2024 NFL Draft Scouting Report: Anthony Gould

Strengths

• Elite speed, should run in the 4.3s
• Excellent body control to adjust to poorly thrown balls and contort to get feet down along the sideline
• Good short and intermediate route runner
• Has shown flashes of attacking the football in the air
• Eats into cushion quickly vs. off-man coverage
• Decelerates quickly, sinks hips, and has the rare quickness to get in and out of his cuts
• Can be a difference-maker as a punt returner
• Defenses have to respect his speed and adjust coverages appropriately

Weaknesses

• Undersized
• Issues at the catch point
• More physical DBs can bully him at the line of scrimmage and catch point
• One-speed route runner; You can't run every route at 4.3 speed
• 90% of his snaps in 2023 came out wide, but that will have to flip in the NFL as he won't be able to play on the outside much due to his size
• Limited catch radius
• Can he be more than just a gadget guy?

Final Thoughts and Chicago Bears Fit for Anthony Gould

The Chicago Bears need more weapons. Plain and simple. And it wouldn't surprise me to see them double dip at the position with one receiver in the first three rounds and one on Day 3. Gould is one of my favorite Day 3 sleepers who can carve out a role in the NFL.

If the Bears draft a true X wideout option like Rome Odunze, Javon Baker, or Keon Coleman, Gould would be a nice complementary piece who can win in the slot with his foot quickness and speed. On the other hand, if they draft a wide receiver like Malik Nabers, Xavier Worthy, or Ladd McConkey, they may want a bigger X wide receiver on Day 3.

As a prospect, Gould provides something that can't be taught: speed. That will be his calling card, but he's more than a one-trick pony. Gould can manipulate defenders and lives in cornerbacks' blind spots to get open. He has no wasted movements when running routes and quickly gets in and out of his cuts. He'll have to learn that not every route needs to be run at a full sprint, and he has to vary his route speed more consistently to win in the NFL.

Even if Gould doesn't pan out as a wide receiver, he has experience on special teams, specifically as a punt returner, where he showed good vision and athleticism, scoring two punt return touchdowns this season and adding another in the Shrine Bowl. NFL teams will have him on their draft boards even without his receiving ability because he's a legitimate weapon as a punt returner.

Gould will likely run in the 4.3s in the 40, which could cause him to rise up draft boards. But in such a deep wide receiver class, he should be selected sometime on Day 3, and I'd feel comfortable drafting him as early as the fourth round.

Pro Comparison: Rondale Moore