Overview
Position: Wide receiver
Height: 6’4″
Weight: 220 pounds
School: Indiana Hoosiers
Combine Performance Data
40-yard dash: 4.64 seconds
Bench press: 11 reps
Vertical jump: 30 inches
Broad jump: 9 feet, 5 inches
Three-cone drill: 6.70 seconds (fourth among wide receivers)
20-yard shuttle: 4.32 seconds
60-yard shuttle: 11.20 seconds (fourth among wide receivers)
Simmie Cobbs 2018 NFL Draft Profile
A standout on both sides of the football at River Forest High School in the Chicago area, Simmie Cobbs won all-purpose most valuable player honors as a senior. He received the athlete designation as a college prospect and initially committed to Purdue. But he had second thoughts after it became apparent the Boilermakers had defense in mind for him. Cobbs subsequently de-committed and signed with in-state rival Indiana as part of an impressive top 40 recruiting class for the Hoosiers in 2014.
The combination of a season-ending injury to starter Nate Sudfeld and finding himself buried on the depth chart meant Cobbs didn’t see much action as a true freshman. But that all changed a year later. He finished with the third highest receiving yardage total in the Big Ten, with only Michigan State’s Aaron Burbridge and Penn State’s Chris Godwin exceeding his 1,035 yards. His 17.25 yards per reception was sixth nationally among receivers who eclipsed the 1,000-yard mark.
But Cobbs suffered a setback during his junior season. In the team’s home opener against Ball State, he injured his ankle and ended up missing the remainder of the season. That didn’t prevent him from finishing his college career on a high note, however. Cobbs led the team in receiving yards for the second time in three seasons in 2017. And his 72 receptions were second in the conference behind Maryland’s D.J. Moore. It led to him winning IU’s offensive player of the year while also getting named first-team All-Big Ten by the coaches and media.
Strengths
- big-bodied target with optimal frame;
- twitchy, change of pace receiver who can induce grabbiness;
- red zone playmaker able to go up and get balls in traffic;
- ran a wide array of routes in college;
- sees the field exceptionally well after the catch;
- spatially aware and able to exploit windows in zone coverage;
- does a good job getting free at the line of scrimmage against press;
- exhibits solid separation technique at transitional points in routes.
Weaknesses
- initial burst is decent but he doesn’t really have an extra gear in the open field;
- doesn’t play as big as he’s capable of;
- too often lets the ball come down to him rather than high pointing it;
- has struggled with focus drops throughout his college career;
- not particularly effective hauling in over and underthrown balls;
- doesn’t display particularly good contact balance when blocking;
- needs to play with more of an edge;
NFL Comparison: Brandon LaFell
Teams With Need at Position: Arizona Cardinals, Atlanta Falcons, Baltimore Ravens, Buffalo Bills, Oakland Raiders, San Francisco 49ers, Tennessee Titans, Washington Redskins
Projection: Fourth to fifth round
Bottom Line
Rather than utilizing the redshirt season made possible due to his season-ending injury as a junior, Cobbs declared for the draft a year early. He does have two seasons as Indiana’s go-to receiver under his belt, averaging 938 yards per year and totaling 12 touchdown grabs in that span. Cobbs is dynamic in space and boasts quintessential size for a number one receiver at the next level. That said, he never exhibited the ability to stretch defenses vertically at Indiana. And his lack of consistency as a pass catcher may limit his ceiling. But Cobbs is a viable option for teams looking to bolster their depth chart on day three of the draft.
