Weaknesses:
Summary: Michael Floyd broke almost every receiving record in Notre Dame history. The big, quick wideout was a dominant force the past two seasons after serving as the complementary receiver to Golden Tate early on. He recorded 100 catches for 1,147 yards and nine touchdowns in 2011.
Floyd frequently was an overwhelming force on the field. He is a polished receiver who works well in all levels of the defense. He can make tough catches in the middle or along the sideline because of impressive body control. He runs good routes with the quickness to get separation. He is big receiver and presents a good target for his quarterback. Floyd runs well with the ball in his hands, and is a hard, physical presence on defensive backs. Floyd may not have the elite speed to flat out race by NFL secondaries, but he has enough to speed to make big plays down the field. Floyd is well-rounded as a run blocker. With his consistency in production to go along with his skill set, he looks like he has the capacity to be a No. 1 receiver in the NFL.
Since 2009, Floyd has had three run-ins with the law from alcohol. He had a DUI in March of 2011 and an underage drinking arrest in 2010. There are other disturbing allegations that have circled around Floyd’s off-the-field behavior. Reportedly, Floyd has woken up and cleaned up his act. The maturity concerns are the biggest negatives about Floyd entering the NFL.
Floyd decided to skip the Senior Bowl because of a rib injury he sustained in the Champ Sports Bowl on a touchdown catch against Florida State. In a lot of that game, he was being shut down by Seminole cornerback Xavier Rhodes.
Player Comparison: Kenny Britt. Britt has proven to be a good NFL receiver but has been held back by injuries and quarterback play. If Britt could stay healthy and get a consistent signal-caller he’ll be capable of producing quality numbers. Both Britt and Floyd are big receivers who run well. They are good chain-movers who are dangerous red-zone weapons.
Another parallel between the two is they entered the NFL Draft with off-the-field concerns. Britt had a bad reputation as a diva receiver, while Floyd has had some legal trouble. Allegedly, Floyd has made strides and is conducting himself better. Britt was still a first-round pick, and Floyd will be unless he gets into more hot water leading up to the draft. Floyd is likely to get selected higher than Britt, who was the 30th pick in the 2009 NFL Draft. The character concerns definitely played a role in Britt’s fall. It remains to be seen how much teams will hold Floyd’s off-the-field transgressions against him.
NFL Matches: Jacksonville, Carolina, Arizona, Philadelphia, New York Jets, Chicago, Tennessee, Houston
Floyd is going to appeal to a lot of teams. The Jaguars are probably the first squad that will consider Floyd with the seventh pick. They badly need a receiver like Floyd for quarterback Blaine Gabbert to work with. Carolina picks two selections later and will consider a receiver to pair with Cam Newton in the long-term. The Cardinals need a complement to Larry Fitzgerald, and Floyd could form a dynamic duo for Arizona.
The Eagles could have some turnover at wide receiver in free agency and could address the position with Floyd. The Jets could use a young wideout to replace some of their veterans. It seems like a stretch for the Bears to pass on Floyd with their dire need for a No. 1 receiver. It seems unlikely that Floyd would make it to the Titans or Texans’ pick, but both teams could use him.
RELATED LINKS:
2012 NFL Mock Draft: Charlie’s | Walt’s
2012 NFL Draft Prospect Rankings
2012 NFL Draft Scouting Reports
2024 NFL Mock Draft - April 16
NFL Power Rankings - Feb. 22
Fantasy Football Rankings - Feb. 19
NFL Picks - Feb. 12
