By John Sarianides
The 2017 wide receiver class isn’t as “loaded” as we’ve seen in the last few years but there is enough talent at the top that three to possibly four receivers should go in the first round.
Here are my top twenty receivers
1. Mike Williams, Clemson, 6-3 225, NFL Comparison: Michael Floyd
Strengths
– Big possession receiver who runs good routes and can separate from tight coverage on the break.
– Throttles down on breaks cleanly and can body up receivers on curl and comeback routes.
– Has quick reflexes. Can high point the ball in jump ball situations and can dig low balls.
– Shows enough hand speed to separate at the line of scrimmage. Uses his entire body to beat the jam.
– Technically sound blocker who gets inside hand placement and drives defenders to the sideline. Shows enough athleticism to throttle down and block a defender in off coverage.
Weaknesses
– Lacks top end speed. Can’t consistently separate vertically.
– Rounds out breaking routes. Footwork can be sluggish.
– Has a tendency to hang the ball out when transitioning from receiver to runner. Fumbles too much for a receiver.
– Not a natural bender as a blocker. Leans too much and defenders slip off of him.
– Looks the part but he doesn’t always play to his potential.
Final Thoughts: Williams has good size and hands. He fits the physical profile of a number one receiver but needs to play like it. A sure fire top 15 pick.
2. Corey Davis, Western Michigan, 6-3 215, NFL Comparison: Michael Thomas
Strengths
– Terrific route runner who is a long strider and can separate after the catch and make big plays.
– Bodies up corners one on one on slant and skinny post routes and can out leverage them.
– Strong hands. Attacks the ball in the air and never lets it get to his body. Wins jump ball situations in the red zone routinely.
– Has the lower body coordination to get in and out of his cuts routinely with no problem.
-Tracks the ball well, especially down the middle of the field. He doesn’t allow defensive backs to re-route him and gets into his route quickly.
– Gets good position on stalk blocks. Moves well laterally and doesn’t give up inside position to a corner or safety.
Weaknesses
– Level of competition is a concern. He dominated the MAC like Randy Moss and Khalil Mack did but it hard to say if he will be as impactful as them in the NFL.
– Double catches a lot of balls, especially along the sideline. Doesn’t have elite body coordination.
– Runs tall and is not very sudden in and out his breaks.
– Struggles to break down and block off corners. Chases way too much.
– Davis finished plays in the open field against MAC competition but he doesn’t have elite NFL speed.
Final Thoughts: Davis has the physical traits to be a very good X receiver. He dominated the MAC but there are those who question whether or not he can produce at the same level in the NFL. Time will tell but for now, he is a top 15 pick.
3. John Ross, Washington, 5-11 190, NFL Comparison: DeSean Jackson
Strengths
– Explosive deep threat who is fluid in his movements and gets in and out of cuts with ease.
– Ross doesn’t waste motion. He transitions in and out of cuts with ease. Throttles down and can snap his hips, hands and head and locate the ball.
– Polished route runner who can run a full route tree and set up secondary routes and double moves.
– Effective underneath on perimeter screens. Has the explosive, quick twitch athleticism to take a slip or a smoke screen to the house.
– Competes as a blocker. Moves well laterally and can punch and recoil a corner and stay with them.
Weaknesses
– Lacks ideal height. Has the hops to win jump ball situations but he is very inconsistent.
– Gets re-routed easily and runs into the hash safety too much. Needs to play with better awareness.
– Ross gets overpowered at times as a run blocker. Can sustain separation for too long. Cornerbacks slip off of him.
– Body catches way too many balls, especially on underneath routes.
– Fumbles way too much for an upper echelon receiver. Needs to keep the ball closer to his body.
Final Thoughts: Ross is a starting caliber receiver who is explosive and can make big plays. Despite his speed and his ability to separate, he is injury prone and he fumbles the ball a lot. Despite that, Ross will still go within the first 20 picks.
4. Zay Jones, East Carolina, 6-2 205, NFL Comparison: Jordan Matthews
Strengths
– Elite route runner who runs smooth, polished routes. Gets in and out of routes with ease and doesn’t round off when he breaks down.
– Beats press coverage with a full body release. Sets up his routes at the line of scrimmage with a solid head fake and goes.
– Strong hands with a wide catch radius. Primary read type receiver in the red zone.
– Committed blocker who breaks down on a defender and punch and recoil. Moves well laterally and he can cut a defenders angle off.
– Bodies up and boxes out defenders on timing routes. Gets separation.
Weaknesses
– Lacks top end speed. Jones will struggle to separate against the elite corners in the NFL.
– Limited alignment potential. Lacks the athleticism to play in the slot.
– Doesn’t offer much in terms of perimeter screens and reverses. Lacks the lateral speed.
– Highly productive in college but doesn’t have a lot of impact plays on film.
– Runs tall and can be late when he transitions into his breaks.
Final Thoughts: Jones was highly productive at East Carolina and put together an impressive body of work. He followed that up with an impressive Senior Bowl performance. Jones was projecting as a third or fourth rounder entering the Senior Bowl but thanks to a strong performance in Mobile and at the Combine, he could go in the bottom of the first round or early second round.
5. Ju-Ju Smith Schuster, USC, 6-2 220, NFL Comparison: Stevie Johnson
Strengths
– Long strider who runs smooth, fluid routes and can separate after the catch.
– Has strong hands and a wide catch radius. Can make acrobatic catches away from his body and dig out a low ball.
– Gets in and of cuts with relative ease. Snaps his head and hands out quickly and can locate the football.
– Moves well laterally and is effective underneath on slip and smoke screens.
– Boxes out defenders in one on one situations, especially along the sideline.
Weaknesses
– Does not posses top end speed. He can separate after the catch but he doesn’t have the speed to take it to the house.
-A bit stiff. Not natural in his movements. Doesn’t transition well on double moves.
– Inconsistent run blocker. Doesn’t sustain blocks and takes questionable angles.
– Runs hot and cold. Disappeared at times at the beginning of last season. Looks like a number one receiver but doesn’t always play like one.
– Has a tendency to take his eyes off the ball and drops a lot of them.
Final Thoughts: Smith-Schuster has the look of a number one receiver but he needs to be more consistent and take advantage of his physical traits. He would be a great second receiver because the pressure won’t be on him.
Next Five
6. Copper Kupp, Eastern Washington, 6-1 198, NFL Comparison: Jordy Nelson: Kupp is a terrific route runner who gets in and out of cuts naturally. He has strong hands and can high point the ball one on one with ease. Runs effective post and post corner routes. Can separate over the top and make big plays. Had 37 career receptions of over 40 yards.
Kupp is not overly explosive. He has good speed but he is not a quick twitch big play receiver who can separate from NFL corners. Kupp doesn’t make defenders miss. Straight line runner. Doesn’t secure the ball and is fumble prone.
7. Isiah Ford, Virginia Tech, 6-1 190, NFL Comparison: Davante Adams: Ford is a long, fluid athlete who looks the part. Smooth route runner who throttles down and breaks with ease. Has strong hands and can high point and win versus smaller corners. Ford can separate and finish once he gets in the open field. Versatile in that he can play in the slot or outside.
Ford doesn’t have elite ball skills. Drops a lot balls. He is not strong at the line. Gets pressed and easily re-routed. Average blocker. Doesn’t take great angles and gets out leveraged by defenders. Ford has first round talent but doesn’t always play like it.
8. Dede Westbrook, Oklahoma, 5-11 175, NFL Comparison: Kendall Wright: Westbrook is an explosive slot receiver who can get off the line cleanly and get into his route. Tremendous straight line speed. Westbrook can stack a corner and maintain separation through the route.
Average blocker. Gets overpowered at the point of attack. Westbrook is skinny and has an undefined frame. Doesn’t like to run in the middle of the field. Gets the drops on dig and post routes. Ideally suited to play as a third receiver in 11 personnel.
9. Malachi Dupre, LSU, 6-2 190, NFL Comparison: Devante Parker: Dupre is a speed receiver who is ideally suited to play as a second and third receiver. He is a solid route runner who can get in and out of his cuts. Dupre has plus hands and can high point deep balls one on one.
He is a long strider who is not a natural bender on breaking routes. Not a very good blocker. Effort is questionable at times. Dupre would be a solid late 3rd, 4th round value.
10. Amara Darboh, 6-2 215, Michigan, NFL Comparison: Anquan Boldin: Darboh runs good routes and shows good body control. Does a good job of driving off defenders and getting open. Has strong hands and can catch anything around his body. Darboh is vertical threat on fade and post routes but doesn’t make defenders miss laterally.
Darboh comes off the ball tall and gets pressed. Needs to use his hands and head more to get a clean release.
Next Ten
11. Ardarius Stewart, Alabama, 6-0 205
12. Chris Godwin, Penn State, 6-1 205
13. Artavis Scott, Clemson, 5-10 193
14. Josh Reynolds, Texas A&M, 6-3 197
15. Stacy Coley, Miami (Fla) 6-1 193
16. Josh Malone, Tennessee, 6-2 200
17. KD Cannon, Baylor, 5-11 180
18. Kenny Golladay, Northern Illinois, 6-4 213
19. Travis Rudolph, Florida St. 6-1 190
20. Taywan Taylor, Western Kentucky, 5-11 198