Position:<\/strong> Wide Receiver<\/p>\n Height:<\/strong> 6\u20191.4\u201d<\/p>\n Weight:<\/strong> 209 lbs.<\/p>\n School:<\/strong> University of Alabama-Birmingham<\/p>\n 40-yard Dash:<\/strong> 4.5 seconds (unofficial)<\/p>\n Vertical Jump:<\/strong> 31.5\u201d<\/p>\n Broad Jump:<\/strong> 9 feet, 8 inches<\/p>\n Bench Press:<\/strong> 18 reps<\/p>\n 3-Cone Drill:<\/strong> 7.35 (unofficial)<\/p>\n Short-Shuttle:<\/strong> 4.39 (unofficial)<\/p>\n More 2021 NFL Draft Profiles<\/a><\/p>\n Austin Watkins, who is the younger cousin of Sammy Watkins<\/a>, had his football journey start out a little differently than most NFL draft wide receiver prospects. He went to Dunbar High School in Fort Myers, FL. He was still an extremely raw player coming out of high school so he didn\u2019t have much interest from any FBS or FCS schools. Due to the lack of higher level opportunities he chose to take his talents to Dodge City Community College in Kansas. Though he did show flashes of greatness now and then, he still didn\u2019t have the breakout he was hoping to have but he did enough to garner some interest from lower level FBS schools. He ultimately ended up committing to UAB and redshirted his first season there in 2018. In 2019, he finally had the production that he was hoping for as he was one of the top wide receivers in the C-USA. He amassed 1,092 receiving yards on 57 catches with 6 touchdowns. He didn\u2019t have as good of a senior season in 2020 due to inconsistent quarterback play and was hampered with a couple of nagging injuries.<\/p>\n Watkins has been climbing up draft boards lately due to his exceptional performance at the Senior Bowl. He showed that he has elite explosion off of the line and is already an extremely good route runner. His ability to glide in and out of routes as well as his head\/shoulder fakes in route stems are what separate him from most of the other wide receivers in this class. You always want to see wide receivers show the wherewithal to catch the football away from their body, and he also does this on almost every play.<\/p>\n Though he shows many exceptional NFL traits, he does not possess great long speed. It takes him a couple of seconds longer than you would like for him to reach his top speed. If you\u2019re looking for a burner outside receiver, Watkins isn\u2019t your guy. Instead, he is more of a possession receiver who makes up for his lack of straight-line speed with twitch and quickness to create separation from defensive backs.<\/p>\n NFL Comparison:<\/strong> Gabriel Davis<\/a><\/p>\n Projection:<\/strong> Fourth or Fifth\u00a0Round<\/p>\n Teams With Need At Position:<\/strong> Baltimore Ravens<\/a>, Cincinnati Bengals<\/a>, Chicago Bears<\/a>, Houston Texans<\/a>, Detroit Lions<\/a>, New England Patriots<\/a>, Miami Dolphins<\/a>, Washington Football Team<\/a><\/p>\n Austin Watkins shows a lot of great potential to be a solid WR3 at the next level. He\u2019s never going to be one of your top downfield threats, but he will be a great addition to a teams passing game due to his natural route running ability and separation skills. He profiles more as a slot receiver at the next level. He\u2019s been a late riser on NFL draft boards, and there\u2019s a good chance that he gets selected somewhere within the round four-to-five range with the potential to be taken even earlier.<\/p>\n Main Photo:Pro Day Results<\/h3>\n
Austin Watkins 2021 NFL Draft Profile<\/h2>\n
Strengths<\/h3>\n
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Weaknesses<\/h3>\n
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Bottom Line on Austin Watkins<\/h3>\n
\nEmbed from Getty Images<\/a>