Height: 6’5″

Weight: 237 pounds

40-Time: 4.65

Drafted: 1st Round (Buffalo Bills)

Scouting Report:

Size. Accuracy. Strength. Mobility. Intelligence. Character.

The Bills were clearly seduced by EJ Manuel’s offerings when they surprised the NFL community (outside of RosterWatch) by selecting him as the number one overall quarterback in this year’s NFL Draft. Rightfully so. Buffalo is in desperate need of a franchise signal caller and EJ Manuel is exactly the type of employee you would hire to be an executive in training.

Manuel does have to improve in several areas if he’s going to be a viable long-term solution. He has to work on consistency, pocket awareness, down-field accuracy, and footwork. His coachability and work ethic will be his bridge to do so.

Fortunately, Buffalo did a good job surrounding Manuel with other rookie talent this offseason. They added three highly touted receiving prospects (Robert Woods, Marquise Goodwin, Da’Rick Rogers) to a receiving corps that already includes the talented Stevie Johnson. Put CJ Spiller and Fred Jackson in the mix at running back and the Bills young offense is shaping up nicely.

*For a more in depth evaluation of EJ Manuel- read our Pre-Senior Bowl Scouting Report that boldly predicted Manuel’s rise four months before he shocked the world being selected at #16 overall.

Fantasy Analysis:

Give us the over on 10 games started by EJ Manuel this year.

The Bills drafted him to play much sooner than later. Don’t be surprised if he beats out Kevin Kolb and Tarvaris Jackson in training camp and starts Week 1. We’ve even had to take former Broncos GM Ted Sundquist to school about how crappy Kevin Kolb is.

In re-draft leagues, the depth of viable quarterbacks available will push Manuel’s fantasy draft position back into the late rounds. Optimally, he will be drafted as a backup with upside. An average weekly output of 15+ standard fantasy points is not unrealistic, given Manuel’s rushing ability. The concern with the rookie will be consistency and reliability. Certainly, EJ Manuel deserves increasing priority in keeper leagues and is a must own in dynasty formats given his exploits and the young offensive playmakers around him.

Weight: 229 pounds

40-time: 4.97

Drafted: 7th Round

The Trashman’s Scouting Notes:

Southern Utah’s all-time leading passer, Sorensen has imposing physical size and above-average arm strength in the mold of a classic pocket passer. He often relies too much on that arm though, and throws more interceptions than a player of his caliber should. Still, Sorensen excels on out routes and has a soft touch when necessary.

The Trashman’s Fantasy Outlook for Brad Sorensen:

Sorensen is third in line behind Philip Rivers and Charlie Whitehurst, and he doesn’t have the ability to outplay either of them at this point. He will get snaps on the practice squad or during camp, and hope the Chargers sign him to a contract. Sorensen’s fantasy outlook is dim for the foreseeable future as Rivers is under contract until 2016.

Height: 6’3″

Weight: 209 pounds

40-time: 4.60

Drafted: 6th Round  

The Trashman’s Scouting Notes:

Brown is a rangy receiver with good hands who was drafted largely due to his 2012 season in which he had 73 receptions for 879 yards and 5 touchdowns for Oklahoma. He only played there for one year after transferring from Penn State following the retirement of Joe Paterno.

Brown had a solid yards-per-catch average of 13.6, but far too often, he fell down after the catch. Where Brown really seemed to shine was in the return game, a rarity for such a tall and moderately slow receiver.

The Trashman’s Fantasy Outlook for Justin Brown:

Brown’s vision and surprising escapability in the return game will get him some action on specials teams, but he will struggle seeing time on the field otherwise with Antonio Brown, Markus Wheaton, Emmanuel Sanders, Jerricho Cotchery, and perhaps Plaxico Burress all in line to get looks before him.

His height gives him an advantage in the red-zone, but Brown is just not strong enough to make up for his lack of speed in a daunting NFL. Take a wait and see approach when it comes to fantasy drafts. There are more promising receiver prospects worth drafting, even in dynasty leagues.

Height: 5’10″

Weight: 205 Pounds

40-Time: 4.49

Drafted: 4th Round

Scouting Report:

Similar in size and speed, I don’t hate my original scouting comparisons to Bernard Scott and Bilal Powell. But- I have to default to Franklin’s college head coach, former Seahawks and Falcons coach Jim Mora Jr. The rookie out of UCLA has Warrick Dunn written all over him, yet he’s actually bigger. The heart, the play-making ability is the comparison here. A damn respectable one.

Like Dunn, Franklin is a model citizen and any employer’s dream. All you have to do is watch one minute of our live interview with him, and you’ll find this to be true.

The Packers also drafted running back Eddie Lacy with their second round pick. A player we had rated as our #1 running back prospect this year. Green Bay had a big need at the position and GM Ted Thompson saw way too much value to pass on either of these stud rookie runners. Oddly enough- Franklin is the better system fit in Green Bay. Expect him to get a lot of touches out of the backfield as a rookie and quickly become an impact player. It’s a near certainty he will also contribute on kick returns.

Fantasy Analysis:

Johnathan Franklin is set to contribute as a flex-play right away. He’ll be more reliable than the average WR3/4 you might plug in to that spot and he’s got more upside. He’s worth a late round flier in just about every re-draft league and is a must own in all keeper and dynasty leagues. Point Per Reception formats will also boost his value. Franklin will be a great value pick for keen fantasy owners in 2013.

Height: 6’1″
Weight: 214 pounds
40-time: 4.57 (Combine)

Competition for touches:
WR Andre Johnson
WR Lestar Jean
WR DeVier Posey
WR Keshawn Martin
WR Alan Bonner
TE Owen Daniels

Hopkins comes in as the preeminent “No. 2″ WR in an offense that desperately needs one. If all goes according to plan, Hopkins will be an immediate contributor and a player likely to see 70-80 percent of offensive snaps right away. While not an Andre Johnson replacement, Hopkins is a great complement, and could optimally turn into a Hakeem Nicks/Roddy White-type producer at the NFL level.

(Read Bill Byrne’s Scouting Report on DeAndre Hopkins here.)

DeAndre Hopkins Mini-Camp Report and Highlights

No. 10— DeAndre Hopkins, Wide Receiver
DeAndre Hopkins was the star of the day, expectedly. The Texans selected Hopkins with their first-round pick in the 2013 NFL draft, and with him come high hopes of a much-needed immediate boost in Houston’s aerial attack.

It is asked that reporters not cite specific scheme-related information from training camp, but let’s just say that Hopkins was used in a variety of ways, and exhibited really sneaky strength through his in-cuts on digs and skinny posts.

I was a small bit uncomfortable with Hopkins’ tendency on Saturday morning to body-catch balls in tight spaces over the middle. There were three times he could have reached out and snatched it, and he didn’t. Granted, he made all three receptions.

Height: 6’5″

Weight: 262 pounds

40-time: 4.75

Drafted: 4th Round

The Trashman’s Scouting Notes:

Considered one of the better blocking tight ends in the draft, Sims depends on his massive, imposing frame to push defenders around. What is often overlooked is his deceiving open field speed and his ability to catch balls away from his body and then use that frame to shield defenders. Tackling Sims is another matter altogether, as he is extremely difficult to bring down, and falls forward most of the time.

He gets off the ball quickly in his release and shows instinctive and natural positioning moves against smaller linebackers. While Sims’ game still needs some refining, the pass-catching aspect is clearly underrated.

The Trashman’s Fantasy Outlook for Dion Sims:

Sims’ blocking ability will provide him plenty of playing time in a Miami offense hungry for better play through the trenches, but unfortunately he won’t see many passes thrown his way right off. Newly acquired Dustin Keller will be the pass-catching tight end in Miami to start, and with the reinvigorated receiving corps of Mike Wallace, Brian Hartline, and Brandon Gibson on board, opportunities will be few.

Still, Ryan Tannehill seems like a smart guy, and hopefully he realizes he has a potential red-zone asset in Sims a la Scott Chandler of the Bills. Sims comes in as a better player than Michael Egnew was in 2012. Don’t bother drafting Sims in redraft or or keeper leagues. Until further notice, he should only be considered as taxi-squad fodder in dynasty leagues with developmental units. If he does find use in 2013, it won’t be enough to make him stand out in a crowded tight end field.

Height: 5’9″

Weight: 199 pounds

40-Time: 4.51 (Pro Day)

Drafted: 6th Round

Byron Lambert’s Scouting Report:

Possibly one of the steals of this draft, Andre Ellington is a game changer. His draft stock fell due to nagging injuries and mediocre measurables – he didn’t test well when the old men with rulers showed up.

Make no mistake, Andre Ellington is fast enough and very quick. He makes big plays on the ground and in the screen game. You might not be able to call it “home-run speed”, but you can definitely call it “break-away speed”. When he gets to the second level, his vision and acceleration make him a big play waiting to happen.

The biggest knock on Ellington is his size- but he has all the tools to prove that wrong. He weighs the same as Chris Johnson, but is two inches shorter. Creating a more compact, powerful build, and lower center of gravity. He runs with forward lean, balance, and power. He has good feet and leg drive. He’s hard to take down and consistently demonstrates the ability to fight through traffic at the line of scrimmage. Some call him a “perimeter guy”. Those are “scouts” that watch highlight reels. Go watch the full game films, Ellington runs inside and out with toughness. He can finish in redzone and short yardage scenarios. Clemson used him as a workhorse, feeding him 25+ touches in several games over the last two seasons.

Admittedly, his size is a factor in pass protection. He does get driven back on occasion- but he is a VERY WILLING blocker that possesses toughness. Even the great Mike Mayock said during the draft that Andre Ellington was pound for pound one of the most competitive pass protectors in this draft class.

Cardinals fans have every reason to be excited about this pick. He’s made a crowded backfield more competitive and will immediately contribute on special teams. Expect him to receive reps in the run game sooner than later. He could be a big contributor to the Arizona offense in 2-3 years.

See Bill Byrne’s report on Ellington in his 2013 dynasty running back rankings.

Fantasy Outlook:

Given the current state of the Cardinals crowded backfield- Andre Ellington borders being undraftable as a rookie in standard re-draft leagues. This could change quickly though with an injury or roster cut. The Arizona backfield will be one that fantasy players need to keep a close eye on.

If the roster does shake out in the rookie’s favor he has the talent to be a nice flex play. If he’s a waiver wire guy when the fantasy season starts make sure and put him on your watch list. Ellington is a solid late round option in keeper leagues, and he is a must own in Dynasty formats.

His long-term fantasy outlook is positive. He may also have added value in leagues that score for special teams production.

Height: 5’11″

Weight: 189 pounds

40-time: 4.45 40-time (Combine)

Drafted: 3rd Round

Competition for touches:
WR Antonio Brown
WR Emmanuel Sanders
WR Jerricho Cotchery
WR Plaxico Burress

Bill Byrne’s Scouting Report:

Wheaton’s calling card is his quickness.

His feet are usually a step ahead of his defender on virtually every route he runs. While he has a slight build and could stand to add some more muscle, Wheaton compensates with good use of his hands and quick footwork against more physical corners.

Wheaton has an especially strong swim move and the lateral agility to get off quickly and into his route. But he occasionally can be taken out of his route by a stronger defender. He has impressive body control and ball tracking skills, displaying the flexibility to catch balls thrown behind him or over his shoulder on deep routes He also has the ability to adjust to poorly-thrown passes. He recognizes zone coverage and will adjust his routes to find the soft spot.

Wheaton always knows where he is on the field and can get his feet down in bounds while tracking the ball. Wheaton has shown strong hands and is an outstanding pass catcher in traffic, but occasionally he will let the ball come into his frame as opposed to attacking it. He was a team leader and one of the hardest working players on the Beavers team. He was an extremely willing blocker, who looked to get out in front of the runner and was never afraid to take on a bigger defender.

Wheaton is one of the biggest playmakers at his position in this draft class and has the ability to be a threat at all levels of the passing game. He reminds me some of Antonio Brown.

Alex Dunlap’s Scouting Report:

Markus Wheaton is a quiet person who lets his play on the field do the talking.

Wheaton draws frequent comparisons to Pittsburgh Steelers WR Mike Wallace, and it is easy to see why. He says his favorite route is the 9 (or streak), and he has a gear coming out of the press that is hard to trail.

Wheaton is most like Wallace when the ball is in the air. He tracks the football like a computer, adjusting in any way necessary to make sticky-hands catches.

Wheaton is not a player who will blow you away with his power and strength. He had some of his roughest spells during practice while participating in press-man drills against physical North squad DBs like Desmond Trufant and Jordan Poyer.

But Wheaton’s home run-hitting ability was unrivaled by any WR on either Senior Bowl squad during practices. He’ll pose the same sort of threat at the next level.

Fantasy Outlook:

Wheaton is a high-upside speed burner that loves running the 9-route and can track the ball with elite focus while separating—no wonder he reminds so many evaluators of former Steeler Mike Wallace. Wheaton comes into an offense that knows how to utilize players with his skill set on the outside, and if he shows improvement getting off the press, he could pick up somewhere close to where Mike Wallace left off. Wheaton is one of the more underrated prospects in this draft, and the situation he fell to was optimal.

Height: 5’7″

Weight: 173 pounds

40-time: 4.58

Drafted: 4th Round

Overview by Alex Dunlap, Rosterwatch.com

RosterWatch was live in the viewing suite for all WR combine drills, and one name pops up in the notes over and over. Ace Sanders. The disappointing 40-time is reminiscent of Joe Adams in 2012. A player who plays much faster than he tests. But that isn’t what Sanders showed most at the combine—although he did catch the best deep ball of the day during the post-corner fade tracking drill.

It was his feet and his cuts and his attention to detail.

The Trashman’s Scouting Notes:

Sanders doesn’t have spectacular speed, but he does possess quickness and escapability that is apparent on his three college punt returns for touchdowns. He has great hands to pair with surprisingly perceptive down-field vision. Sanders excels in short and intermediate slant routes, where he can juke a defender at the line and use his quickness to get open.  In college he was often implemented in the red-zone.

The Trashman’s Fantasy Outlook for Ace Sanders:

Sanders’ most immediate impact will come on special teams. As of now he is third on the depth chart at WR2 behind Justin Blackmon who is suspended for four games and an oft injured Mohamed Massaquoi, who was recently signed to a two year deal. His best bet at touches will come in the slot where he’ll see competition from Jordan Shipley. If he does stick in the slot, he has Cecil Shorts and Mercedes Lewis to contend with for targets. Sanders should only be considered as a deep sleeper in keeper or dynasty leagues. This is based primarily on the fact the Blaine Gabbert’s bread and butter is the short pass and the occasional blind faith Cecil Shorts bomb.

Height: 5’10”
Weight: 214 pounds
40-Time: 4.46-4.66

** Check out his EYE-POPPING College and High School Accolades here

Initially, the fit seemed odd. Let it marinate and it really works. Montee Ball is a Bronco.

The former Wisconsin Badger is known as a ball-control back that thrives behind a lead blocker. Not the adept space player you might imagine in a wide-open Peyton Manning offense. How is this reconciled in Denver?

Running backs don’t see the light of day in a Peyton Manning offense unless they are mature and responsible in their assignments. Montee Ball is a four-year senior from Wisconsin. He played 49 games in the most pro-style college run game there is and he knows how to block. Check mark.

Ball is a downhill runner who utilizes superior vision to patiently pick his running lanes. Perfect for the stretch play. Peyton Manning’s bread and butter in the run game. Check mark.

Receiving skills? Watch the 2011 Wisconsin film with Russell Wilson at the trigger. Ball can catch the rock. Check mark.

All in all, a young Montee Ball offers a skill set similar to that of an old Willis McGahee. Salute to John Elway. In the midst of a monster draft, he filled a need with one of the best players on the board. Patience, Broncos fans. This one will pay off, it just might take some time.

Fantasy Diagnosis:

Lance Ball is unspectacular. Ronnie Hillman goes down way too easily on first contact. He is nothing more than a complementary back. This is a three-horse race between Willis McGahee, Knowshon Moreno, and Montee Ball.

McGahee is almost 32, and coming off of a knee injury that ended his 2012 season. Knowshon Moreno is in the last year of his rookie deal—unless Denver exercises a club option next year. Perhaps, McGahee or Moreno will be cut or traded en route to opening day. If so, the shiny rookie’s stock rises significantly. Keep a close eye on the Broncos depth chart as we move through training camp. If the veterans do acquiesce to Ball, he could be an RB2 this season.

The more likely scenario is a crowded backfield in Denver, for 2013. In many ways, this situation is reminiscent of Mark Ingram to the Saints a few years back. Making Ball something between an RB3 and a late round flier in re-draft leagues this year. Certainly, give Ball increasing priority in keeper leagues, while he is an absolute must-own in Dynasty Leagues. Remember, this rookie from Wisconsin is all about production, production, production. His fantasy outlook is very bright in the coming years.