Boise State wide receiver Khalil Shakir did exactly what every NFL draft prospect wants to do at the Senior Bowl: end the week with fantastic practice. In Thursday’s last session before Saturday’s game, Shakir was the star of the National Team.
Shakir put his trademark stop-and-start, quick-twitch route-running on display and was, at times, uncoverable. At one point on Thursday, Shakir scored three touchdowns in a row.
https://twitter.com/TampaBayTre/status/1489301546630266890
Shakir profiles as a quality slot receiver in the NFL. His short-area separation is top-notch and set him apart from the other receivers on his squad Thursday.
https://twitter.com/PFF_College/status/1489316143072428044
It’s an encouraging and well-timed breakout for Shakir who began Senior Bowl week as one of the more disappointing receivers. On Tuesday, Shakir looked surprisingly sluggish and slow. Two days later, he was the best skill player on the field.
Shakir finished the 2021 season with 77 catches for 1,117 yards and seven touchdowns. He was a consistent touchdown-scorer at Boise State, finishing his career with 20 scores, including 19 over the last three years.
https://twitter.com/DillySanders/status/1488585190490390528
Shakir entered the Senior Bowl as a somewhat under-the-radar prospect who TDN’s Drae Harris issued a fifth-round grade. He’s No. 110 on TDN’s current 2022 NFL Draft rankings, too. It’s a fair grade and ranking for a player whose low-cut frame and 29-inch arms don’t profile as a top-tier wide receiver in the NFL, but he proved over the last two days of practices that his film warrants a second look. Separation is king in the NFL, and Shakir is a wide receiver who’s more than capable of generating plenty of it.
The Senior Bowl is only one piece of a player’s NFL draft evaluation, but it can be a significant one for a guy like Shakir. He’s gotten better with each practice, and that matters to coaches and scouts. If he has a big game on Saturday, his stock will go way up, and he could move from a player with a day-three grade into a bonafide third-round target for teams who want an upgrade in the slot.
Filed In
Related Articles
NFL Draft
Senior Bowl Watch List 2023-24: 5 Most Intriguing Names To Know
- Aug 23, 2023
NFL Draft
Will McDonald IV’s Senior Bowl Performance Propelling Him Up Draft Boards
- Feb 09, 2023
Written By