4 offensive sleepers for the Vikings to watch at the 2020 NFL Combine
By Luke Parrish
Omar Bayless – WR (Arkansas State)
Omar Bayless is a name you better get to know before it is too late. He finished the 2019 season as one of the best receivers in the country. He was ninth in receptions (93), second in yards (1,653), and third in touchdowns (17).
Bayless brings size to the outside, standing 6-foot-3 and just over 200 pounds. Playing at a small school should not hurt his stock, especially considering his performance against top programs.
He caught seven passes for 54 yards against Georgia in 2019. He caught 10 for 132 yards and four touchdowns against SMU as well last season.
In 2018, Bayless went and racked up five receptions for 84 yards against Georgia Southern, a program with two cornerbacks set to be in the NFL in 2020. He followed that up with seven grabs for 113 yards and a score against them in 2019.
Bayless stands out due to his ability to track the ball in the air and catch with his hands. A lot of young receivers catch with their body, but Bayless attacks his target with his hands to keep the defender from engaging.
He is a great receiver over the middle and down the field. He has the length to win vertically and he is a willing blocker in the run game. If the Vikings send Stefon Diggs packing this offseason, Bayless would be a nice young addition to the offense.
Omar Bayless with the 37-yd TD catch to extend the @AStateFB lead to 43-25 over GA Southern in the 4th. #WolvesUp pic.twitter.com/hTP1E6BXXh
— Arkansas State Red Wolves Athletics (@AStateRedWolves) October 5, 2017
The biggest concern with Bayless is his speed off the line. He doesn’t get on the defender’s toes and his long strides affect his long-range speed. He projects as a big-bodied outside receiver, but he isn’t necessarily a versatile weapon right now.