Shawn Nelson came into the league as a 4th-round selection (121st overall) in 2009, drafted out of Southern Mississippi. His most recent season came in 2011 with NYJ, capping a 3-season NFL career. His 38.8 ScoutIndex Rating last season was below the TE average, in the 22nd percentile. Speed is his calling card, grading in the 92nd percentile among his peers. Across 2 NFL seasons, he has totaled 21 catches for 182 yards and 1 touchdown.
Size
6'5", 273#
College
Southern Mississippi
Draft
Rd 4, 121st overall (2009)
Seasons
2009–2011
2010 ScoutIndex Rating · TE
Methodology21th percentile among TEs · limited sample
3 games · 4 targets
2010 attribute card
click a row to see the formulagroup averages
Athleticism
Speed92▶
Percentile of 40-yard dash time among TEs at the NFL Combine (faster = higher), 2000–present.
Burst50▶
Percentile of vertical jump + broad jump among combine TEs.
Agility50▶
Percentile of 3-cone + short shuttle among combine TEs (faster = higher).
Size89▶
Height/weight z-score vs. the TE cohort (from official bio, not combine-dependent).
Receiving
Hands65▶
Catch rate — receptions ÷ targets.
Deep Threat58▶
Average depth of target — receiving air yards ÷ targets.
YAC Ability16▶
Yards after catch ÷ reception.
Role
Target Share46▶
Share of the team's targets while on the field, target-weighted across the season.
Air-Yards Share45▶
Share of the team's total air yards, target-weighted across the season.
Impact
Efficiency18▶
Receiving EPA ÷ target — the Rating's largest component.
Volume19▶
Total targets this season.
Career (regular season)
Career profile
Shawn Nelson has appeared in 14 regular-season games across 2 NFL seasons on file, all with BUF.
As a receiver he has caught 21 passes for 182 yards and 1 touchdown. His most productive receiving season was 2009 with BUF: 157 yards and 1 touchdown in 11 games.
By the ScoutIndex Rating, his best qualified season was 2009: a 38.8, in the 22nd percentile among TEs that year.
Career highs (regular season)
- Most receiving yards in a game34 on 2 catches vs NYJ, 2009 Week 6
2010 splits
regular season2010 game log
Shawn Nelson — common questions
- What position does Shawn Nelson play?
- Shawn Nelson is listed as a TE.
- Which teams has Shawn Nelson played for?
- In the seasons on file (1999 onward), Shawn Nelson has played for BUF (2009–2010).
- Where did Shawn Nelson go to college?
- Shawn Nelson played college football at Southern Mississippi.
- When was Shawn Nelson drafted?
- Shawn Nelson was selected in round 4, 121st overall, of the 2009 NFL Draft.
- How many touchdowns has Shawn Nelson scored?
- Shawn Nelson has 1 touchdown in the regular-season games on file (1 receiving).
- What is Shawn Nelson's ScoutIndex Rating?
- Shawn Nelson rated 40.2 for 2010, the 21st percentile among TEs (provisional or limited sample). Ratings run 0–99; about 60 is a league-average qualified starter.
Related players
Top teammates, last season on file
- Ryan FitzpatrickQB · 2010
- Fred JacksonRB · 2010
- Steve JohnsonWR · 2010
- Lee EvansWR · 2010
- C.J. SpillerRB · 2010
- Roscoe ParrishWR · 2010
- David NelsonWR · 2010
- Trent EdwardsQB · 2010
Drafted in round 4, 2009
- Stephen McGeeQB · pick 101
- Donald WashingtonS · pick 102
- Darell ScottDT · pick 103
- Kaluka MaiavaOLB · pick 104
- Henry MeltonDT · pick 105
- Johnathan LuigsC · pick 106
- Mike ThomasWR · pick 107
- Brian HartlineWR · pick 108
Also from Southern Mississippi
- Quez WatkinsWR · 2020–2026
- Rakeem Nunez-RochesDT · 2015–2026
- Tim JonesWR · 2021–2026
- Nick MullensQB · 2017–2026
- Natrone BrooksDB · 2023–2026
- Frank Gore Jr.RB · 2024–2026
- Eric Scott Jr.CB · 2023–2025
- Cornell ArmstrongDB · 2018–2025