Rookie Profile – D’Wayne Eskridge

D'Wayne Eskridge - WR - Western Michigan

D’Wayne Eskridge is an exciting rookie to watch tape for, here we delve into his profile for the rookie class. Eskridge leaves Western Michigan as a five-year senior, which would typically be a massive red-flag. However, the reason for that was a position change and a broken collarbone.

He is lightning fast on the field, something that is shown when he is a receiver or kick returner.

Measurables

Age: 24

Height: 5′ 9″

Weight: 190 lbs

40-yard dash: 4.38

3-cone drill: 6.93

20-yard shuttle: 4.22

Vertical Jump: 36″

Broad Jump: DNP

Bench Press: 11

Analytics

College DOM College YPR College Target % Breakout Age
44.6%
23.3
33.1%
20.5

Credit: Playerprofiler.com

College Stats

Receiving Formation
Year
Team
Class
GP
Rec
Yds
YPC
TD
Snaps
Slot Snaps
Wide Snaps
2016
Western Michigan
Fr.
10
17
121
7.1
1
Not Available
2017
Western Michigan
So.
12
30
506
16.9
3
Not Available
2018
Western Michigan
Jr.
11
38
776
20.4
3
595
5
586
2019
Western Michigan
Sr.
4
3
73
24.3
0
8
1
7
2020
Western Michigan
Sr.
6
33
768
23.3
8
362
98
260
College Career

Eskridge is an exciting player, with terrific pace. In 2019 he showed great character when he played CB for the team before he broke his collarbone.

For 2020, he returned as a fifth-year senior, where he caught 33 passes for 768 yards and 8 TDs- his best season to date. 

Scouting Report

Positives:

Speed, speed, speed. Eskridge is lightning fast, which gives him the ability to break any reception to the house. His ability to get out the blocks early, combined with his ability to stop-and-go makes him a tricky route runner. Has solid hands, and catches most passes that come his way. 

Negatives

At his size, he can struggle to impose himself on defenders. As a result, he can struggle to get clean releases against stronger defenders at the line of scrimmage. It also shows when he contests catches, where he can be moved in the air into a position where he struggles to make a play on the ball. 

Pre Draft Analysis

Expected Draft Capital:

Round 3 selection

Landing Spots:

Eskridge is a raw talent, but isn’t ready to be a lead option for a team. If he fell into a team that utilizes screen plays and gets the ball into their players hands quickly, he could be great.

A team like Carolina could use him as a Curtis Samuel replacement, or if he were to fall to Kansas City a nice complement to Tyreek Hill’s speed.

Check out the rest of the draft kit. And, as always, if you want something more specific to your league- reach out! You can find us on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram

Image Credit: Raj Mehta – USA TODAY Sports