Clemson senior wide receiver Amari Rodgers enters the 2021 NFL draft process after a productive four-year career as a Tiger that culminated in career-highs across the board in 2020.
Rodgers totaled 61 catches for 845 yards and six touchdowns heading into conference championship weekend. For his complete end-of-year stats, click here. For his career, Rodgers has 165 catches for 1,969 yards and 14 touchdowns. He averaged 14 yards per catch over the last two seasons.
Physically, Rodgers is a well-built 5-10, 210 pounds. He looks more like a running back than a wide receiver and plays like a running back with the ball in his hands.
Athletically, Rodgers has good lateral movement skills and has the necessary twitch to profile as a quality slot receiver in the NFL. He can shake defenders off the line of scrimmage and does a nice job finding soft spots in coverage, which is a trait that should transition well to the next level. He has enough speed to make plays downfield too, but that won’t be his calling card in the pros. He isn’t a vertical speed player.
Rodgers’ route-running is consistent with what you’d want to see from a short and intermediate target. He separates from defenders in tight spaces and gives his quarterback a preferred option in quick-hitting routes. The problem with Rodgers is he’s a bit one-dimensional in what he’ll offer passing attacks on the next level. He isn’t an outside receiver.
Overall, Rodgers is a quality NFL prospect who will provide offense’s with depth as a fourth or fifth wide receiver on game day. Rodgers has experience as a punt returner which will help separate him from similarly graded slot receivers — he’s returned 67 punts and has a touchdown on his collegiate resume.
GRADE: 5.5 (6th round)
