Early in the process, the scouting report of Nevada WR and NFL Draft prospect Romeo Doubs commanded heavy interest. Now, it feels like he’s falling under the radar a bit. In such a deep class, it shouldn’t be a surprise that some quality receiver prospects are losing traction. But with a player as productive and as talented as Doubs, it makes you think. Let’s get to the bottom of Doubs’ evaluation, and see where he deserves to go in the 2022 NFL Draft.
Romeo Doubs NFL Draft Profile
- Position: Wide Receiver
- School: Nevada
- Current Year: Senior
- Height: 6’1 7/8″
- Weight: 201 pounds
- Wingspan: 77 3/8″
- Length: 32 1/4″
- Hand: 10″
Romeo Doubs Scouting Report
In 2021, only three returning college football wide receivers had more than 1,000 yards in the 2020 season: South Alabama’s Jalen Tolbert, Memphis’ Calvin Austin III, and Nevada’s Doubs. Of those three top returning receivers, Doubs had the highest yards per catch at 17.3.
“Dynamic” is a great way to begin describing Doubs, but that word alone doesn’t quite encompass just how exciting of a draft prospect he is. Doubs has some of the game-breaking traits required to win deep, but he also boasts many of the operational qualities required to separate in the short and intermediate ranges.
With his size and athleticism, how does Doubs translate to the NFL level? What is his ultimate potential, and more importantly, what could keep him from reaching that point in his current state? As it turns out, Doubs is a fascinating prospect with a relatively wide range of outcomes in the 2022 NFL Draft.
Doubs’ athletic profile
It just feels right to start with Doubs’ athletic profile because that’s where his potential is most apparent. Doubs has good size at 6’2″, 201 pounds. He possesses a long, wiry frame with solid density, and he supplements that frame with excellent athleticism.
Doubs has quick feet and superb twitch for his size, and he stores massive amounts of potential energy within his frame. He’s exceptionally explosive out of direction changes and has the downfield speed to stack defensive backs and accelerate after catches.
Doubs’ explosiveness can be dangerous for unsuspecting defenders. He has the speed and burst to elongate space and rack up yards after the catch. Furthermore, Doubs is slippery as a ball carrier. He owns excellent balance when changing directions, and he diverts course with remarkable suddenness.
Doubs’ athleticism also shows up at the catch point. The Nevada WR flashes solid body control and midair contortion ability. He can break back toward the ball abruptly with his short-range explosiveness. Doubs possesses the vertical athleticism to rise up for passes and high-point the ball, and his looming length only compounds his range.
Execution beyond the physical traits
Doubs’ NFL Draft scouting report features an enticing athletic profile which he channels incredibly well. Most notably, his route-running upside is immense, largely due to his natural twitch and foot speed.
Doubs’ legs are almost unhinged with how quickly they can chop and contract. The Nevada WR displays glimpses of devastating suddenness as a route runner, and he seamlessly transitions from lateral displacement to vertical explosion.
Much of Doubs’ downfield separation ability comes from his release proficiency at the line. The Nevada product has a good set of releases, constructed with complex footwork combinations. He beats press with his lateral suddenness and twitch, altering his stride lengths to maximize movement in different ranges. Moreover, Doubs knows how to manipulate blind spots with double-moves. His explosiveness and twitch can be dangerous when used in such a way.
Among other things, Doubs shows glimpses of promise downfield. Even if he’s very inconsistent at the catch point, he still flashes the requisite ball-tracking ability downfield. He’s able to corral passes mid-stride without losing a step. Additionally, Doubs brings versatility to the fold. He can line up in the slot or on the boundary, and he employs a variety of different route concepts based on where he lines up.
Areas for improvement
If you find Doubs’ NFL Draft scouting report appealing after reading the first two sections, that’s no accident. Doubs is indeed an exciting physical talent with many of the tools necessary to succeed in the NFL. However, as much as his upside commands attention, he has several areas to improve.
Most notably, Doubs’ hands are frustratingly inconsistent. His hand technique is often sloppy at the catch point, and his coordination could also improve. Doubs doesn’t always guide passes in, and his hands aren’t as strong or authoritative as desired. He clap-catches and body-catches and can be much more disciplined in that department.
Moreover, Doubs is susceptible to focus drops. He can do all of the right things before the catch, but it’s all for naught if he doesn’t convert at the catch point. Doubs showed flashes of improvement in 2021 but was still a body catcher downfield at times, and focus drops still showed up.
As expected, Doubs is inconsistent hauling in passes through contact. He can also further refine his separation ability so he doesn’t encounter contact as often. Doubs can build on his route tree more and minimize rounded route breaks. Furthermore, Doubs can sink his hips more consistently when conducting direction changes. He has the necessary hip flexibility, but sometimes he plays too tall into his breaks. The traits are there, but he doesn’t always channel them effectively.
Doubs’ NFL Draft scouting report overview
Doubs came into 2021 needing to improve his hands, and he also left room to refine his route-running ability further. In terms of growth, 2021 was very much a mixed bag.
Doubs displayed better hip sink at times, and he also flashed good awareness of blind spots downfield. However, his hands were still hot and cold far too often. The flashes are there, but Doubs needs to minimize body catches and actively guide the ball in with diamond technique when it comes his way.
Having said all this, Doubs’ utility isn’t limited to his downfield ability alone. He has electric potential as a route runner. He’s incredibly twitchy at the line and explosive out of his stance. After the catch, Doubs owns the speed and burst to extend plays, and he can adjust his stride lengths situationally. The Nevada WR didn’t quite complete his game as desired in 2021, but the upside remains apparent.
Doubs’ stock seems to have settled into late Day 2/early Day 3 range since the Senior Bowl. In that range, he could be a high-value playmaker with three-level ability. The dictating factor for Doubs is how much he can improve his hands and how consistent he can be with his releases and as a route runner.
Early on, Doubs can be a solid rotational player. The ceiling is very high, but he’ll need to break a few bad habits if he wants to reach it.
Doubs’ Player Profile
If you’re shocked at Doubs’ dominance in college, don’t be. At Jefferson High School in Los Angeles, California, Doubs was essentially the high school football equivalent of Thanos.
As a senior, Doubs carried the ball 93 times for 1,757 yards and 28 touchdowns. Additionally, he caught the ball 13 times for 354 yards and 5 touchdowns. On top of his offensive production, Doubs also recorded 18 career interceptions in three seasons on the defensive side of the ball. If that wasn’t enough, he even returned 10 kicks for an average of 45.9 yards per return.
Doubs’ production would imply that he was a coveted recruit, but for whatever reason, he wasn’t. After logging a 4.72 40-yard dash and a 33-inch vertical at 6’2″, 176 pounds, Doubs fell under the radar. He was unranked on ESPN’s board and a mere three-star recruit on 247 Sports. Still, Doubs received scholarship offers from Power Five schools like Rutgers, Boston College, and Washington State.
Nevertheless, Doubs ultimately chose the school that wanted him the most, heading to Nevada.
Doubs’ career at Nevada
Right away, Doubs’ natural talent earned him a role in the Wolf Pack offense. The Nevada WR entered the rotation as a true freshman and put up inspiring numbers in his first collegiate season. Doubs accounted for 15.5% of Nevada’s passing output as a true freshman, logging 562 yards and 2 touchdowns on 43 catches.
In 2019, Doubs became one of the favorite targets of newly-anointed starting quarterback Carson Strong. He upped his receiving yardage share to 20%, catching 44 passes for 649 yards and 4 touchdowns. For his production, Doubs earned All-Mountain West honorable mention recognition. But his 2020 season would be the best one yet.
In a nine-game 2020 campaign, Doubs accounted for 34.9% of Nevada’s passing output. He hauled in 58 passes for 1,002 yards and 9 touchdowns, earning first-team All-Mountain West recognition. He also affirmed his candidacy for the Biletnikoff Award, given annually to the best receiver in the league. Although DeVonta Smith ultimately won the award, Doubs was in the running.
2021 was Doubs’ most productive year yet, and it came at an opportune time. In 11 games, he caught 80 passes for 1,109 yards and 11 touchdowns. His season was highlighted by a monster 19-catch, 203-yard outing against Fresno State, where he was virtually unbeatable. That game shined a light onto the ceiling that Doubs provides. If he can reach it, he can be a rare player.
Doubs’ NFL Draft ascension
Doubs has always had a clear degree of natural talent. Yet, his athletic numbers from high school don’t jump off the page. On tape, however, it’s clear that Doubs has developed his athleticism over time. He’s always been dynamic and electric, but now, he’s explosive, fast, and overflowing with upside.
Even though he remains an imperfect prospect coming out of college, the sky is the limit for Doubs, both literally and figuratively. He’ll need to improve his consistency at the catch point and can further hone his traits as a separator. But if Doubs does those things, nothing is stopping him from solidifying his reputation — not only as a top NFL Draft prospect but also as a productive starting WR in the NFL.
Tony Pauline’s scouting report for Romeo Doubs
Positives: Sure-handed receiver with an upside. Tracks the pass in the air, adjusts to the throw, and nicely times receptions. Comes back to the ball out of breaks, competes to come away with the catch when defenders are draped on him, and extends to make the reception away from his frame. Snatches the ball out of the air with strong hands and displays terrific eye/hand coordination. Turns upfield and works hard running after the catch.
Negatives: Not quick into routes and floats exiting breaks. Plays to one speed and does not show a true second gear.
Analysis: Doubs was a terrific pass catcher for quarterback Carson Strong, consistently coming away with both ordinary and extraordinary receptions. He possesses nice size but must really improve the details of his position if he’s to factor in at the next level.