The 49ers probably don’t like the short area issues, but his Pro Day and private workouts will be big for him.
Ole Miss wide receiver D.K. Metcalf put together some ridiculous numbers in the 40 yard dash, the vertical leap, and the bench press this weekend at the NFL Combine. It got tongues wagging considering how big he is.
We put together something about it, along with some of the chatter that people think the San Francisco 49ers should consider him with the No. 2 pick. Frankly, we posted that just a little too soon. As was noted in the comments and throughout social media, Metcalf’s stock took a hit (at least among the media) after he ran the 3-cone drill and 20-yard shuttle. Those two drills offer some insight into short-area explosiveness, and it was not pretty for Metcalf. After ranking in the top percentiles for bench press, vertical jump, and 40-yard dash, he ranked in the lowest percentiles for the 20-yard shuttle (3rd percentile) and 3-cone drill (2nd percentile). Here’s a look at his spider chart, via MockDraftable.
As many have noted, that short area quickness can be critical for getting separation from cornerbacks. Metcalf’s straight-line speed and physical prowess are great for go routes, but if he has to put a move on a cornerback, this suggests he will have some problems. When you’ve got that kind of size and muscle mass, it can create some issues.
USA Today’s Doug Farrar broke down Metcalf’s film, and offered up some thoughts on the poor cone and shuttle times. He saw a guy who “show[s] potential for more elevated route concepts when he gets more reps that way.” He may or may not reach that potential with more work, so the buzz does need to be restrained a little bit in that regard.
It’s safe to say teams will be paying close attention to his route work when he holds a Pro Day and at private workouts. But, who knows maybe Kyle Shanahan and Wes Welker think they can work with the potential and mold it into what they want. I really don’t see them spending the second overall pick on him, so we’ll see if he slips down into the second round, or if somebody in between falls in love with the athletic freak.
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