Route Running
Pros:
•Keeps good pad level throughout route
•Can find dbs blindspots and exploit them
•Good at hand fighting and getting hands off of him
Cons:
•Poor footwork at times at top of route
•Not very convincing on fakes
•Couldn’t consistently create separation
•Tripped a few times
•Not a deep release package (split release almost every time)
•Would like to see him use his frame more to separate on routes
•Didn’t change tempo on routes
RAC / YAC Ability
Pros:
•Can make defenders miss
•Will get upfield after catch
Cons:
•Not very elusive post catch
•Does not have breakaway speed
Athleticism / Frame
Pros:
•6’4 ½”
•Great arm length
•Great hand size
•Good jumping ability
•Has a big catch radius
Cons:
•Not very fast
•Doesn’t have great acceleration
Ball Skills
Pros:
•Natural hands catcher
•Was able to haul in contested catches well
•Has the ability to make spectacular catches
•Good body control on sideline
•Can high point very well
Cons:
•Had a couple balls go through his hands
Game IQ / Processing
Pros:
•Found space when the play broke down
•Rarely sat in coverage
Cons:
•Ran the wrong route a couple times
•Can be floaty when sitting
Agility / Twitch
Pros:
•Decent deceleration
•Has shown quick feet on shorter routes
Cons:
•Not twitchy
•Does not have post catch agility
•Rarely ever tried to use a juke move
Versatility
Pros:
•Slot/wideout versatility
Cons:
•Not utilized in motion almost ever
•Never lined up anywhere besides receiver
Run Blocking
Pros:
•Very physical blocker
•Blocks with hate
•Had a couple pancakes
•Good open field/screen blocker
Cons:
•Rarely gives effort when asked to block safety
•Not the best hand placement and can get away with holding
Games Watched:
•Week 2 vs OU, Week 5 vs WIS, Week 6 vs USC, Week 7 vs WASH, Week 11 vs MD, Week 12 vs OSU
Ideal Situation:
•Donaven McCulley is a big receiver with great physical tools, like his height, arm length, and hand size. He just wasn’t able to consistently produce at Michigan. He possesses great ball skills, and his biggest selling point is his work at the catch point, but getting there is the biggest issue. He couldn’t create separation against college corners, so doing so against NFL corners might be a hard ask. He is a hard runner after the catch, but lacks the breakaway speed to separate on vertical routes and make splash plays after the catch. He is a very physical blocker, but can lack effort to reach his assignment if it's not the corner right in front of him. He rarely ever got motioned in college, so he would have to adjust to an NFL offense that consistently wants to move receivers pre-snap. The Dolphins picked him up as an undrafted free agent, and this is a C+ signing. McCulley possesses the tools to make a roster, especially the physical tools, but lacks the special-teams experience the team would ask of receivers lower on the depth chart. If he makes the roster, he currently projects as the WR7, which means he would rarely see in-game action and contribute primarily on special teams. The one thing going for him is that the Dolphins' receiving room isn’t the strongest, giving him opportunities to move up.
Rating:
•Route Running – 3.8/10
•RAC / YAC Ability – 6.4/10
•Athleticism / Frame – 7.2/10
•Ball Skills – 9.1/10
•Game IQ / Processing – 5.6/10
•Agility / Twitch – 3.9/10
•Versatility – 3/10
•Run Blocking – 6.6/10
Total = 59.5/100 (F+) High 7th Round or Late 6th Round
UDFAMiami Dolphins