Scouting is an inexact science that features a wide variety of opinions and rarely forms a consensus upon which everyone can co-sign.
At least, that’s one way to explain Pro Football Focus listing Michael Gallup – and not Calvin Ridley, Courtland Sutton, or Christian Kirk – as the site’s top wide receiver prospect.
Gallup seems to have everything you would want out of a receiver prospect. Good size (6-1, 205 pounds), speed (ran the 40-yard dash in 4.51 seconds at the Combine and 4.45 seconds at his Pro Day), and off-the-charts production. Gallup finished his college career on a high note by averaging 88 catches, 1,345 yards, and 10 touchdowns. He posted a monster season as a senior with 100 catches, 1,418 yards and seven scores.
The numbers suggest Gallup is capable of top-tier production. However, they came against Mountain West defenses and after two years at junior college. Not having three or four years of NCAA Division I experience might be what is dropping Gallup out of Round 1 status despite his PFF ranking among college prospects.
Lance Zierlein of NFL.com lists Eagles wideout Nelson Agholor as a pro comparison to Gallup, which is solid considering Agholor is coming off a breakout year with the Super Bowl champs. Zierlein notes Gallup’s natural athleticism, size, and ability to create space and get open as strong traits – even if he is a bit raw. But while Agholor was a first-round pick (20th overall) in 2015, Gallup’s draft projection has him falling to the second or third round.
Despite Gallup’s relative inexperience against elite college competition, his numbers will certainly make him a target for teams in search of receiver help. And with the Bears being one of those teams, he might be someone on the radar to be considered with the team’s second-round pick.