2018 Raiders Draft Prospect Profile: WR Jordon Gandy

Name: Jordon Gandy

Height: 6’4”

Weight 210 lbs

Position: WR

School: Murray State

Stats:

135 receptions

2065 yards

15.3 ypc

23 TD

Hands

Initially, Gandy snares the ball with conviction. In addition, he appears comfortable with catching away from his body, in traffic or over the shoulder. There is  little double catching or bobbling. He secures the ball before heading downfield.

Speed

Perhaps the lone dent in Gandy’s skills, his acceleration takes a few strides to pick up. If you look at his gait, the speed is the result of longer runs. If you look at Gruden’s Tampa teams, he did not favor speedy wideouts. That being said, Gandy’s lack of explosion becomes moot.

Route Running

Gandy will cut crisp out of certain routes. Yet, the out routes need a little more sharpness. Meanwhile, over the middle, posts, drags, and slants is where Gandy shines. He uses his entire frame to box out smaller corners.

Intangibles

Although Murray State is not the hotbed of college football most think, Gandy brought a phenomenal work ethic with him. Originally, a two-star recruit, Gandy gained muscle and focused in on the game. If either his name is called or he signs as a UDFA, Gandy will attempt to outwork most rookies.

Interview

What are the biggest adjustments you need to make when jumping from the OVC to the NFL?

I must quickly grasp the wording within schemes/play calls, and the speed of the game.

The AFC West boasts elite corners like Aqib Talib, Marcus Peters, and Casey Hayward. They test rookies with a blend of speed and physicality. How will you combat this?

I will combat this with physicality of my own. I will use body position while catching a ball and active hands within my routes.

What are your current strengths and weaknesses?

My speed and cutting while at top speed needs work. In addition, at times, the perimeter blocking needs work. On the other hand, my strengths are catching the ball naturally. Moreover, adjusting to the ball in the air, being a smart player within the game, and reading blocks.

Analysis: While Gandy does need work, his size cannot be taught. In that case, the Raiders, like other teams will keep an eye on him during the evaluation process. Gandy could give Derek Carr a red zone threat that could make the potential loss of Michael Crabtree tolerable. Given these points, the Raiders could extend an UDFA contract.