Last years draft was supposed to produce the slot receiver we needed. Carlos Henderson was suppose to fill that role, but he got injured. Even before his injury he was struggling, and it was pretty clear that unless he made huge strides he wasn't going to be the guy. They drafted Isaiah Mackenzie from Georgia to provide a spark in the return game, and potentially grow into a slot receiver, but after all of his fumbles he will have a hard road to get any playing time. Even if he does he showed that he isn't necessarily a game breaker with his speed, and is more known for his shiftiness than ability to break the big play.
What is a slot receiver? A slot receiver is a receiver like Wes Welker, or Brandon Stokely. A guy who isn't necessarily a track star, but is quick enough to get open, and run solid routes. This years draft has a few players who fit that role, but can also do a few more things other than catch the ball over the middle. For this post I am not going to go over the guys who will be at the top of the draft as Denver has other needs to fill there as we have gone over on this blog a few times. I am going to point out some names of receivers who strictly fit the role of slot receiver, and I am also going to give some names of players I think can fit that role, but are also special after they get the ball in their hands.
The first name I am going to mention as a prototypical slot receiver is a kid named Braxton Berrios from the University of Miami. He played the slot at Miami and did an amazing job. His route running ability and hands are probably the best of any player I will mention in this post. Another thing about him that I think is important to look at is that he was a team captain. You can't be named a team captain of a major college program if you do not have the intangibles outside of just being a good football player. He looks like a mini Wes Welker in my opinion and would be a great target for our future quarterback to utilize. At 5'8 and 177lbs he has the body type, and size you look for to play in the slot. His projected to be taken in found 5-7, so he will be there for Denver to look at.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ed-jXJsO_7k
The next player who fits what you want in a slot receiver is a player named Trey Quinn out of Southern Methodist University. He is 6' and 202lbs, so he is a little bigger than Berrios, but just as quick, and also has amazing hands. I watched a lot of film on this kid, and while he will not scare anyone with his speed, he can get open and make catches in traffic which is what you want for your slot receiver.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_0yvBXbALdw
The next two players I am going to mention are players who can play in the slot, but can also score from anywhere on the field once they catch the ball. They are also able punt and kick returners, and Bronco fans saw last year that if you don't have the right guy returning kicks it can literally cost you the game, or games in the case of the Broncos last year.
The first of these two players is a young man named Brandon Powell from the University of Florida. When I began watching film, and studying him people kept making comparisons to Tyreek Hill of the Kansas City Chiefs. That is a pretty high bar for a comparison, but I am going to be the first to say that the comparison is real, and this kid is flat out fun to watch. He is 5'9 and weighed in at 184lbs, so he has the body type you look for in a slot receiver, but he also was used out of the backfield, and to return kicks. Simply put, if you give this guy a seam there isn't anybody that will catch him. His he projected right now to be taken in the 6th round or later, so he is another guy Denver will not have to move up or down the draft board to get. He would be an immediate upgrade in our punt and kick return game, and can be used like a Tyreek Hill in that you can put him in the backfield, or run gimmick plays for him to get in space and use his speed and agility to make plays. If you watch any of the highlights I post watch this one. This kid is just fun to watch play football.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=siUlxgrt1ZA&t=190s
The last player I will outline that can play the slot, but can also do special things after he has the ball in his hands is another player from the University of Florida named Antonio Callaway. He is a special player who became the 21st player in FBS history to score a touchdown 5 different ways. He might be a better pure receiver than Brandon Powell, but just from the film I have watched he doesn't have the explosive speed that Powell has. Callaway is projected to go in rounds 4-6, so he will be there for Denver to take should they decide they like him.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MNcuxLvpI-k
If I was picking for the Broncos my pick would be either be Berrios or Powell. I think Berrios is more of a "sure thing" as far as a slot receiver, but the upside to Brandon Powell is huge. He was recruited to Florida as a running back, but then developed into a slot receiver, and punt and kick returner. In a perfect world we could pick up both. Let me know your thoughts, or in the words of one of my co-authors, "Come at me haters".
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