Brad Kelly Mailbag: Which wide receiver prospects have star potential, which are underrated, and more

Welcome to the third edition of Brad Kelly’s mailbag, a regularly updated column currently focusing on the 2020 NFL Draft. If you have a question you want to send for next week’s mailbag, send a tweet to @BradKelly17 or @PFN365 on Twitter and we’ll try to include it in an upcoming mailbag column. Now in the thick of NFL Draft season, a lot of this week’s questions focused on the prospects who will be selected later this month.

The Brad Kelly Mailbag

Day 3 wide receiver who could become a star

If you had to bet on a day three receiver to be a star in the league, who would it be?

— Christopher Reynolds (@clreynolds93) March 31, 2020

Without knowing which wide receivers will fall outside of the top-100, it’s difficult not to believe in the potential of former Texas Longhorn wideout Collin Johnson. Measured at 6’6″ and 222 pounds, Johnson utilizes his size to expand his catch radius. While he’s not a technician, he’s developed in his press coverage releases and has fluid body control for a receiver his size.

Johnson has WR1 potential but could find himself selected on the third day of the draft due to the strength of the position group and lack of athletic testing after sitting out of the NFL Scouting Combine.

Potential weapons for Tom Brady

Who do you see as fits around Tom Brady in the draft as far as a receiving RB and a quick slot WR?

— GM wannabe (@GmWannabe) March 31, 2020

Before looking at NFL Draft prospects, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers could be in the market for free agents to fill up their running back and wide receiver depth charts around Tom Brady. Veterans such as Dion Lewis and Taylor Gabriel could be cost-efficient, effective players who fit the skill-set of weapons that have succeeded with Brady in the past.

For draft prospects, Clyde Edwards-Helaire could become a dominant running back in the passing game in the NFL. While there aren’t too many pure, quick slot receivers with reliable hands in this class, K.J. Hill and Devin Duvernay fit that mold.

Favorite wide receiver in NFL

Who’s your favorite wideout currently playing and why

— Eric Roddy (@RoddyPFN) March 31, 2020

I don’t know if I have a “favorite” wide receiver in the NFL, but I’ll undoubtedly admit to admiring players who I recently had ranked highly as draft prospects (Dante Pettis, D.J. Moore, D.K. Metcalf, Deebo Samuel, etc.). Beyond them, over the past few years, I would rewatch every Vikings and Chargers game in order to check out Adam Thielen, Stefon Diggs, Keenan Allen and to a lesser extent, Mike Williams. Add in Amari Cooper, DeAndre Hopkins, Mike Evans, and Cooper Kupp, and that’s probably the group I would classify as some of my favorites.

Best wide receiver fits for the Jets

What wr fits best with the jets in gase system. Would ruggs be best fit out of top 3 and in rounds 2-4 what guys should they be targeting to give darnold weapons if they go ot in round 1

— michael christopher (@Bigdogz1318) March 31, 2020

The New York Jets badly need help at the wide receiver position, but protection should always come first. So with that said, I’m going to focus on potential wide receiver options on the second day of the 2020 NFL Draft.

As it currently sits, the Jets have realistic options at slot receiver in Jamison Crowder, “Big” slot in Quincy Enunwa, boundary vertical threat in Breshad Perriman, and outside depth in Josh Doctson. Those options don’t elevate their passing game, but positionally they fit nicely around each other.

With that in mind, ideally, the Jets will target high upside prospects who have position and alignment flexibility. Outside of the top 32 picks, receivers such as Jalen Reagor, Van Jefferson, Jauan Jennings, Donovan Peoples-Jones, K.J. Hill and Bryan Edwards all fit that mold. Among that group, Reagor and Peoples-Jones have the highest ceilings, while the others (all seniors) have a healthy floor and natural projection to the next level.

Which Super Bowl had the best weapons?

I was rewatching the Steelers vs packers super bowl from 2011 and both sides had so many weapons. My question is what super bowl had the most offensive weapons on both sides ever?

— Christian Schabel (@SchabelQB12) March 31, 2020

What a question. 

The initial thought I had while pondering this answer was to look up past Super Bowls with legendary quarterbacks or offenses, such as Brady, Joe Montana or the Greatest Show on Turf. Surprisingly, none of those games really compared to the overall quality of weapons in other Super Bowls when both sides are taken into account. 

The game in question, Super Bowl XLV, featured Pittsburgh’s Ben Roethlisberger, Rashard Mendenhall, Heath Miller, Hines Ward, Mike Wallace, Antwaan Randle El, Emmanuel Sanders and Antonio Brown versus Green Bay’s Aaron Rodgers, James Starks, Jordy Nelson, Greg Jennings, James Jones, and Donald Driver. That’s a loaded group of skill players on either side.

Similarly, two years prior, the Steelers with Roethlisberger, Ward, Miller, Santonio Holmes, and Willie Parker faced off against the Arizona Cardinals with Kurt Warner, Edgerrin James, Larry Fitzgerald, Anquan Boldin, and Steve Breaston. Both games would be candidates for the most talented groups on either side of the ball during a Super Bowl.

While there are others that compete (both Cowboys vs. Bills Super Bowls, the Raiders vs. Buccaneers in Super Bowl XXXVII), the two games featuring the Steelers stand out above the rest.

Isaiah Hodgins is underrated

What’s you thoughts on Isaiah Hodgins he seems to be flying under the radar

— Eric Mack (@erav31) March 31, 2020

Isaiah Hodgins will be one of those mid-round picks that finds a home in the NFL for a decade. Hodgins was productive last season – 86 receptions, 1,171 yards, 13 touchdowns – showing the body control necessary to separate on double moves or finish in the red zone. He’s a fluid mover for his size at 6’4″ and 210 pounds, but there are concerns about his play speed and ability to stretch the defense vertically. However, with his consistent hands (just two drops in 2019) and a natural feel for the game, he has starter upside.

Jalen Reagor or K.J. Hamler?

Who is a better fit for the Chicago Bears in the NFL draft, Reagor or Hamler? And do either have a chance of falling to 43?

— Lukas Berry (@LBerry_40) March 31, 2020

There is definitely a strong possibility that either Reagor or K.J. Hamler will be available at pick 43, if not both prospects. Reagor is the better fit for the Chicago Bears offense, as his inside-outside versatility would pair well with Anthony Miller. Both prospects would provide value by the Bears second-round pick, and immediately improve the weapons for whichever quarterback wins the job in Chicago.

Favorite X-Men

Who is your favorite X-Men? pic.twitter.com/Lf16e6nWCO

— Chris Wahl (@49erFaithful_85) March 31, 2020

I’m admittingly a novice when it comes to the X-Men, but I’ve always viewed Mystique to be a dangerous and believable villain who better connects with the audience than most.