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Broncos Film Room: Is DaeSean Hamilton the answer in the slot?

Andre Simone Avatar
April 28, 2018
USATSI 10562709 1 scaled

With their second pick of the fourth round in the 2018 NFL Draft, the Denver Broncos selected Penn State receiver, DaeSean Hamilton.

Hamilton was a four-year starter with consistent production throughout his career.

As we’ve done with all the picks Denver’s made, we dug into the tape to see what the Broncos got in their second receiver taken in this draft.

Strengths:

  • Hamilton is a versatile receiver who was used outside and inside. He’s appealing as a big slot receiver.
  • He has really nice contested ball-skills and good hands to catch the ball away from his body. He can bully defensive backs when the ball is in the air.

Hamilton TD out of slot v OSU 1

  • He has really good suddenness close to the line of scrimmage and can create space right at the top of his route stem. He’s at his best beating press coverage.

Hamilton quick slant and YAC 1

  • The PSU captain shows promising route running skills. He runs sharp cuts and sets up cornerbacks well, especially on double moves.
  • While he’s not explosive, Hamilton is a solid runner with the ball in his hand with balance and strength to break tackles. 

Hamilton TD v MSU on crosser 1

  • He does a good job boxing out DBs and fighting for position.

Hamilton contested grab v Wisc 1

  • He has a real talent for tracking the ball and making tough over the shoulder grabs.

Hamilton over the shoulder grab v Mich 1

Weaknesses:

  • Hamilton needs to work on his blocking out in space. He can be lackadaisical, doesn’t dominate the way his size should warrant.
  • He doesn’t create lots of separation. He’s neither a burner nor a quick twitch athlete. There are concerns about his ability to win in the NFL against bigger corners with speed. 
  • He isn’t fast enough or sudden running routes on crossers. 
  • Hamilton lacks big-play ability, has one-gear speed.
  • When watching tape, he’s had a few concentration drops. 

In conclusion

Hamilton is an interesting selection as he wins in a lot of the same ways that Courtland Sutton does; contested grabs and skying for the football.

He was his most productive in his first year of college and never got back to that production. Hamilton also never surpassed 800- yards receiving and was only an average, albeit consistent, producer in college. There are legitimate questions about his potential at the next level.

He’s a nice depth piece to a receiving core that now has speed with the 2017 picks and contested ball catchers in this year’s draft. His primary appeal is as a route runner who can create mismatches in the slot with smaller nickel cornerbacks. He’s intriguing as a potential red-zone target as well.

Hamilton follows a trend in this draft of safe, immediate contributors with low ceilings.

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