The wide receiver class this year is phenomenal. Simply put, this could easily be the deepest and most impressive wide receiver class the NFL has seen in a long time. The top talent is there, and the middle talent is overloaded. Teams will likely be able to find starting caliber players through the entire draft this year. The only question moving forward is, does this mean the run on receivers will be early, or will it be late?
Edraft had the draft writer’s post their top 100 players, and these are the players whose average landed them in the top. Top 100 players should/could/will start on day one, and all these receivers have that ability.
1.Sammy Watkins, Wide Receiver, Clemson
For many, Watkins is the unquestioned number one receiver in this class. Watkins can do it all, and although his combine numbers were unimpressive, at least for what people were expecting, his game film is phenomenal. Watkins is likely a top 10 pick, and placed fifth on the edraft big board for players.
2.Mike Evans, Wide Receiver, Texas A&M
Evans may be the most physically imposing receiver to come into the league in years. At 6’5” and 233 pounds, Evans is a massive receiver. Evans will come into the league as a highly sought after red zone receiver due to his size and ability to go up and get the ball.
3.Jordan Matthews, Wide Receiver, Vanderbilt
Matthews has above average size at 6’3”, 212 pounds, but size isn’t really a big part of his game. Matthews is the most productive receiver in SEC history, and he does most of this with his route running. Not a speed demon, Matthews does the little things well and it shows. He also happens to be cousins with Jerry Rice, an interesting fun fact.
4.Odell Beckham Jr., Wide Receiver, LSU
Seen by some as a true number one receiver at the next level. Beckham Jr. has the speed and size to be a matchup nightmare in the NFL. Few receivers are as exciting as Beckham Jr., catching the ball. He’ll be highly sought after, don’t be surprised if when his name gets called, it’s because a team traded up for him. Beckham Jr. doesn’t have size, but his speed and ability are more than enough to make up for that.
5.Brandin Cooks, Wide Receiver, Oregon State
Cooks is just about the smallest receiver on edraft’s wide receiver rankings at 5’10”, 189 pounds. Cooks projects as a slot receiver, and a very good one at that. He has elite speed to bring to the next level and he is going to be a threat. Most of Cooks knocks come from his size and that he struggles against press coverage.
6.Marqise Lee, Wide Receiver, USC
A lot of people had Lee as their top receiver in this class last summer, but a down year that was riddled with injuries has pushed him down. Lee is the smallest of the receivers on this list so far at 6’0”, 192 pounds, Lee isn’t physically imposing. With Lee being “smaller” he has to make up for it with his play, and he does this well.
7.Kelvin Benjamin, Wide Receiver, Florida State
Benjamin is just as much a physical freak as Evans is. Benjamin measured in at the NFL Combine at 6’5”, 240 pounds, and only an astounding four percent body fat.
Benjamin is the ultimate red zone weapon, just like Evans, but Benjamin has a history of dropping passes which brings him down.
8.Allen Robinson, Wide Receiver, Penn State
Yet again, another imposing receiver, Robinson isn’t as big as the others at a mere 6’2”, 220 pounds. Robinson lacks elite speed and that’ll often knock you down boards, especially when you aren’t the best at jump balls.
9.Davante Adams, Wide Receiver, Fresno State
Adams had a poor showing at the combine, but that shouldn’t deter teams from him. With a top vertical at the combine, Adams showed off what can be seen on tape, few receivers can go up and get a jump ball like he can.
10.Jarvis Landry, Wide Receiver, LSU
Not a big target at just 5’11”, Landry lacks size, and speed as he ran an ugly 4.77 forty at the combine. Landry has average measurables and that will hold him back at the next level as he won’t out-run or out-jump corners in the NFL to get open.
11.Jared Abbrederis, Wide Receiver, Wisconsin
A lot of people are big fans of Abbrederis, and why not? He may be the most crisp route runner in this draft class, and everyone loves a good route runner. Abbrederis has average measureables and will need to rely on his route running in the NFL. It’s possible he could fall some on draft day as he does have a concussion history and the NFL is beginning to take that more serious.
12.Paul Richardson, Wide Receiver, Colorado
Richardson lands at our number 12 receiver, not a knock on him, this more shows how deep this receiver class is. One of Richardson’s biggest knocks is his thin frame, at just 175 pounds. Richardson is going to lack the ability to out muscle defenders for the ball at this weight, but if he puts on more weight, does he lose his speed?
13.Josh Huff, Wide Receiver, Oregon
Huff wasn’t tested at Oregon as much as many of these other receivers were at their skills. Coming from a run heavy offense at Oregon, Huff didn’t get as many looks in the passing game as some of these receivers either. Huff is exciting to watch with the ball in his hands though, and that is often just as important as having “elite” measurables.