Mel Kiper Jr.: Sammie Coates a second, third round pick

AUBURN -- Sammie Coates offers NFL teams some great physical traits but he'll also bring inconsistent hands and that has the former Auburn wide receiver unlikely to go in the first round of the NFL Draft in the opinion of ESPN's Mel Kiper Jr.

Coates tested quite well at the NFL Combine in February, posting a 131-inch broad jump and 41-inch vertical jump, third and fourth best among wide receivers, respectively, and ran a 4.43 40-yard dash, which tied for 11th best at wide out.

"Sammie Coates tests like a 1 and the drops are a concern," Kiper said during a conference call Thursday. "He's the kind of guy, (if) concentration level improves, he's got the frame, he's got the physical qualifications to be a first-round pick. I would think Sammie Coates goes second or third round."

Auburn's leading wide receiver the last two seasons, Coates is well aware of the criticisms against him but uses it as motivation to prove doubters wrong.

"I'm a freak athlete that can't catch, that's the biggest thing that's out there," Coates said following Auburn's Pro Day. "I heard that from a lot of people. ... People come up to me, 'I heard you can't catch. I heard you can't run routes.' I think I showcased those pretty well the last couple of months."

Coates had 34 receptions for 741 yards and four touchdowns last season. According to NFL.com's Gil Brandt, Coates caught 10 of 11 catchable balls of 20-plus yards last season.

Though Coates wanted to show his improved route running leading up to the draft, his skills as a vertical threat are what will sell him to an NFL team.

"Somebody's going to roll the dice that he'll be consistent enough - he's going to have drops, you're going to have to live with those – but he's a threat down the field," Kiper said. "He's got the physical qualifications to be a guy that can factor into this pass happy league where receivers get kind of a pass anyway going down the field.

"When you're as talented as he is and you're as big as he is ... that's enough to make you I think a second or third round pick guaranteed."