Going Pro In Sports: Devin Funchess
[Bryan Fuller]
The NFL Draft begins on Thursday, and while Michigan doesn't have a long list of potential draftees, at least a couple former Wolverines will hear their names called this weekend. The first of them will almost assuredly be Devin Funchess, who's projected as a second- or third-round pick with a small chance of sneaking into the end of the first round. What should an NFL team expect to get from Funchess? Here's a look at one of the draft's most intriguing boom-or-bust prospects.
By The Numbers
Position: Wide Receiver (or Tight End, if you're not into the whole blocking thing)
Height/Weight: 6'4", 232
40 Time: 4.70 (combine), 4.47 (pro day)
Vertical: 38.5"
Junior stats: 100 targets, 62 receptions (62% catch rate), 733 yards (7.3 YPT/11.8 YPC), 4 TDs
Sophomore stats: 92 targets, 49 receptions (53% catch rate), 748 yards (8.1 YPT/15.3 YPC), 6 TDs
Strengths
The most striking aspect of Funchess is his physical talent. He pairs solid, though not elite, wideout speed with a tight end's frame. He's too fast and fluid in his movements to be defended by most linebackers and safeties, while his size can prove overwhelming for smaller cornerbacks—at least, it did when Michigan actually decided to take advantage of his mismatches.
Despite his size, Funchess isn't ponderous in his movements. He reaches top speed in a hurry, and when he's at his best he can be a sharp route-runner who gains separation with quick, fluid breaks and some nice deception:
Funchess' size helps him on his routes; he's tough to jam at the line, and he uses his hands well to disengage from defenders on his breaks.
A former basketball standout, Funchess can get up—he boasts a 38.5-inch vertical—and high-point the ball. While he's not the most natural pass-catcher (more on that later), he's able to make very difficult catches look relatively easy because of his athleticism.
Funchess is dangerous after the catch, capitalizing on his speed/power combination to run through opposing defensive backs—or occasionally leap right over them. While he's more of a straight-line runner than a dynamic open-field juke threat, he covers ground in a hurry and utilizes a solid stiff-arm in the open field.
Weaknesses
Funchess too often allows the football to get too close to his body, which leads to some awkward catches and, with frustrating frequency, flat-out drops:
His route-running needs more consistency. The sharp, fluid breaks mentioned above weren't always apparent last season, though much of that may be due to the toe injury that lingered for most of the season.
Then there's the reason Funchess moved to wide receiver in the first place: his blocking, or lack thereof. He simply couldn't hold up as an in-line tight end, and his blocking didn't improve much when he moved outside. When putting together this post, I asked Brian for a canonical example of Funchess blowing a block:
Brian: there isn't one because there are so many
Brian: there are three in the ND UFR
That's referencing the 2013 Notre Dame game, when Funchess still played tight end; his blocking performance in that game may have expedited his move to receiver. Unfortunately, that move didn't mask Funchess' issues with both technique and effort as a blocker:
While most of Funchess' efforts weren't that egregiously bad, he's got a long way to go as a blocker.
Outlook
If you asked me after his sophomore season, I'd say without hesitation that Funchess is on his way to being a very productive NFL receiver. When healthy, he's a matchup nightmare, and NFL offenses are finding more ways to incorporate oversized, TE-like receivers. Then last season cast a lot of uncertainty over Funchess for reasons both within (drops, blocking) and outside (playcalling, QB play, injuries) of his control.
I still think Funchess can be an impact player worthy of an early-round selection. He can be a red zone threat right off the bat, and if he limits his drops he can be an every-down player. I like the CBSSports comparison of Funchess to Carolina's Kelvin Benjamin, who has a similar build (6'5", 240) and profile—Benjamin was the Panthers' go-to receiver as a rookie of out FSU, and while he was very productive (73 catches, 1,008 yards, 9 TDs), he had issues with drops (52% catch rate) and route-running. I'm not sure Funchess is as ready to be an instant-impact player; replicating Benjamin's rookie season is likely a best-case scenario.
I think Funchess is at the mercy of which team selects him more than a lot of receivers. If he's drafted by a franchise that tries to turn him back into a tight end, he's likely to be a bust. If his new team lets him go to work on the outside, he's got the chance to develop into a productive downfield threat, especially if he's paired with a receiver who works well underneath.
if he goes in the first round.
risky
I would never make that bet knowing the Lions are around.
Yep, they pick 23rd. I'll double down: If the Lions pick Funchess in the first round, I will eat a lemon and then drink the juice of a second lemon.
April 30th, 2015 at 10:59 AM ^
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there are a lot of pro evaluators who kind of excused Funchess case of dropsies because of Devin Gardner's inability to throw an accurate ball and he often leaves Funchess out to dry in the middle. See Utah game as a good example where he alligatored his arms in the middle.
They see him more as a move TE who can line up at H-Back, slot WR and occasionally at the Y position. His most likely round projection is at 2nd round.
Despite all the drops, Gardner still completed 60% of his passes, which is a decent number. I don't really see Gardner as being particularly inaccurate, although there were times when he was so. Funchess quite simply has a case of the dropsies, and it's been there his entire career.
completion percentage does not indicate accuracy. It doesn't tell the whole story which is why they chart QB accuracy from LOS, short, intermediate and deep. You can complete 60% by throwing a shit load of WR/RB screen or short passes without a problem. It's much harder to have high completion percentage by throwing intermediate to deep passes.
A good example where a completion does not mean it's an accurate pass. A WR has to reach for the ball behind him yet still caught the ball while there's no one in front of the WR. It counts as a completion, but the pro evaluators don't count it as an accurate throw despite the completion.
They said accuracy and decision making are two big reason why Devin Gardner will never be a NFL QB.
I completely agree with that but I think that Devin gardner was plagued by poor line play and OCs most of his career. If you look at what he did in 2012 he was quite good. I don't think that he will ever be an nfl qb and I think that a lot of the reason why is because of how he looked at michigan and not his abilities. If you plug him into OSU's offense with running backs who are chewing off 200 yds a game and a favorable offense to play for then people might think about him in a different light
Agree and also think he'll end up a TE that you can line-up in various spots. He won't be a pure WR or pure TE but a hybrid. I think quite a few teams will be interested because he is a player you can be creative with.
...I hope he lands with the Patriots. They would presumably exploit his strengths while not putting him in a position to fail.
he can fill in Hernandez role as the #2 TE who can be a deadly receiver while Gronk will get the attention from defense.
he can fill in Hernandez role as the #2 TE who can be a deadly receiver while Gronk will get the attention from defense.
Too soon? Maybe not too soon?
It all depends on if he can execute the play book
I have no doubt tht he will just kill it in the NFL.
He's a matchup nightmare and a definite weapon in the right offense
You are right, it would be a real crime if he was not picked in the 1st or 2nd round.
If the Patriots wanted a good Michigan wide receiver, they should have kept Gallon and not let him to to Oakland.
Gardner will be competing with Funchess directly as a big WR. And he may have higher upside. Funchess struggled last season due to injuries and overall bad play, but his weaknesses are his own and he's had adequate time to eliminate them. Gardner's raw as all get out but he's also 6'4"/220 with good straight-line speed and has shown a willingness to block. Rawness can be fixed.
I wouldn't take Gardner in the first or second round, but as long as both are risky projects, I'd actually take Gardner over Funchess. Which just feels. . . weird.
April 28th, 2015 at 10:27 PM ^
that NFL don't feel the same. They project Funchess as a day 2 pick while they gave Gardner a UDFA.
I would've taken Tom Brady in the second round. The NFL is really bad at evaluating undeveloped players.
Was that big discrepancy in his 40 times a result of the injury healing, or was one a big-time, FAKE 40 time? If he's really 4.47, I can see him going high in the 2nd round.
4.47, add ~0.2 because it was hand timed, pretty close to the equivalent of a 4.7 at pro day. not a burner.
April 28th, 2015 at 10:29 PM ^
most NFL team add about .05-.1 to the pro day numbers, but they don't go by the official electronic timers because they think it's flawed. At combine, they go by 3 stopwatches by the scouts and avg the three which is their official time for a prospect they time. FWIW, they had Funchess at 4.55 which is about right considering the pro day time.
He doesn't have elite speed but, as noted, could be a matchup nightmare against LBs and safeties. Those guys don't hang outside the numbers. I would only put him outside in the red zone.
hopefully NE drafts him
Which, of course, means it's never going to happen.
Enormously talented guy. I would have loved to see him in Harbaugh's offense. I think it might have been good for him and us if he had come back for one more year and played in a better offense. He might have put up big numbers and improved his stock, but I can certainly understand wanting to start your NFL career. I'll definitely root for him at the next level.
That would love to see what he can do with the Patriots.
Not surprising and still not bad...
What's kind of interesting about the Patriots is no one EVER picks their pick correctly, but if they planned to use Funchess like Hernandez without the you know, killing...he's actually the best fit of anyone in the draft.
A TE who plays more like a WR or H-Back. We put him in the backfield and number of times, put him on reverses, etc.
The Patriots liked to run that inside shuffle pass with Hernandez along with using him out of the backfield on LBs.
Funchess would fit a similar role.
As for Devin, as long as he puts in the work, my feeling is that he'll be at least serviceable wherever he ends up. It'd definitely be fun though to see a former Michigan player become a top NFL receiver.
April 30th, 2015 at 10:02 AM ^
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