There’s one thing within the water in the case of the McCaffrey household and taking part in soccer. Christian McCaffrey is one of the best working again in soccer, a participant who turned pre-draft doubt into ludicrous manufacturing as an all-purpose working again — now his youthful brother Luke is getting into the NFL Draft to a lot much less fanfare, however stays an enchanting mid-round choose.
Luke McCaffrey, who performed broad receiver at Rice, is predicted to be a Day 3 choose within the 2024 NFL Draft. A former quarterback, McCaffrey made the swap to broad receiver in 2022 and has proven ludicrous progress on the place over a brief time period. There won’t be a wealth of movie to undertaking him to the subsequent stage, however there are parts to his recreation that are fascinating.
Work ethic and motor
Luke is a man who simply loves taking part in soccer. There’s no pretense or ego to his recreation. His swap to receiver from quarterback was merely a chance to get extra reps and see the sector extra, and for probably the most half he thrived.
When you’re in search of one trait to hold your hat on, it’s this: McCaffrey is aware of he’s anticipated to make an impression. Within the NFL this tasks largely to fit receiver, the place he could be a respectable dimension mismatch in opposition to nickel defensive backs. McCaffrey is ready to pair his 6’2, 198-pound body with NFL-caliber physique positioning and arms, which makes up for his lack of burst. This isn’t a man who will burn anybody on a slant, however he excels at weaving by protection on prolonged performs and discover methods to get open.
This type of high-effort play interprets within the NFL. It’s silly to pronounce McCaffrey as the subsequent Puka Nacua, however there are some comparable expertise right here that may’t be ignored.
Large ends in a brief interval
The primary 12 months McCaffrey made the swap to WR he discovered success. He completed with 58 catches for 723 yards and 6 TDs, then constructed off that in his senior 12 months with 71 receptions for 993 yards and 13 TDs.
Maybe what makes him such an intriguing do-anything prospect is that he’s obtained slightly little bit of Christian’s expertise in the case of working the ball. In two seasons Rice used McCaffrey as a runner 27 occasions, which he completed with 265 speeding yards and a TD. There’s some means to make use of McCaffrey in gadget performs as properly, which we’ve seen extra groups utilizing in recent times — most notably Deebo Samuel in San Francisco.
Contemplating McCaffrey remains to be a piece in progress as a receiver there are undoubtedly some constructing blocks right here if he can proceed to develop.
Nice measurables
One of many causes Christian McCaffrey was doubted getting into the 2017 NFL Draft was his smaller construct, however the Carolina Panthers noticed potential in his velocity measurables paired along with his motor. Examine the 2 brothers and Luke tasks very favorably to massive brother.
:format(webp):no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/25415980/Screen_Shot_2024_04_24_at_12.16.27_PM.png)
Clearly they play totally different positions, however the line is already blurred in the case of how McCaffrey is used — and the identical will probably be true of Luke. It’s simply that he has slightly additional dimension wanted to play WR.
My crew simply drafted Luke McCaffrey. Ought to I be excited?
It actually comes all the way down to what your expectations are. As a mid-round choose he’s obtained actually interesting potential — and it’s most likely honest to have extra anticipation for Luke McCaffrey than your common fourth or fifth spherical choose.
This can be a man who comes from a household full of soccer gamers. Luke has smooth arms, nice instincts, and a willingness to do no matter is requested of him. It’s undoubtedly price getting slightly excited for, as a result of with a while and nurturing he may simply develop right into a plus-level third or fourth receiver.
