Detroit Lions 2018 NFL Draft Profile: Wide receiver Quadree Henderson
Although not a pressing need, the Detroit Lions need more depth at wide receiver. The later rounds hold some quality talent.
Depth is important at any position. No one is safe in the NFL. Outside of the Detroit Lions‘ top three receivers, there’s not much security there.
Seeing the Lions’ lowest draft pick is in the fifth round, I don’t see them using any higher of a draft pick at receiver. Former Pittsburgh Panthers’ pass catcher Quadree Henderson is a viable target in the late rounds or as an undrafted free agent.
Henderson isn’t a skilled route runner but he is explosive. Most of his yards have come from rushing and returning the football.
You’ll have to look back to 2016 to see any offensive touchdowns. Henderson did score twice on punt returns in 2017 but it was a down year for him and the Pitt program.
As a sophomore, he had 631 yards rushing with an average of 10.5 yards per carry and five touchdowns. Adding an additional 286 yards receiving with an 11 yards per catch average and one touchdown.
Most of the damage Henderson did on the field was on special teams. He accumulated 914 kick return yards (three scores) and 252 punt return yards (one score) for an absurd 30.5 and 15.8 yards per return. These numbers catapulted him to All-American status and became the first Panther to earn that title as a returner.
Last season was not kind to the junior, only racking up 1,204 all-purpose yards compared to 2,083 the previous year. Henderson only trailed Tony Dorsett for the most total yards in a single season at Pitt.
There are concerns about his receiving ability given his lack of production (473 yard, 45 receptions, one touchdown). To his defense, Pitt didn’t have the best quarterbacks and loved to run the football. The school also liked to move him around and heavily utilized him on the return units.
The Lions struggle on kick returns and could always use another weapon. Henderson is a firecracker just waiting to go off.
He does his best work out in space.
Detroit is a great place to take his skills to the next level. The right system can get the most out of him. Scoring multiple ways only adds to your value as a prospect.
Henderson has the speed to warrant using a draft pick. Size (5’8″, 190) isn’t impressive but not a buzz kill either. He held up well the past three seasons only missing three games as a freshman.
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Potential on offense is there but you can’t deny his return ability. Guys like Henderson can become superstars on the right team. Give him the ball and the time to grow as a receiver and the Lions could collect a huge reward for little risk.