With/Against Consensus & RBs/WRs Adding Mass: Going Deep with Brandon Angelo & Matt Waldman 4.9.26

Brandon Angelo cautions against adding mass to Amari Rodgers because of his reactive movement profile. Rodgers' lateral agility and ability to change direction from lateral to linear are core to his game; adding weight would slow him down and undermine those critical skills, making mass addition counterproductive for his archetype.

Austin Ekeler is cited as an example of the modern NFL running back archetype—smaller, space-oriented backs who excel at outside zone runs and turning the corner with quick initial and early acceleration. This archetype is becoming more prevalent as the game shifts toward more space and 12 personnel usage, and Ekeler is listed alongside Jahmyr Gibbs and Devon Achane as successful NFL examples of this type.

Brandon Angelo is lower than consensus on Chris Bell, viewing him as a roster bubble player for the majority of his career due to multiple compounding concerns. The core issue is archetype mismatch: at 6'2", 220 lbs, Bell's physical profile rarely produces perennial 1000-yard receivers—Angelo can only cite DK Metcalf and AJ Brown as successful examples of this archetype at the primary receiver level. Beyond archetype, Angelo flags durability and injury concerns: Bell had ACL surgery in December with an October return timeline as a day-three pick, creating multi-year setback risk. His weight and deceleration issues are exacerbated by ACL recovery. Angelo frames Bell as simultaneously most afraid to draft and most afraid not to draft—the highs are potential Pro Bowler, the lows are out of the league in 3–4 years—but leans negative on the risk-reward given archetype and injury capital.

Brandon Angelo cites Courtland Sutton as a historical example of a receiver who employed serial clap attacking technique but became a solid NFL starter, demonstrating that unconventional catching mechanics do not necessarily preclude a productive NFL career. Sutton's success despite using clap attacking provides precedent for prospects like Skyler Bell who rely on similar mechanics.

Devon Achane is cited as an example of the modern NFL running back archetype—smaller, space-oriented backs who excel at outside zone runs and turning the corner with quick initial and early acceleration. This archetype is becoming more prevalent as the game shifts toward more space and 12 personnel usage, and Achane is listed alongside Jahmyr Gibbs and Austin Ekeler as successful NFL examples of this type.

Brandon Angelo ranks Eli Stove as his tight end one in the 2025 class, believing he's in a different tier than other tight end prospects. Angelo compares Stove to Jordan Reed and emphasizes his ability to make plays in tight coverage while generating separation late in routes, functioning as a security blanket where quarterbacks can throw into tight windows. Despite online criticism about blocking ability, Angelo asserts Stove's blocking is adequate for an every-down tight end role and notes his exceptional athleticism, mobility, strength, and after-the-catch ability.

Brandon Angelo describes Golden Tate as a very good receiver who could catch correctly but often chose not to, preferring unconventional clap attacking technique. Despite this mechanical choice, Tate was a productive number two receiver or slot flanker type, demonstrating that elite talent can overcome suboptimal catching mechanics. Tate is cited as one of four historical exceptions to the rule that serial clap attackers struggle in the NFL.

Jahmyr Gibbs is cited as an example of the modern NFL running back archetype—smaller, space-oriented backs who excel at outside zone runs and turning the corner with quick initial and early acceleration. This archetype is becoming more prevalent as the game shifts toward more space and 12 personnel usage, and Gibbs is listed alongside Devon Achane and Austin Ekeler as successful NFL examples of this type.

James Cook is cited as a direct stylistic and trait comparison for De'Mon Clayborn; both are described as similar movers with extreme fluidity and adeptness at creating in the low red zone. Cook is also listed as an example of the modern NFL running back archetype—smaller, space-oriented backs who excel at outside zone runs and turning the corner with quick initial and early acceleration. This archetype is becoming more prevalent as the game shifts toward more space and 12 personnel usage.

Jeremiah Love is positioned as the presumed class RB1 in Angelo's evaluation; Clayborn is ranked as the most likely alternative if Love does not achieve that status in five years.

Jonah Coleman is identified alongside De'Mon Clayborn as one of the two best low red zone players in the 2026 class. While Coleman and Clayborn generate positive yards and touchdowns in the low red zone through different methods, both are highlighted as elite in this specific skill set.

Matt Waldman rates Kenny Gainwell as Pittsburgh's best back by a mile last year and projects him to be Tampa's best back this year. Waldman emphasizes the value of versatile backs like Gainwell who can block, receive, and rush. Waldman notes that smaller backs will continue to exploit defensive fronts designed for spread offenses for at least a few more years, particularly against safety-size linebackers. Brandon Angelo uses Gainwell as a comparison archetype for late-round versatile backs, noting Gainwell is not super fast but very good in all aspects of the game, makes good decisions, and endears himself to coaches; Angelo emphasizes these types of players are important in the NFL because they hang around forever, get opportunities, and run with them.

Brandon Angelo identifies Marvin Harrison Sr. as an elite receiver who exclusively uses clap attacking and trapping technique, never catching the ball correctly in film review. Angelo went back and watched highlights to verify and found all highlights were trapping and clapping. Harrison Sr. is cited as the fourth and highest-end historical exception to the rule that serial clap attackers struggle, demonstrating that elite talent can overcome suboptimal mechanics entirely. Angelo notes Harrison Sr. literally channeled Ahmad Rashad's 1970s-era catching approach.

Brandon Angelo flags Mike Washington Jr. as a major concern due to compounding issues: ball security at one fumble per 51 touches (well below acceptable NFL rates, with few RBs improving from this baseline and still producing) and pad level/contact engagement problems. Washington avoids direct contact, preferring to pivot or turn his back into defenders rather than dropping pads and facing downhill; this inconsistency at the point of contact directly correlates to fumbling issues. At 6'2", his high pad level and open body position expose him to contact, turning him from a potential "bowling ball with butcher knives" into a "bowling ball that's a magnet for contact." Angelo also expresses serious skepticism about Washington Jr.'s viability as a tall, linear-driven RB archetype. The movement tools gap between Washington Jr. and Breece Hall is described as "a Grand Canyon sized gap," with Hall being the only elite all-pro/pro-bowl comparable for this archetype. Angelo concludes it's "really hard to find and see Mike Washington Jr. as the second player of that archetype being super successful." He explicitly states he will never draft Washington Jr., despite loving his physical profile, because Demone Clayborn is "so much better as a player" and "runs laps around" him.

Brandon Angelo identifies Miles Montgomery of UCF as a potential biggest sleeper of the running back class, ranking him in his third tier (very top of it, close to second tier). At 5'10" 198 lbs, Montgomery excels at pass protection with excellent footwork, punch, and diagnosis of blocks; he processes quickly, reads pre-snap keys effectively, and creates in short yardage with controlled footwork and downhill aggression rather than bouncing plays. Angelo projects Montgomery to reach 5'10" 210 lbs, which should add acceleration and explosion. Angelo emphasizes Montgomery's underrated agility, vision, and ability to dictate contact against larger defenders. Angelo compares him to Kenneth Gainwell as a versatile, decision-making back who may have more juice. Angelo suggests that with modest gains in speed and explosiveness, Montgomery could be the biggest sleeper of the running back class—a late-round or UDFA type who processes the field a tick quicker than defenders.

Brandon Angelo cites Robert Meachem as a cautionary example of a big, fast, and strong receiver drafted by the Saints who struggled with technique inconsistency. In a game against LSU as a Tennessee receiver, Meachem dropped three or four passes in the first half when attempting optimal catching technique, then reverted to clap attacking, signaling lack of confidence in proper mechanics. This technique inconsistency and mechanical regression foreshadowed NFL struggles, contrasting with elite receivers like Marvin Harrison Sr. and Golden Tate who committed fully to their unconventional approach.

Brandon Angelo ranks Skyler Bell in his top five running backs in the class. Angelo emphasizes Bell's speed, explosion, and ability to make difficult contested catches. He highlights a specific curvilinear move at Boston College where Bell executed an exceptionally tight-angle cut at high speed with perfect balance, describing it as potentially the most memorable play from the entire draft class he studied. Angelo and Matt Waldman both place Bell in the late first round to early second round tier, reflecting confidence in his overall skill set. However, Angelo identifies Bell as a serial clap attacker—a receiver who uses a palm-based catching technique rather than fingertip-based technique. While this technique typically correlates with drops due to the rigid palm creating violent recoil, Bell has only four career drops despite his preference for clap attacking, suggesting he can execute the technique effectively despite the mechanical risk. Angelo notes this creates a projection question: whether the technique will become magnified as a problem in the NFL despite Bell's current success with it.