Cowboys 2020 NFL draft prospect: Wisconsin WR Quintez Cephus

The 2020 draft class is absolutely loaded with talent at the wide receiver position. From day one to day three, there is depth, talent, and a wide variety of skillsets in this draft class. The Cowboys will likely look to add a receiver at some point in this draft, but where exactly?

With so many needs on defense, and bigger needs on offense than a WR (unless Randall Cobb is not re-signed), it will likely be at least until day two that the Cowboys look to use a pick on the wide receiver position (free agency and trade-back scenarios could change this).

This makes it a perfect fit for the Dallas Cowboys and Wisconsin WR Quintez Cephus.

Photo by Justin Casterline/Getty Images

Name: Quintez Cephus

School: Wisconsin

Height: 6-1

Weight: 207lbs

Class: RS Junior

Position: WR

Jersey: #87

Strengths:

Big-bodied, physical receiver, that doesn’t play like the normal big-bodied, physical receiver. Cephus has ultra-quick feet during his release at the line of scrimmage that provides him separation when facing press coverage. Crisp route runner that perfected the slant-route at Wisconsin. Fearless across the middle of the field, taking some big time shots, while hanging onto the ball. Very good in contested situations, using his body to win back-shoulder throws down the field. Adjusts well to balls low, high, and away from his frame. Hands are very strong on tape, showing the ability to catch the ball away from his body with his hands, and to high point the football without double catching.

Listen to BTB’s interview with Quintez Cephus on Talkin’ The Draft!

Body control in the air, and around the boundary is very impressive. Lined up both outside and inside at Wisconsin and found success at both spots. Physical, willing blocker that has the Wisconsin mentality as a blocker at wide receiver. Can pickup yards after the catch using quickness and his bigger build. Had an impressive home-stretch of the 2019 season, against very good secondaries in Ohio State and Minnesota.

Weaknesses:

While he does a nice job catching the ball away from his frame, he leaves more to be desired in terms of catch radius. Got caught alligator arming a few balls at Wisconsin, that he should have been able to extend and haul in. Needs to develop his body usage at the top of his routes to create separation out of breaks. Not the best athlete at the position in terms of long speed. Most of his career production came in his RS junior year. Missed the entirety of the 2018 season after facing two sexual assault charges from one incident. Was found not guilty on both charges, but teams will need to do digging there.

Overall Summary:

Quintez Cephus was slated to breakout in 2018, before the charges sidelined him for the season. It took until 2019 for Cephus to make his mark in college football. For a bigger bodied guy, Cephus moves well as a route runner, and wins off the line of scrimmage with good feet and quickness. Cephus is a natural hands catcher that has the ability to win down-the-field as an outside receiver, and in the middle of the field from the slot. Cephus’ versatility, contested catch ability, and natural hands makes him a safe receiver late on day two, or early on day three if the off-the-field checks out. If the Cowboys are looking to add a receiver late in this draft class, Quintez Cephus would make a ton of sense coming from a similar mold of Michael Gallup coming out of Colorado two years ago.

Tape Highlights: