NFL Draft 2022 Scouting Report: WR Calvin Austin, Memphis

*WR grades can and will change as more information comes in from Pro Day workouts, Wonderlic test results leaked, etc. We will update ratings as new info becomes available.

*WR-B stands for "Big-WR," a classification we use to separate the more physical, downfield/over-the-top, heavy-red-zone-threat-type WRs. Our WR-S/"Small-WRs" are profiled by our computer more as slot and/or possession-type WRs who are typically less physical and rely more on speed/agility to operate underneath the defense and/or use big speed to get open deep...they are not used as weapons in the red zone as much. 

I was doing some scouting work on Velus Jones a week ago and in the course of that study, I watched some Senior Bowl practice cut up film of WRs v. CBs…I caught another glimpse of several rookie WRs – and none stood out to me more than Calvin Austin.

It’s been an odd scouting journey for me with Calvin Austin. When I pre-scouted him for the Senior Bowl, just a quick preview – I saw a diminutive, speedy gadget WR who didn’t stand out one way or the other. I’d see glimpses of notable things/skills/traits, but mostly came away thinking he was a generically good/little college WR weapon…a possible too small/forgettable/dime-a-dozen prospect for the NFL.

In the live/on tape action during the Senior Bowl week I saw more flashes of ‘interesting’ but so many things happen at once at the Senior Bowl it’s hard to really dig in. But I did see enough to go watch some deeper tape of Austin – especially when, weeks later, he ran a 4.32 40-time at the NFL Combine with a 4.07 shuttle (but no three-cone).

The tape should usually bring clarity, but in this case, it was actually a problem, an impediment.  Looking back on it now, I can see that I had some inadvertent blinders on…

I try to watch all the prospects in their toughest matchups/against their best opponents. So, when I watched Austin in his toughest battles – I came away ‘shoulder shrug’. He always looked like a generically good, tiny/speedy college WR. But I just rewatched that same tape and finally (I think) realized my issue…

I watched Austin work against Ahmad Gardner/Cincy and Marcus Jones/Houston…and Austin, when he was covered by those two guys, couldn’t really beat them. I held that against Austin…which I now believe is a bit of an error/flaw on my part – because Gardner and Jones are two of the best cover corners that I’ve ever scouted in the past 5-10 years. It really speaks to Gardner and Jones; to just how good they are – because Austin actually is a very good WR prospect, and not just ‘speedy’.

I will just make another side point here = Ahmad Gardner is the best cover corner prospect that I’ve ever scouted. Watching him again against Austin just re-reminded me of that.

Austin against all other comers/coverage reveals a diminutive, but really good WR prospect. The speed is real…breakaway speed. His fast feet off the snap, running routes, cutting, etc., is top notch. I projected him a safe 6.9 +/- three-cone runner after he didn’t run the drill at the Combine…but he later posted an elite 6.65 three-cone at his Pro Day.

Austin is legit for the NFL. He’s gonna be a starter and playmaker in short order. He not only has the movement skills, but he also has good hands, runs great routes, and will work bubble screens and bombs, but also will work over the middle. Plus, he can run jet sweeps and work in the return game.

It took me a while to ‘get it’…but now I ‘got it’.

His backstory is endearing as well…

A high school football and track star…walked on to Memphis and earned a football scholarship while also running track for Memphis – a 2nd-team all-American in track and 1st-team all AAC football player. Plus, an honor roll student in school. Austin is personable and gritty, a great worker and teammate.

I’m really coming around on Austin being a legit NFL prospect – and built for Fantasy Football goodness as well. His outlook on the Steelers? We’ll get to that in the ‘outlook’ section below. 

Calvin Austin, Through the Lens of Our WR Scouting Algorithm:

 -- Back-to-back 1,000+ yards receiving seasons (2020-2021)

 -- 22 TDs in his last 23 games played…19 receiving, 2 punt return scores, and one rushing TD.

 -- 8 career carries…169 yards/21.1 yards per carry with 3 rushing TDs in 8 carries.

 -- Faced Cincinnati 1x (2020), Houston 2x (2020-2021) and an SEC foe in Miss State (2021) the past two years, his toughest matchups, and wasn’t always covered by Gardner or Jones (in the CINN and HOU games), and his per game averages in those four games…

7.0 rec., 100.8 rec. yards, 0.75 TDs per game

2022 NFL Combine/Pro Day Measurables…

5’7.6”/170, 9.25” hands, 30.0” arms

4.32 40-time, 2.49 20-yd, 1.44 10-yd

4.07 shuttle, 6.65 three-cone (Pro Day 3-cone)

11 bench reps, 39” vertical, 11’3” broad

The Historical WR Prospects to Whom Calvin Austin Most Compares Within Our System:

A better version of Tavon Austin, as a WR…makes sense. Not as thick/tough a version of Rondale Moore makes sense. Austin could be the best WR version of all these comps of smaller, super-quick WR prospects.

*A score of 7.0+ is where we start to take a Small-WR prospect more seriously. A score of 8.50+ is where we see a stronger correlation of a Small-WR going on to become NFL good/great/elite. A score of 10.00+ is more rarefied air in our system and indicates a greater probability of becoming an elite NFL Small-WR.

All of the WR ratings are based on a 0–10 scale, but a player can score negative, or above a 10.0 in certain instances.

Overall WR score = A combination of several on-field performance measures, including refinement for strength of opponents faced. Mixed with all the physical measurement metrics, rated historically in our database.

“Power-Strength” = A combination of unique metrics surrounding physical-size profiling, bench press strength, etc.  High scorers here project to be more physical, better blockers, and less injury prone.

“Speed-Agility” = A combination of unique metrics surrounding speed, agility, physical size, mixed with some on-field performance metrics. High scorers here project to have a better YAC and show characteristics to be used as deep threats/create separation.

“Hands” = A combination of unique metrics surrounding on-field performance in college, considering the strength of opponents played. Furthermore, this data considers some physical profiling for hand size, etc. High scorers here have a better track record of college statistical performance, and overall this projects the combination of performance and physical data for the next level.

2022 NFL Draft Outlook:

Wound up the #138 overall pick of the Pittsburgh Steelers. I would have projected him pre-Draft in that range…a day three option.

If I were an NFL GM, based on my first brushes with Austin, I would have seen him as a top 150 or so prospect. Speed to pay attention to…size to worry about. But now with a deeper look at Austin, and finally starting to ‘get it’…I would see him as a top 100 or so prospect…one of the worthwhile WRs to consider taking as a weapon – a cheaper, possibly better version of Jahan Dotson or Wan’Dale Robinson.

NFL Outlook:   

Austin enters a strong WR depth chart in Pittsburgh…one that likely keeps him as a part-time #4 WR and main punt returner right off the bat. But once Diontae Johnson is moved out (in 2022 via trade, but more likely free agency 2023) then Austin will be a full starter…and when Chase Claypool goes on from Pittsburgh, then it will be a Pickens-Austin-led unit – and they will grow with Kenny Pickett and make a nice duo.

Austin is likely to have a very solid career as a weapon WR…if he can stay healthy.