Will The Bucs Take…Mario Manningham?

Perhaps the most needed position for the Buccaneers this year is the position of Wide Receiver. While there are many good receivers, the Bucs will have to wait until the 20th pick to get one. By that time, the list could be whittled down. Here is a potential pick in Mario Manningham.

Mario Manningham, WR, Michigan (5′11, 181, 4.45-40)

One of the most underrated wide receivers in the draft, Manningham spent three fantastic years at Michigan before deciding to declare for the draft. In his career, Manningham caught 27 touchdown passes in 34 games, and collected numerous awards and recognition, including making the All-Big Ten Team every year that he was there.

2007 was the year that Manningham was truly recognized by everyone. Despite the Michigan season starting slowly, Manningham was still a breakthrough star, becoming the ninth receiver in school history to record 1,000 yards in a season. At the end of a bowl-winning season, He was named an All-American by many different sources, most notably the Associated Press. During the season, he had an NCAA-leading six straight 100-yard receiving games. He also caught a touchdown pass in six consecutive games, having multiple touchdowns in four of those games. Aside from leading the team in every receiving category, he also led the Big 10 in receiving and was 10th overall in the nation, all because of his 1,174 yards and 12 touchdowns. Manningham is fourth on Michigan’s career receiving touchdowns list, which is quite a list to consider.

Strengths:

Manningham has excellent speed with a burst, which compliments how elusive he is on the field. He has excellent hand-eye coordination, which helps him run routes very well. He’s quick, agile, and has a tremendous leaping ability. Catching the ball isn’t a problem for him, as he has terrific ball control and great hands. He is very productive, and is known to make a play happen when it matters.

Weaknesses:

While he is quick, his size is an issue. He is small for an ideal receiver, and doesn’t have a lot of muscle. He is not very tough, having problems blocking. His durability is also a concern, as he’s missed a lot of action over his three years. There are also some character issues, which have dropped him of off lots of draft boards.

Will The Bucs Take Mario Manningham?

More than likely, the Bucs will wind up with a different receiver under their belt. Manningham has admitted to failing drug tests while at Michigan, so a lot of teams are trying to steer clear. The Bucs don’t have problems with diamonds in the rough (see: David Boston, Antonio Bryant). As long as Manningham can keep his head on straight, there shouldn’t be a problem with him. But in the NFL, fame and money can ruin a person.
Chances: Poor