Apr
8
Here’s the embodiment of a risky draft pick: Dorial Green-Beckham.
Regarding talent, you’re looking at possibly the next Julio Jones or A.J. Green: an alpha-male receiver who catches anything thrown his way paired with the speed to make corners miss.
He’s blessed with just about everything you want in a wide receiver.
It’s no surprise then that the Dolphins are using their interest in him as a smokescreen “falling in love” with him, per Bleacher Report’s Matt Miller.
The risks come from Green-Beckham’s past, a past that anyone following this year’s NFL draft can recite by rote, dealing with substance abuse, domestic violence and getting kicked off Missouri’s football team.
It certainly doesn’t help that Green-Beckham has not played competitive football since December 2013, when he was with Missouri.
Despite those issues, it should be noted that Green-Beckham has not been charged with any of those crimes.
Also important is that he has advocates both in Missouri and Oklahoma, including the respective head coaches at both schools.
Per Hal Habib of The Palm Beach Post, Green-Beckham, Missouri coach Greg Pinkel and the Tigers in general still maintain a friendly relationship, while Oklahoma head coach Bob Stoops endorsed his decision to enter the 2015 NFL draft despite not playing a single down for the Sooners.
The same piece notes that Green-Beckham himself acknowledges that he made mistakes, but he is ready to move on.
“All the decisions I’ve made, I wish I could take it back,” Green-Beckham said. “It happened. I was young. I made mistakes. I understand that. I just want to focus on one thing and just look forward to just this draft and being the best I can be.”
If he’s serious about that, then the NFL could have itself another elite wide receiver for years to come, and he could even wind up as Ryan Tannehill’s No. 1 target.
Stats provided by Sports-Reference.com unless otherwise noted.
D.N.H.
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