Editor’s note: NESN.com will profile intriguing prospects in the days leading up to the 2016 NFL Draft. Next up: Ohio State wide receiver Braxton Miller.
Braxton Miller, wide receiver, Ohio State
6-foot-2, 201 pounds
Projected round: Second to third
2015 stats: 25 receptions, 340 yards, three touchdowns; 43 carries, 261 yards, one touchdown
Testing numbers: 4.43-second 40-yard dash, 1.54-second 10-yard split, 35-inch vertical jump, 10-foot, 3-inch broad jump, 6.65-second three-cone drill, 4.07-second short shuttle, 17 bench-press reps at 225 pounds.
Strengths: Miller has ideal size and athleticism at wide receiver. He’s as big and fast as an outside wideout and quick and agile as a slot receiver. He’s versatile enough to catch passes split out wide or from the backfield and to carry the ball. He recorded 600 career carries for 3,315 yards with 33 touchdowns with the Buckeyes, and he dropped only one pass on 38 targets in 2015. He showcased his shiftiness by forcing 16 missed tackles in just 68 touches as a senior, according to Pro Football Focus. He also was solid as a deep threat, catching six passes on 12 targets of 20 yards or more for 220 yards with two touchdowns.
Weaknesses: Miller only has one year of experience at receiver/running back. He was a quarterback from 2011 to 2013 and missed all of the 2014 season with a shoulder injury. He lined up in the slot on 88 percent of his snaps as a receiver, according to Pro Football Focus, so he doesn’t have a ton of experience outside. He also needs to work on his route running, according to Pro Football Focus.
Patriots fit: He’s a near perfect fit, based on his size and testing numbers, as either an outside receiver or in the slot. The Patriots had success converting Julian Edelman from a college quarterback to NFL receiver.
Thumbnail photo via Butch Dill/USA TODAY Sports Images
