2010 Draft Prospect - WR Eric Decker

 Eric Decker making the catch that Ted Ginn Jr couldn't.

Eric Decker isn't Dez Bryant or Arrelious Benn, or Golden Tate.  But he is the best WR in the draft for the Dolphins.  That is my argument and here is my defense of that argument.

First of all, he played for Minnesota, a team not known for having a great QB or high-powered offense that tends to inflate a receiver's stats a la Bryant and Tate, or Crabtree the year before.  Does anyone here have any idea who the Minnesota QB is?  Yet in just under 3 1/2 years, Decker caught 227 passes for 3,119 yards and 24 TDs. 

Secondly, he played through every stinger and sprained ankle he had in his career.  Before missing the second half of the 2009 season with a Lisfranc injury, he had started every game, despite being banged up at times.

Thirdly, he is coming off a Lisfranc injury (something the Dolphins staff know all about), has not been able to do any all-star games or Combine workouts, and will likely be unable to workout before the Draft.   There is plenty of good tape on Decker, but sometimes out of sight means out of mind, and his current draft stock sees him as a steal in the 3rd or 4th round.  This allows the Dolphins to take NT and FS in the 1st two rounds.

Fourthly, The Dolphins currently have a slew of young untested receivers that need reps and bringing in a player who wouldn't jump onto the practice field straight away affords them time to show something to the coaches.  Much like Brian Hartline last year had to miss mini-cap due to school, Decker's missing mini-camp due to injury shouldn't prevent his competing for a starting role when the time comes.  It didn't affect Hartline, and Decker is a bigger stronger player, so it shouldn't affect him either.

Fifthly, Decker was drafted twice by the MLB, and chose to stay in football.  He didn't come out and say this, but he did sort of imply that baseball wasn't tough enough.  He likes getting hit.  See the video below - I don't know how he held onto the ball on the big hit, but I watched that game live, and he came back in on the next drive as if nothing had happened.  He is the Anti-Ginn.

And finally, he's 6'3", 217 lbs and is a good route runner and excellent run-blocker.  He was averaging 8.6 catches for 128 yards and a touchdown a game before suffering the season-ending injury. For the ladies, he's GQ-good looking, and likes to take his shirt off and pole-dance (there is a photo available online).

Quotes about Decker:

"His tape is his resume. I'm sure people are going to want to get a feel for where he's at health-wise. And typically they like to get some of these measurables as well," said Minnesota Vikings head coach Brad Childress.

"A-plus character kid. Has all the tools to be a very productive player in this league," said ex-Gopher wide receiver and Minnesota Vikings VP of Player Personnel Rick Spielman.

"A guy that's going to work every day to be the best. A guy that's going to run good routes, a guy that's gonna get open, a guy that's gonna block, a guy that's gonna high-point the football on the field," said Decker. "That's going to be a leader in the locker room, help out his community off the field."

Decker is eager to get better. Last year he worked out with Arizona Cardinals star Larry Fitzgerald Jr., hoping to soak up pass-catching tips that he can to apply to his own game.~ Eric Nelson, WCCO Minneapolis.