Scouting Spotlight: Amari Rodgers & Dyami Brown

The Scouting Spotlight features a pair of wide receivers from the ACC, North Carolina’s Dyami Brown and Clemson’s Amari Rodgers.

Greetings Faithful! Today we focus on two wide receivers with intriguing upside and talent that can be great fits in the San Francisco 49ers offense. Kendrick Bourne departed in free agency after signing with the New England Patriots. The team seems to be set on parting ways with Trent Taylor. What is Jalen Hurd’s future? Is Travis Benjamin an option? Who knows. I know that the team will need options at a position that has been hurt by depth and injuries each and every season. With that said, let’s just jump right in!

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Dyami Brown, WR – North Carolina
Height: 6’1” – Weight: 189 lbs.

Pros:

It took about a home-run threat to inject into your offense! The 49ers will be looking for help at the wide receiver position, and Brown can be a dynamic playmaker for the team, especially with his ability to add yards after the reception.

He averaged at or around about 20 yards per catch. His ability to find open space and score touchdowns from twenty, thirty, or forty yards out is quite impressive.

Brown has the ability to build up vertical speed and keep the free safety honest up top. He shows the ease with creating separation, particularly at the intermediate levels on the field, and yes, Brown is a DEEP THREAT!!

His slant routes are tight and precise and will add an initial burst to create more YAC to extend plays. He is willing and able to position himself and contest for jump-balls in one-to-one opportunities.

Can play outside and in the slot. You can line him up at multiple spots. However, his route tree is limited (see below).

Cons:

While his speed builds up as the play extends, he lacks that shorter-area burst. Brown has not fully developed his route tree and may need to start off his career at the next level running specific or designed routes to put him in positions to succeed. He does not have the strongest hands and was inconsistent with his drops at times. Sometimes Brown doesn’t always have the cleanest footwork and could try and polish this up more at the next level. Brown is a below-average blocker and will need more seasoning and growth.

Final Thoughts:

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Brown could develop into a dangerous and dynamic receiver for the 49ers and can add another dimension to their already dangerous offense. I could see him fitting well with Deebo and Aiyuk. I also believe Brown can be a far more dynamic weapon than what the 49ers had in Trent Taylor. He can play on the outside as well, but I just have a feeling he will find his calling in the slot at the next level…We shall see.

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Amari Rodgers – WR – Clemson
Height: 5’10” – Weight: 212 lbs.

Pros:

Let me start off by saying the amount of will power and heart Rodgers has. Not to get all sentimental, but he tore his ACL and returned in under six months!

That is out of this world incredible! Not only did he return, but he came back stronger and more electric than pre-injury. Rodgers has strong work ethic, and plays bigger than his initial size and specs. He accelerates and gets to top speed quickly, and can contest at all three levels on the field.

He has natural footwork that put him in position to make off-target receptions. Has great vision, awareness, and ball-tracking abilities. Rodgers has that natural pull-away speed in the open field which help Rodgers become a YAC machine. He can break and slip by initial contact and tackles in open space.

Rodgers is a fighter, with a strong body that he trusts. He has a blend of different route speeds that can keep defensive backs off-balance and out of rhythm.

Cons:

He doesn’t have the longest arms or the biggest target for the quarterback. Has to show the ability to deal with NFL press up-front and the physical demands of the pro level. As mentioned earlier, he does have an injury history tearing his ACL. His agility in and out of breaks leaves a little to be desired. In all likelihood, Rodgers will be limited to the slot.

Final Thoughts:

Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images

Amari Rodgers offers you everything you would want out of a dynamic slot receiver. You are also getting a mature, four-year college player, who works and studies hard, is committed, and has the will power and worker ethic to reach his ceiling. What you are not getting is a wide receiver one…but is that what 49ers need right now? Rodgers would be a no-doubt instant upgrade over Trent Taylor. I love the value and dynamic abilities he can bring to a team who would only be adding another playmaker with YAC abilities and the ability to extend plays.

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