Stephen

Hill

The Jaguars would likely be eyeballing Hill after a trade down, something they hope to do but are in no way guaranteed of accomplishing. It’s also possible the Jags would draft Hill in round two. Keep in mind that the Times-Union is largely a team-fed newspaper, and the Jaguars are known for smokescreening.

Seattle will receive picks Nos. 47, 154, and 232 in return. Held back by the Yellow Jackets’ run-heavy offense and poor QB play, Hill managed the unique feat of a higher yards-per-reception average (29.3) than catch total (28). Much like Demaryius Thomas two years ago, Hill’s draft stock soared when he proved to be a height-weight-speed freak at the Combine. After dropping six passes last season, Hill will have to show better hands and a wider route tree on a Jets team in need of an explosive deep threat opposite Santonio Holmes. He may need a year before making a fantasy impact.

“He’s unique,” Clinkscales said. “He’s a 6-4 kid that’s 215 (pounds) and runs a 4.32 (40). I mean... Calvin Johnson maybe. I’m not going to put that label on him but from a height, weight, speed (standpoint)... He’s just a unique athlete.” GM Mike Tannenbaum isn’t worried about Hill’s limited college route tree. “We really feel like he can run all the routes that we’ll ask in our offense,” Tannenbaum said. “We think the transition can happen fairly quickly.”

This is far from surprising after Jets VP of scouting Joey Clinkscales indirectly compared Hill to Calvin Johnson on Saturday. Hill has a rare size/speed combination (6-foot-4, 215 pounds, 4.36 Combine 40), but is extremely raw coming out of Georgia Tech’s triple-option offense, and has struggled with drops. If the Jets are lucky, he’ll make a Torrey Smith-like impact as a rookie.

Hill and Thomas are compared because they both operated as deep threat receivers in Georgia Tech’s incredibly run-heavy triple-option offense. Scouts reportedly believe Thomas was more physical in college, but Hill may be even more advanced. Thomas was the first receiver selected in the 2010 draft. “The size and speed, obviously, are there,” an NFC scout said of Hill. “But, outside of ordering up the tape, you don’t want to fall all over yourself yet.”

Hill could begin laughing at them as soon as today, as he’s a projected late first-round to early second-round pick. Hill received the second lowest of five advisory grades that a player is capable of getting. The reasons for Hill’s grade are obvious; he had 49 career catches and ran three routes in college. But he shredded the Combine and will also shred their projection.

“He’s a hands snatcher,” said Mayock. “He had five or six drops [at Georgia Tech] ... but when you watch him catch the football, it’s so natural.” For a bigger receiver, Mayock determined that Hill was “really good” getting in and out of his breaks at the Yellow Jacket’s Pro Day. Mayock suspects Hill will be a late first-round pick, and an “early two” in a “worst case” scenario.

We’re not sure how these “league insiders” would have access to Cleveland’s draft plans. Although it’s certainly easy to picture the Browns going with Richardson, we’d place this news in the speculation category as opposed to a sourced report. Kendall Wright, Rueben Randle, and Stephen Hill are among the receivers potentially available with the 22nd pick.

Rang mentions Hill as one of five underclassman prospects who could “light up the Combine” and experience a “significant boost to their draft stock.” In 2011, Hill averaged a freakish 29.3 yards per reception as the deep threat in Georgia Tech’s triple-option offense. Rang expects Hill to run in the high 4.4s at his listed 6-foot-5, 206, and impress in leaping drills.

According to Cosell, Hill’s college “routes” were essentially limited to “straight line running,” making it difficult to forecast how he might fare in offenses far more complex than Georgia Tech’s triple-option attack. Although Hill was noted for his drops at GT, NFL Network’s Mike Mayock recently praised his fluid catching motion. Although he’s somewhat of an open book, Hill has a shot at being a first-round pick.