Wide Receiver Train Full Speed Ahead- CHOO CHOO!

[Pete]

Tory Horton please

[LEBills]

On 4/12/2025 at 9:08 PM, LEBills said:

My personal 2025 WR rankings:

 

#2 Elic Ayomanor WR Stanford (RD 2)

- Grew up in Canada until HS

- Put up nearly 300 yards against Colorado, half of which came against (a hobbled) Travis Hunter

 

What does he do on film?

 

Natural if not unrefined route runner:

- 4:52 awesome pacing on route and selling the go before breaking it off for the back shoulder catch, setting Stanford up for the win.

 

- 5:20 really great snapping off the route to the corner of the EZ

 

- 7:13 fights through 3 or 4 defenders in his route and gets to the front pylon

 

- 10:53 pretty impressive wiggle for a player of his size

 

 

Are his hands improving?

- 13:18 brushes off the attempted hold by the DB and excellent deep tracking. 

 

- 13:41 tracking down the errant pass like an outfielder. Critical for his play style and plays he was missing earlier in the year

 

- 15:00 threw Quincy Riley (a good CB) to the side and finished with a nice deep ball track

 

Weaknesses:

- For such a strong player, he allows balls to get ripped out or will just drop them after a bit of contact

- Has some quicks to his game, but not overly dangerous after the catch

 

Conclusion:

I was skeptical of Ayomanor going into evaluation for his apparent lack of separation and a few too many drops. As the season went on, I think he started playing better despite his QB situation. The drops lessened (though we’re still there at times), and he seemed to have more wiggle and juice off the line.

 

Ayomanor is a player who I would be nervous drafting but also nervous to pass on. He looks like Mike Evans on the field but his hands are holding him back. I think some of his releases off the line are some of the more impressive of this class, but then he has such bad hand placement to catch the ball. If a team feels confident they can fix his catching technique he is going to be a monster.

 

On 4/5/2025 at 9:48 PM, LEBills said:

My personal 2025 WR rankings:

 

#9 Jalen Royals WR Utah State (RD 2-3)

- Multi sport athlete in HS

- 21 TDs in 1.5 seasons at Utah State

- Often left the defender worse for the wear after they tried tackling him

 

What does he do on film?

 

You have to be both physical and technically sound if you want to stand a chance vs Royals:

- 2:14 able to get quick speed out of a bunch formation so when defenders tries to get physical with Royals, the defender just slips off of him

- 3:09 physicality without good technique will get whooped by Royals because he is very strong. bad throw

- 3:38 just bad defense by Boise giving up the inside release with the Safety so far back. I think the missed tackles are more on the CB and Safety than anything incredible Royals did, but the speed when he has a step on a defense is important to see

- 4:23 Royals avoids the press and swipes the hand away to get even with the CB. CB trails the rest of the way and nice outside break to give his QB a safe completion.

 

Weaknesses:

- Very good short and deep route player but lacks route running polish for intermediate routes

- Dealt with injuries the later portion of the year

 

Conclusion:

At his best when USU put him to the wide hash and he had much more space to work with on slants, screens and gos. Feisty and slippery after the catch with over 25% avoided tackle rate. Excellent contested catch receiver despite modest height. Royals still has room to grow as a receiver - particularly on his intermediate routes - but is set up well to be a second option in a YAC heavy offense with his ability to occasionally stretch the field vertically.

 

On 4/3/2025 at 12:17 AM, LEBills said:

My personal 2025 WR rankings:

 

#12B Elijah Badger WR Florida (RD 5-6)

- Transfer from ASU

- returned kicks for ASU and averaged 28.9 yards per return

- Second is SEC for YPC this year

 

What does he do on film?

 

- 5:22 jet sweep, multiple missed tackles forced

- 6:18 awareness against the zone defense to keep moving to the open zone

- 7:20 finished with the easy touchdown vs cover 0

- 12:10 keeps working to QB throwing lane as pocket collapses, rewarded with big catch and run

- 29:30 quick break behind the zone defender, crosses to the other side of the field for crucial first down catch

 

 

- :26 looks familiar right? Jet sweep forcing several missed tackles

- 1:10 beats the CB good position with awesome hands catch for the first down

- 1:21 finds the hole in coverage down field for 4th down conversion. Notice his awareness of the defenders around him to pick up extra yardage when surrounded by USC defenders

- 3:29 first off Skattebo is so fun. Badger is so elusive for his size.

 

Weaknesses:

- Production throughout his career was mid

- Will be 24 this summer

 

Conclusion:

A former 4-star recruit, he caught passes from Jaden Daniels in 2022 which may have been his best year. What I like about Badger is he can play anyway you need him. Last year he had a 7.3 aDOT, this year his aDOT was 17.3. If you need him to make a play on a jet sweep he can do that, if you need him to make a short catch and make a couple defenders miss he can do that, and if you need him to just win downfield he can do that too. This year when he was used on many more deep routes he had 0 drops, a near 70% contested catch success rate, and the fifth best YPRR in the class. If there is to be a Khalil Shakir day 3 surprise breakout WR, I would put my chips on Badger pre-draft

 

On 4/2/2025 at 2:07 AM, LEBills said:

My Personal 2025 WR Rankings:

 

#13 Dont’e Thornton WR Tennessee (RD 2-3)

- Oregon transfer

- Helped take care of 4 younger siblings while his father was in prison

- 2 time SEC academic honor roll

 

What does he do on film?

 

You have to have Safety help over the top

- 1:43 RPO draws safety toward the LOS and Thornton fills the vacated space for another easy touchdown

- 6:34 copy and paste

- 6:48 ditto

 

Deep ball tracking

- 1:33 Thornton is excellent at tracking the ball in the air

- 3:46 late hands and cradles the ball as he runs full speed while being dragged down from behind

 

Weaknesses:

- Is not going to shake a tackler but will politely fall forward

- College offense schemed open looks rather than Thornton creating separation via route running

 

Conclusion:

Being 6’5’’ and running a 4.3 is a superpower. One that forces teams to account for you each snap you are on the field. He also is a pretty good run blocker which will be important for him to stay on the field in 2 WR sets. But Thornton comes with many questions that can’t be answered by his measurements. Despite his size, he was never used much as an end zone target and his contested catch rate varied wildly from year to year. He also was only used on a few routes, and not having a more varied route tree will make covering him easier than it should be in the pros. Thornton is a package player with a very important role in an Offense (Tennessee used him as such as he wound up with the 4th most WR snaps on the team). I think a Christian Watson role may be where he carves out his niche.

On 4/8/2025 at 5:23 PM, LEBills said:

My personal 2025 WR rankings:

 

#6 Tory Horton WR Colorado State (RD 4-6)

- Should have declared last year

- Worked out in the snow at his pro day

 

What does he do on film?

 

- :14 beats Will Johnson 1v1 for the long touchdown

- 2:32 a lot of fast players struggle against zone coverage. Sits in the zone, gets the ball and then so incredibly quick going from standing still to making a big run after catch

- 4:11 double covered and still wins the jump ball and scores

- 4:56 sick double move and then shows off the best hands in the draft

- 6:15 it’s not an amazing play, but I like players that their coaches trust to handle a trick play

 

 

- 1:34 best hands in the draft

- 2:47 incredible at getting hands up last moment for the catch and touchdown

- 7:41 best hands in the draftttt

- 8:20 When a big catch was needed he delivered, then communicates with his teammates to get ready to spike the ball

- 9:14 best hands in the draftttttttt

 

Weaknesses:

- Likely played much lighter than he weighed at combine

- Knee injury ended his season

- Wins with speed and lacks physicality after the catch

 

Conclusion:

If you can’t tell, I’m a big fan. A player that should have declared last year after a showcase game vs Colorado, he came back because he was a leader at CSU. Well rounded receiver metrically with success out wide and in the slot as well as vs both man and zone. 

 

Added bonus of being a good punt returner will allow him to contribute right away to any team. Starting as a reserve and slot player be a nice way to transition to the physicality of the game, but I think he can step in as a starter immediately assuming he is 100% healthy.

5 of my top 12 receivers remain

 

Tory Horton despite being lower than Ayomanor in the ranks, is the top Bills fit left imo.

[PayDaBill$]

On 1/29/2025 at 8:47 AM, BillsFan2313 said:

 

Disagree. We traded a 3rd for basically a half year of Cooper once Beane realized he messed up in the off season, not addressing it further. If he lets that happen again, that would be concerning. 

In hindsight it was the wrong guy…

[Luka]

I need my Gator pick this year and who better than Elijhah Badger? The Gators offense was the Badger show at times through out the season last year and really helped with the development of the freshman QB DJ Lagway. 4.4 speed, excellent hands and much like Shakir for Buffalo, always seemed to come up with the big 3rd down catch when we needed it. From scouting reports I've seen he has more of discipline and work ethic concerns than ability or talent concerns so I think that is a perfect 4th or 5th round kind of guy. The Gators staff is not the hallmark of coaching staffs that's for sure, so a change of scenery could certainly benefit him. 

[LEBills]

8 minutes ago, Luka said:

I need my Gator pick this year and who better than Elijhah Badger? The Gators offense was the Badger show at times through out the season last year and really helped with the development of the freshman QB DJ Lagway. 4.4 speed, excellent hands and much like Shakir for Buffalo, always seemed to come up with the big 3rd down catch when we needed it. From scouting reports I've seen he has more of discipline and work ethic concerns than ability or talent concerns so I think that is a perfect 4th or 5th round kind of guy. The Gators staff is not the hallmark of coaching staffs that's for sure, so a change of scenery could certainly benefit him. 

Badger was tied for WR12 for me just above Dont’e Thornton. Love how he plays. Was a YAC merchant at ASU then totally transformed into a deep threat at Florida. He can win at all three levels. He and Horton would also take care of the KR and PR role so we can cut Coddrington. And love your description of Florida, spot on.

[Pete]

No ***** WR is bull####!

[FireChans]

The train never left the station. See you next year

[Pete]

It is irresponsible to completely ignore WR. 

 

Shakir-slot

Joshua Palmer- is he our #1?

Keon- is he our #2?

Samuel-been hurt most of his career

 

Who is our 5th?

 

Shenault

Hamler

Shavers

Virgil

 

5 WR- Amari-Mack+Palmer = 4 WR

 

Doesn't Josh deserve better Beane?

[HOUSE]

The choo choo is out of coal

[Mister Defense]

The choo choo has died on the tracks, it seems. 

 

Or maybe they are just shoveling in more coal right now, for a final big push?

 

Wideout was a priority for me too, earlier in the off season, though still important now. But then so much of what I saw made me want the supreme focus to be on defense, and in a sharp and dramatic way. So far, so good.

 

 

Edited Saturday at 06:38 PM by Mister Defense

[Brandon]

18 minutes ago, Pete said:

It is irresponsible to completely ignore WR. 

 

Shakir-slot

Joshua Palmer- is he our #1?

Keon- is he our #2?

Samuel-been hurt most of his career

 

Who is our 5th?

 

Shenault

Hamler

Shavers

Virgil

 

5 WR- Amari-Mack+Palmer = 4 WR

 

Doesn't Josh deserve better Beane?

 

Don't worry.  Beane has a 5'8 165lb receiver nicknamed 'Speedy' all lined up for R5.  Sure,  he ran a 4.7 at his Pro Day and he had a 20% drop rate,  but we should be damn happy he ran that 40.  He wouldn't be available here if he hadn't.  

[Pete]

What is the plan at WR Beane?  Right now we have 4 WR in a passing league.  Do you that much confidence that Keon can be our #2?  What happens if a WR gets hurt?  You have 3 WR then.  Are you aware it’s possible to draft WRs?  Do you not foresee a possible big ***** issue?

 

[FireChans]

2 minutes ago, Pete said:

What is the plan at WR Beane?  Right now we have 4 WR in a passing league.  Do you that much confidence that Keon can be our #2?  What happens if a WR gets hurt?  You have 3 WR then.  Are you aware it’s possible to draft WRs?  Do you not foresee a possible big ***** issue?

 

Organizational malpractice, year after year lol.

[bobobonators]

If either Shakir or Palmer get injured it’s gonna hurt. 

[Pete]

What is the ***** plan?  We have 4 WR!

[Warriorspikes51]

We must be bringing back Amari Cooper?

 

or trading for Pickens, Addison, Jameson ?

 

or ________ ?

[FireChans]

3 minutes ago, Warriorspikes51 said:

We must be bringing back Amari Cooper?

 

or trading for Pickens, Addison, Jameson ?

 

or ________ ?

100% bringing back Coop.

 

Beanes post-draft presser is gonna be like “we wish we could’ve gotten another WR or two but we are gonna keep trying to improve that group in any way possible”

 

Rinse repeat Groundhog Day *****.

 

I wish some reporter with guts asked him about the merits of his strategy of targeting the most expensive position  outside of QB exclusively from FA. 
 

It’s pathological now. He’s had his heart broken by Stef.

[Boatdrinks]

Train has ground to a halt

[L Ron Burgundy]

They didn't like the wrs this year.  Simple.  

[Bill from NYC]

27 minutes ago, Pete said:

What is the plan at WR Beane?  Right now we have 4 WR in a passing league.  Do you that much confidence that Keon can be our #2?  What happens if a WR gets hurt?  You have 3 WR then.  Are you aware it’s possible to draft WRs?  Do you not foresee a possible big ***** issue?

 

Are you surprised? What did you think that McDermott would do?