These rankings are based fully on how I view each player’s likelihood of NFL success. They are not at all impacted by fantasy football or in what order I believe these players will be drafted. They are at least partly driven by the order in which I believe they should be drafted, albeit without any team context.
I wrote up more than ten wide receivers due to the depth of this year’s class. As many as 25 receivers could be selected in the first three rounds.
For my Top 10 QBs, click here. For my Top 10 RBs, click here.
WIDE RECEIVERS
1. Jerry Jeudy, Alabama
6’1/193. 4.45. Advanced, precision route runner with elite quickness in and out of breaks. Dominant separation skills. Tape shows consistent winner from perimeter and slot. Comparisons to Antonio Brown, Odell Beckham, and Santonio Holmes. Was surrounded by future NFL talent; Tua Tagovailoa, Henry Ruggs, DeVonta Smith, Jaylen Waddle, Najee Harris, among others.
2. CeeDee Lamb, Oklahoma
6’2/198. 4.5-flat forty. 32 career receiving TDs, 19.0 YPR. Arguably the draft’s most-dynamic post-catch producer. Ran 70% of college routes outside but especially destroyed in slot, where 6.11 average yards per route run led nation in 2019. Standout ball skills and off-line quickness. DeAndre Hopkins comps.
3. Henry Ruggs, Alabama
5’11/188. Blazed 4.27 with 42-inch vertical in Indy. Scored TD on absurd 24.5% of college catches. 17.5 career yards/reception. Not a finesse deep threat; toughness and competitiveness pop off Ruggs’ tape. At worst, will change coverage with speed. Just as valuable without ball in his hands as with.
4. Justin Jefferson, LSU
6’1/202. 4.43 forty. Ran 78% of routes in slot. Despite timed speed, much more physical possession receiver than longball lid lifter. Led nation in slot catches and slot yards in final college year. Insane 2019 production with Joe Burrow (111 catches, 18 TDs). Per PFF College, highest contested-catch conversion rate in this year’s class (92%). 38 receptions of 15-plus yards also led nation. Discount Michael Thomas.
5. Denzel Mims, Baylor
6’3/207. Outrageous athlete; 4.38 jets, 11’1” broad jump, 6.66 three-cone time. Career 15.7 yards/catch with 28 TDs over last three seasons. Low-volume, high-aDOT college receiver did not compile production on screens and hooks. Knocked for route-running rawness and sporadic bouts of drops. From skill-set standpoint, on the Kenny Golladay–A.J. Green spectrum.
6. Brandon Aiyuk, Arizona State
6’0/205. Only 4.50 speed but electric with ball in hands. Supplemented 65/1,192/8 receiving line with 31.9 yards per kickoff return and 16.1-yard average with a touchdown on punts. In 2019, gained more yards after contact than any receiver eligible for draft. Abnormally large catch radius with 33 ½-inch arms and 40-inch vertical. Comps: Chris Godwin, Michael Gallup. Core muscle surgery before draft.
7. Michael Pittman, USC
6’4/223. 4.52, 86th-percentile athleticism. 6.96 three-cone time at 223 is especially impressive. Glove-like hands. Natural ball skills. Per PFF College, only 5 career drops on 254 targets. Experience with full route tree. Consistently uses size to advantage. Better separator in short/intermediate game than deep.
8. Jalen Reagor, TCU
5’11/206. 4.42. Former track star with incredible leaping ability (42-inch vertical). Dynamic on both punts and kickoffs at TCU, scoring twice on punt returns in ’19. Likely explosive No. 2 WR in NFL.
9. Chase Claypool, Notre Dame
6’4/238. 4.42, 98th-percentile athlete. Vincent Jackson clone. Graded by some teams as TE prospect but won on perimeter at Notre Dame. If he does play tight end, Evan Engram would be fair comparison.
10. Laviska Shenault, Colorado
6’1/227. 4.58 in Indy. Gadget player in college scored ten career receiving TDs, seven rushing, one on punt return. Playing time limited by nagging injuries. Has undergone core muscle, turf toe, and shoulder surgeries. Extremely limited route experience but superlative size-athleticism blend. Boom-bust prospect more athlete than wide receiver at this stage. Lots of similarities to Cordarrelle Patterson.
Tee Higgins, Clemson
6’4/216. 4.54/4.56 at Pro Day. Only 31-inch vertical. 18.1 career yards per catch, 25 TDs over final two years. Martavis Bryant-like, sideline-only deep threat at Clemson. Huge catch radius with 34 1/8-inch arms. Contested-catch winner in college. Has buildup speed but not a natural separator. Due to Higgins’ average athleticism, questionable whether his vertical success will translate to next level.
K.J. Hamler, Penn State
5’9/178. Vertical slot threat with some T.Y. Hilton to his game. Way too many drops on tape. Despite track speed, struggled in return game in college. Likely complementary No. 2/3 WR in pros.
Bryan Edwards, South Carolina
6’3/212. Combine DNP. Big, physical, and plays like it. Tackle breaker won outside and in slot in SEC. Long injury history; sports hernia surgery, concussion, meniscus tear before breaking foot in February.
Tyler Johnson, Minnesota
6’1/206. Production fiend averaged 16 yards per catch, scored 32 receiving TDs over final three college seasons. Won via route savvy. Looks exactly like Miles Austin on tape.
Lynn Bowden, Kentucky
5’11/204. Combine DNP. Randall Cobb clone. 13 career rushing TDs, six receiving TDs, five passing TDs, two punt-return TDs. Perfect slot-manufactured touch player, like a rich man’s Tavon Austin.
Antonio Gibson, Memphis
6’0/228. Just 77 career college touches. Freak athlete. High-upside day-three pick.
John Hightower, Boise State
4.43 speed merchant averaged 17.6 yards per reception in college. Skinny 6’1/189.
Antonio Gandy-Golden, Liberty
6’4/223. Managed 4.6 forty, 7.33 three-cone time in Indy. High-aDOT college receiver won’t win deep downfield in pros like he did at Liberty.
K.J. Hill, Ohio State
6’0/196. Managed 4.60, 32 ½-inch vertical in Indy. Crushed Senior Bowl. Route technician in slot.
Devin Duvernay, Texas
5’10/200. 4.39. Track athlete. Mainly caught screens. Short-area slot/gadget prospect.
Gabriel Davis, Central Florida
6’2/216. 4.54. Big 2019 producer (72/1,241/12) likely lacks athleticism to win outside in NFL.
Donovan Peoples-Jones, Michigan
2020’s top WR SPARQ score but never produced in college. Production paramount at WR.
Van Jefferson, Florida
6’2/200. Combine DNP. Son of longtime NFL WR and WRs coach Shawn Jefferson. Won with crisp routes, sure hands, fundamentals at UF. Foot surgery after Combine. Likely slot-only WR in NFL.
Quez Watkins, Southern Miss
6’1/185. 4.35 forty. Tight-hipped vertical receiver averaged 18.4 yards/catch in 2019.
Jauan Jennings, Tennessee
6’3/215. RAC specialist flunked Combine with 4.72 forty, 29-inch vert. Big slot at best.
Others: James Proche, SMU; Isaiah Hodgins, Oregon State; Collin Johnson, Texas; Kalija Lipscomb, Vanderbilt; Aaron Fuller, Washington; Quintez Cephus, Wisconsin; Darrell Stewart, Michigan State; Quartney Davis, Texas A&M; Omar Bayless, Arkansas State; Isaiah Coulter, Rhode Island; Kendrick Rogers, Texas A&M; Binjimen Victor, Ohio State; Aaron Parker, Rhode Island; Isaiah Wright, Temple; Juwan Johnson, Oregon; Joe Reed, Virginia; Stephen Guidry, Mississippi State; Darnell Mooney, Tulane; Trishton Jackson, Syracuse; Dezmon Patton, Washington State
TIGHT ENDS
1. Cole Kmet, Notre Dame
6’6/262. 4.7-flat, 77th-percentile athlete. Zero career TDs before 43/515/6 season in 2019. Every-down capability. Didn’t stand out as dynamic college player but solid all around. Comparison: Kyle Rudolph.
2. Albert Okwuegbunam, Missouri
6’6/258. 4.49 forty. 23 TDs in three seasons. Non-blocker. Raw route runner. Boom-bust prospect.
3. Adam Trautman, Dayton
6’5/255. 4.80 forty, 67th-percentile athlete. Dominant receiving tight end in FCS. Competent blocker.
4. Hunter Bryant, Washington
6’2/248. Above-par long speed (4.74) and three-cone time (7.08). Clean, crisp route runner on college tape. Hobbled by knee problems first two years. Exploded for 52/825/3 (15.9 YPR) receiving as 2019 junior. Non-blocking seam stretcher offers mismatch potential as slot weapon. Low floor, high ceiling.
5. Devin Asiasi, UCLA
6’3/257. 4.73 forty. Michigan transfer, one-year producer (44/641/4 in ’19). Competitive blocker.
6. Brycen Hopkins, Purdue
6’4/245. Dropped 61/830/7 receiving line in final college season but catch consistency disappointed on tape. Blazed 4.66. Son of Titans OL Brad Hopkins. Athleticism, production working in Hopkins’ favor.
7. Harrison Bryant, Florida Atlantic
6’5/243. 15th-percentile athlete. Abnormally short arms (30 5/8”). H-back/fullback type.
8. Thaddeus Moss, LSU
6’2/250. Son of Randy. Possession tight end with plus ball skills. Underrated blocker.
9. Dalton Keene, Virginia Tech
6’4/253. 4.71, 80th-percentile athlete. Good blocker, limited production. Reminds of Dawson Knox.
10. Colby Parkinson, Stanford
6’7/252. 4.77. Tall, lean catch-first tight end lacks NFL-level blocking acumen.
Others: Cheyenne O’Grady, Arkansas; Jacob Breeland, Oregon; Jared Pinkney, Vanderbilt; Stephen Sullivan, LSU; Ahmad Wagner, Kentucky; Mitchell Wilcox, South Florida; Josiah Deguara, Cincinnati; Kyle Markway, South Carolina; Sean McKeon, Michigan; Charlie Taumoepeau, Portland State
