One of the most fun aspects of every NFL Draft as a writer is scouting prospects and trying to identify those hidden gems….the diamonds in the rough, if you will…guys who might not be Day 1 or Day 2 picks, but sure as hell seem to have what it takes to make it in the NFL. Over the course of the next couple months, I’ll be highlighting some guys from this year’s draft class that I believe will be a steal for someone come April. Up next, we diving into the game of Cincinnati wide receiver Tre Tucker.
I’ve mentioned it several times before on this website, and yet, here I am again….reminding you all of it. This wide receiver class may not be filled to the brim with WR1 candidates, but I think it’s fairly deep with guys who have some real upside and could develop into quality contributors at the next level. Tucker is no different.
Tre Tucker is QUICK QUICK pic.twitter.com/WwWFu8RQBo
— Cam Mellor (@CamMellor) February 1, 2023
When you begin your study of Tucker’s game, it doesn’t take long to figure out that speed is the name of his game. The raw athletic traits showed up at the Scouting Combine, where he ran a 4.4 40, and a 1.48 10-yard split. His RAS of 8.35 was hardly elite (16th among receivers at the Combine), but it’s good enough to pair the raw physical traits with the athleticism. He was second on the Bearcats roster in receiving in 2022, posting 52 catches for 672 yards and three touchdowns. Tucker averaged 16.5 yards per catch against AP-ranked top 25 teams, though those games only accounted for 66 of his 672 receiving yards. He did the bulk of his damage on early downs, tallying 234 yards on 1st & 6+. He and Tyler Scott made for quite the deadly duo.
Tucker isn’t known as the most nuanced route runner (more on that later), but he shows flashes of a having a really good tool kit at the receiver position. It’s not consistent, but he shows a sudden in-break at times. He showed a good double move during the Senior Bowl practices. He is a guy that you flat out want to get the ball to in space where he can turn on the jets and make people miss. What makes him lethal is his speed. But, what makes him valuable is his willingness to get in there and get his hands dirty. Man, he really will do whatever it takes to win – he is a willing, competitive run blocker. That doesn’t mean he’s the most powerful with that 5’9″ 182lb frame, but I found that he didn’t hesitate to get in there and pop somebody when that’s what his duties called for.
For all the potential he has a weapon on offense, he’ll make his money on special teams, at least early on while he develops a little more consistent discipline in his route running. And, that’s fine – the easy thing to say is “oh, he’s a return specialist,” but that’s not true. Tucker has shown a nice ability to use his speed to get down the field on coverage units as a gunner, too. We saw that at the Reese’s Senior Bowl, and the tape backs it up. But…yeah…y’know, he’s a pretty damn explosive returner, too.
Wonder if Tre Tucker has another magical moment up his sleeve on Saturday pic.twitter.com/BrdM2DI0ka
— Cincinnati Uniform Tracker (@UCUniforms) September 22, 2022
Look how far away he pulls from everyone! That’s ridiculous – now, as for his weaknesses, it’s pretty easily his size, and it shows up in a couple of ways. For one, he’s not going to go up and body guys at the point of a contested catch. For another, he can be hung up in 1:1 situations against press corners. That’s why imperative that wherever he lands, the coaching staff figures out ways to get him the ball in space. He does have that gadgety potential. He also needs some work on his routes when he can’t get by on his straight line speed alone. He drifts a bit sometimes on those out routes instead of flattening them off.
I could see him doing some work in an offense that needs a gadget guy, slot receiver, and/or all of the above. The New York Giants already have a small receiving corps, but Tucker could be a guy that could potentially replace Richie James. Of course, there’s the usual suspects in Buffalo, Kansas City, and Cincinnati, but I think he could also do some damage in Miami as well.
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Pros
- Speed, speed, and more speed
- Gadgety tool kit
- Competitiveness
- Special teams
Cons
- Size
- Drops
- Route nuance
All in all, If a team misses out on Tank Dell, they’d be wise to look at Tucker later in the draft. He doesn’t have the most eye-popping production of this receiving class, but there’s a ton of upside with him if he lands in the right spot. He shows promise as a receiver, but he provides immediate value for a team that needs a spark on special teams.
2023 NFL DRAFT HIDDEN GEMS
Stoney Keeley is the Editor in Chief of The SoBros Network, and a Dogs Playing Poker on velvet connoisseur. He is a strong supporter of Team GSD, #BeBetter, and ‘Minds right, asses tight.’ “Big Natural” covers the Tennessee Titans, Nashville, Yankee Candle, and a whole wealth of nonsense. Follow on Twitter @StoneyKeeley.
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