One of the best wide receivers in the upcoming draft is Laquon Treadwell out of Ole Miss, moving around from team to team, showing his talent. The New York Giants, Chicago Bears, Dallas Cowboys and Minnesota Vikings seemed to be the most interested parties at the moment.
Treadwell has already visited the Cowboys and Vikings, with the Giants and Bears also on his list, although there have been other teams, like the New Orleans Saints, looking at him from a changing distance. It’s hard to find a team without a single need in terms of helping the passing game, but it’s especially true for the Bears and Vikings in this case, while the Giants, who spent most of their offseason money on upgrading their defense, would like to find offensive improvements through the draft.
Treadwell was one of those surprising five-star recruits for Ole Miss before the 2013 season. He had a very good freshman campaign and was on his way to a big sophomore season until he suffered a broken fibula against Auburn to miss the final month of the season. He bounced back well in 2015 despite the Rebels not having the best of passing games. He finished 2015 with 82 receptions, 1153 yards and 11 touchdowns. He was second or third team All-American by a number of media outlets and finished as first-team All-SEC, finishing his Ole Miss career with a big Sugar Bowl win against Oklahoma State, catching three touchdown passes.
And in the pros? Treadwell is big (6’2, 221 lbs), has very good hands and runs routes very well. What he does lack is speed, and press coverage against good cornerbacks (LSU’s Tre’Davious White comes to mind) could give him trouble. He might struggle getting separation against some of the quicker cornerbacks in the NFL, but then it’s up to coaches and offensive coordinators to put him in positions he can succeed in. There have been comparisons to DeAndre Hopkins, which means there’s a lot to expect out of him.
Treadwell doesn’t seem like a #1 WR right out of the gate for any team that picks him, but everything about him except for blinding speed shows he’s ready to become a long-time presence in the NFL and a very productive pass catcher for anyone that takes him. Speed isn’t overrated, but it’s not the only thing, and not being the quickest guy on the board shouldn’t stop him from being a first round pick, although probably outside the top 10.