Scouting Profile: Louisville WR DeVante Parker
Get an in-depth look at the top prospects in this year's draft class leading up to the NFL draft, which takes place from April 30 to May 2 in Chicago.
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DeVante Parker
Position: WR
School: Louisville
College Experience: Junior
Height: 6-2
Weight: 207 lbs.
Age: 22
Combine Results
| Event | Result |
|---|---|
| 40-yd dash | 4.45 sec |
| Bench Press | 17 reps |
| Vertical Jump | 36.5 inches |
| Broad Jump | 125 inches |
| 3-Cone Drill | N/A |
| 20-yd Shuttle | N/A |
Strengths
- Parker excels at beating cornerbacks off the line with a number of jab steps and hand fakes.
- An absolute nightmare to contain in the open field, he does plenty of damage after the catch and takes advantage of safeties and linebackers who take poor routes to the ball.
- Tremendous catch radius - contorts his body to reach under-thrown passes.
- Uses excellent leaping ability to routinely get the ball at its highest point.
Weaknesses
- Struggles to separate from defenders in the red zone.
- Not a particularly good blocker, often cutting off his quarterback's/running back's running lane.
- Although he has the physical ability to snag balls, Parker will lose some 50-50 passes due to a lack of effort.
NFL player comparison: Justin Blackmon
Parker excels on slant routes and displays a tremendous ability to beat cornerbacks to the inside of the field. The 22-year-old is arguably the best receiver in this year's draft class in the open field, and has a variety of moves getting off the line of scrimmage. Much like Blackmon, Parker is an outstanding athlete with great leaping ability. But similar to the Jaguars receiver, the Louisville star will lose 50-50 balls due to lack of effort.
Ideal fit: Cleveland Browns
Josh Gordon was suspended for the year and Jordan Cameron signed with Miami in the offseason, creating a clear void for a legitimate number one receiver. Parker is great on intermediate routes and would give Johnny Manziel a viable target when scrambling out of the pocket. If Gordon ever gets reinstated, the Browns would suddenly have a pretty solid receiver duo.
Draft projection: Round 1 (10-25)