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Ray Small
5-11/182
Ohio State Senior

PROS: He has good speed and straight-line burst to challenge defenses vertically. Will adjust to throw. Excellent return threat that hits the seam well for a kickoff returner and can take it the distance. Has quick feet on punt returns, and able to make the first guy miss.
CONS: Body catches and has average hands. Is a pedestrian blocker. Dances too much when working on punt returns.
OVERVIEW: He's a speed receiver that offers potential on special teams, but limited on offense. Was suspended for their bowl game for violating undisclosed team rules. Never rose above No. 3 on the depth chart, finishing career with 61 catches and 3 scores. Did not score an offensive touchdown in the past two years. Average 10.1 yards on 78 punt returns and 21.0 yards on 34 kickoff returns, with a score in each category.
NFL FORECAST: Small isn't going to be a better pro receiver than he was in college. There just isn't a lot to like about his offensive future. He has good speed and decent hands, but he's not a natural receiver. He played behind some good receivers while at OSU, but I don't think he'll be the Matt Cassel of receivers. If he gives a team more than 10 catches in any given season I'd be shocked. Instead, his future is as a return specialist. He doesn't have great production there, but it's good and I think he can impact either as a punt or kickoff returner at the next level. He's not going to be the next Josh Cribbs by any means, but he's good enough to stick.
ATL FORECAST: Small would be a nice body to bring into camp to push guys like Weems, Norwood, and Douglas for the return jobs. He's good enough to win it as a rookie, but I wouldn't expect him to unless he had a great summer since he doesn't offer as much offensive upside as any of those players. But instead, he could stick on the practice squad for a year and then potentially unseat the return man next summer, particularly if the winner of the 2010 competition didn't have a great year.
VALUE: Only for a team looking for a return man, and slating it to be his job to lose should draft Small. And even then that's with nothing more than a sixth or seventh round pick.