Tony Lippett WR Michigan State #14
Wt: 185
Size/Athleticism: Ideal height with adequate speed. Not a serious threat after the catch but is capable of picking up chunks of yards when given room to run. Would benefit from adding some strength to improve his ability to win in traffic and fight press coverage.
Separation Skills: Relatively quick feet and is capable of shaking defenders at the line of scrimmage with his moves, but lacks the speed to run away from them. Struggles to fight through press coverage and can be taken completely out of plays and thrown off his route at times.
Ball Skills: Extremely inconsistent. Does not consistently high point the ball and struggles to box out defenders when going for the 50/50 balls. Hands are among the most inconsistent in this draft class. Struggles to quickly secure the ball and had a number of drops when he failed to secure the ball in time to absorb the hit. Many of his catches are double catches. Hands have improved throughout his career, but they remain an issue.
Intangibles: Nothing positive or negative of note.
Durability: Suffered an ankle injury in 2012.
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Overview: Tony Lippett has the tools to make an NFL roster as third or fourth option, but until his hands become more reliable he’ll struggle to see the field at the next level. His issues with drops have improved, but he still struggles to secure the ball quick and makes far too many double catches. While his size is intriguing, it’s tough to view him as anything more than a developmental Day 3 prospect.
