Today in Sports
  • Home
  • Featured News
  • Football
  • Basketball
  • Baseball
  • More
    • Rugby
    • Golf
    • Boxing
    • Soccer
    • NBA
    • Racing
    • Cricket
  • DMCA
  • Disclaimer
  • Cookie Privacy Policy
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms and Conditions
  • Contact us
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • Featured News
  • Football
  • Basketball
  • Baseball
  • More
    • Rugby
    • Golf
    • Boxing
    • Soccer
    • NBA
    • Racing
    • Cricket
No Result
View All Result
Today in Sports
No Result
View All Result

Chiefs Draft: Da’Quan Felton could provide a vertical presence outside

April 6, 2025
in NFL
0
Home NFL
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter


You might also like

Reporter reveals how Rodgers, Steelers OC are working together

Wilson a natural mentor for all Giants, not just rookie Dart

Your Most Memorable Moment As A Miami Dolphins Fan

While wide receiver has been among the Kansas City Chiefs’ significant needs in recent seasons, the emergence of Rashee Rice and Xavier Worthy as young building blocks has reduced this need for 2025.

But in the coming NFL Draft, the Chiefs should be looking for skillsets that fill the gaps within their wide receiver group. Rice and Worthy are slot-oriented players who can use underneath targets to create explosive plays; they’re primarily going to win on horizontal routes instead of downfield routes.

To complement them, the team needs an outside receiver who can stretch the field vertically — and win — on the sidelines. This is the role Marquez Valdes-Scantling filled for the Chiefs, so it won’t necessarily be a player available in the draft’s early rounds.

A Day 3 wide receiver who has this kind of skillset is Virginia Tech’s Da’Quan Felton. Here’s what you need to know about him.

Background

Coming out of Churchland High School in Portsmouth, Virginia in 2019, Felton was a zero-star recruit with just one Power-5 offer: Indiana. He committed to Norfolk State, where he was redshirted — and when COVID hit in 2020, his season was canceled. When Felton finally started playing in 2021, he recorded 492 yards — and then 573 yards in 2022, when he was second-team All-MEAC.

Moving on to Virginia Tech, he caught 38 passes for 667 yards and eight touchdowns. But in his final season, he collected just 32 catches, 360 yards and two touchdowns.

The 24-year-old Felton checked into the NFL Scouting Combine at 6 feet 4 and 213 pounds, with 32 1/4-inch arms and 9-inch hands. He ran a respectable 4.5-second 40-yard dash — with a 1.57-second 10-yard split — and at his Pro Day, he improved his vertical jump to 35 inches.

Film evaluation

In Virginia Tech’s offense — a very limited passing scheme with a relatively untalented quarterback — Felton mostly ran downfield routes like Go or Post. And since he was often used as a decoy to clear space, he didn’t get many targets.

On film — where he’s generally isolated as the X receiver, tasked with stretching the field — he shows some ability to separate from defenders. He uses his long legs to build speed, get on top of cornerbacks and give the quarterback a throwing window.

Unfortunately, his quarterback just couldn’t hit that window very often.

While Felton didn’t play underneath very much, he did show some ability to win against zone coverage on quick outs, stop routes or digs over the middle of the field.

Since I’d estimate well over half his routes went downfield, Felton’s biggest weakness is a very limited route tree. While I think some of this can be attributed to the Hokies’ quarterback, he’s still a limited route runner. As a long-legged athlete with stiffness concerns while trying to throttle down, he’s not likely to have an outsized role in the NFL.

How he fits with the Chiefs

If Kansas City acquires Felton, his role would be to stretch the field on vertical routes. The Chiefs would put him on the back side of plays and let him win on the sideline — and with Patrick Mahomes throwing him the ball, I believe he would pop more often. He does have legitimate speed — and he does get open downfield. This would free the team to leave the traditional routes to Rice, Worthy and tight end Travis Kelce — while Felton replaces Valdes-Scantling (or Justin Watson) as a downfield route-runner.

The bottom line

Don’t get me wrong: Felton is a limited player. The proof comes from his lack of production. In the NFL, he’ll have one role: as an outside vertical route-runner — where I think he’s underrated. He’s demonstrated he can get open. In a scaled-down role — with a real quarterback throwing to him — I think he could be a useful depth piece who can also play on special teams.

Grade: Round 4



Source link

Tags: aarrowheadChiefscoulddaDaQuandraftfeltonfront-pagekansas-city-chiefs-draftkansas-city-chiefs-game-informationkansas-city-chiefs-rosteroutsidepresenceprideprovidequanvertical
Share30Tweet19

Recommended For You

Reporter reveals how Rodgers, Steelers OC are working together

by TODAY IN SPORTS
June 9, 2025
0
Reporter reveals how Rodgers, Steelers OC are working together

Quarterback Aaron Rodgers is already tinkering with the Pittsburgh Steelers offense after signing a one-year, $13.65M deal with them on Saturday.On a Sunday episode of "SportsCenter," ESPN's Jeremy Fowler...

Read more

Wilson a natural mentor for all Giants, not just rookie Dart

by TODAY IN SPORTS
June 9, 2025
0
Wilson a natural mentor for all Giants, not just rookie Dart

Jordan RaananJun 5, 2025, 03:45 PM ETCloseJordan Raanan covers the New York Giants for ESPN and can be heard hosting on ESPN Radio. Raanan joined ESPN in 2016.EAST...

Read more

Your Most Memorable Moment As A Miami Dolphins Fan

by TODAY IN SPORTS
June 9, 2025
0
Your Most Memorable Moment As A Miami Dolphins Fan

Last week, I asked the following question about your fandom and the most memorable moment associated with it, whether you've been a long-time fan or have recently become...

Read more

Nick Chubb has mutual interest with playoff team

by TODAY IN SPORTS
June 8, 2025
0
Nick Chubb has mutual interest with playoff team

Former Cleveland Browns running back Nick Chubb might not have to wait much longer to find a new team. In an appearance on “SportsCenter” Sunday, ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler...

Read more

Rockets Go All In, Giannis Antetokounmpo Heads West

by TODAY IN SPORTS
June 8, 2025
0
Rockets Go All In, Giannis Antetokounmpo Heads West

The 2024-25 NBA season is nearing a close, as we await the winner of the NBA Finals matchup between the Oklahoma City Thunder and the Indiana Pacers. The...

Read more
Next Post
Rublev, Safin express confidence in partnership ahead of Monte-Carlo

Rublev, Safin express confidence in partnership ahead of Monte-Carlo

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Related News

AMPLIFY LATINX’S ALX100 SCULPTURE ARRIVES AT NAISMITH BASKETBALL HALL OF FAME IN STATEWIDE TRAVELING EXHIBITION

AMPLIFY LATINX’S ALX100 SCULPTURE ARRIVES AT NAISMITH BASKETBALL HALL OF FAME IN STATEWIDE TRAVELING EXHIBITION

December 4, 2024
Watch Ian Machado Garry’s ‘born to fight’ hype video ahead of UFC Kansas City headliner

Watch Ian Machado Garry’s ‘born to fight’ hype video ahead of UFC Kansas City headliner

April 21, 2025
Watch UFC veteran Rogerio Nogueira destroy influencer in boxing match

Watch UFC veteran Rogerio Nogueira destroy influencer in boxing match

May 18, 2025

Browse by Category

  • Athletics
  • Baseball
  • Basketball
  • Boxing
  • Cricket
  • Football
  • Golf
  • MMA
  • NBA
  • NFL
  • Racing
  • Rugby
  • Soccer
  • Tennis
Today in Sports

Get the Latest Sports News and Updates on TodayInSports.net. Soccer News, Basketball News, Baseball News, Golf News, Boxing News and More!

CATEGORIES

  • Athletics
  • Baseball
  • Basketball
  • Boxing
  • Cricket
  • Football
  • Golf
  • MMA
  • NBA
  • NFL
  • Racing
  • Rugby
  • Soccer
  • Tennis

Recent News

  • Shubman Gill, Sai Sudharsan’s batting positions leaked for England Tests
  • The likely first Lions team for the opening match next week as 16 players missing
  • Youri Tielemans drops update on Aston Villa future following Champions League failure
  • Contact us
  • Cookie Privacy Policy
  • Disclaimer
  • DMCA
  • Get the Latest Sports News and Updates on TodayInSports.net.
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms and Conditions

Copyright © 2024 Today in Sports.
Today in Sports is not responsible for the content of external sites.

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • Featured News
  • Football
  • Basketball
  • Baseball
  • More
    • Rugby
    • Golf
    • Boxing
    • Soccer
    • NBA
    • Racing
    • Cricket

Copyright © 2024 Today in Sports.
Today in Sports is not responsible for the content of external sites.