Robert Woods Scouting Report


Strengths
  • productive career at USC
  • former track star with elite speed (the combine and last season show an injured ankle hampered his speed and effectiveness)
  • great hands, can make the contested catch
  • good change of direction skills
  • explosive with the ball in his hands
  • can take the lid off of a defense
  • will go over the middle and not afraid to take a hit
  • versatile and very polished (ran a pro style offence and was used in the X, Z and slot roles throughout his career)
  • Very productive (pac-12 record for receptions in a season in 2011 with 111)
  • Can return kicks

Weaknesses
  • injury limited him last season
  • had a strong supporting cast (Marquise Lee and Matt Barkley)
  • average size (6'1 190)
  • jack of all trades ( a strength but also a weakness as he is good but not great at everything he does)
  • struggled against the press

Bottom Line: Had Robert Woods not been injured last season he would most likely be a first round lock. His injury, the rise of Marquise Lee and USC's struggles caused Woods to get lost in the shuffle when assessing the top receivers in the draft. However Woods has many strengths, his versatility, smarts and knack for making the big play should make him quiet effective early on in his pro career. Coming into last season Woods was a lock to be the first receiver taken in the draft but a bump in the road (ankle injury) limited his effectiveness. Woods is a steal beyond the mid second round with a relatively high floor and low ceiling. Assuming he can avoid injuries in the future Woods is one of the safest receivers in the draft.

Diagnosis: Late First- Early second (injury, slow 40 and USC collapse could drive him as low as the fourth, although I would be surprised if he made it passed the third)

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