Cleveland Browns: 2019 NFL Draft’s D.K. Metcalf too muscle bound?

Ole’ Miss receiver and potential Cleveland Browns draft pick D.K. Metcalf is making headlines for his physique, but is he too muscle bound?

D.K. Metcalf is shredded. Take a look at his picture. Had he been born 2,000 years ago, he’d be working as a sculpture model, living Rome, employed by Michaelango. Fans of the Cleveland Browns are salivating at the notion of getting him paired up with Baker Mayfield.

With the 17th pick in the 2019 NFL Draft, the Browns may very well have the chance to take Metcalf, who’s is the cousin of Cleveland legend, Eric Metcalf.

Metcalf’s physique has  increased chatter surrounding his stock, after a neck injury forced him to miss a good chunk of the 2018 season while at Ole’ Miss. Before he got hurt, he had 26 catches for 569 yards and two touchdowns.

The injury, though, which Metcalf has said he’s fully recovered from, is why the Browns may be in position to turn in their card with Metcalf’s name on it, though.

But because draft season is all about nit-picking and dissecting players who’s athletic talents are far superior to ours, Metcalf’s frame begs this question: Is he too muscle bound?

David Boston and Brady Quinn are two players that took my memory for a jog. Both were weightlifting junkies.

Boston played just six seasons, suffering a knee injury in 2004 that ended his career too soon.

He had some good seasons. One could be considered elite. In 2002, he caught 98 balls for an NFL leading 1,598 yards. In 2000, he had 71 catches for 1,156 yards. Those are his only two 1,000+ seasons.

ESPN published an article years ago taking a look at Boston’s downfall. His team at the time, the Cardinals, had other issues with him, such as his methods for getting so buff, but ultimately, they though all the muscle was a deterrent to his game.

"“…His weight had climbed into the 240s, he’d get winded after four or five plays and he was muffing passes. Some coaches felt he was so muscle-bound that he couldn’t extend his arms, that he was trying to catch everything against his body.”"

As for Quinn, Jon Gruden once made headlines when he said the Notre Dame product was “too muscular” for him to draft. Quinn, now a college football analyst, re-hashed the story a few years back.

This is a different position from receiver and the the best quarterbacks don’t look “jacked.” With that said, “average looking” Tom Brady, Brett Favre and Peyton Manning were/are in better shape than most of the general population.

Did Quinn’s muscle affect his throwing motion? There’s no proof to mark that as fact. Quarterbacks who do have muscle-bound frames can go on to have nice careers: Ask Cam Newton.

Just something worth pointing out regarding Metcalf as social media sets afire with Metcalf’s physique. He ran a 4.33 40-yard dash at the combine, so his stock will only continue to rise leading up to draft day.