Draft Prospect: Jeremy Maclin

Draft Prospect: Jeremy Maclin | Written by Daniel Phillips

If you follow football, there’s a good chance you know the name Michael Crabtree; now you need to know the name Jeremy Maclin. Standing at 6’0″ and 198lbs, this Missouri Tiger is arguably the second best wide receiver in this years NFL draft class. Maclin will most likely go within the top 15 picks of this draft, and every day he seems to get more and more attention from the media.


Maclin has deadly speed. Misrepresented at the combine with a time of 4.48 in the 40, Maclin improved on his numbers at his pro day running a 4.40, and it is rumored that he ran a 4.32. Watching game tape of Maclin, his game-speed is evident. He has incredible explosiveness and agility, and he has great control over his body and hands, allowing him to make spectacular grabs in traffic and catches over the middle of the field. He is an extremely strong and physical receiver allowing him to break free of the jam easily (at the collegiate level) and should continue to do so in the NFL if he gains more bulk and technique.


After the catch Maclin is at his best, showcasing his speed and razor sharp cutting ability, allowing him to break defenders ankles; in a foot race Maclin will virtually never lose. He has spectacular vision and explosiveness on punt and kick returns, almost reminiscent of DeSean Jackson in a bigger frame. Coming into the NFL Maclin will initially line up as a #2 or #3 wide receiver (depending where he’s drafted) and will definitely be used as a return specialist. Long term he projects to be a #1 wide out, and with his natural talent long term may come sooner than it seems.


Scoring an impressive 25 on the Wonderlic, he beat out all wide receivers by at least 10 points. Maclin’s work ethic is second to none, evident by his dedication to improvement over two seasons, and praise from his quarterback Chase Daniel and Coaches on said improvement. He is a grounded individual with solid background, and has shown great instances of character, such as crying at his press conference on his decision to turn pro, speaking of his love for the Missouri family.


The knock on this Missouri star is his route running ability, or lack thereof. He has only played in college for two years, and seems to rely almost entirely on his athleticism rather than pure football knowledge. He will need to develop into a more consistent and fluid route runner in order to succeed at the pro level. Mizzou plays in a spread offense, so this will create problems for Maclin in adopting an NFL system. Before the Broncos had announced that Cutler will in fact be changing addresses, we had Maclin pegged as a Bronco; the system that is being installed is a type of spread offense that Jeremy Maclin could flourish in. Until a trade can be made for Cutler many mock drafts are on hold, but Gridiron Experts is fairly confident he will go within the top 15.

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