STRENGTHS
Antonio is a multi-talented, multi-position weapon, for the team that selects him on offense. He is a one-cut running back perfect, for the spread offense. He can be used as a wide receiver or a slot receiver because of his size, speed, and strength. He can catch the ball down the field as good as any receiver in this draft. Antonio can adjust to the ball in the air and will catch the contested ball with ease because of his strong hands and athleticism. Antonio has the quick feet and the lateral agility to block in open space. He can be used as a returner on special teams and is one of the fastest players in this draft coming into the combine at 6’0’ 228 lbs and ran a 4.39 in his forty. Antonio can play multiple positions, can catch the ball like a wide receiver, can run the ball out of the backfield and blocks like an H-back in the open field. You can’t be that impactful and play that many different positions without a very High Football IQ to go along with that athletic talent.
CONCERNS
Well, if he gets hurt, you will struggle to find three players with his athletic talent, leadership skill, and high football IQ to replace him but that’s not a reason not to select him, it’s just a concern. Antonio, when used as a running back, is not going to be a power runner despite his size because he runs too upright and loses leverage. That being said if he breaks the line of scrimmage into the second level, he is tough to bring down. Antonio will have to make sure to secure the ball and not fumble when used coming out of the backfield. He tends to fight for extra yardage when multiple opponents are tackling him and that means he might be susceptible to the next level to give up the ball.
BOTTOM LINE 1.86
There should be a sign around Antonio’s neck during draft day, “Looking for Only smart coaches who have a plan for how to use me to impact their offense…All others, need not apply”. You look at the top teams like the Patriots, Saints, Chiefs, Rams and maybe the Bills as targets to select Antonio and use him in multiple positions as a weapon. I will always rate players higher than others that can play multiple positions in multiple styles of offenses or defenses because of the turnover rate of coaches in the NFL. That’s just me, others will not agree and that’s the draft, no one has to agree all I ask is that you remember.
