The 2013 wide receiver class was very deep with players like Keenan Allen, Justin Hunter and Tavon Austin drawing plenty of praise, but the 2014 class is even better. While Sammy Watkins is the clear leader of the pack Texas A&M’s Mike Evans and USC’s Marqise Lee are great prospects as well. Evans is having a breakout season and emerging as a potential top-10 pick while Lee is dealing with quarterback and injury problems at USC and has gone from potential top-10 selection to maybe being outside of the top 20. But are Lee’s struggles to blame on the quarterback or is he being exposed as not as great as many thought. The question is, who is the second best wide receiver in the 2014 class?

The most important aspect when scouting wide receivers are their hands, if you can’t catch the football you won’t have a long career in the NFL. Drops can be fixed and players who have had problems with it have been able to fix it, but strong hands are always an important trait for a wide receiver.

There are few players in the 2014 class with better hands than Evans. He consistently shows the ability to secure every football thrown his way no matter how high or wide the ball may be. He has large, strong hands that help him grip the football and secure it and avoid having it knocked out when taking a big hit. He does an excellent job with his concentration and tracking the football in the air and making adjustments with his body to put himself in the best position to grab it. Whether it is a diving catch along the sidelines where he has to keep his feet in bounds while reaching for it or a leaping grab over two defensive backs and having the awareness to bring his feet down in the corner of the end zone. The former basketball player knows how to use his size to block the defender from the football and only give himself a chance to catch it. He is Johnny Manziel’s favorite target because Manziel knows no matter where he throws it in his direction; Evans will come down with the football.

Lee isn’t near the same level with Evans when it comes to catching the football consistently. Far too many times in 2012 and this year he has had the ball put right in his hands only to drop it as he tries to make a big play. He hasn’t shown improvement in terms of concentration and being able to secure the football then trying to break for the big play. He also tries to catch the ball with his body, letting the football hit him in the numbers as he wraps his arms around it to try and secure it. Lee doesn’t have the size to outmuscle a defensive back for the ball in the air and fight for the football. While he possesses great leaping ability and can control his body, he is still behind Evans in the biggest area for a wide receiver.

Route running is an area where Evans needs to continue to develop more and become a more refined player. Because he doesn’t have explosive speed he needs to make up for it with smooth, clean routes and being able to finish those routes consistently. While he can beat a corner with a slant route or deep against press coverage, he will need to master everything if he wants to make it in the NFL where the faster corners are bigger than college corners and the biggest corners are faster. One reason we don’t see as much from Evans with his route skills is because he often has to break off of them as his quarterback scrambles around in the pocket looking to make a play. This is one area where Evans has the instincts to come back to help out his quarterback. But if he wants to be a great wide receiver in the NFL, Evans needs to work on his route running and be where his quarterback expects him to be.

Lee is still developing his skills, but has the agility to move swiftly on his routes. He does an excellent job creating separation from the cornerback with a quick move that gives him an inch to separate into his route and then he lets his speed do the rest. Once he gets open on a slant across the middle and the ball is delivered to him right in stride, he becomes even more dangerous after that. What he lacks for in size he makes up for in ability to separate from coverage and run quick, clean routes to help create a bigger gap between himself and the corner. While Evans has the clear advantage in terms of hands, Lee holds the edge with his route running.

You can’t go wrong having either Evans or Lee on your roster. Both possess a different skill-set but both have the chance to be Pro Bowl wide receivers at the next level. Lee has struggled this year dealing with injuries, while Evans is having a career year being Manziel’s favorite target. While I believe both players are first-round talents and will be drafted in the first round, Evans is the better wide receiver of the two. While he may not have great speed, he makes up for it with a massive frame, outstanding hands and the ability to catch any football thrown in his direction.