:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/49280041/usa-today-8954457.0.jpg)
Daniel Braverman
Height: 5'10"
Weight: 177 lbs
College: Western Michigan
Class: Redshirt Junior
40-yard dash: 4.47 seconds
Vertical: 28/5"
Broad jump: 9 feet, 4 inches
Short shuttle: 4.2 seconds
3-cone: 6.86 seconds
Bench: 10 reps of 225 pounds
The Bengals are badly in need of a new slot receiver after watching Andrew Hawkins and Mohamed Sanu leave in the past three years. Western Michigan's Daniel Braverman is more likely to end up being drafted late this year, but that doesn't mean he can't make a big impact for a slot-needy team like Cincinnati.
Braverman may not look like an NFL receiver with his 5'11" size and not much bulk to go with it. But where he's lacking in size, Braverman has the kind of speed, agility and ability to find holes in a zone that makes all great slot receivers such dangerous weapons.
#WMU WR Daniel Braverman - If you're looking for your Julian Edelman in this draft he's your guy #NFLDraft https://t.co/p8EhhbFqMr
— Steve Frederick (@SportsGuyTweets) April 10, 2016
Quick Daniel Braverman ankle-breaking compilation, w/ nice bonus sideline catch pic.twitter.com/WtsANTX3jL
— Ty Wurth (@NFLi_Ty) February 14, 2016
In his two biggest games of 2015, Braverman hauled in 23 passes for 232 yards and one score against MSU and OSU. He finished his junior season ranking second in the nation with 108 catches. He was also eighth nationally in receiving yards (1,371 yards) and tied for seventh with 13 touchdowns with five different games with at least 10 catches.
Having a guy who can do damage in the slot they way Braverman does could really make this offense even better than it was last year.
ICYMI, Daniel Braverman's slant on this play is borderline uncoverable. A slot WR at its finest. https://t.co/6456fdxd2a
— CenCal Faithful (@CenCalFaithful) April 10, 2016
Must Reads
In 2014, Braverman started all 13 games for the Broncos and had 86 receptions for 997 and six touchdowns. He's done almost all of his damage in the slot and will likely play their full-time in the NFL. That could make him very appealing to the Bengals, who need a slot receiver in addition to another boundary receiver.
Most of the guys Cincinnati will be in position to draft in Round 1 or 2 are boundary receivers, so they could take one of them early and then get Braverman late to address their need in the slot. NFL.com is already calling him an under-the-radar fantasy football option in 2016.
Here's an excerpt of Braverman's NFL.com scouting report:
SOURCES TELL US: "Just go turn on the Ohio State game and you know right away that he can play in the league. He'll be limited to spread teams, but he can get open in our league." -- AFC wide receivers coach
NFL COMPARISON: Brandon Stokley
BOTTOM LINE: Braverman's lack of size will be a concern and he may be limited to working just short and intermediate in the NFL, but his ability to uncover through route savvy and foot quickness combined with his talent after the catch will appeal to teams looking for competitor in the slot. Braverman might feel like a cliche', but it would be unwise to sleep on his potential and he could become a contributor early on.
If Braverman even comes close to being what Brandon Stokley was in the NFL, that would be a great addition to the receiver-needy Bengals. Oh, and Stokley helped Baltimore get to the Super Bowl in just his second NFL season, so maybe Braverman can do the same for Cincinnati?