2022 NFL draft scouting report: Georgia WR George Pickens

Georgia WR George Pickens

6-foot-3
195 kilos

Yahoo Sports activities’ 2022 NFL draft grade

5.92 — doable second-rounder; starter potential

TL;DR scouting report

Wiry, aggressive playmaker whose 2021 season was largely worn out by damage, however his freshman tape confirmed star potential

The thin

A 5-star Rivals recruit (No. 7 nationally) within the Class of 2019, Pickens initially dedicated to Auburn earlier than choosing the Bulldogs. He performed instantly as a real freshman, catching 49 passes for 727 yards and eight TD passes in 14 video games (two begins), successful Sugar Bowl MVP and being named All-SEC Freshman crew. In 2020, he began eight video games (lacking one with damage) and caught 36 passes for 513 yards and 6 scores.

After struggling a torn ACL in spring ball, Pickens missed a lot of the season, returning for the ultimate 4 video games (62 snaps) and catching 5 passes for 107 yards, together with a 52-yarder within the nationwide title recreation vs. Alabama. He declared early for the 2022 NFL draft.

Upside

• Confirmed sufficient at NFL mix exercise to be ok with his bodily situation

• Best size at 6-foot-3, with 32 3/8-inch arms

• Returned from torn ACL in spring 2021 to contribute to championship run

• Sneaky vertical velocity to stack corners and be downfield risk

• Beats press protection with fast first step, sturdy hand swat

• Features max mph fairly shortly — revs up acceleration off the road

• Pure separation capacity — reveals some late twitch to uncover

• Can carve up zones over the center or on perimeter

• Terrific ball expertise — nice arms, physique management and high-point capacity

• Writer of some phenomenal downfield grabs — nice ball-tracking capacity

• Acrobatic capacity — a number of one-handed and diving catches first two years

• Drew a whole lot of penalties his first two seasons

• Averaged 15 yards per catch over his profession

• 14 TD catches in his first 20 faculty video games

• Completely appeared like a future top-10 choose as true freshman

• Hauled in catches of 37 and 52 in video games vs. Bama post-ACL

• Terrific arms — only a few drops evident on tape

• Feisty, energetic play model

• Simply turned 21 years outdated — sky-high potential if he can regain pre-injury type

Story continues

Draw back

• Only one 12 months faraway from ACL tear and may not attain full energy till 2023

• Lean body that might use a wholesome dose of musculature

• Surprisingly small arms (8 3/4 inches)

• Lengthy velocity is not something particular

• Not a make-you-miss athlete — little wiggle after the catch

• Can get got rid of his route downfield too simply

• Seven penalties as freshman — shall be somewhat too aggressive with DBs

• Wasn’t used on screens or runs — tougher to fabricate touches for him

• Little or no publicity to work within the slot

• No evident special-teams worth

• Indicators of immaturity — penalized for squirting water at Tennessee participant from sideline

• Ejected from 2019 recreation for preventing Georgia Tech participant

• Suspended as freshman for violating crew guidelines

Finest-suited vacation spot

Pickens has the flexibility to develop right into a lower-end WR1 in time, however extra seemingly he profiles as a wonderful No. 2 possibility who can win from the surface on leap balls, sideline routes, working the center of the sphere and on occasional deep pictures. His quickness and lateral motion may not return absolutely till late subsequent season or int 2023. However his late-season efficiency and pre-draft exercises have proven sufficient for groups to be extra keen to take an opportunity on him.

Do you know

Pickens’ scrap with Georgia Tech’s Tre Swilling in 2019 occurred because the Bulldogs took a 38-7 third-quarter lead over their rivals. Pickens threw two punches and grabbed Swilling’s facemask, getting ejected from the sport and being compelled to overlook the primary half of the next week’s SEC title recreation, a loss to LSU.

This got here after Pickens had been suspended within the first half of the Tech recreation for breaking crew guidelines. Coach Kirby Sensible referred to as Pickens’ actions “stupid” and “selfish.”

When Pickens returned to the sphere final season for the primary time following his torn ACL, it occurred in opposition to Tech on the identical discipline two years later. Pickens sought out Swilling on the opposite facet of the sphere and dapped him up.

Participant comp

Marvin Jones Jr.

Anticipated draft vary

Pickens may sneak into the highest 40 picks, we consider.