Draft Prospects: Devin Funchess - Tight End/Wide Receiver

The Michigan standout is currently listed as a tight end, but figures to see more time as a wide receiver in the NFL. Utilizing his 6'5", 230-pound frame, he has all the measurables of a Jimmy Graham type player that can go up for the ball over smaller corners. Depending on his 40-yard-dash time, he could go anywhere from the first round all the way to the third round. However, with his size being what it is, there will undoubtedly be a team that will grab him earlier than they should.

The Good:

Funchess has the size to entice every team into looking more at him. He represents a great opportunity for offenses to create a mismatch as either a motion tight end or as a slot receiver, where he can use his body to either guard passes for an easy completion or go up top against smaller corners for an easy completion. His long legs allows him to eat up space quickly once he gets moving.

The Bad:

All the size in the world only does so well as a receiver if you can catch the ball. Sadly, Funchess' biggest knock on him is that his hands are not all that great and he allows throws too far into his body, which creates points for defenders to knock them down or for Funchess to bobble and drop them. He doesn't attack passes and can be beaten out by a more physical corner

Funchess doesn't have the best route running ability, which will likely relegate him to a slot receiver position where he can use his size to his advantage rather than running crisp routes that gain separation. He is slow out of his breaks and can give up at times on plays where he isn't involved. Despite his size, he is a mediocre blocker that doesn't attack defenders and allows players to get into his body and push him around. He lacks top speed on tape and is a build up to speed type runner.

Overall:

Funchess is a player that teams will put on their boards higher than he should be, simply due to his size. A lot will be riding on his combine numbers as a 4.6 40-time will relegate him to the second or third round, while a 4.5 40-time will plant him pretty firmly in the first round.

He grades out as a motion tight end and a slot receiver in the mold of a Jimmy Graham, where a team can create mismatches in order to shadow down some of his inconsistent play. However, limited route running ability and poor hands will really only see Funchess turn into a second or third receiver or a decent tight end. If he were to remain a tight end, he will need to learn how to block in order to stay on the field.

His lack of speed and slow build up to top speed will eliminate him as a deep threat for most teams. I personally think that he ends up looking more like Ed Dickson than just about anyone else as an NFL player.