One of the worst kept secrets during this NFL off-season is the Cleveland Browns desperate need for a wide receiving play-maker. Media, professional analysts, fans, family pets, and grandmas world-wide feel that if the Browns do not select a receiver in the first round, this upcoming season will be a loss. But contrary to public opinion there is talent not only available at the top of the draft. There is hidden talent in the late rounds as well. One of those potential hidden treasures is Penn State’s wide receiver Derek Moye. But can he be what the Browns need?

Yes it is important to focus on the top of the NFL draft. This is the likely place to find impact ready talent at the skill positions like wide receiver. But plenty of talent has been found in the late rounds as well. Hines Ward, Terrell Owens, Mike Wallace, and Brandon Marshall are all examples of play-making wide receivers selected in the third round or later. All were not top prospects, and all were rated lower for one reason or another. But all of them have had success at the professional level. So with that in mind let’s take a look at Derek Moye

Moye is a 6-foot-4, 209 lb receiver out of Penn State University. The interesting thing about Moye is he is a rare combination of both size, and speed. To those who follow Penn State, they know Moye as a single-man wrecking crew who has on more than one occasion, taken the team on his back and single handedly brought victory. But they also know him as (at times) being equally frustrating, sometimes showing a lack of concentration, or effort that has hindered him from time to time. He finished his senior year at Penn as an All Big Ten honorable mention snagging 53 receptions for 885 yards and 8 touchdowns. He finished second in the Big Ten in yards per average with 16.7 per game, and was fifth in yards per game with 68.1. He could be a deep threat and red zone target as his big frame allows him to block out, and go over opposing defenders. But draft scouts have their concerns with Moye as he showed questionable upper body strength at the combine completing only ten reps in the bench press, and showing a slightly disappointing vertical jump at 33 ½ inches. But the previously mentioned lack of effort at times is their biggest concern. Moye is projected to go in the late 3rd round or beyond in the upcoming NFL Draft.

Moye is reminiscent of All Pro wide receiver Randy Moss in both stature and attitude. They are both virtually the same height, and body type, and apparently have the potential to share the same attitude. Moss, despite showing (at times) a poor work ethic he is still one of the most prolithic receivers in the modern game. Moss has to this point in his career snagged 954 passed for 14,858 yards and 153 touchdowns. This makes Moss one of only three receivers in NFL history to rank in the top five in NFL history in receiving yards, touchdown receptions and 100-yard games. In case you’re interested the other two are Jerry Rice, and Moss’s bad-boy twin Terrell Owens.

With the Browns boasting a league-high 13 draft picks Moye is easily worth a draft pick or two in the late rounds. He has tremendous upside, and his downside only appears to be a matter of effort. Moye could be the deep threat that Colt McCoy and the Browns are looking for and the risk versus reward would clearly be in their favor. So if you are Heckert, or Holmgren, do you take a risk?