2020 NFL Draft Watchlist: Wide Receivers

5) Laviska Shenault Jr.- Colorado

Shenault Jr. is an offensive weapon. You can line him up nearly anywhere on the field and he’s going to make plays. Colorado certainly didn’t shy away from utilizing his versatility; he lined up everywhere.

Shenault is best with the ball in his hands, whether he gets it in shotgun as a quarterback or in space as a receiver. Often times when in short yardage situations, Colorado let Shenault run power out of the wildcat because of his prowess as a runner. One of the first things I wrote down while watching Shenault was that he runs the ball like a running back, and with his skills as a receiver that’s dangerous.

As a receiver, Shenault is not to be slept on or labeled as a “gadget” player. He can work every area of the field; he’s dangerous in the screen game and can stretch the field vertically as well. He has some work to do with his route running and understanding leverage, but it’s not a huge concern.

This year, if Shenault wants to continue climbing the list, I’d like to see him take more reps against press. Often times when he saw press it came from the slot position against weaker corners. That said, Shenault shouldn’t be used on the outside as an X/Z, so this criticism should be taken lightly.