2019 Raiders Draft Prospect Profile
Name: Terry McLaurin
Position: Wide Receiver
School: Ohio State University
Height: 6 feet
Weight: 205 pounds
Draft Projection: Day 2
Stats
Hands
From his last snare for the Buckeyes to Senior Bowl practices, you can tell McLaurin tweaked a few things about his approach. First, the strength of each grab increased. While in college he did, display good secure and turn abilities. Additionally, McLaurin adjusted to balls at different angles and slots. Whether over the shoulder or away from his frame, he adjusted to the passes, bringing them in.
Speed
If you are expecting a low 4.4 time, stop reading. Living by the stopwatch is not how McLaurin plays the game. However, his film shows a player with the acceleration. Equally important, McLaurin maintains his speed through the route. While some wideouts will lose speed halfway on vertical routes, he will keep a second gear.
Route Running
Crisp routes separate the talented producers from the perennially wasteful of potential. After the snap, McLaurin demonstrates an outstanding habit of repeating techniques. As a result, he does not tip the route, and defenders cannot anticipate or guess. Additionally, McLaurin works back to the ball, if the play breaks down, giving his quarterback a target.
Agility
During his breaks, McLaurin excels at selling routes, confusing defenders. At the next level, he will need to add deeper double moves. This will inevitably force corners to not camp or play off. With the ball, McLaurin exhibits twitchy tendencies. While he is not a jitterbug, that short-area quickness will lead to long gains in the NFL.
Intangibles
Despite playing for a talented roster, McLaurin shared the ball with talent all over. At the next level, he will fit into any locker room and not bring the diva mentality. On the field, he will do the little things. If the offense calls a run away from him, he will still sell the pass. If the play veers towards him, he will throw himself into blocking.
Raiders Fit
In reality, the Raiders need younger wideouts. At the Senior Bowl, McLaurin opened eyes, including those of the Raiders. Jon Gruden values the offensive ball above all else. Under those circumstances, the team will probably follow him through the combine. In the offense, McLaurin would probably supplant Seth Roberts, with an eye on the number two receiver spot. While most do not value the number two slot like they should, pairing him with an elite wideout will serve him well. McLaurin brings the Raiders a technician that can get vertical within the confines of their offense.
