Rd 6, Pick 207 (from Ravens via NE): WR, Isaiah Hodgins, Oregon State

[qwksilver]

1 hour ago, Straight Hucklebuck said:

There is your 6’4” 4.60 40-yard dash Antonio Gables Golden clone and huge college production again.
 

Great hands, speed limited.

++ Against better competition.

[The Dean]

4 minutes ago, Locomark said:

I played WR in high school. There are only about 12 routes you can ever run. KC has a few wrinkles on their downfield routes also. How sophisticated is it. People act like a route tree is 100 routes. 4 years of college and you better have mastered 12 routes. So if each one of them is run at 3 different depths, that 36 combos tops.

 

I don't know what to say. If you can tell from watching that on some teams the WRs are only aked to run very few routes as opposed to other teams, I really don't know what to tell you. But if you are saying, if he can run the routes he has been asked to run well, he should be able to run them all, then I don't know what to tell you. 

 

I would agree that, if he runs all the routes he is asked to run well, then he can probably do a good job on many others as well, I'd have to agree.

[MikeSpeed]

1 hour ago, MAJBobby said:

wait and see. Only and the Only reason they may be a safe if they come in greatly improved or the truncated offseason workouts 

Hey I hope they make Diggs and Brown trade bait, but unless they are great ST guys I'll be really surprised if they are active on game day.

[MAJBobby]

1 minute ago, MikeSpeed said:

Hey I hope they make Diggs and Brown trade bait, but unless they are great ST guys I'll be really surprised if they are active on game day.

umm these two won’t touch Diggs or Browns Roster spot. But Fosters and Williams they definitely will. 

[transplantbillsfan]

Seems like Hodgins and Davis were viewed similarly as prospects in terms of their rankings.

 

CBS Sports had Hodgins at 129 and Davis at 119.

 

Hodgins looks like good value in the 6th.

[Lurker]

Well, I'm back from having my head stuck in a bucket of ice.   And very happy to see that Hodgins is the pick here.

 

He's got insane body control as a third down and red zone target.  He doesn't get much seperation, even at the college level, but he can still be effective if Josh learns to throw him open (i.e., sideline throws, back of the end zone jump balls, etc).  He's got tremendous hands and seems to have good football IQ in terms of overcoming his athletic limitations.

 

IMO, he'll make a good WR5, but he'll have to play special teams, which I'm not sure he's done before.

 

Enjoy some of these sideline catches--that's where he's going to make his living:

 

 

 

[TigerJ]

2 hours ago, The Firebaugh Kid said:

Nick Easley? I seriously don't remember who he is. 

UDFA last year.  I think he came from Iowa or some Midwest school.  He is 5'11" I think, and an outstanding route runner.  Pure slot receiver.  If Beasley can give the Bills anpther productive year or two, Easley might be able to come in and give Buffalo the same kind of receiver.  He's got 4 inches on Beasley, but otherwise they are very similar.

 

As far as Hodgins and Davis are concerned, Davis has better speed while Hodgins is a better route runner with better hands.  Davis has been pretty much a pure deep receiver.  He'll have to do more than that to carve out a role for himself in the NFL.  Davis is a little more rugged.  Hodgins is going to need to add 10 - 15  lbs of muscle and toughen up a bit.  The reliability of his hands is a big plus.

 

Neither one is going to get a lot of reps this year.  2020 will be about working to alleviate deficiencies.

Edited April 25, 2020 by TigerJ

[Meatloaf63]

1 hour ago, BillsFanForever19 said:

 

I'm pretty sure his "role" of occasional sweeps will be handled by Diggs from now on.

 

I said this before and was ridiculed here, McKenzie is just no longer needed, he brings nothing to this roster...

[Motor26]

Good competition to bring to the WR room. 

[HappyDays]

19 minutes ago, Lurker said:

Enjoy some of these sideline catches--that's where he's going to make his living:

 

 

 

 

Some of these catches are stupid. How was he still around in the 6th? I never even saw people talking about him before the draft. Allen is going to love throwing him the ball.

[ColoradoBills]

2 hours ago, YoloinOhio said:

I don’t know if they can trade any of them. Do any have PS eligibility left?

 

The new CBA added 2 players on the PS this year AND added a rule that 2 players can have "unlimited" eligibility when it comes to years.

[Lurker]

7 minutes ago, HappyDays said:

 

Some of these catches are stupid. How was he still around in the 6th? I never even saw people talking about him before the draft. Allen is going to love throwing him the ball.

 

He's a limited athlete but seems to overcome it (at the college level) with football IQ.  We've seen guys do that in the NFL and have nice careers as backups and specialists.   I've been rooting for him for a few weeks now and look forward to seeing him carve out a role at training camp.

 

Here's his writeup from Dane Brugler (The Athletic):

 

STRENGTHS: Tall, lean-muscled frame…presses the route before his break, not allowing the defender to dictate his path…mixes speed cuts and stride manipulation in his linear patterns…shows the hand strength and concentration to ***** $nach [I cant believe that's a banned word ] without slowing at the catch point…only one drop in 2019…adjusts to the ball in flight, using his long arms to highpoint or reel-in throws away from his body…shields defenders with his frame…target volume and production increased each season, finishing his career ranked seventh in school history in catches and receiving yards. 
 
WEAKNESSES: Not a burner and doesn’t have ideal speed…lacks an explosive top gear and wasn’t a big-play creator in college (of his 86 catches in 2019, only four resulted in a reception of 30-plus yards)…doesn’t fire out of his stance and requires an extended move to shake press coverage…caught up hand fighting vs. the jam, leading to wasted motion at the line…below-average functional strength for the position…needs to develop his blocking to better sustain…missed two games as a sophomore due to a hamstring injury (October 2018); left game due to a right knee injury as a junior (November 2019). 
 
SUMMARY: A three-year starter at Oregon State, Hodgins was an outside receiver in head coach Jonathan Smith’s offense. He quickly emerged as the Beavers’ top weapon and finished his career with 20 receiving scores, which ranks second in program history behind only Brandin Cooks (24). He didn’t run the most diverse route tree in college (mostly slants, posts and comebacks), but his footwork is crisp and his catch point skills come natural to him. His speed is more build-up than sudden and his struggles to separate will be tougher to overcome at the next level. Overall, Hodges doesn’t have the explosive acceleration to blow by NFL coverage, but his sticky hands and expanded catch radius are NFL-ready traits, projecting as a reliable possession option. 
 
GRADE: 4th-5th Round 

 

 

Edited April 25, 2020 by Lurker

[BurpleBull]

Lacks speed, but looks like he knows how to manipulate defenders to create separation and get open.

[Uncle Joe]

8 minutes ago, HappyDays said:

 

Some of these catches are stupid. How was he still around in the 6th? I never even saw people talking about him before the draft. Allen is going to love throwing him the ball.

https://www.oregonlive.com/beavers/2020/04/isaiah-hodgins-swats-criticism-and-waits-for-nfl-draft.html

I just happened to have an Oregon State t-shirt on today. ?

[stinky finger]

6' 4" 210 lbs?

 

That's one trim Beaver 

[YoloinOhio]

 

[Miyagi-Do Karate]

1 hour ago, Meatloaf63 said:

I said this before and was ridiculed here, McKenzie is just no longer needed, he brings nothing to this roster...

I don’t think he makes the roster this year. That said, he’s been much more reliable and productive than Foster, Duke, and ray ray. 

[Mat68]

I really enjoy how I can come into a thread thinking camp foder.  After some nuggets and videos leave thinking Buffalo has drafted the next great Wr.  I think he is what they wanted out of Williams but with more short area quickness.  The 2 wrs brought in will put some pressure on Foster, Williams, and Mckenzie.

[freddyjj]

3 hours ago, JR in Pittsburgh said:

why am I looking at this pick and finding no negatives here? How in the world did he last until the 6th? 
 

and his dad played in the NFL too— you know these legacy players always have a much easier transition! 

Yeah just ask Zay Jones

[John from Riverside]

2 hours ago, MikeSpeed said:

Hey I hope they make Diggs and Brown trade bait, but unless they are great ST guys I'll be really surprised if they are active on game day.

This is a joke tell me this is a joke

Edited April 26, 2020 by John from Riverside

[Bangarang]

1 minute ago, John from Riverside said:

This is a joke tell me this is a joke

A late round draft pick is going to make our #1 WR trade bait. That’s a take for WGR. All that was missing was him ending it with “thanks I’ll hang up and listen now”

[Meatloaf63]

18 minutes ago, JR in Pittsburgh said:

I don’t think he makes the roster this year. That said, he’s been much more reliable and productive than Foster, Duke, and ray ray. 

I can agree with that, but he just doesn’t  bring anything as a wide receiver that can’t easily be replaced & improved on.

[Ralonzo]

2 hours ago, Lurker said:

He's got insane body control as a third down and red zone target.  He doesn't get much seperation, even at the college level, but he can still be effective if Josh learns to throw him open (i.e., sideline throws, back of the end zone jump balls, etc).  He's got tremendous hands and seems to have good football IQ in terms of overcoming his athletic limitations.

This is the part that I can’t square. How can someone with such freaky quickness measurable not be able to get separation? His physical limitation is strength and his tape doesnt show near the technical chops of Davis, but get this guy some training and pointers from Diggs on how to use quickness to set up corners and you might have something special.

 

Boom/bust in 6th is fine.

[wppete]

WRs on the roster next year:

 

Stefon Diggs
Cole Beasley
John Brown
Gabriel Davis - R
Isaiah Hodgins - R

Robert Foster
Isaiah McKenzie

[MikeSpeed]

1 hour ago, Bangarang said:

A late round draft pick is going to make our #1 WR trade bait. That’s a take for WGR. All that was missing was him ending it with “thanks I’ll hang up and listen now”

I was the one who said to calm down with the foster is gone and Duke is gone. People here are going way overboard with these late round draft picks. 

My point was everyone here would love for these guys to be so good that they'd make Brown and Diggs expendable, but the sensible person know that they will be fortunate if they even make the roster.

Whoa that was too much like work.

[Nelius]

4 hours ago, BillsRdue said:

6 Isaiah Hodgins vs  Robert Foster

 

I thought Foster should have been cut last year, but putting the disappearing man up against a 6'4" man with glue hands that can cut like that? Sorry Bob.

[Formerly Allan in MD]

Great  competition here.  Appears Foster is gone unless it can be explained where he disappeared to last season.

[Bob in STL]

11 hours ago, wppete said:

WRs on the roster next year:

 

Stefon Diggs
Cole Beasley
John Brown
Gabriel Davis - R
Isaiah Hodgins - R

Robert Foster
Isaiah McKenzie

The special teams return man, Andre, could take either Foster or McKenzie’s spot. 
 

McKenzie has been the more consistent of the two.  Foster is an enigma. 
 

The Covid situation could make it harder for the rookies to show their skills and learn the offense. So that has to be considered.  

Edited April 26, 2020 by Bob in STL

[wiseman3]

And lets not forget that Diggs was a 5th round pick.... there could be multiple late round guys who turn into studs. Hodgins has great potential!

[Thurman#1]

7 hours ago, HappyDays said:

 

 

 

Wow!! That's convincing. Great find, Happy. 

[ctk232]

2 hours ago, Bob in STL said:

The special teams return man, Andre, could take either Foster or McKenzie’s spot. 
 

McKenzie has been the more consistent of the two.  Foster is an enigma. 
 

The Covid situation could make it harder for the rookies to show there skills and learn.  So that has to be considered.  

Agreed - I think they keep Andre as our avg return YDs/Att greatly improved on STs, and I believe McKenzie would beat Foster out for being the more consistent option as mentioned. Daboll seems to favor him in the sweep packages and slot option to spell Beasley, so barring a 180 from Foster that might do it. 
 

Granted, all this assumes they keep 7 WR on the roster - I wouldn’t be surprised to see Hodgins on the PS this first year to keep it to 6, but I like his potential for the value pick he is. Great hands and solid route running, never hurts.

Edited April 26, 2020 by ctk232

[LeGOATski]

He reminds me of David Nelson, but with hands.

[Mountain Man]

5 hours ago, wppete said:

WRs on the roster next year:

 

Stefon Diggs
Cole Beasley
John Brown
Gabriel Davis - R
Isaiah Hodgins - R

Robert Foster
Isaiah McKenzie

They won't be cutting Andre Roberts. They have put so much effort into improving Special Teams this off season they won't then cut a top 3 returner. 

[Dunkirk Donski]

14 hours ago, The Dean said:

He's a big'un.  Competition at the back end of the WR position.

 

I have to admit, I expected they would start adding OL MEAT about now. But I'll sit back and trust the process. I;'m not stupid enough to complain about 6th round picks. But I know there will be some to do so.

Didn't we sign like 5 OL this month?

[Victory Formation]

10 hours ago, wppete said:

WRs on the roster next year:

 

Stefon Diggs
Cole Beasley
John Brown
Gabriel Davis - R
Isaiah Hodgins - R

Robert Foster
Isaiah McKenzie

No Andre Roberts? We need a return man. 
 

 

Diggs

Brown

Beasley

Davis

McKenzie

Hodgins

Roberts

 

Makes more sense to me.

[NoName]

It would be great if this guy could be part of a red zone package.  This will be the end of Duke Williams.

[Putin]

12 hours ago, wppete said:

WRs on the roster next year:

 

Stefon Diggs
Cole Beasley
John Brown
Gabriel Davis - R
Isaiah Hodgins - R

Robert Foster
Isaiah McKenzie

What a difference from 2 years ago and what Allen had to work with his rookie year 

[Ralonzo]

17 hours ago, YoloinOhio said:

 

 

Best part about that is you can almost see #11 planning his Touchdown dance and then an orange glove flashes in front of him.

 

  

7 hours ago, LeGOATski said:

He reminds me of David Nelson, but with hands.

 

There's short striders (Hogkins) and long striders (Foster) and guys who look they're running in mud. Nelson reminded me of the latter.

 

Among the top-3 complaints last year was receivers who drops passes. Beane goes and gets Diggs, Davis, Hogkins.

 

Foster seems redundant to a roster with Diggs and Brown since Foster really only runs one route well and that's ol' #9, and those other guys can do it as well or better and do other stuff that a WR should be doing in this league. In two years Foster hasn't shown much growth at all as a route runner. He's a fast dude for gadgets but so's McKenzie and McKenzie can actually run routes.

[MILFHUNTER#518]

17 hours ago, YoloinOhio said:

 

176 catches. 3 drops.

  I think this ? is key, the WR group we fielded last year seemed to have ALOT of drops.

[SCBills]

If Hodgins makes the active roster, I could see him play big slot in the red zone.   
 

We like to split Beasley outside to get him one on one in space.  Teams can’t really shade that way because Diggs will be on the other side.  John Brown really doesn’t need to be out there in this area of the field (IMO), then we can bring in Hodgins as a big slot.  
 

Thats a lot to defend, while worrying about Allen running the ball himself. 

 

Edited April 26, 2020 by SCBills