Chris Brazzell II Scouting Report

Chris Brazzell II has a unique combination of size and length, combined with explosive electric speed, to be an immediate vertical threat for an NFL offense.

Draft Grade: Round 2 - Winning Starter

Strengths:

Speed/Vertical Threat: Brazzell’s film showcases that he can be a dominant vertical threat, and his 4.37 40-yard dash confirmed that. Brazzell has the speed and explosiveness to run past defenders consistently on vertical routes and serve as a reliable deep-threat option. His explosiveness at the snap, combined with his rapid acceleration and stride length, makes him a difficult cover for defensive backs in the deeper portions of the field.

Catch Radius: Brazzell has good overall length, which helps expand his catch radius. He has the ability to catch the football away from his body, making it difficult for defensive backs to get a hand on the pass. Brazzell shows a willingness to go vertical to high-point the football and pluck it out of the air.

Route Running: Although Brazzell is a taller receiver prospect with straight-line speed, he does an above-average job of sinking his hips to get in and out of breaks. By doing so, Brazzell can threaten vertically with his speed but then stop, drop his hips, and create separation on in-breakers and out-breakers.

Upside: For Brazzell’s height and overall size, his production numbers were great. With that combination of size and high-end athleticism, Brazzell has the opportunity to develop into a dominant X-receiver for an NFL offense, serving as a go-to option and potentially one of the best receivers in the league.

Concerns:

Press-Man: Brazzell is a taller, lean wide receiver prospect, which may work against him against press-man coverage. Because he is a taller receiver, defensive backs will naturally have a leverage advantage, allowing them to get good contact with his chest and slow his releases. Brazzell is going to have to develop an answer to combat this to be able to win more consistently against physical press-man.

Change of Direction/RAC Ability: Brazzell is more of a straight-line runner with the football after the catch. He is limited in his ability to make defenders miss in space using lateral cuts. The expectation for Brazzell in the short areas of the field is for him to catch the ball and then immediately turn north and south to pick up the available yardage.