2020 NFL Draft Scouting Report: Brandon Aiyuk





  • Brandon Aiyuk, 5-11/201

  • Wide Receiver

  • Arizona State


  • Brandon Aiyuk Scouting Report
    By Charlie Campbell

    Strengths:
  • Dangerous run-after-the-catch skills
  • Comes alive with the ball in his hands
  • Has a burst to hit open space
  • Athletic ability
  • Big-play threat
  • Toughness
  • Strong build
  • Could be cross-trained as a X – split end -, Y – flanker -, or Z – slot
  • Phenomenal fit for a west coast offense
  • Special teams ability, asset as a returner




  • Weaknesses:
  • Not a great route runner
  • Lacks elite top-end speed
  • Not overly tall or long
  • Raw; needs development


  • Summary: Aiyuk was not a high-profile player entering the 2019 season, but the senior broke out and has earned first-round projections from many media analysts. As a junior, Aiyuk made 44 receptions for 474 yards and three touchdowns, but he had a massive increase in production as a senior, catching 65 passes for 1,192 yards with eight touchdowns. He also averaged 16 yards per punt return in his final season for the Sun Devils. An injury kept Aiyuk from participating in the Senior Bowl.

    NFL teams are always on the look out for play-makers for the passing-game offense, and Aiyuk has the potential to be a serious aerial weaopn. He is a dangerous run-after-the-catch receiver with a thick build. Aiyuk really comes alive after catching the ball and is able to dangerously rip off yards in chunks thanks to some serious athletic ability. The skill to make things happen when he has the ball in his hands can also be seen from his production as a punt returner.

    Multiple team sources say Aiyuk has some rawness to him and needs development for the NFL. He is not a great route runner and will need to improve that to help get separation from pro defensive backs. While Aiyuk has athletic ability, he lacks elite top-end speed and is not overly tall or long to create a height mismatch.

    Aiyuk is worthy of being a second-day pick in the 2020 NFL Draft. There are a lot of mixed opinions around Aiyuk in the scouting community, with some high and others very low. Some team sources think he is more of a third or fourth receiver for the NFL, while others think he’s a future starter. Some sources believe if Aiyuk runs fast times at the combine and in pre-draft workouts, he won’t get out of the second round and could be considered late in the first round. If he doesn’t run well, he shouldn’t go lower than the third round of the 2020 NFL Draft.



    Player Comparison: Earl Bennett/Sammy Watkins. Some team sources suggested Earl Bennett as their comparison for Aiyuk, but others said they saw Aiyuk similar to some of Kansas City’s receivers like a smaller, perhaps slower Sammy Watkins.






    RELATED LINKS:


    2020 NFL Mock Draft: Charlie’s | Walt’s


    2020 NFL Draft Prospect Rankings


    2020 NFL Draft Scouting Reports








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