The Pittsburgh Panthers once put one of the most dominant wide receivers of the modern era into the NFL when Larry Fitzgerald entered the league in 2004.
After the recent success of Tyler Boyd and Jordan Addison — who spent time with Pitt before transferring to USC — in the league, does Bub Means’ scouting report possess the traits of a starting-caliber WR entering the 2024 NFL Draft?
Bub Means’ Draft Profile and Measurements
- Height: 6’1″
- Weight: 212 pounds
- Position: WR
- School: Pitt
- Current year: Senior
- Hand: 10 1/8″
- Arm: 33 1/4″
Means’ prep days at Lovejoy High School in Georgia helped him garner some attention from the major recruiting outlets, with over 800 receiving yards and 11 touchdown receptions over his final two years in high school.
Means would eventually start his collegiate career at Louisiana Tech and see plenty of action as a true freshman, generating 430 receiving yards and two scores in 2021.
Bub Means is a WR prospect in the 2024 draft class. He scored a 9.35 #RAS out of a possible 10.00. This ranked 222 out of 3402 WR from 1987 to 2024. https://t.co/VaVtZ07Le9 pic.twitter.com/Mb167iXXbJ
— Kent Lee Platte (@MathBomb) April 17, 2024
His promising start with the Bulldogs afforded Means a Power Five opportunity, and he transferred to Pitt ahead of the 2022 college football season. Means’ sophomore campaign failed to make any significant progress in comparison to his first year at Louisiana Tech, catching 27 passes for 401 yards and two scores.
However, he would finish his collegiate career on a high note, improving his numbers across the board with 41 receptions for 721 yards and six scores in 2023.
Means’ Scouting Report
Strengths
- Strong hands and attacks the ball with conviction at the catch point.
- Physical receiver who can battle through contact at the line of scrimmage and at the breakpoint to stay on time with the route.
- Ideal combination of size, top speed, and length for a receiver prospect entering the NFL.
- Formation versatility exists from his multiple roles at Pitt; Primarily operated outside in 2023 but saw plenty of time at slot in 2022, which suggests he could operate as an X-receiver or big slot.
- Flashes nice reps against press coverage with excellent timing and foot quickness.
- Flashes of fluid athleticism and catch-point dominance are present on his college tape.
- Does have the top speed to be a vertical threat.
- Flashes some tempo variation and patience before getting into his break to bait DB into flipping his hips.
Weaknesses
- Effort and consistency as a run blocker aren’t ideal; Timing with breaking down into stalk block form is sluggish and lacks conviction.
- Refinement and burst out of the breakpoint are inconsistent; Shoulder pads can get a bit high entering the top of Means’ stem, which limits his burst out of cuts; Some sharper cuts require extra steps with his inconsistency snapping down on curls and comebacks.
- Doesn’t consistently throw deception or attack a defender’s leverage to maximize separation at breakpoint; Looks more concerned about simply getting to his destination as opposed to finding definitive ways to win on the route.
- Could display better use of hands when operating against press coverage; Can get shoved around by DBs who land their initial punch; Ended up on the ground for one press-coverage rep against Louisville.
- Would like to see fewer body catches in contested situations.
- Not a ton of creativity as a ball carrier, which could limit his potential as a YAC threat in the NFL.
- Too many reps where he loses his balance.
Current Draft Projection and Summary
Means has many of the physical tools scouts covet when trying to identify potential contributors to their passing game in the NFL.
When he manages to put it all together on specific reps, Means looks like a professional receiver. He has the speed to work the vertical plane, the length and strength to win in contested catch situations, and fluid movement that can develop into a capable route runner.
Yet, Means’ tape is littered with inconsistencies across the board.
His routes often lack conviction, deception, and refinement. He’s inconsistent with his hands when attacking the ball at the catch point and battling against cornerbacks in press coverage.
Last but not least, Means’ effort is very questionable as a run blocker and working back to the quarterback in scramble scenarios.
KEEP READING: Top Wide Receivers in the 2024 NFL Draft
Means certainly has the prospect profile to be a Day 3 pick with plenty of formation versatility and athleticism, but his areas of concern are lengthy enough to keep him out of Day 2.
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