Atlanta Falcons: 5 wide receivers to consider drafting
By John Buhler
Kenny Lawler is a redshirt junior of out the Pac-12 in the California Golden Bears. He is 6’2″, 203 pounds, is the No. 12 wide receiver prospect in the NFL Draft, and projects as late third round pick.
Lawler was a favorite wide receiver of one of the country’s most sought after quarterback prospects in true junior Jared Goff at Cal. In his three years with the Golden Bears, Lawler had 143 receptions for 1,706 yards and 27 touchdown catches, including 13 his junior season at Berkeley.
Scouts seem to like Kenny Lawler’s ability to go up and get the ball with great hands, good body control, and a knack for high-pointing the ball on his receptions. The biggest criticism he draws is his slenderness, which could make it difficult for him to possession receive at the next level with all the hits he’ll certainly take from linebackers and safeties in the middle of the field. Lawler also isn’t the most gifted route runner.
What does seem to play in his advantage is that his college quarterback Goff grades out favorably to what the Atlanta Falcons have in Matt Ryan under center. Both passer throw accurate balls and are methodical in the medium to long passing game.
If general manager Thomas Dimitroff thinks that Kenny Lawler can learn to run the complex route tree in offensive coordinator Kyle Shanahan’s West Coast system, the Atlanta Falcons could either trade back in the third round or possibly hope that he falls to them at the middle of the fourth round of this spring’s draft.
Next: 4. Braxton Miller