Predicting the Wide Receiver Run

The wide receiver position in the NFL has exploded with talent over the last five-plus years. The emergence of advanced learning at young ages through seven on seven and football camps has created drafts that are top-heavy at the position and deep all the way through to day three of the draft. While this draft isn’t as ‘elite’ as it was last season with names like Ja’Maar Chase, Jalen Waddle, and De’Vonta Smith, there are at least four or five receivers that will go in the first round and even more going on day two. If you got the Draft Guide, you saw my Wide Receiver grades for this draft, but for those of you that didn’t, you’ll get to see who my top-ten receivers in this class are! It should come as no surprise who my number one receiver in this class is…

1. Jameson Williams! (shocking, I know) Williams is the most sudden receiver in this draft class and would be drafted among the top receivers in the 2021 draft class because of the speed and acceleration he possesses. He’s got some work to do with his route tree and catch consistency, but he has everything that NFL offenses are looking for the truly scare defenses.

2. Garrett Wilson: Wilson is an explosive mover with and without the ball in his hands. Can separate at all levels of the field and has excellent body control. Hand catching technique has led to some drops and physicality in his routes can impact his plan, but he’s a true YAC threat that has a huge upside.

3. Drake London: London is not going to blow anyone away with his deep speed or ability to separate down the field, but is a much better mover than you’d think for his size and can make initial tacklers miss with sudden lateral quickness and fluidity. He has the best ball skills in a prospect since Mike Evans, just dominates at the catch point. Hoping the jump in competition doesn’t disrupt that process.

4. Chris Olave: He is the best and silkiest route runner in the class. While he hasn’t shown the ability to impact the game as a YAC threat, the footwork and hip fluidity he shows manipulating corners and separating at all levels of the field make up for it. Physicality can limit his ability to set up his routes and his size is a little concerning, but his deep speed is truly underrated.

5. John Metchie: This is the surprise for most people, with Metchie being my 5th overall receiver prospect. He’s a criminally underrated route runner with suddenness and deep speed to impact the game at all three levels. Some size and phyiscality concerns with him as he can let corners bully him at times, but he has a good catch radius and consistently attacks the ball with his hands in the air.

6. George Pickens: He is a mystery with his injury history, but if he gets back to what he was, his upside is the best receiver in this class. Speed to separate, hip fluidity, toughness after the catch and legit ball skills to match. His usage at Georgia left much to be desired and after he broke out he didn’t see the same results. Tough eval, but fun to think about

7. Jahan Dotson: He plays much bigger than he is with excellent ball skills and hand technique at the catch point. He doesn’t have a lot of release packages and his route tree is a question, but he’s a sudden mover that competes all over the field.

8. Skyy Moore: Excellent route runner that manipulates corners with relative ease, and seems to just find a way to get open. Hands through contact and the ability to fight for extra yards show up all over his tape. I question his NFL deep speed and ability to separate down field, but he walks into the NFL as a short to intermediate chain mover.

9. Wan’Dale Robinson: Explosive mover with physicality at the catch point and with the ball in his hands. Quicker than deep speed to separate and has big play potential. Man-press coverage is going to give him trouble in the NFL, but has the frame to get stronger. Twitchy YAC player.

10. Treylon Burks: Usually another surprise, while I think Burks is a gifted, physical player, the majority of his evaluation relies on projection. Not a nuanced route runner, has problems separating down field against better defenders, and lacks an understanding of where the open parts of the field are. Has the size and frame to be a legit number one and good ball skills to go get it combined with his YAC potential.

Whew. Now that that is over, we can get to the next step. How do I actually think this plays out as the top 10 receivers off the board? Get ready for the shocking reveal.

1. Jameson Williams

2. Garrett Wilson

3. Chris Olave

4. Drake London

5. George Pickens

6. Christian Watson

7. Treylon Burks

8. Jahan Dotson

9. Skyy Moore

10. John Metchie

I’m sure there are questions about this and with the draft only a weekish away, those will be answered shortly. Feel free to reach out on twitter @InHarmsWay19 or in the comments on the post to ask any questiosn you might have.