Reuben Randle | 2012 NFL Mock Draft

Rueben Randle, WR, LSU

By Omar Gómez

Height: 6’’4’

Weight: 208 lbs.

Projected 40: 4.52

Stock: Up

Projected Round: 1-2

After watching Randle’s tape you will likely notice one thing: He is way better than his numbers suggest. Randle never produced consistently in college, but that is mainly because the lack of talent at the quarterback position. When you see Randle’s tape, you immediately notice that he is perfectly able to separate and that is the most important thing for a wide receiver once in the NFL.

Randle’s ball skills are the second best in this class just behind Justin Blackmon, but he has better size and straight line speed. He currently ranks as my number one wide receiver in this class and, in my mind, he has top ten talent.

I strongly believe that Rueben Randle would be making much more noise if he would have had someone better throwing him the ball. What is truly special about Randle is the way he uses his body to beat cornerbacks and get in position for receiving the ball.

The only concern that I have about Randle is his on the field character. Sometimes I saw him taking himself mentally out of the game and giving up and showing no effort for getting separation. If Randle’s does not focus and give his best on every play, I do not predict a successful career for him.

Probable Destinations

As Rueben Randle’s stock is still not high enough to consider him a top 20 pick, I could see the Texans getting the first shot at number 26. If the Texans pass on Randle, I could see the 49ers taking him with the 30th pick, they need someone across from Michael Crabtree and will need more weapons if they want Alex Smith to continue improving.

In the second round, the Rams will get a shot at him as they urgently need someone to replace Brandon Lloyd and to help the recently struggling Sam Bradford. If he is not taken there, Randle could go to Indianapolis, Minnesota, Cleveland, Washington or Jacksonville, who will all have need at wide receiver depending on what happens on free agency and the on the first round.

Comparison

AJ Green: Randle and Green have similar frames, body control, speed and ball skills. As much as I think Green was the better prospect, the gap is not as big as people might think. Randle could have a similar impact in his rookie year as Green had for the Bengals.

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