NFL Scouting Report: WR Kadarius Toney (Florida)

PSO’s original Scouting Reports strive to be uniquely valuable in evaluating a player’s future outlook by focusing on the four main subjects that summarize a player’s likelihood of succeeding at the next level including: Natural Physical Tools, College Game Film, proven Production, and overall Risk that each individual player presents to a team drafting him. For a full breakdown of PSO’s Scouting Reports, click here.

Bio

Pos: WR

Hometown: Mobile, AL

School: Florida

Class: Senior

DOB: 1/27/1999 (22)

Height: 5’11″ (31%)* | Weight: 189 lbs (31%)*

Hands: 9.5” (50%)* | Arms: 30.5” (30%)*

Bench: 9 reps (11%) | 40 Time: 4.41s (81%)

* Senior Bowl measurements

Interesting Facts

1st-Team All-SEC — ranked top-5 in TD, REC, and YDS
Only 3 career drops on 123 catchable targets (2.4%, 2 in 2020)
6th-most slot RECs (55) and YDS (784), 20 forced missed tackles (5th)
Opted out of 2020 Cotton Bowl to focus on NFL Draft
Also is a rapper who goes by the name of Yung Joka

Physical Tools

Pros

Explosive lower-half — 40″ vert (90%), 136″ broad (99%)
Surprisingly sturdy for his frame
Solid hand size (9.5” — 50th %tile)
Sudden and fluid change-of-direction ability
Terrific contact balance — plays with a low center of gravity
Thicker than listed in college (177 lbs at UF)

Cons

Adequate speed, but not a burner (unofficial 4.41s 40-YD)
Raw strength is lacking (9 bench reps)
Smaller frame, short arms (30.5”)
Average agility drills (4.25s shuttle, 6.88s 3-cone)

Grade: A-

Game Film

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xttnZPCzZSM

Dangerous ball-carrier in the space
Shows surprising physicality in his play
Balance and strength to break through plenty of tackles
Terrific instincts and awareness of his surroundings
Consistently uses his hands to catch
Intriguing and effective gadget usage
Explosive, twitchy release package
HR threat at all levels of the field despite subpar speed

Cons

Route-running will need plenty of refinement, but has potential
Massive usage uptick in 2020, didn’t have a defined position
Saw very limited contested situations (only 7 in 2020)
Didn’t see an extensive amount of press coverage
Typically creates separation through pure athleticism; lacks technique

Grade: A-

Production

Pros

1st-Team All-SEC — ranked 5th in total TDs (12), 3rd in RECs (70) and YDS (984)
Just 3 career drops on 123 catchable targets (2.4%)
5th-most forced missed tackles in 2020 (20)
32 broken tackles over 80 RECs last 2 seasons
Outstanding PFF REC grade (84.8) and vs. man coverage (86.3)
Perfect passer rating while targeted 20+ yards (7/9, 266 YDS, 4 TDs)
6th most slot YDS (784) and slot REC (55), 14.3 YPC
80+ PFF grade each of the last 3 years (84.0 — 16th in 2020)
580 RUSH YDS on 66 career ATT (8.8 YPA, 2 TDs)

Cons

Only 23% of career snaps came out wide (71% from the slot)
Supbar 43% contested catch rate (3/7 targets); only 10 career contested catches
Mustered only 69 YDS on 19 screen REC (T-14th)
Only 50 REC, 606 YDS, 2 TD in previous 3 seasons combined

Grade: A-

Risk

Pros

Strong, dynamic ball-carrier — threatening in space
Productive and effective at all levels of the field in 2020
Fluid athlete with top-tier burst and agility
Decent frame (5’11”, 189 lbs) and hand size (9.5″)
Versatile weapon — 120 REC, 66 RUSH ATT, 28 RET over career
May need to be schemed touches early but has vertical potential
Early in his development at WR — thought he’d play QB at UF

Cons

Only 510 total snaps 1st 3 years due to injuries
Lacks polish as a route-runner
Relatively undeveloped on the outside (227 snaps)
Undefined position through 3 seasons
Limited contested-catch opportunities

Grade: B+

Overall

Though various injuries limited Kadarius Toney to just 510 career snaps over his first three seasons at Florida, he clearly possessed the natural abilities to develop into a dangerous offensive weapon. Finally able to stay on the field in 2020, Toney consistently showcased his dynamic skillset by ripping off Tecmo Bowl-esque runs week-in and week-out, leading to All-SEC 1st-Team honors.

Scoring through the air (11x), on the ground, and on a punt return this past season, Toney is incredibly versatile and an absolute handful no matter the alignment — simply get him the ball in space and good things will happen. While he isn’t the outright burner that Rondale Moore is, Toney has exceptional vision, balance, burst, and fluidity.

His ability to sink his hips, cut on a dime, and avoid would-be tacklers should translate to the next level, but his inexperience and polish may impact his draft value. He’ll need some route-running development and schemed touches early on in his career, but the combination of sure hands and open-field skills he’s put on tape make for an excellent slot/gadget weapon. He may not be a starting “X” receiver, but there’s no doubt Kadarius Toney has flashed a higher ceiling as a true all-around WR than given credit for.

Pro Comp: WR Deebo Samuel (San Francisco 49ers)

Projected Round: Late 1st/Early 2nd

Prime Destinations: MIA, WFT, CHI, IND, NYJ, CLE, NO, GB, KC

OVERALL Grade: A-