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Player: Cobi Hamilton
Position: WR
School: Arkansas
Overview: If you were watching the Steelers vs Eagles preseason game earlier this week a name you heard throughout the night was that of Steelers receiver Cobi Hamilton. Hamilton led all the receivers with seven targets, four receptions, and 44 yards. Hamilton was the target on a Landry Jones interception, one of the four, in the end zone that night. Before the pass was intercepted, Hamilton actually tipped it and the ball struck the defensive player's back before bouncing in the air again, which allowed another Eagles defender to secure it for the interception.
It would have been a nice play by Hamilton to hold onto the ball for the catch, but he still got a hand on it. Hamilton was a sixth round draft pick in 2013 by the Bengals after starring at Arkansas. Despite posting a 90 catch and 1,335-yard season as a senior, Hamilton has just bounced around practice squads during his three years in the NFL.
His draft profile notes that scouts doubted he had the skills to translate his success to the NFL, and he's done little to prove those claims wrong. He suffers from a lack of concentration that makes for easy drops. He also struggles against press coverage, and has bad hands in general -- not counting his diving one-handed reception against the Eagles.
However, it isn't all negative with Hamilton. He played well against the Lions, and has impressed in camp. That allowed him some significant time against the Eagles in which he was up and down. His performance thus far has some people speculating he could be a candidate for the fifth wide receiver spot. Eli Rogers, who has been a bright spot on offense so far, is the main competition here. For Hamilton to unseat Rogers as the favorite he'd have to turn in two more big performances in the preseason along with continued progress during the week. It's possible but unlikely; expect Hamilton to just miss the 53-man roster this year.
Strengths:
Tall and well built
Speed
Physical with the ball in his hands -will break tackles
Adjusts well to the ball in the air
Weaknesses:
Struggles against press coverage
Doesn't run NFL caliber routes well-rounds off breaking routes
Concentration-will drop easy passes
Has now had three years to fix flaws in his game-odds against him
Chances of Making the team: 15%