Broncos add more speed with selection of Isaiah McKenzie

After multiple trades, both up and down, the Denver Broncos found themselves with the 172nd selection in the NFL Draft and they promptly used it on Isaiah McKenzie, wide receiver from the University of Georgia.

The diminutive speedster stands just 5’7″, 173 pounds and is considered a return specialist after his college career saw him score six times between punt and kickoff returns. His receiving numbers of 44 catches for 633 yards and seven touchdowns were more modest but still led the Bulldogs offense.

NFL.com’s scouting report says:

Strengths

Specialized in hitting big plays. Scored a touchdown every seventh time he touched the football on offense this season and averaged 11.9 yards per offensive touch over three years at Georgia. Angular, downhill running still bolsters his home run kick return ability. Able to get instant acceleration off the line as a receiver or with the ball in his hands. Slippery in tight quarters, but will elude and go rather than trying to get miss after miss. Has vertical speed to win over the top of nickel cornerbacks on deep routes. Offers gadget touch option for creative offensive minds.

Weaknesses

Diminutive frame. Arm tackles can end his run immediately. Has small hands and a minimal catch radius. Body catcher allows the ball to bang against his frame. Shows below average hand-eye coordination and overall concentration on deep throws. Contested catches are an issue for him. Routes lack sharpness expected from smaller, quicker wideout. Takes time to gather into his breaks and is slow to accelerate out of them. Able to uncover vertically much better than horizontally and struggles to uncover in short area. Production bolstered by jet sweeps and swing screens.

Bottom Line

McKenzie’s big play production is impressive on paper, but once you get into the tape, it becomes apparent that much of what he is able to accomplish is due to mismatched speed in space and packaged plays tailored towards his strengths. As a receiver, he is below the mark of what teams will expect from their slots in terms of route-running, but his explosive return ability could land him work right away.