The Pittsburgh Steelers have one of the best groups of WRs in the NFL. Could they have another gem in UDFA Canaan Severin out of Virginia?
Antonio Brown. Martavis Bryant (hopefully someday…). Markus Wheaton. Sammie Coates. Darrius Heyward-Bey. Canaan Severin?
The Pittsburgh Steelers have an absolute gem on their hands in the former Virginia receiver, who is one of the most skilled receivers not to get picked in this year’s draft. You always wonder after watching a guy like this play and seeing the type of impact they make on the field — why in the world didn’t he get drafted?
In an interview with SB Nation’s Behind The Steel Curtain, Severin himself gave a possible explanation…
“I feel as if I most definitely have the tools, and I feel I showed that my last two seasons at Virginia. But it was only those last two seasons, even though I increased every year. I think the people that place a significant importance on snap totals their first year in college most of the time its from there. I feel at this level teams want to see if you can get better each year.
Also, the fact that I am not a 4.4 (40-yard dash) guy is also against me. I am not a blazer! I am not a 40-inch vertical guy. The combine and draft is big for those guys, but that’s why making that big catch showing my catch radius or catching over the middle is huge for me if I plan to be successful at this level.”
It’s always the 40-yard dash, isn’t it?
Sigh…
Making it in the NFL is not all about your 40-yard dash time, which you already know if you’re reading this. Still, it’s clear that athleticism matters to NFL scouts, and if you don’t see certain traits that you want to see on tape in relation to athletic ability, it can completely shatter your draft grade for teams.
For Severin, that appears to have been the case.
At 6-2, 212 pounds, Severin has a great frame to be an NFL receiver. He does everything well on the field in terms of running routes, catching with his hands, making spectacular plays on the ball, tracking the ball deep, and scoring.
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When you watch that tape against Notre Dame, you get to see a great example of what Severin is capable of being as a receiver. Not only is he dangerous from the outside, but he can play the slot and use his size to dominate defenders.
He doesn’t have the elite athleticism, like he himself mentioned, but he has the ability to climb the ladder and make catches. He can use his body to shield defenders. He creates a broad catch radius from anywhere on the field. He sees the ball incredibly well and makes difficult catches with consistency.
As the situation with Martavis Bryant plays out, the Steelers will need some additional depth and Severin is a guy who could come in and provide it. He’ll have plenty of competition, but after watching him play, it’s clear to see he has the skills required to play in the NFL, even if the athleticism isn’t what his teammates in Pittsburgh possess.
This guy can flat out play, and the Steelers have a gem on their hands.