Welcome to draft season! This is the first of 11 positional breakdowns leading up to the NFL draft (April 28-April 30). Here are my top 10 wide receivers:
— 1. Drake London (Jr., USC, 6-foot-3, 219 pounds)
London only played eight games after his season ended with a broken ankle, but his size, athleticism, and flair for the spectacular catch (reminiscent of Mike Evans) will make him a problem for defensive coordinators in the NFL. Projected: Top 15
— 2. Jameson Williams (Jr., Alabama, 6-1, 179)
Williams has sprinter speed and is a threat to score anytime the ball is in his hands — he set an Alabama single-season record and led the FBS with four touchdowns of 70-plus yards in 2021. He's also proven to be a talented gunner on punt coverage (nine career tackles). He was in the mix to be the first wide receiver drafted before he tore his ACL in the national championship game. Projected: Round 1
— 3. Garrett Wilson (Jr., Ohio State, 5-11, 183)
Wilson leaves Columbus ranked top 10 in receptions (143), receiving yards (2,213) and receiving touchdowns (23) for the Buckeyes. He can threaten a defense at every level, but will need to improve against physical press corners because of his lean frame and play strength. Projected: Top 15
— 4. Chris Olave (Sr., Ohio State, 6-0, 187)
It's rare you find a route technician with reliable hands who can also run this fast. Olave surpassed David Boston as the Buckeyes' all-time leader in touchdown receptions (35). Projected: Round 1
— 5. Jahan Dotson (Sr., Penn State, 5-10, 178)
Dotson features the game-breaking speed to beat defenses at all three levels, has excellent hands (only two drops on 138 targets in 2021) and is good against press coverage despite his size. Projected: Rounds 1-2
— 6. Treylon Burks (Jr., Arkansas, 6-2, 225)
There are shades of Deebo Samuel here, but in a linebacker-sized package. Burks' physicality, acceleration and vision make him a terror after the catch — he broke 15 tackles on 66 receptions in 2021 — but there is work to do as route runner. Projected: Round 1
— 7. Skyy Moore (Jr., Western Michigan, 5-9, 195)
Moore's elite agility makes him a nightmare in the open field, but he's even more difficult to bring down if a defender gets their hands on him — he broke an FBS-high 26 tackles last year. Speaking of hands, his measured larger than DeAndre Hopkins (known for his giant mitts) — 10 1/4 to 10 inches even. Projected: Rounds 1-2
— 8. George Pickens (Jr., Georgia, 6-3, 195)
There aren't many one-on-one battles Pickens won't win. Over 70% of his career catches resulted in a first down or touchdown. Maturity and durability concerns could hurt his draft stock. Projected: Rounds 1-2
— 9. Christian Watson (Sr., North Dakota State, 6-4, 208)
Watson is a classic size/speed combo who has proven to be one of the best home-run hitters in the FCS (20.4 yards per reception during his career) with four touchdowns of at least 65 yards in 2021. Drops are a concern and he's never faced an FBS opponent. Projected: Round 2
— 10. Jalen Tolbert (Sr., South Alabama, 6-1, 194)
Tolbert faced only one Power 5 program over his final 34 games, but showcased his talent with seven receptions, 143 yards and a touchdown against Tennessee last November. He considered offers to attend Michigan State and Vanderbilt, but chose to stay close to home. Projected: Round 2
— BONUS: David Bell (Jr., Purdue, 6-0, 212)
Bell's route-running is advanced and his YAC ability should make him an impact player early in his career. He doesn't feature the explosive athletic traits some of the higher-ranked prospects do, but he was one of the most productive players at the position in the entire nation during his time in West Lafayette — Bell finished his career with 101.2 receiving yards per game (No. 1 among all active FBS players in 2021). Projected: Rounds 2-3
— BONUS: Khalil Shakir (Sr., Boise State, 5-11, 196)
Shakir is one of the best route-runners in this draft, and is a threat after the catch. The team captain is a jack-of-all-trades who had 71 carries and five pass attempts during his collegiate career. Projected: Rounds 2-3
— BONUS. John Metchie III (Jr., Alabama, 5-11, 187)
Medical evaluations will be important — Metchie was diagnosed with an enlarged heart in high school and suffered a torn ACL in last year's SEC Championship — but he was very productive for the Crimson Tide the last two seasons and is capable of playing inside or outside. Projected: Rounds 2-3
— BONUS: Kyle Phillips (Jr., UCLA, 5-11, 189)
Philips was the biggest star of the Shrine Bowl and virtually uncoverable throughout the week. His size dictates he'll primarily play in the slot at the next level, but his exceptional hands and route-running capabilities should make him a contributor early on. Projected: Rounds 3-4
— BONUS: Alec Pierce (Sr., Cincinnati, 6-3, 211)
Pierce features prototypical size at the position in a draft class that is lacking it. He's still developing as a route runner, but this team captain features excellent ball skills and smooth athleticism — coaches experimented with him at linebacker in his freshman season. Projected: Rounds 3-4
— BONUS: Wan'Dale Robinson (Jr., Kentucky, 5-8, 178)
Robinson is undersized, but his skill set translates to being a slot receiver or return man in the NFL who can create big plays when he gets the ball in space. He transferred from Nebraska and produced 1,334 yards on 104 receptions and seven touchdowns his first season in the SEC. Projected: Rounds 3-4
— BONUS: Calvin Austin III (Sr., Memphis, 5-7, 170)
Austin is an explosive track athlete who isn't getting any bigger, but his surprising ball skills and immense return capabilities will provide a future at the next level. Projected: Rounds 3-6
— BONUS: Justyn Ross (Jr., Clemson, 6-3, 205)
Ross' freshman season screamed future first-rounder — he led the Tigers with 46 receptions for 1,000 yards and nine touchdowns — but then he missed the entire 2020 season due to a congenital fusion condition of his neck and spine that required surgery. Can he return to his pre-injury form? Projected: Rounds 4-7
— BONUS: Kevin Austin Jr. (Jr., Notre Dame, 6-2, 200)
Austin is one of the biggest risk-reward prospects in this draft. His talent and athleticism scream top-level prospect, but injuries and maturity issues essentially kept him off the field until 2021, when we finally caught a glimpse of his true potential. Projected: Rounds 5-7
— BONUS: Makai Polk (So., Mississippi State, 6-3, 195)
Polk set single-season school records for receptions (105) and receiving yards (1,046) in his only season at Starkville. Projected: Rounds 4-7
