The receiver from Ohio State can do a lot of things, but can he be a priority target in the NFL?
Garrett Wilson – Receiver – 21 – Junior – Ohio State
Cut : 1m83
Weight : 87 kilos
Estimated draft position: 1st round
Stats 2021 : 70 receptions, 1,058 yards, 12 touchdowns.
NFL Comparison: Stefon Diggs
Strong points
– Tracking ability
– Reliable hands
– Yards after receipt
Right out of high school, as a 5-star recruit, Garrett Wilson was a profile that made many observers salivate. It must be said that the native of Austin, Texas, has a lot of strings to his bow to undermine the defensive backfield. Intuitive, lively, explosive, the talent of Colombus quickly increased in power in the explosive attack of the Buckeyes, to the point of becoming an essential pawn from the 2020 season. A year which moreover coincided with the qualification of Ohio State in the national final against Alabama.
Garrett Wilson’s first key asset is his drawing ability. Thanks to excellent support and dazzling changes of direction, the one who has just finished the 2021 campaign at 1,058 yards and 12 touchdowns knows how to be forgotten. Full center, he is a perpetual threat, especially since even without a blatant separation, the former basketball player knows how to play with his body to place himself in a preferential position and ensure the catch. With reliable hands and a good trigger, he is also capable of spectacular actions, like his crazy reception at the Fiesta Bowl 2021 against Clemson.
Wilson therefore knows how to be spotted and ensure connections. But once the ball is in hand, it is twice as dangerous. Again, his ability to accelerate, read blocks and find spaces is lethal and rightfully makes him one of the most courted receivers in this class. With Ohio State, his average yards after receiving is 6 yards, almost 2 more than his teammate Chris Olave, also announced in the first round of the draft.
Weak points
– Relative verticality
– Physical impact
What risks costing Garrett Wilson points in this draft process is largely his size. Quite slender, the Texan has not always been at the party against physical cornerbacks, followers of press coverage, and this may tend to limit his impact on the vertical game. This lack of aggressiveness is also felt in the bouldering phases, where he must clearly improve in attacks adept at ground play. Another important element: its speed. Wilson is nothing short of slow, but may suffer in comparison to other receivers in this class, especially given his explosive profile.
The stat
11.7: the lowest average yards per game for Garrett Wilson over the entire 2021 campaign. Within the infernal trio he composed with Chris Olave and the youngest Jaxson Smith-Njigba (not eligible this year ), the number 5 was the only target of the Buckeyes to systematically reach the bar of 10 yards per game, proof that he was often brought to move the chains. Interesting when you’re aiming to become a possession player at the top echelon…
Possible destinations
New York Jets, New England Patriots, Green Bay Packers, New Orleans Saints
In this modern NFL, hungry for powerful and fast receivers, Garrett Wilson might not tick all the scout boxes. But he remains a complete and successful specimen who has enough to rage from his rookie season in the big league. His ability to hit the mark in small spaces will make him a prime target in the slot, but the variety he can offer and his magic to make a difference after reception are enough to expand the playbook of certain coordinators and develop his pure talent. Over the month.
