Draft 2017 – Pick #4: Josh Reynolds, WR, Texas A&M

OVERVIEW
Reynolds couldn't get a scholarship offer for football from a FBS school despite his manifold talents; in fact, Oregon State pulled their interest after other receivers ate up roster spots late in the process. So off to Tyler Junior College he went, receiving second-team all-conference recognition. Reynolds didn't waste any time making an impact when moving to College Station, where he was offered a partial scholarship as a hurdler coming out of high school. He led the team with 842 receiving yards and 13 touchdowns on 52 catches in 2014, the latter being

 a school record. 
Reynolds caught 51 passes for 907 yards and five scores as a junior, serving a one-game suspension for unspecified reasons. His best season came in 2016, when SEC media named him second-team all-conference because he finished the year with 61 catches for 1,039 yards and 12 scores.
ANALYSIS
STRENGTHS Very long, angular frame. Outstanding high school triple jumper and high jumper will dominate combine explosion drills. Vertical threat who can open his hips and out-stride a cornerback down the field. As good as it gets as a ball tracker with a center fielder's ability to judge trajectory and distance. Stacks cornerbacks on his hip and keeps them there. Has access to a second gear when the ball is in the air. Routes feature little wasted motion. Possesses superior ball skills. Plus hand-eye coordination and holds his ground in contested catches. Can climbs way up the ladder and use his length to turn 50/50 balls into 80/20 his way. Consistent red-zone threat. Wins up-and-over, with back shoulder fades and with inside release to slant. Thin but ultra-competitive and extremely tough. Will work the middle and does not fear incoming traffic. Gets after his blocks on the perimeter and meets aggression with aggression as blocker.
WEAKNESSES Has a thin frame with skinny legs. Body is unlikely to carry much more weight. Can be temporarily grounded in press coverage. Lack of play strength makes fighting past disruptive jams a challenge. Needs to improve initial footwork and vary his releases. Just average underneath. Long-strider with limitations in short-area quickness. Nothing special in hitch-and-run or wide receiver screens. Has some trouble dropping down and digging out the low throw.
DRAFT PROJECTION Round 3-4
NFL COMPARISON Marvin Jones
BOTTOM LINE Long and tall, Reynolds is a dangerous vertical threat thanks to his ball tracking and ball skills over eye-popping deep speed. Reynolds is a menace in the red-zone and can mismatch smaller cornerbacks in the air. He lacks play strength which could cause problems for him early in his career against physical corners, but his toughness, work ethic and football intelligence should overcome those concerns and help him carve out a career as a second or third receiver in the league. (NFL.COM)

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