2014 NFL Combine Preview: First Round Wide Receivers to Watch

Dec 21, 2013; Las Vegas, NV, USA; Southern California Trojans receiver Marqise Lee (9) is pursued by Fresno State Bulldogs safety Derron Smith (13) on a 40-yard reception in the fourth quarter in the Las Vegas Bowl at Sam Boyd Stadium. USC defeated Fresno State 45-20. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

4. Marqise Lee

School: USC
Watch to Watch: 40-Time, Height and Weight, Vertical, Medicals
2013 Stats: 57 catches, 791 yards, 13.9 ypc, four touchdowns
Met with Chiefs: No

Speeeeeeeeeeeeeeed. All of the speeeeeeeeeeeeed.

Lee’s speed on the field is just nutty. This doesn’t mean he’ll have the fastest 40-time of all the wide receivers, but his on-field speed is undeniable. There are good examples for how he uses his speed in the video below. He gets to top speed very quickly and is very much under control of his body when it comes to having to avoid defenders. He’s not just a straight-line guy, he can move around very well.

This type of athleticism fits in very well with Andy Reid’s offense. Lee is a solid route runner, who is very good with timing routes and creating separating. Additionally, he’s coming from a pro-style offense that has elements of the west coast offense. So when you are watching game film on him, you are also watching him do things in college that he’ll be asked to do in the pros. There may be no better fit for the Chiefs in the draft at wide receiver than Lee.

There are still questions about him. Size is a little bit of an issue, and he did get banged up a lot this year at USC. He’s also not great in one-on-one, jump ball situations. Part of this is his size, but some of it is technique and positioning as well. It will be interesting to see how Lee measures at the combine and what kind of shape he is in.

If everything checks out, he’s the guy the Chiefs should pick at wide receiver, so pay attention to him.