2nd Round (#59)
Braxton Miller – WR – Ohio State
Strengths: Next level athlete who shows quality speed and quickness to beat defenders regularly. Also possesses the balance and leaping ability to exploit his speed fully. Excellent build and body type for the position.
Raw route runner, but has already developed a quality hesitation move. Sees the field well and can set his blockers up to grab extra yards. Mature and a good leader, exemplified by his willingness to switch positions going into his senior year.
Weaknesses: Still new to the position and has a lot to learn about the intricacies. Route running is getting better, but not where it needs to be. Footwork tends to be erratic. Has a tendency to do a whole lot of work for nothing by trying to break big plays rather than get what’s there. Will get alligator arms at times when going over the middle. Has reliable hands but will drop some balls because he doesn’t look them all the way in. Shows effort in his blocking but hand placement and leverage are still weak points.
The Fit: I’m a believer when it comes to Braxton Miller. I legitimately believe that he will end up being the best wide receiver in this draft class, and eventually a legit top tier player at the position. He has his dings on the scouting sheet, but almost every one of them comes with an asterisk due to his only having played the position for one season. Everything he needs to work on is correctable/coachable, and the strides he has already made would indicate that he’s a willing and capable student.
With Rod Streater in town on a one year deal, and neither Albert Wilson or Chris Conley having won the No. 2 job outright, there is no reason for the Chiefs to shy away from a big potential receiver like Miller. Give him a year or two, and he should be tearing the field up. In the meantime, there is a lot to like about a Maclin-Streater-Wilson-Conley-Miller-Thomas wide receiver group.
Next: Last 2nd Round pick