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The Jets selected Jerricho Cotchery in the fourth round of the 2004 draft with the hope that he would provide adequate depth and contribute on special teams. Instead, he has started 47 games and led the team in receiving the past two seasons. What happened? Why did Cotchery fall to the fourth round when Jacksonville took Reggie Williams and San Francisco took Rashaun Woods in the first round that year?
The simple and most obvious answer is too much on emphasis on size-speed ratio and not enough on production. Cotchery is just 6 feet tall and didn't post a great 40 time at the combine, so his stock dropped. Considering he's now known for his ability to stretch the field, the irony is tough to miss here.
It's even tougher to reconcile Cotchery's going in the fourth round when you take his production at North Carolina State into account. He broke future Hall of Famer Torry Holt's school records for receptions and career 100-yard receiving games. It's not as though Holt hadn't emerged as a difference-maker in the NFL yet, either: He had finished each of the previous four seasons with at least 1,300 receiving yards.
Of course the elephant in the room here is Brandon Marshall, whom Denver selected in the fourth round of the 2006 draft. While Cotchery has exceeded expectations, Marshall is one of the most talented receivers in the league and he's put up impressive numbers the past two seasons. The problem is his off-the-field issues and distractions in the locker room, which can't be overlooked. He served a one-game suspension last year and the league could suspend him for his latest indiscretion as well.
Here are three wide receivers from well-known schools and one small-school prospect expected to come off the board in the middle rounds.
It's important to point out that these players aren't expected to make an immediate impact, just as it took Cotchery two full seasons to begin playing a substantial role with the Jets. In addition, these receivers don't all share Cotchery's skill set, so their paths to success and the roles they will play differ in most cases.
BYU WR Austin Collie
Collie may have already peaked in terms of potential. He is a 23-year-old pass-catcher who doesn't have ideal top-end speed or explosiveness. However, he ran a much quicker 40-yard dash at his pro day than he did at the combine. He also does an excellent job of tracking the ball on film, so his speed is not as much of a concern as once thought. In addition, he masks his lack of ideal burst by running crisp short-to-intermediate routes, catching the ball in stride and fluidly tuning upfield. Collie is also a willing blocker who does a good job of getting into position and fights to sustain his blocks once locked on. He may not be flashy, but being effective always trumps flashy in the NFL.