Who Is Aaron Mellette?

With the 238th pick of the NFL Draft, the Baltimore Ravens selected WR Aaron Mellete out of Elon. Mellette is a 6'2", 217lb physical specimen who is projected to be a possession receiver in the NFL. At the NFL Combine, Aaron Mellette ran a 4.54 40-yard-dash and recorded a 33.5 inch vertical leap; not bad measurements for a seventh round pick.

The reason why this pick stands out to me a lot is because of his dominant college career in the the FCS. Over the course of his four-year college career he amassed a total of 304 catches, 4,264 receiving yards and 44 touchdowns. What's even more impressive is his production was spaced out; he had 1000+ receiving yards and 12+ touchdown passes in three straight seasons. The only word to describe that type of production is "dominant".

Here's what NFL.com has to say about Mellette:

Strengths:

Good height to be a solid possession receiver at the next level, has enough size to shield defenders on slants. Reliable hands, wins jump balls in traffic and snatches the ball away from his frame whether tracking it over his shoulder or facing the quarterback. Not afraid to go over the middle, and can turn and run if hit in the soft spot of a zone. Flashes the flexibility and body control to adjust to high and low throws, as well as those behind him. Used on bubble screens and fly sweeps despite his size, has the agility to make a man miss after the catch.

Weaknesses:

Long speed will be a concern for scouts, who may doubt his ability to separate from pro cornerbacks with quickness alone. Inconsistent strength as a ballcarrier, shows balance to keep his feet after contact at times but will fail to run through arm tackles. Must answer the level of competition question and prove himself confident in his abilities at a post-season all-star game.

If you ask me, it seems like Aaron Mellete is exactly the type of physical receiver that the Baltimore Ravens need. Now it would be absurd to automatically assume that a seventh-round pick is going to come in and replicate the production of Anquan Boldin, but it will certainly be interesting to see what exactly Mellette will be able to do with the chance he's been given. Definitely on my list of players to watch this upcoming pre-season.