Devin

Duvernay

Duvernay provides wide receiver depth and will likely compete for a special teams role as a returner. He is not fantasy-relevant. The Bears also signed LS Scott Daly, placed DL Austin Booker on injured reserve with a designation to return, waived LB Carl Jones Jr., signed TE Nikola Kalinic, DB Dontae Manning and S Gervarrius Owens to the practice squad while releasing LS Luke Elkin and DB Mekhi Garner.

The release of Duvernay, who signed a two-year, $8.5 million contract, will clear just over $2.7 million in cap space for the Jaguars. Duvernay returned 19 punts for 167 yards and 14 kicks for 351 yards last season. Duvernay has never totaled more than 37 receptions in his five professional seasons, and won’t be viewed as anything more than a special teamer on the open market. The 2021 First-Team All-Pro returner will be 27 at the start of next season and should draw plenty of interest from special teams coaches.

Duvernay (5’10/200) totaled 70/1,082/7 receiving through his first three years with the Longhorns before being moved exclusively into the slot (97.4% rate) and walking away with his most productive season (106/1,386/9) of his college career. A former state-champion sprinter, Duvernay wins with 4.39 speed and short-area burst (1.51-second three-cone) near the line of scrimmage. He also finished with the second-most first downs (68) and only three drops among FBS receivers in 2019, partially because the program simplified his touches with 42 screen plays. Duvernay will need to improve his releases against man coverage before stepping foot on the boundary in the NFL, but his 93rd-percentile Adjusted SPARQ athleticism should at the very least make him a candidate for manufactured touches from the slot at the next level.

Duvernay (5'10/200) is currently being projected as an end of Day 2-early Day 3 selection. His straight line speed is elite, as is evidenced by his 4.39 40-yard dash time and track pedigree. However his lack of prototype size and raw route-running ability are depressing his value in draftnik circles. Simmons praises Duvernay, saying “he’s got great touchness and run-after-catch ability and he doesn’t drop passes.” Duvernay was incredibly productive at UT last season, earning a PFF receiving grade of 89.6 and a superb 91.0 Hands grade over the last two seasons. To put into perspective how sure-handed Duvernay is, he amazingly only dropped three passes on 194 targets since 2018.

Duvernay (5'10/200) matched Memphis’ Antonio Gibson for the fastest 40-yard dash time in the first group of receivers running on Thursday. No stunner on this fast time, as the sure-handed wide receiver was a track star in high school. He remains somewhat raw as a route-runner, but plays with strength and (obviously) real speed. Duvernay -- who is Kyler Murray’s cousin -- could potentially push for a Day 2 selection in the draft, but probably more comfortably fits as an early Day 3 pick.

Duvernay (5'10/200) was highly productive last season, catching 106 passes for 1,386 yards and nine touchdowns. Projected to go at some point during the middle rounds of April’s draft, the former Longhorn wideout has some work to do as a route-runner but the consistency as a pass-catcher is evident. “He’s a slot receiver with tight hips and below-average routes but has outstanding hands and uses power to add yards after catch,” Zierlein wrote in his analysis of Duvernay.

Duvernay (5'11"/210) led the Longhorns in receiving and caught a an acrobatic contested fade-pass in the back-corner of the end-zone to put Texas up 31-10. Duvernay had an incredible senior season, snagging 106 passes for 1,386 yards and nine touchdowns in 13 games for UT. Duvernay is yet another member of this year’s loaded wide receiver class and should make waves during the evaluation process as a speedster who posted a 10.2 100-meter time in high school. He should be selected in the middle rounds of the 2020 NFL Draft.

Duvernay (5'11/210) was outstanding in the Longhorns’ win over Texas Tech to finish the regular season, catching six passes for 199 yards and a touchdown. And he could have done even more, if not for a shoulder injury that knocked him out of the game. The time off has benefitted both Duvernay and fellow senior Collin Johnson, who has struggled with a hamstring injury for most of the season. Both are healthy and will be key targets for QB Sam Ehlinger in Tuesday’s season finale. It’s also worth noting that Duvernay, who has received Day 2 draft projections, has been invited to participate in the NFL Scouting Combine.

Duvernay (5'11/210) showed off his wheels on a 75-yard touchdown catch in the second quarter, breaking through on the Red Raiders’ secondary and subsequently hauling in a perfect drop-in-the-bucket throw by QB Sam Ehlinger. This was the senior’s fifth 100-yard receiving game in his last six contests. For the season, Duvernay has done fantastic work in putting together a 103-1294-8 receiving line across 12 games played. He’ll be hitting the evaluation process for the NFL Draft after Texas has played their bowl game (could always sit that one out should he so choose). Consider Duvernay an intriguing Day 2 option in a loaded skill-position class.

Regardless of Texas’ team success, Duvernay continues to earn his numbers. Duvernay (5'11/210) has now picked up at least eight receptions in six consecutive games, proving himself to be the offense’s most reliable chain-mover in the pass game. Duvernay’s high production volume in 2019 has done wonders for his draft stock and he continues to make a good impression as the season dwindles down.