PHILADELPHIA – With the No. 5 pick in the first round of the 2017 NFL draft, the Tennessee Titans selected Corey Davis, a wide receiver from Western Michigan.
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Here's some information on Davis' draft profile from NFL.com:
The 2016 Mid-American Conference Offensive Player of the Year is the all-time leader in major college football in receiving yards (5,285). From Day 1, Davis was a great target for the Broncos despite being just a two-star recruit out of Illinois with a rough childhood and academic issues. He was the MAC Freshman of the Year in 2013 (67-941, six TDs), and then was named first-team all-conference for the first of three times in 2014 by leading the conference with 1,408 yards and 15 touchdowns (ranking third in the FBS). Davis was among the nation's leading receivers as a junior (90-1,436, 12 TDs) before garnering first-team All-American honors in 2016 by ranking in the top 10 in the three major receiving categories -- 97 catches (eighth), 1,500 yards (seventh), 19 touchdowns (tied-first).
Strengths
Outstanding four-year production. Alpha attitude on the field and not afraid to take on the challenge of heavy target load. Excellent competitiveness. Focuses like a laser when ball is in the air. Tracks the deep ball as well as anyone in college and understands how to stack cornerbacks and keep them on his hip. Has second gear to run under the long ball. Excels in intermediate and deep parts of the field. Route running showed improvement in 2016. Variable route speed creates indecision for defenders. Vertical routes are crisp and create tilt in off-corners and safeties that he is quick to take advantage of. Play speed features access to functional burst. Can defeat inside leverage. A quarterback's friend who works aggressively back to the ball. Dominates in red zone. High-point catcher who uses well-timed leaps and long arms to win the 50-50 throws. Increases physicality and acceleration out of routes when operating near paydirt.
Weaknesses
Doesn't always sell his vertical routes aggressively enough to make cornerbacks open their hips. Drifts, at times, on in-breaking routes, allowing defenders to squeeze the route. Needs to improve quickness into and out of his breaks underneath. Elongated into breaks when working from slot. Has had some issues with focus drops on throws outside of his frame. Had 16 drops over last three years at Western. Free releases into his routes in college will turn into stern press challenges in the pros. Wasn't asked to do much meaningful blocking.
Expectations
Draft projection: Round 1
NFL comparison: Eric Decker
Touchdown juggernaut who was a four-year model of production and consistency in college. Davis has the route-running and ball skills to become a starter in the league, but it is his competitiveness and production in the red-zone that should make him a good one.
-- Lance Zierlein