Anthony Gould NFL Draft Overview
In the modern NFL, with the rules to protect offensive players, WRS is humongous to have success. Rondel Moore, Greg Dortch, Pop Douglass, Tank Dell, and others have benefited the most from these rules. Miniature wide receivers were once only looked at by afterthoughts; now they are tough guards in the NFL. A prospect that could join that successful list is Anthony Gould. Gould was rated as a 3-star prospect out of Salem, Oregon, and committed to Oregon State.
Gould’s first two years as a beaver was redshirt. As a sophomore, Gould was an All-Pac-12 return man. He did become a full-time role player until his redshirt junior season. That season, Gould played very solid, amassing 44 catches for 748 yards and two touchdowns. Gould’s blazing speed and quickness helped him win on the outside, proving he can do it. However, can he do it at the next level? Let’s dig into the film!
Position: Wide Receiver
Height: 5’8 (Unofficial)
Weight: 172 lbs (Unofficial)
School: Oregon State
2024 NFL Draft: Anthony Gould Scouting Report
Gould’s Strengths
- Speed. Easily one of the fastest players in the draft. Gets zero to 100 real quick.
- Eats off coverage cause defenders to be scared of speed.
- Elite start and stop ability. He has Elite Quickness in and out of his breaks. It makes him an excellent short and intermediate route runner, especially vs. Off coverage.
- He can run any route with crispy routes.
- He has good hands at the catch point after beating a man off his route. Trust his hands, not a body catcher.
- He has good speed releases; if you miss your press, he leaves you and gets open.
- His main day-one impactful trait is his return ability. He can be your day-one returner and change field position.
Gould’s Weakness
- Undersized is an understatement. Limits him to a full-time slot role only.
- Because he is undersized, it limits him at the catch point when battling tight coverage vs bigger corners.
- The rep is over if physical corners get their hands on him at the next level.
- He needs to be bigger to impact the run game. It is better to use him with fakes than to block. Obvious mismatch.
Projection: 5th Round Pick
NFL Comparison: Rondale Moore
Best Fits: Chicago Bears and Carolina Panthers
Bottom Line
Every team needs a player like Gould on their football. A hard-working player with elite speed and change of direction to use on gadget plays and help in the slot. Gould also has good hands and is an elite return specialist who could help improve your special teams on day one. Players like Gould have always been told they are too small and seek to keep delivering. He will always need help with physical corners and an inability to reach a high point at the catch point. Also, run blocking is a huge no-no, even though he tries his best. However, like Rondale Moore, he has a place in the modern NFL. Moore’s speed has been valuable for the Cardinals as a deep threat and gadget player to get cheap first downs and special teams. Gould’s impact will be the same.
Main Photo: [Jerome Miron] – USA Today Sports
