2018 NFL Draft Profile: Steven Dunbar, WR, Houston

HEIGHT: 6’3”

WEIGHT: 202 pounds

2017 STATS: 76 catches, 1,070 yards, 3 TD

ANALYSIS

STRENGTHS: Dunbar showed his willingness to develop his craft. Spent the offseason working on his hands, and the result was a career season in 2017. Dunbar does a great job of using his feet and sharp routes to create separation from his defender. Will win 50/50 balls with defenders, and will go up and get balls well above his head. His improved catching ability allowed him to catch passes outside of his frame, and helped him make catches with defenders in his face. There isn’t a ball he considers uncatchable. When he gets the ball in his hands, he’s determined to find the endzone no matter where he is on the field. Taking him down takes serious effort.

WEAKNESSES: He doesn’t have the best speed, which doesn’t make cornerbacks concerned very often. While he did work on his hands, there were times when some drops could have been avoided. Only had 11 career touchdowns, and didn’t have a season over 700 yards until his final season.

FINAL THOUGHTS

Dunbar is the perfect example of what happens when you continue to work on your game. He wasn’t the top receiver until his senior year, but his hard work paid off. Analysts will be concerned with his speed, but we’ve seen receivers use their route running to compensate for that. Dunbar’s quickness off the ball and route running should intrigue teams. He’s a competitor who refuses to give up or be denied, and that could get him drafted. If he doesn’t get drafted, teams will be lining up to sign him as a free agent.