Expert Analysis
4/27/24
4 min read
Anthony Gould 2024 NFL Draft: Combine Results, Scouting Report for Indianapolis Colts WR
The 2024 NFL Draft is getting close, making it an excellent time to highlight some of the class' best players with scouting reports. Each report will include strengths, weaknesses and background information.
Here's our report on Anthony Gould.
anthony Gould's 2024 NFL Combine Results
- Height: 5-foot-8 3/8"
- Weight: 174
- 40-yard dash: 4.39
- 10-yard split: 1.49
- Vertical jump: 39.5"
- Broad jump: 10-9
- Shuttle: 4.16
Anthony Gould 2024 NFL Draft Scouting Report
Strengths
- A smaller wide receiver with electrifying speed both as a vertical dimension and run after the catch; a home run hitter
- Has short-area burst and accelerating speed to defeat and run by press man corners, as well as strong ball-tracking ability
- Using elite vertical speed consistently ran by and got on top of corners both vs. press man and off coverage
- Ran a lot of slants in the OSU pass game, showing a strong burst off LOS to get into the route with no timing disruption
- Best on movement routes where he could run away from coverage: Go and post routes, sail routes and crossers
- Showed the ability to make some tough hands catches away from his frame, but that's not a foundation of his game
- Effective in tunnel and bubble screen games when he has run-after-the-catch space to build up accelerating speed
Weaknesses
- Needs to be more detailed and nuanced as a route runner, can’t rely solely on quickness and speed to win
- Not as quick and sudden in and out of breaks as you would expect, more straight-line linear than loose-hipped
- There were some snaps vs. press-man in which the corner got his hands on Gould and created route disruption
- Lack of length will limit some throwing options, not going to be a contested catch, highpoint receiver
- Lack of height prevents a large catch radius, so the ability to make tough catches away from his frame will be limited
- A few too many drops on balls that he has to catch; cannot drop the routine throws especially with room to run
NFL Transition
Gould will likely be team and scheme-specific as he transitions to the NFL given his size, defined skill set and traits as a wide receiver. Gould has an explosive vertical dimension, and he consistently showed both the short-area burst and the accelerating speed and extra gear to run by and get on top of college corners. I believe he will be able to do that at the next level.
While there were snaps in which he defeated press coverage with quickness and burst off the ball, my sense is NFL coaches will want him to have free access off the ball. That way he can quickly generate velocity and use his accelerating speed to best take advantage of what he brings to a passing game.
Gould has clear limitations as a receiver, which consistently showed up in his hip tightness and lack of nuanced detail as a route runner. He is not likely to be a volume target in any offense, certainly not early in his career, but there is no question that he can be an electrifying vertical dimension who can help regulate coverage and expand the concepts of the passing game.
Other Notes
Gould played four years at Oregon State, finishing his career with an excellent 2023 season: 44 catches for 718 yards (16.3 average) and two TDs. Gould stayed in his home state, where he was the fourth-best prospect in addition to being a 100-meter sprinter.
Despite his size, Gould was predominantly an outside receiver in the Oregon State offense. A 61-yard play vs. Stanford showed Gould at his best with a detailed in-breaking route to create separation and then an electrifying run after catch.
