INDIANAPOLIS — The route that a wide receiver takes each play seems like it would be predictable. But it hardly ever plays out in the exact manner that its drawn up. Obstacles stand in the way. The best survive by adapting with limited time.
Missouri's Kris Abrams-Draine might know this better than anybody. Mostly because in high school, he was a star wide receiver for Spanish Fort. Coming in as a four-star receiver, it seemed like his role for the Tigers was as straightforward as a deep 'go' route.
But ahead of the final two games of his freshman season in 2020, he was presented with a new look. He switched to corner back for the final two games. The 'go' route of his career became as unknown as the potential of a bubble screen that can easily go poorly if the first moves are not executed correctly.
But he adapted. His experience at wide receiver helped him in his transition to corner back.
"It helped me with knowing and understanding what the offense wants to do and what formations they get in," Abrams-Draine said Thursday at the 2024 NFL Scouting Combine. "I feel like it just really helped me in my ball skills and attacking the ball when it's in the air."
Now, as he prepares to be selected in the NFL Draft, his future is again unclear. Not only with who he'll play for, but where exactly on the field he will play. He has experience playing both the slot and boundary corner positions for Missouri and has heard mixed thoughts from NFL teams so far on where he would fit in their defenses.
"I feel like most teams (are) saying the slot but a lot of teams saying I can play both, wherever they're system has me fit and I feel like I can do good in both of them."
The Missouri product seems to always be willing to adapt and change to whatever is needed of him. At the Senior Bowl in late January, he was trying to give NFL teams a first-hand look at his versatile playing staying.
"I was just trying to show what I'm able to do in man coverage or zone coverage or learning new defenses."
This week at the NFL Scouting Combine, Abrams-Draine looks to prove his speed and technical skills to NFL general managers and scouts.
"I'm trying to prove that I'm one of the best DBs in the draft and I can hang with the best of them and that my technique has gotten better and I'm fast."
The exact role that Abrams-Draine will fulfill for a NFL team is unknown as of now. But he has shown throughout his career that he can hone back into his wide receiver days and adapt to succeed in any situation.
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