Oakland Raiders: Five Late Round Prospects the Team Should Target
By Dan Fappiano
Dec 31, 2014; Miami Gardens, FL, USA; Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets wide receiver Darren Waller (88) makes a touchdown catch as Mississippi State Bulldogs defensive back Jamerson Love (5) defends during the first quarter in the 2014 Orange Bowl at Sun Life Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports
Darren Waller, WR, Georgia Tech
Darren Waller is an athletic freak. He stands 6’6″ and runs a 4.46 40 yard dash — that is the height of Rob Gronkowski combined with the speed of Antonio Brown. In the NFL you can teach all the fundamentals and route running you’d like, but you can’t teach athleticism.
Waller would provide the Raiders with a playmaker on the outside and a late round WR that could provide the team with TD machine.
If the Raiders were to say, draft Amari Cooper or Kevin White in the first round, Waller would be a great compliment on the opposite side. While there is no doubt that either White or Cooper would have speed and run more disciplined routes, Waller could create mismatches with his size.
We have seen what size has done in the NFL. For example, Calvin Johnson and Jimmy Graham are 6’5″ and 6’7″ respectively. They both have above average size and are able to get past their defender using their speed. Their height allows them to pluck the high ball out of the air or over a DB. While there is no comparison between unpolished Waller and NFL greats such as Johnson and Graham, with more seasoning, he could become a poor man’s Johnson and a dominant force for the Raiders.
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Waller racked up 442 yards and six TDs while averaging 17 yards per catch in 2014. While those stats might seem a little underwhelming, Waller had to play in a non pro-style offense at Georgia Tech. Their offense featured many run plays and option formations.
But while Georgia Tech’s offensive scheme may have stunted his growth in the pass game, he has proven that he can throw a block on outside runs. He uses his big body to manhandle defenders, giving his teammates a lane to run.
While he does need to get a little bit stronger, he is an extremely underrated blocker. He would provide a good compliment to the aforementioned rookie WR’s, not only as a nice piece to their all around game, but he could also block up field for them on long runs.
Another option for the Raiders would be to pass on WR in the earlier rounds to address other needs. Taking Waller late gives them a developmental prospect in the late rounds they could build around. While admittedly Waller won’t change an entire offense as a rookie, he does have fantastic long range potential and has been labeled as a “late bloomer”.
It is not common to be able to find a size/speed combination this late in the draft. Waller’s intangibles make him a solid sleeper pick. If he were to get some work in a pro-style offense and improve on his routes, he could become a true offensive weapon.
Next: OL: Greg Mancz