Rookie SWOT: Corey Coleman

Ryan Finley

Editor’s Note: As our coverage of the 2016 NFL Draft and its impact on fantasy football continues, we bring you our 2016 Rookie SWOT series. These articles will feature video highlights, combine reviews, strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, threats, short-term expectations, long-term expectations and rookie draft advice for over 30 of the best dynasty league prospects from this year’s draft. We’ll follow that up with team-by-team draft reviews because, you know, that’s kind of what we live for.

Make sure you’re ready for your dynasty league rookie draft by staying up on all these articles, checking out our rookie draft guiderookie rankings, rookie draft cheat sheet and mock draft rooms. There are simply no better resources out there for dynasty fantasy football enthusiasts.

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Name: Corey Coleman
Position: Wide Receiver
Pro team: Cleveland Browns
College team: Baylor Bears
Draft Status: Round One, Pick #15 overall

Video Highlights

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Combine Review

Height: 5’11”
Weight: 194 pounds
Hands: 9”
Arm Length: 30.25”
40-Yard Dash: DNP (PlayerProfiler.com lists a 4.42 40 time)
Vertical: 40.5”
Broad: 129”
Bench: 17 reps

Strengths

When people talk about an explosive athlete, Coleman is just the type of player they are talking about. He was ranked in the top five at the NFL Scouting Combine in the vertical jump, broad jump and bench press at the wide receiver position. He combines the speed to get over the top of most corners with great ups and the ability to win contested catches. He also received touches coming out of the backfield and as a returner. To top it all off, he has a nose for the end zone with 20 touchdown catches in 2015.

Weaknesses

Like many young wideouts, he ran a limited route tree in college. The Baylor offense didn’t ask him to do anything complicated, but rather use his speed and playmaking ability. He will have to learn the nuance of route running at the NFL level. He also doesn’t have ideal size for a #1 wide receiver in the NFL, but then again, neither does Odell Beckham Jr. He shows signs of being disinterested in plays away from him on the field as well. Some also consider drops to be a concern for Coleman.

Opportunities

Say what you will about Cleveland, it features an ocean of opportunity at the wide receiver position. Coleman finds himself immediately atop the wide receiver depth chart. His biggest competition for targets may be tight end Gary Barnidge. It’s also a new regime with a new offensive coach at the helm in Hue Jackson, so the jury is out on what the Cleveland offense will be in 2015. Whatever it is, Coleman is sure to get a lot of opportunity to prove himself.

Threats

There are two real threats to Coleman in Cleveland. The first is Josh Gordon. Saying Gordon’s future in Cleveland (or the NFL for that matter) is up in the air is a big understatement. But if Gordon were to clean up his act and make a return to the Browns, he would likely siphon away targets from Coleman. But there’s also a chance they could become a significantly dynamic duo.

The second threat comes at the quarterback position. As is usually the case in Cleveland, question marks abound here. Can Robert Griffin III regain his rookie year form? What about Josh McCown or the third round rookie Cody Kessler? Many questions are yet to be answered at the position in Cleveland and it may be a tumultuous year for the rookie Coleman.

Short-term Expectations

Opportunity is the key here. Coleman should immediately start and get a chance at a good deal of the targets in Cleveland. If he can put his athletic profile to work in the NFL, it could lead to a strong rookie year for the Baylor product.

Long-term Expectations

A lot of this depends on the development of Coleman and whether or not Cleveland is finally turning a corner. If Coleman can refine his route running skills while putting his athletic gifts to work, he could have a bright future. But this does hinge (in some respects) on whether Cleveland can leave behind its recent offensive inconsistency.

Rookie Draft Advice

If you don’t have a top five pick, you aren’t getting Corey Coleman. And it may require a pick as high as two if you want to ensure you get him. He’s in the mix along with Laquon Treadwell and Josh Doctson as the second overall rookie pick in most drafts. His current rookie ADP has him as third overall. Coleman has both athleticism and opportunity, so I can’t fault anyone for taking him anywhere after Ezekiel Elliott.

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