NFL Draft 2020 Scouting Report: WR Bryan Edwards, South Carolina

2020 NFL DRAFT SCOUTING REPORT

MARCH 27, 2020

*WR grades can and will change as more information comes in from Pro Day workouts, Wonderlic test results leaked, etc. We will update ratings as new info becomes available.

*WR-B stands for "Big-WR," a classification we use to separate the more physical, downfield/over-the- top, heavy-red-zone-threat-type WRs. Our WR-S/"Small-WRs" are profiled by our computer more as slot and/or possession-type WRs who are typically less physical and rely more on speed/agility to operate underneath the defense and/or use big speed to get open deep...they are not used as weapons in the red zone as much.

If we look back in five years and the football community ascertains that Bryan Edwards was the best WR prospect in the 2020 NFL Draft class…I would not be surprised. I WOULD be surprised if it were Jeudy- Jefferson-Higgins-Ruggs-Lamb, but not if it were Bryan Edwards.

On the other hand, as a scout, I cannot pound my fist on the desk and tell you he is one of the best with full confidence because Edwards was unable to participate in the NFL Combine due to a broken foot suffered in Combine training in late February. My eyes say that he looks the part, but my eyes can deceive…I’d feel better with ‘facts’, his speed and agility times, etc., but I don’t believe we’ll get them with the COVID-19 issue cancelling Pro Days and pre-Draft workouts.

My eyes tell me that I am looking at an Andre Johnson reincarnated…a more athletic, tougher Michael Thomas or N’Keal Harry type WR prospect. A lesser Courtland Sutton-ish prospect. A big body that can move and make plays.

So, if all that’s true…why isn’t Edwards rated higher on draft websites? I mean, do I even have to answer that at this stage? Edwards is easy to look past for drive-by scouts, those who scout via 2-minute highlight tape and/or just follow the football crowd on who they liked initially in Jan.-Feb. and never change. Edwards played at a boring school/passing game and couldn’t work out at the NFL Combine…so, it’s easy to look past him.

The thing is…Edwards has some key (faux) markers scouts usually like – he played big against Alabama in 2019 and he is a physically big WR prospect from the SEC…what’s not to love? For some reason, they don’t love him…not really, not that much. Checking random draft websites…the first random draft- centric site has him as their #26 WR for 2020. CBS Sports has him #11. USA Today and CBS both have him as a top 100 pick, but late/back end top 100. He’s getting some respect, but not a lot of buzz.

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2020 NFL DRAFT SCOUTING REPORT

MARCH 27, 2020

No NFL Combine work hurts him…took away a platform for him to get noticed. His CFB team, South Carolina, had an incompetent/empty passing game that also keeps him hidden – 2019 Gamecock QBs combined for 12 TD passes in 12 games, and 57% Comp. Pct. and 222.3 passing yards per game.

Here’s the thing – Edwards caught 6 of his teams 12 TD passes in 2019…doing so despite only playing in 10 of the 12 games. He missed his last few games of his 2019/senior year with a mild knee injury. He had 50% of his team’s TD and accounted for a third+ of its catches and receiving yards – those are pretty good ‘share’ numbers. Under difficult surroundings…Edwards produced. His stat struggles reminded me of D.J. Chark’s prospect issue at LSU a few years ago – a great WR prospect hidden by an incompetent passing game. You had to really look to see what was there with Chark…and Chark got to blow up at the Senior Bowl and NFL Combine to help him get drafted late 2nd-round, in retrospect he might be the best WR prospect from the 2018 NFL Draft…and his best college season was 40 catches, 874 yards, and 3 receiving TDs.

I could offer several tape evidences for Edwards being a great pro prospect, but if I had to offer you just one – I’d tell you to watch his game against Alabama in 2019, just watch everything he does whether he got the ball or not.

Against, Alabama, Edwards caught 9 passes for 79 yards, in a game that was competitive for a while. It wasn’t the nice numbers; it was his body of work the whole game…

-- First, Edwards worked against Alabama top CB Patrick Surtain…because Edwards was the obvious known star WR to have to stop. Edwards consistently beat Surtain off the snap on slants or going deep. Edwards runs smart, great routes with a nice acceleration.

-- Edwards has those fast feet off the snap to juke past CBs to get open…a hard thing to measure at the Combine (if he were there). It’s an unteachable gift. Edwards has it. It’s invaluable at the next level.

-- Early in this game, Alabama fleet-footed, top 2020 NFL Draft prospect Trevon Diggs went over to cover Edwards for a play – and Edwards blew past him with a hesitation move and was sprinting deep middle for an easy 75-yard TD but the throw, as usual for South Carolina, was 2+ yards overthrown to an open by 2-3 yards Edwards.

Edwards must have some juice/speed because the speedy Diggs could not catch him/close the gap sprinting down the middle. Had the QB hit Edwards for that play/score…Edwards might have ended the game with 10 catches for 150+ yards and a TD…and thus have much more NFL Draft prospect buzz from just that one play. Sounds silly, but it would have been true – doing good things AGAINST Alabama is the best thing any prospect can do for drive-by scouts, other than playing FOR Alabama.

-- Edwards is also built like a small tight end…6’3”+ and thick/solid. He has no issue getting physical off the snap with smaller CBs (and all CBs are smaller than him). Neither Surtain nor Diggs could put pressure on him.

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2020 NFL DRAFT SCOUTING REPORT

MARCH 27, 2020

This was never more obvious than when Edwards would run an inside slant. Edwards runs amazing slant patterns to the middle and his feet usually spring him open, but when CBs are with him on his back Edwards uses his thick frame to just make his play regardless of who is on his back with the ball coming in. A very subtle, great NFL future skill.

-- Anytime South Carolina got to the red zone, when it was still a game…Edwards would get doubled a lot with a safety over. Alabama gave Edwards a lot of respect.

-- In this game, Edwards came across for a jet sweep/push pass when running in front of the QB while going in motion pre-snap. So, Edwards got the ball like a handoff in the backfield and was running it like a tailback essentially. He ran past the O-Line heading to the outside and got there and turned upfield with defenders closing. Edwards was now turned upfield, his body going all forward/straight ahead with a good head of steam…and then a safety came in full speed to make the tackle and Edwards lowered into the hit and almost killed the safety. It was a like a car crash, only Edwards suffered no damage to his exterior, as Edwards was knocked off course and went for a few more yards falling forward.

Most all of Edwards’s gifts are subtle, not flashy…the kind that will get him overlooked in the draft and will cost him millions of dollars that guys like inferior CeeDee Lamb or Jerry Jeudy will steal from him. Any NFL team that drafts Jeudy and bypasses later available/cheaper Edwards deserves all the problems they get.

On top of being a great NFL WR prospect, Edwards was also a team captain and made the SEC academic honor roll group at least one time in his college career. You’re getting a pro’s pro here with Edwards, potentially.

Bryan Edwards, Through the Lens of Our WR Scouting Algorithm:

Opening game 2019, Edwards had one catch for 7 yards in an offensive disaster for South Carolina. The next 9 games to finish his season, Edwards averaged: 7.8 rec., 89.9 yards, and 0.67 TDs per game…a 14- game season projection of 100+ catches, 1,250+ yards, 9 TDs…again, working in a terrible passing game.

Edwards caught 6 or more passes in a game his final eight game of his career.

In his toughest battles…

Against Alabama (and their high-level CBs): 9-79-0

Against Georgia (with NFL prospect DBs): 6-78-1

Against Florida (C.J. Henderson mostly): 7-78-0

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2020 NFL DRAFT SCOUTING REPORT

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Edwards took on all comers and produced against them all, despite crappy QB play.

Edwards ended his career as the #3 player in career catches in the SEC and #4 in yards.

2020 NFL Combine Data:

6’2.6”/212, 9.5” hands, 32.25” arms

No workout times/data (broken foot)

The Historical WR Prospects to Whom Bryan Edwards Most Compares Within Our System:

There’s a lot of Mike Thomas (who I missed on completely, as a talent evaluator). Alshon Jeffrey and Courtland Sutton DNA are present here. I believe it is there via the computer – but, again, we’re flying blind on the measurables, using tape estimates/projections is a slippery slope.

WR Draft Last First College H H W Power Speed Hands' Score Yr Strngth Agility Metric Metric Metri c 8.531 2020 Edwards Bryan So. Carolina 6 2.6 212 7.60 8.19 8.95 6.120 2016 Thomas Michael Ohio State 6 2.6 212 6.51 6.97 8.47 10.172 2012 Jeffery Alshon So. Carolina 6 2.7 213 6.18 8.46 11.27 10.096 2018 Sutton Courtland SMU 6 3.3 218 8.07 9.74 9.92 7.925 2011 Hankerson Leonard Miami, Fla 6 1.5 209 5.21 7.82 10.13 7.370 2007 Sims-Walker Mike C. Florida 6 1.8 209 5.91 9.80 8.90

*A score of 7.0+ is where we start to take a Big-WR prospect more seriously. A score of 8.50+ is where we see a stronger correlation of a Big-WR going on to become NFL good/great/elite. A score of 10.00+ is more rarefied air in our system and indicates a greater probability of becoming an elite NFL Big-WR.

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2020 NFL DRAFT SCOUTING REPORT

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All of the WR ratings are based on a 0–10 scale, but a player can score negative, or above a 10.0 in certain instances. Overall WR score = A combination of several on-field performance measures, including refinement for strength of opponents faced, mixed with all the physical measurement metrics, and rated historically in our database. “Power-Strength” = A combination of unique metrics surrounding physical size profiling, bench press strength, etc. High scorers here project to be more physical, better blockers, and less injury-prone. “Speed-Agility” = A combination of unique metrics surrounding speed, agility, physical size, mixed with some on-field performance metrics. High scorers here project to have a better YAC and show characteristics to be used as deep threats/to create separation. “Hands” = A combination of unique metrics surrounding on-field performance in college, considering the strength of opponents played. Furthermore, this data considers some physical profiling for hand size, etc. High scorers here have a better track record of college statistical performance. Everything combining to project catch-abilities for the next level.

2020 NFL Draft Outlook:

I see Edwards with more top 100 overall rankings than not. He’s too good to fall too far. I’ll say he goes late 3rd-round or early 4th-round. Just inside the top 100 would be my guess…playing in the SEC and good tape vs. Alabama and a nice size for the NFL.

If I were an NFL GM, I’m interested in Edwards as a 3rd-round draft steal…but there are so many 3rd- round steals possible. It just depends upon what you want/what kind of WR style you’re looking for in your draft steal. Claypool, Duvernay, Pittman…all kinds of unique guys to look at mid-Draft potentially.

NFL Outlook:

Edwards is the kind of WR that needs a nice QB and a BFF relationship with to thrive – like what Mike Thomas found in New Orleans. If Thomas (or just about any great technician WR) were a Jet or Jaguar…no one would care about him all that much, but with New Orleans he’s debated as the best WR in the league. Edwards needs to land right to be a productive/potential star.

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2020 NFL DRAFT SCOUTING REPORT

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Signature______Date______3/27/2020

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