Round 5, Pick No. 171: Jelani Woods, TE, Virginia
There’s a lot less space in the red zone, so one thing that can help is verticality.
Whether it be leaping ability or height, it creates the opportunity for the quarterback to put the ball where only his receiver can get it. Woods is 6’7″ and weighs 269 pounds. He started his college career at Oklahoma State, where he didn’t get many opportunities as a pass-catcher.
A transfer to Virginia allowed him to showcase those skills, and boy did he ever. In his lone year with the Cavaliers, Woods caught 44 passes for 598 yards and 8 touchdowns in 11 games.
Woods’ arms are more than 34 inches long, which just seems unfair on top of his height. Oh yeah, and he runs a 4.61 40. At that height, and at that weight. Who the heck is going to cover this guy? Sure, his route running and quickness aren’t as good, but the first can be coached, and did I mention he’s 6’7″, nearly 270 pounds, and runs a 4.61?
It seems to me that with those numbers, he doesn’t have to run the best routes ever to be a nightmare to cover. How many people can stay with him and contest balls thrown that high in the air? But, even if he’s ultimately only useful in the red zone, that’s great value in the fifth round!