2016 NFL Draft: Doc’s Thoughts on the Wide Receivers.

Treadwell

1. Laquon Treadwell, Ole Miss, 6-2 221: I know people are hung up on Treadwell’s forty time and I know it has hurt his stock, but this kid is too good of a route runner and too polished not to be the number one receiver in this class. Sure he’s had some drops, but I think he is the most complete receiver in this class and he can step in and start as a rookie. He is a fluid route runner who gets in out and of cuts with ease. Treadwell understands coverages and he can locate openings against zone coverage. Despite the drops, he has strong hands and can high point the ball. He’ll compete in one on one situations and win, especially in the red zone. Treadwell is a player and the rest of the league will figure that out where ever he ends up.

2. Corey Coleman Baylor, 5-10 1/2, 194: Coleman had a monster 2015 season despite missing the last couple of games with injury. He is an explosive athlete who gets clean releases at the line and can stack cornerbacks in a hurry. Terrific vertical route runner who has a feel for tracking down the deep ball. Separates after the catch and has the necessary third gear to finish. Highly effective on slip screens and smoke screens. Coleman has strong hands and despite his size, he can win jump ball battles. Good blocker who competes and looks to maintain position. Needs to prove that he can run a complete route tree. A sure fire first rounder.

3. Will Fuller, Notre Dame, 6-0 186: Fuller is another big play receiver who is ideally suited to be a second receiver. A flyer who has tremendous vertical speed and can stack and separate in a hurry. Looks fluid in and out of his cuts. Doesn’t waste motion. Fuller has plus hands and he can win one on one situations in the red zone. Glides in and out of a double move and can blow by a corner who bites. Good blocker who can stand to improve. Needs to prove he’s more than just a speed guy. I think he’s a first round talent.

4. Josh Doctson, TCU, 6-2 202: Doctson is a a strong, polished receiver who runs good routes and understands how to beat coverage. Doctson is an underneath and vertical threat. He consistently wins versus man coverage. Tough in traffic. He can go up and get the ball in a crowd. Doctson is a hard working blocker who establishes position and keep his feet. Better vertically than laterally. He has the tools to be a number receiver. A first round prospect in my view.

5. Tyler Boyd, Pitt, 6-1 1/2 197: Boyd is a polished receiver who runs good routes and gets in and out of cuts effortlessly. Boyd has plus hands and a wide catch radius. Adept at running the fade and the fade stop. He knows how to set up a corner, especially in man. Highly productive in college although he doesn’t test as well as he plays. I think he’s a first round talent but he’ll probably go in day two.

6. Michael Thomas, Ohio State, 6-2 1/2 212: Thomas has great size and is fast. He is a big target who can get vertical quickly. Fluid in and out of his cuts, he transitions on stop and comeback routes with ease. Runs double routes smoothly and can make even the best man to man cover corner bite. Good blocker who can adjust laterally and stays in front of the defender. Thomas is a first round talent but inconsistency has plagued him. He needs to prove he’s better.

7. Leonte Carroo, Rutgers, 5-11 1/2 211: Carroo has a lot of upside but inconsistency and off the field issues have dogged him during his college career. He has strong hands and a wide catch radius. He can win one on one battles vertically. Good route runner who understands the approach a receiver has to take when dealing with man or zone coverage. A finisher in the open field. He can separate vertically and score. Decent blocker. Carroo is strong but he doesn’t always block like he is. I think he’s third round pick but he’ll slip further. I say he goes early in day three.

8. Braxton Miller, Ohio State, 6-1 1/2 201: The former Ohio State quarterback has a lot of upside but he still needs work as a receiver. Right now he runs mostly fade, corner and post routes. He’ll run the occasional dig route. Miller is dangerous in space so getting him the ball on perimeter screens is one way to maximize his talent. He is a weapon. It’ll be interesting to see when he goes.

9. Sterling Shephard, Oklahoma, 5-10 194: Shephard is a tremendous route runner who doesn’t waste any movement in the open field. He has big play capability after the catch. He has the ability to take a slant 80 yards for a touchdown. he has above average hands and competes for jump balls. Struggles at times as a blocker but I think he projects as a slot receiver who could be high productive in an offense like the Patriots.

10. Pharoah Cooper, South Carolina, 5-11 203: Cooper is an unpolished receiver prospect who has a tone of upside. His route running needs work and he can be inconsistent but once he figures it out, he has the talent to play on a consistent basis in 10 and 11 personnel groupings.