With the 19th pick, the Dallas Cowboys select Calvin Ridley, wide receiver from the University of Alabama. Has a nice ring to it, doesn’t it Cowboys Nation? Ridley has long been mentioned as one of the top wide receivers in this 2018 draft class, and it’s certainly no secret that the Cowboys will need to address that position at some point in this draft.

Height: 6-1

Weight: 190 lbs

Year	Class	G	Rec	Yds	Avg	TD	Att	Yds	Avg	TD
2015	Fresh	15	89	1045	11.7	7	1	2	2.0	0
2016	Soph	15	72	769	10.7	7	5	21	4.2	1
2017	Junior	14	63	967	15.3	5	2	17	8.5	0
Career		44	224	2781	12.4	19	8	40	5.0	1

While he is regarded as one of the top receivers in the draft, the hype surrounding him isn’t as high as some of the other notable receivers – Courtland Sutton, Christian Kirk, D.J. Moore and some others. Some of that has to do with how much hype was already there when he stepped onto the field for the Crimson Tide. He was the top rated receiver in the 2015 recruiting class (12th best overall at any position) and had his best season as a freshmen – 89 catches, 1000 yards.

Then came the dip in production, but it’s very misleading. A lot of the explanation for the decrease in his stats has to do with the offensive system he was in, and who he had throwing him the ball. Jalen Hurts, was more of a threat running the ball than going downfield with it, so it’s difficult to really gauge his performance based on that.

Upside

One of the major knocks on Dez Bryant over the last few years was his route running. Look no further than Ridley for an experienced route runner. While he doesn’t have the size a prototypical number one receiver should have, it’s his smooth route running that separates himself from the pack of pass catchers in this draft.

“He isn’t big. He isn’t that fast. He’s older. But damn it, he’s smooth.”

“All these big wide receivers and all these fast guys, but none of them can run routes like Ridley.”

 

He has also shown incredible body control when going up and making a play as well as creating a good amount of separation from the defender. Once he makes a catch, it’s his ability to make a play after that results in him as a true home run threat.

If you combine all of his attributes, he figures to be the ideal candidate for a team looking for an immediate impact player in this years draft. While some receivers are young and may take some time to develop, it’s easy to see Ridley making that impact right at the start of his rookie season.

Downside

It’s not hard to see some of the immediate concerns surrounding Ridley. He lacks the size you would want in a true number one receiver, and his age is cause for concern as well. He will be turning 24 at the end of this season, easily making him the oldest receiver in the draft class. That has some teams pumping the breaks, because while a receivers career lifespan isn’t as short as a running back, you tend to see a drop in production when you start reaching the late 20’s and early 30’s.

Another knock on him has been a habit of dropping passes. He had 20 drops over his three years with Alabama, and most of them came when he felt a defender near him, so he could use some improvement there.

Verdict

While you wish he was bigger and stronger at this position, his exceptional route running seems to create the type of separation you would ask from a number one threat receiver. Some have compared him to Amari Cooper and Greg Jennings, as well as Nelson Agholor. He may not have the build of a guy like Sutton, but if you are looking for a week one impact player, the Cowboys may want to seriously consider Calvin Ridley if he still on the board when it’s time to make their selection.