoberts will have to work much harder than many of his peers in the draft in order to attain a roster spot in the NFL.
At this point in time, he’s merely a one-trick pony at receiver, relying too heavily on his hands and catch radius.
A seventh-rounder at best, McRoberts will likely be picked up in the aftermath as an undrafted free agent.