NFL Free Agent Profile: Taylor Gabriel, WR, Atlanta

Throughout the offseason, we’ll be profiling players who may end up in Denver when all is said and done with NFL Free Agency. The Broncos clearly have plenty of holes to fill before they get back to Super-Bowl form and we’ll be examining a long list of players they may choose to help the franchise do just that.

One year ago, Taylor Gabriel was a little-known receiver on the Cleveland Browns. In the past year, Gabriel has been cut by the Browns, picked up by the Falcons, become one of the best playmakers in the NFL and played in a Super Bowl. Now, as a restricted free agent, Gabriel is set to make significantly more than the $1.53 million he has made throughout his entire three-year career. Not a bad year, eh?

After spending two seasons on the Browns after going undrafted in 2014, the speedster found his position in the NFL with the Falcons as a receiving playmaker. While Gabriel only played in 33 percent of Atlanta’s offensive snaps, he made his presence felt—turning 35 receptions into 579 yards for an NFL seventh-best 16.5 average.

As a restricted free agent, Atlanta has until March 9 to extend a contract tender to Gabriel. If they do so—and it is widely expected that they will put at least a second-round tender on him—then the Falcons can match any offer that Gabriel receives on the open market. However, if they put the tender on him and decide not to match an offer he receives, then Atlanta receives the tendered draft pick from the team that signs him.

Strengths

Although MVP Matt Ryan had Julio Jones to throw to, Gabriel arguably made Ryan look better. Gabriel had a league-best 139.9 passer rating when he was targeted last season and had nearly a perfect passer rating (156.3) when targeted on screen passes.

In fact, Pro Football Focus named Gabriel the best screen receiver in 2016 after catching all 12 screen attempts for 144 yards and two touchdowns. To give more credence to his big play ability, the 5-foot-8, 165-pounder had an offensive play of 40 or more yards in eight of the 13 regular season games he played in.

According to Gabriel himself, what sets him apart from most other playmakers is his ability to change direction while running full speed.

Weaknesses

So far in Gabriel’s career, his biggest weakness is that he’s a specialist, meaning he only plays in certain situations. Last year, the Abilene Christian product only played in a third of the Falcons’ offensive snaps, and it is unknown whether he can be an every-down receiver.

Additionally, it is unknown why Gabriel has only returned a total of four kicks and punts in his three-year career. Typically a player like this would also be a specialist in either the punt or kick return game, if not both.

How he fits in Denver

There aren’t many teams in the league, if any, where Gabriel wouldn’t be a great addition. Although the Denver Broncos have two star receivers already—Emmanuel Sanders and Demaryius Thomas—they desperately lacked a third weapon on offense. Denver was the only team that didn’t have three 300-yard receivers, and Gabriel would immediately fill that void.

However, since Gabriel is a restricted free agent—and any team would likely have to give up a high draft pick to get him on top of a large salary—it is unlikely that Denver will land Gabriel this offseason.