Roman Wilson, WR, Michigan (Senior)

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Strengths :

  • Quickness
  • Body control
  • Good route runner
  • Ball skills
  • Potential impact on al 3 levels


Weaknesses
:

  • Size
  • Agility
  • Power
  • Plays too much in control
  • Skills against press coverage
  • Route tree
  • YAC

TTProfil

 

Roman Wilson has an average build for the position, but his main issue is his lack of long limbs; he has a short frame. Although he had very good results at the Combine, it doesn't often translate onto the field. He lacks elite speed to attack the third level vertically. He possesses good quickness and nice explosiveness but doesn't use them often enough in my opinion. When you watch Wilson run, he seems to prioritize control over dynamism in his routes. He lacks power, and his short arms cause him problems in making an impact in various areas, especially on the line of scrimmage.


Indeed, against press coverage, Roman Wilson struggles to make an impact due to his short frame. His releases lack explosiveness, and he finds it challenging to generate explosiveness coming out of his release. His start & stop ability is not the best. That's why he has primarily operated in the slot and been frequently used in motion to get free releases. Against off-man coverage and zone coverage, he can develop his route fairly quickly, becoming a viable threat and knowing how to create space with his football IQ. I would have liked to see him create more separation against man coverage because even though he can create some, there is still a need for better understanding of his tempo during routes, knowing when and where to create space, as he often ends up too close to his defender.


Roman is a good route runner, but he doesn't have a highly developed route tree. He has executed many shallow crossers, ins, outs, and a few deep routes. Primarily, he impacts the first two levels (short/intermediate). The third level is more situational but could become interesting if he improves his ability to separate vertically, has better stems (the initial vertical segment of a receiver's route, preceding the receiver's break), and does a better job on his ins and outs (which are not bad but not sharp enough because he tends to play too much in control).


Roman has good hands despite his short arms and reduced wingspan, and he can catch the ball outside the numbers. However, there are still too many body catches for my liking, and his ability to attack the ball at its highest point is negligible. He has good ball tracking ability and enough flexibility in the upper body to adjust to throws and make acrobatic catches. His transition from receiver to runner is good, but he's not a threat after the catch (YAC). His vision with the ball in hand and his ability to create opportunities with his supposed good speed are not evident at all.


Wilson's run blocking is inconsistent, alternating between good and not-so-good due to his short frame and lack of power.


Roman Wilson is a prospect limited by his short frame, but he can have a significant impact on the field if used correctly. I like what he can bring in the slot and against zone coverage; his quick in routes are good, and he's a reliable option for his QB. Unfortunately, his lack of explosiveness and ability to break out on the field mean he won't be a threat with the ball in his hands, and he'll need to work on attacking the third level if he wants more than a specific role in the NFL. At 23 years old for his rookie debut, he has time to develop, but I don't see a very high ceiling for him.
I evaluate Roman Wilson as a talent in the 4th round.

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