K.J. Hamler, Penn State

If the Vikings are seeking a receiver that fits the mold of the slot role, they should take a long look at K.J. Hamler out of Penn State. It’s not a safe bet by deciding to select him. However, the upside he possesses is intriguing and his particular style of play could help to replace Stefon Diggs.

Lance Zierlein of NFL.com states that Hamler ‘will be enticing as a high-risk, high-reward draft pick’ and that his speed gives him ‘game-breaking potential on all three levels.’ That’s the type of risk that could pay major dividends for the Vikings.

Explosive slot target who hits the scales as a lightweight but could have heavyweight impact on games. Hamler’s blazing speed is used solo and in route combinations to stress secondaries and create big plays. He had an alarming number of drops in 2019 and the routes are ragged, but his athleticism and separation burst on all three levels helps mitigate those concerns. He’s a smallish slot who isn’t built for the tough yardage and could have durability concerns if he’s run into too many collisions. However, speed kills and his game-breaking potential on all three levels will be enticing as a high-risk, high-reward draft pick.

Hamler is a small target at 5’9″ and 178 lbs but he makes up for that with his speed. One of the main issues is that he only participated in the bench press (15 reps) at the NFL Scouting Combine and his self-proclaimed 4.27-second 40-yard dash time is an unofficial time.

Having speed in a complementary receiver like Hamler can really spread the field for the rest of a unit. That’s something that would benefit the Colts since taking off as much pressure for T.Y. Hilton could go a long way in an attempt to maximize his longevity.