Fansided
Fansided

Pittsburgh Steelers undrafted sleeper: WR Quadree Henderson

By Sayre Bedinger

PITTSBURGH, PA - OCTOBER 28: Quadree Henderson #10 of the Pittsburgh Panthers returns a punt for a 75 yard touchdown in the second quarter during the game against the Virginia Cavaliers at Heinz Field on October 28, 2017 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Justin Berl/Getty Images)
PITTSBURGH, PA - OCTOBER 28: Quadree Henderson #10 of the Pittsburgh Panthers returns a punt for a 75 yard touchdown in the second quarter during the game against the Virginia Cavaliers at Heinz Field on October 28, 2017 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Justin Berl/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit

The Pittsburgh Steelers may have found themselves a gem in undrafted free agent wide receiver/kick returner Quadree Henderson of Pittsburgh…

The 2018 NFL Draft came and went with one of the best return specialists in the class not being selected.

Pittsburgh’s Quadree Henderson proved himself to be a very valuable and versatile offensive weapon in the 2016 season when he rushed for 631 yards on just 60 carries with five touchdowns, and another 286 yards and a touchdown on 20 receptions.

Despite that kind of production, it was his ability as a return man that earned him All-American honors.

Henderson only returned 30 kicks over the course of the season, and returned three for touchdowns, averaging 30.5 yards per return. He also ranked third nationally with 15.8 yards per punt return and added another touchdown there.

Henderson’s big play ability in 2016 was impossible to ignore, and expectations were high in 2017 despite a change in offensive coordinator and the loss of some significant talent offensively.

Notably, quarterback Nathan Peterman.

More from NFL Mocks

Henderson was also slowed by injury in 2017, and that incredible talent on returns was just not the same.

He averaged just 21 yards on 25 kick returns and had no kick return touchdowns, but he did have a pair of punt return touchdowns, adding to his near-NCAA record total.

After proving himself such a capable threat offensively and on special teams in 2016, Henderson opted to leave for the NFL this past year, and he was unfortunately not drafted.

Still, this is a gifted player in terms of speed and the ability to make people miss in the open field.

Specializing in returning kicks and punts can certainly help him make a roster, but he’s going to need to take advantage of the opportunities he’s given offensively in Pittsburgh as well.

After running a 4.50 at the 2018 NFL Scouting Combine, the 5-foot-8, 192-pound Henderson got back to work and improved his time to a 4.41 at the Pitt Pro Day, which is much closer to the speed he plays at on tape.

His elusiveness in the open field and ability to score should make him an exciting player to watch for the Steelers this season.

Home/NFL Draft