[tps_title]2017 NFL Combine: 8 WR participants to watch for the Dallas Cowboys[/tps_title]
[6/8] Malachi Dupre, LSU (6’4″, 195)
Why he’s on this list: Malachi Dupre is the kind of wide receiver I think the Dallas Cowboys will absolutely fall in love with. But, the question is at what point in the NFL draft will he hear his name called? I have seen him ranked as high as the second round and as low as the sixth round.
Dupre reminds me a little bit of the Washington Redskins first-round draft pick, Josh Doctson. Dupre and Doctson are both tall WRs with slender frames. Malachi Dupre however hasn’t benefited from being in a very good passing offense at LSU.
During his career at LSU, Dupre has had less than stellar play at the quarterback position. In fact, it has been downright pathetic. It also doesn’t help his draft stock very much that he was a WR and a run heavy offense either.
He does however have the speed to challenge defenses deep and tracks the ball really well. His best trait is the one that I think the Cowboys will value the most, his blocking in the running game. He was used a lot like the way the Arizona Cardinals use Larry Fitzgerald.
What to watch for at the NFL combine: Although I will be watching every single event that Malachi Dupre participates in, I think I am most interested in finding out what his hand size is. I don’t know if he has small hands or if he just struggles catching the ball across the middle of the field, but it’s something I want to get to the bottom of.
The talent is definitely there, but his combine performance will help a lot in determining what round we can expect him to get drafted in the upcoming 2017 NFL Draft. I currently have a 3rd/4th round grade on him, but that could change with a strong showing at the NFL combine.
