Marquez Callaway (1 Viewer)

[Consigliere]

He looks great against Georgia Tech! And some of those "contested" catches will draw a flag when he is in a Saints uniform. Still, it is fun to hope.

 

[sammymvpknight]

you guys actually have draft boards??? Mine ended after Joe Burrow... But I NAILED that pick!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I play competitive fantasy football. If it wasn't for that, I probably wouldn't give two poops about the NFL draft. But while I put so much work into scouting for fantasy, I might as well tie it in with my thoughts about the Saints. Right now I'm working through the RB prospects. I typically do my RB assessments before WR, but this year I pushed WR in front because it was such an enormous need for the Saints.

 

[NeverGiveUP2]

I play competitive fantasy football. If it wasn't for that, I probably wouldn't give two poops about the NFL draft. But while I put so much work into scouting for fantasy, I might as well tie it in with my thoughts about the Saints. Right now I'm working through the RB prospects. I typically do my RB assessments before WR, but this year I pushed WR in front because it was such an enormous need for the Saints.

That's cool man.... I love reading all of you guys work.... I am way to lazy to do it myself

 

[Saintaholik]

Everything I have read on him is exactly as you write it up. The hope is that he at least pushes TQS...but..if he plays up to what many say he can...he may push TQS ..right out the door. More than likely the biggest issue with Callaway was the poor quarterback play he suffered through over the last 3-4 seasons. With this team, he has an opportunity to make a name for himself like AK did....I'm rooting for this kid..

Yeah I like Callaway a lot.

I feel like he was just born to be a WR. Everything he does well is tailor made for the WR position.

He still has a lot of room to grow. I'm really hoping he can push TQS out and we can move on from him.

Not bc I hate TQS, but bc what you see is what you get with TQS. He has had 0 progression since he's been in the league and I don't see him getting any better anytime soon. He's just to sloppy out of his breaks and too weak and stiff in his lower body.

I wouldn't mind keeping him on as a 6th or 7th receiver. That is if we keep that many

 

[meily]

Yeah I like Callaway a lot.

I feel like he was just born to be a WR. Everything he does well is tailor made for the WR position.

He still has a lot of room to grow. I'm really hoping he can push TQS out and we can move on from him.

Not bc I hate TQS, but bc what you see is what you get with TQS. He has had 0 progression since he's been in the league and I don't see him getting any better anytime soon. He's just to sloppy out of his breaks and too weak and stiff in his lower body.

I wouldn't mind keeping him on as a 6th or 7th receiver. That is if we keep that many

This UDFA WR is supposed to unseat the Saints #3 receiver? Shouldn't he worry about getting past guys like Humphrey, Butler, Hogan first, you know, those UDFA from last year everybody hoped would unseat TQS.

 

[sammymvpknight]

This UDFA WR is supposed to unseat the Saints #3 receiver? Shouldn't he worry about getting past guys like Humphrey, Butler, Hogan first, you know, those UDFA from last year everybody hoped would unseat TQS.

The Saints will likely hold 5 WRs. I don’t see what people see in Humphrey. He looks like a poor mans Brandon Coleman, which likely is a guy who never plays a prominent role in the league. Emmanuel Butler is more fluid and talented than Humphrey. He was inconsistent his first year but he had some ability. Hogan is a very solid blocker and can play special teams, which is huge. He’s probably my favorite for getting the #5 role for those reasons, but he’s stiff and I don’t think he’ll ever be a decent receiver.

Callaway needs to prove that he is a more skilled receiver than the others, which I believe that he is. And he needs to be a quick study regarding special teams. That’s his avenue to getting the 5th WR spot. I’m not a TQS fan but the Saints will probably stick with him because if his knowledge of the offense and he’s a decent blocker.

 

[UFCSaint]

If our 7th round rookie deserved his own thread, I think that Callaway should definitely also have his own thread.

I had Callaway as my #31 WR prospect in the draft, but had him as 4th-5th round prospect. I haven’t been this excited about a late round/UDFA Saints player since Marques Colston (who dominated the Shrine game the year he came out).

I asked one of the most respected draftniks that I know about about Callaway. He actually had Marquez Callaway as his #2 WR on his big board. He was higher on Kamara than anyone I knew. Before the draft said he would be the best RB. Pretty ballsy, but gave very good reasons for his very optimistic ranking.

VanS wrote:
“As perfect as Alvin Kamara. What is it with the Saints picking up undervalued Tennessee players recently? First it was Alvin. Then last year they signed Shy Tuttle as an undrafted free agent and he started several games for them. And now they get a guy who I think is gonna be one of the biggest steals in this draft.

With Callaway think DeAndre Hopkins when it comes to skill set. He's got AMAZING hands. And when I say amazing I mean it. He makes one handed catches in the redzone on jump ball fades look easy. This guy is not a body catcher. He's a guy who high points the football well. He's great in the redzone on jump ball fades despite being just 6'2". He consistently makes contested catches down the field Mossing defenders despite his relatively average measurables. He's not the biggest or fastest guy like Hopkins but he just knows how to play receiver.

Given how successful players with similar skill sets to Callaway have had in Sean Payton's system (i.e. Marques Colston/Michael Thomas), I personally couldn't think of a better team for him to go to. If I were a Saints fan I would be celebrating. He's going to be a steal.”

Tennessee football: Vols WR Marquez Callaway signs with New Orleans Saints

After two players were taken in the 2020 NFL Draft, Tennessee football had a few free agents sign deals. New Orelans signed a key Volunteers wide receiver.

allfortennessee.com

As everyone know by now I really wanted Jauan Jennings and when the Saints moved back into the 7th I thought they might take him. That said, I did hear Callaway's name a lot last season (I watch all of the UT games) so he's definitely worth a look as an undrafted free agent.

 

[UFCSaint]

just watch his film. I watched him for 4 years at UT. I can’t think of a jump ball he did not catch. It was uncanny. Got to the point where UT fans just wanted jump balls to him all game. After 4 years I still don’t know how good he is bc the QB play was awful. What I do know is he is the best high point receiver I have ever seen. That may not work in the NFL, but he is a perfect UDFA guy. High ceiling but could also never play a game.

Exactly. I live in Knoxville so I definitely know how deceiving the wide receiver numbers can look because yes...the QB play has been pretty bad here for the last 3-4 years (and further back than that.) Not to mention constant changes in the coaching staff. Guys like Callaway and Jennings may turn out to be hidden gems (kinda like we all knew Whitten was good but not many knew of him because UT didn't use their Tight Ends much.)

 

[UFCSaint]

Bad Quarterbacks/offenses at Tennessee

And a revolving door on the coaching staff.

 

[Saintaholik]

This UDFA WR is supposed to unseat the Saints #3 receiver? Shouldn't he worry about getting past guys like Humphrey, Butler, Hogan first, you know, those UDFA from last year everybody hoped would unseat TQS.

No were in my comment did I say that "he is going to push TQS out"

I said I hope he does.

But hey... excuse me for being optimistic about a player I like.

I thought this was a Saints forum, were I can share some of my opinions.

 

[bobad]

Bad Quarterbacks/offenses at Tennessee

Or maybe the very deep WR class. Who knows?

 

[bobad]

Callaway received an elite grade from VanS because he saw his elite hands, elite high pointing, and elite contest catch situations. He is a question mark regarding other important aspects of his game, including route running and ability to separate. But he felt strongly enough about his elite traits that he felt that he was at least good enough in the other facets of the game to become a good NFL starter.

That's right, in the NFL you have to do several things well, not just 1 or 2 talents. That's why I had Lamb rated much higher than Ruggs, and why I had CEH rated as the 2nd best RB on the board.

 

[lapaz]

It's impressive how well he high points balls. He tracks them very well. Also, he seems faster than 4.55 in the returns. He was running away from people. It seems he picks up speed a little slowly which may contribute to his lack of separation, but it may also be related to poor route running. Michael Thomas is the master at that, so he needs to watch Thomas, who has similar speed. Calloway uses his body well, similar to Thomas. He also catches balls cleanly like Thomas. That's the biggest issue I have with TQS, who frequently double clutches balls. Since Drew loves back shoulder throws, I think he'll love the way Calloway goes after balls. He actually reminds me a lot of Thomas, so I hope he's a high fraction as good as Thomas.

 

[Snakehead]

I play competitive fantasy football. If it wasn't for that, I probably wouldn't give two poops about the NFL draft. But while I put so much work into scouting for fantasy, I might as well tie it in with my thoughts about the Saints. Right now I'm working through the RB prospects. I typically do my RB assessments before WR, but this year I pushed WR in front because it was such an enormous need for the Saints.

I know what you mean. I run a 30-team league with 53 man rosters and a 10 player practice squad. I research players for that so knowing the bottom of the roster players and especially skill position players is huge in a league that deep. Trying to predict who will breakout really sets someone apart from the other guys in team building.

 

[Big_L]

That was the only question that came up as I watched the hightlights. He wins contested balls which is great, but he seemed to lack separation (hence contested balls). Other than that, he looks good. It's possible he could be a stud with the quantity of good WRs in this draft and the fact that he was not in an ideal situation in Tennessee. I hope you are dead on.

I did see him leave a few UGA players in the dust. I, like you, think he looks pretty good, especially for a UDFA.