Saw a story this week where Chris Ballard was talking about second-year wideout Deon Cain. The Colts drafted him in the sixth round a year ago, but he tore his ACL in the preseason. Ballard says Cain showed flashes before the injury, and thinks he has tremendous upside.
Maybe so, and it's true the Colts have mostly unknowns at wide receiver. T.Y. Hilton of course, but then just Chester Rogers and free agent Devin Funchess -- not an impossible lineup to crack. Cain scored 20 TDs in three college seasons at Clemson, and went over 700 receiving yards his last two years.
But as a sixth-round pick, Cain will be beating some pretty long odds if he does anything. One really famous one this century and one or two other pretty good ones, but not much else.
Since 2000, there have been 88 wide receivers selected in sixth rounds of NFL drafts. Antonio Brown has been great, and Pierre Garcon has had a nice career. Quincy Enunwa has been solid when healthy for the Jets. And that's pretty much everyone who has done anything -- in Year 2, or ever.
Table shows all sixth-round wideouts since 2000, with their Year 2 numbers (which Cain is about to embark on) if they put up even 150 receiving yards. Not very many even managed that.
6TH-ROUND WIDE RECEIVERS, YEAR 2 (150 YARDS) | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
Year | Player | No | Yds | TD |
2010 | Antonio Brown, Pitt. | 69 | 1108 | 2 |
2008 | Pierre Garcon, Ind. | 47 | 765 | 4 |
2009 | Brandon Gibson, Phil. | 53 | 620 | 2 |
2008 | Josh Morgan, S.F. | 52 | 527 | 3 |
2014 | Quincy Enunwa, NYJ | 22 | 315 | 0 |
2011 | Aldrick Robinson, Wash. | 11 | 237 | 3 |
2011 | Dwayne Harris, Dall. | 17 | 222 | 1 |
2013 | Corey Fuller, Det. | 14 | 212 | 1 |
2016 | Jakeem Grant, Mia. | 13 | 203 | 2 |
2012 | LaVon Brazill, Ind. | 12 | 161 | 2 |
2003 | David Tyree, NYG | 10 | 155 | 1 |
2018 | Ray-Ray McCloud, Buff. | ? | ? | ? |
2018 | Damion Ratley, Clev. | ? | ? | ? |
2018 | Dylan Cantrell, LAC | ? | ? | ? |
2018 | Deon Cain, Ind. | ? | ? | ? |
2018 | Cedrick Wilson, Dall. | ? | ? | ? |
2018 | Russell Gage, Atl. | ? | ? | ? |
2018 | Equanimeous St. Brown, G.B. | ? | ? | ? |
2018 | Braxton Berrios, N.E. | ? | ? | ? |
2003 | Arnaz Battle, S.F. | |||
2016 | Mike Thomas, L.A. | |||
2014 | T.J. Jones, Det. | |||
2017 | Robert Davis, Wash. | |||
2016 | Moritz Böhringer, Minn. | |||
2016 | Kolby Listenbee, Buff. | |||
2016 | Cody Core, Cin. | |||
2016 | Aaron Burbridge, S.F. | |||
2015 | Kaelin Clay, T.B. | |||
2015 | Geremy Davis, NYG | |||
2015 | Evan Spencer, Wash. | |||
2015 | Bud Sasser, St.L. | |||
2014 | Robert Herron, T.B. | |||
2002 | Kahlil Hill, Atl. | |||
2002 | LaMont Brightful, Balt. | |||
2002 | Lee Mays, Pitt. | |||
2002 | Jamin Elliott, Chi. | |||
2002 | Javin Hunter, Balt. | |||
2002 | Deveren Johnson, Dall. | |||
2001 | Bobby Newcombe, Ariz. | |||
2001 | Cedrick Wilson, S.F. | |||
2001 | Kevin Kasper, Den. | |||
2001 | Francis S. Paul, St.L. | |||
2000 | Mareno Philyaw, Atl. | |||
2000 | James Williams, Sea. | |||
2000 | Emanuel Smith, Jac. | |||
2000 | Sherrod Gideon, N.O. | |||
2014 | Matt Hazel, Mia. | |||
2014 | Walt Powell, Ariz. | |||
2013 | Ryan Swope, Ariz. | |||
2013 | Justin Brown, Pitt. | |||
2013 | Alan Bonner, Hou. | |||
2013 | Cobi Hamilton, Cin. | |||
2012 | B.J. Cunningham, Mia. | |||
2012 | Marvin McNutt, Phil. | |||
2012 | Tommy Streeter, Balt. | |||
2011 | Ryan Whalen, Cin. | |||
2011 | Ronald Johnson, S.F. | |||
2010 | Carlton Mitchell, Clev. | |||
2010 | Dezmon Briscoe, Cin. | |||
2010 | David Gettis, Car. | |||
2010 | Kyle Williams, S.F. | |||
2009 | Quinten Lawrence, K.C. | |||
2009 | Dominique Edison, Tenn. | |||
2008 | Marcus Henry, NYJ | |||
2008 | Kevin Robinson, K.C. | |||
2008 | Paul Hubbard, Clev. | |||
2008 | Jaymar Johnson, Minn. | |||
2007 | Joel Filani, Tenn. | |||
2007 | Courtney Taylor, Sea. | |||
2007 | Jordan Kent, Sea. | |||
2006 | Mike Hass, N.O. | |||
2006 | Jonathan Orr, Tenn. | |||
2006 | Adam Jennings, Atl. | |||
2006 | Jeff Webb, K.C. | |||
2005 | Chad Owens, Jac. | |||
2005 | Tab Perry, Cin. | |||
2005 | Dante Ridgeway, St.L. | |||
2005 | Craig Bragg, G.B. | |||
2004 | Jamaar Taylor, NYG | |||
2004 | Ryan Krause, S.D. | |||
2004 | Triandos Luke, Den. | |||
2004 | Jeris McIntyre, K.C. | |||
2004 | Clarence Moore, Balt. | |||
2003 | David Kircus, Det. | |||
2003 | Zuriel Smith, Dall. | |||
2003 | LaTarence Dunbar, Atl. | |||
2003 | Willie Ponder, NYG | |||
2003 | Kareem Kelly, N.O. |
It's not too late for some guys on this list. Jakeem Grant could still turn into a solid starter. And a couple of other sixth-rounders from last year, Equanimeous St. Brown and Braxton Berrios, could emerge. So maybe Cain will too.
But just a last-round flier, I think, rather than somebody to count on doing anything. Whatever Ballard is saying in April.
--Andy Richardson