2020 Mid-Late 1st Round: Jhamon Ausbon Wide Reciever
It’s hard to replace dynamic playmakers like Christian Kirk, but finding a young, physical receiver who compliments Kirk’s playing style may do the trick. As a freshman, he was third on the team in receiving yards behind Kirk and deep threat Damien Ratley. Ausbon will take on a heavy load his sophomore and junior year since both of his predecessors will be gone in 2018.
A case can be made that Ausbon will eventually be more of an NFL prototype than Christian Kirk currently is. While he doesn’t have the electric moves and breakaway speed that allows his two-year elder to rack up yardage in a wide variety of ways, he has a package of his own of abilities that allow him to be effective.
Jhamon reminds me of Allen Robinson. They are practically the same size, both have a tremendous catch range, play physical and run routes well enough so that they don’t have to be lightning fast in order to separate. It’s these traits that are more common in the typical NFL wideout rather than Kirk’s arsenal. Don’t get me wrong, I think Kirk could be a force in the league, I just think there’s more long-term value in Ausbon’s toolbox.
Who would draft him?
- The Denver Broncos
With Demaryius Thomas already 30 years old and the possibility of a young quarterback coming in to run the show, the Denver Broncos may see it necessary to pick up another receiver. It worked out the last time the Broncos drafted a Fightin’ Texas Aggie, so why not give Texas A&M another shot?
Denver would be a great place to for Jhamon to land. He would go in under Thomas’ aging wing and learn from a true playmaker in the league. Plus, if the Broncos grab one of the many quarterbacks in this year’s draft, Ausbon and insert quarterback’s name here just might become the NFL’s next great tandem.