We are one week away from the NFL draft so it’s time to finalize some of the rankings! Outside of Terry McLaurin, the WFT wide receivers were dreadful last year and the position was a glaring need heading into the off season. The skins were able to address it in Free Agency, adding McLaurin’s old college roommate Curtis Samuel to a three year, $34.5M deal. He had a heck of a season last year with Carolina finishing with 1051 total yards (851 receiving, 200 rushing) 77 receptions and 5 TDs. Curtis did most of his damage at slot so he’s not the prototypical #2 WR to Terry’s #1 spot, but he fills a need and should be an impact player for the WFT immediately. It’s fair to say the skins are not finished addressing the position as they still need depth and could use a 3^rd or a 4^th option.  Luckily this draft is filled with pro-ready wide receivers and may even have more talent than last years class.  Here is my top 10 WRs in this year’s draft:

1. Devonta Smith, Alabama: Top 10: 6’1” 166lbs: Last year’s Heisman Trophy winner is top of my list and was absolutely unstoppable at times. There are some concerns about his lack of weight and small frame but if he can continue the get open at the rate at which he did for the Crimson Tide last year, he will be a star for years to come.
2. Jamar Chase, LSU: Top 10: 6’0” 208lbs: Jamar Chase was the Biletnikoff winner from 2019 and was a big part of the Tigers national championship team. Any other year, he would be WR1 (that’s just how good Devonta Smith was). He was the best receiver on a team that also had Justin Jefferson for crying out loud. Chase took a year off for COVID reasons but he proved at his pro day that he has kept in shape during his time off. I have no doubt Chase will be a stud in the NFL on the right team.
3. Jaylen Waddle, Alabama: 1st Round: 5’10” 182lbs: Jaylen Waddle was actually Alabama’s WR1 early in the 2020 season before his early season injury forced him out. Some scouts believe he may actually be better than his teammate Devonta Smith. He also proved how tough he is by playing in the national championship game all while clearly still injured. Smith is a smooth route-runner and has home run speed. At the very least, he will be a scary kick returner. Any other year, he would go top 10 but I still doubt he falls past 15.
4. Rashad Bateman, Minnesota: 1st Round: 6’0 190lbs: Bateman is an exciting player. His highlights are filled with tough contested 50/50 balls and one-handed catches but he also boasts 4.39 speed and clearly has no problem separating after the catch. Any other year, he would be considered a top 10 pick and I’d be surprised if he falls out of the 1^st round.
5. Kadarius Toney, Florida: 1-2nd round: 5’11” 189lbs: Toney is an electrifying player. He was a big part of the Gators offense where he finished the 2020 season with 14.1 yards per catch and 11 TDs. Toney is a slot receiver who is always one cut away from a house call every time he gets the football. Toney ran a 4.39 40 and his speed certainly shows up on the film as well as his toughness to go after outside linebackers while run blocking and the strength/balance to break tackles in the secondary. If his name isn’t called day 1, it will be called early on day 2.
6. Terrance Marshall, LSU: 2nd Round: 6’3” 205lbs: Marshall had a chance to shine this year for LSU with Chase sitting out and finished the season with 731 yards and ten TDs on 48 receptions. Marshall is taller than the rest of group and boasts 4.38 40 speed. He is being slept on a little bit in this draft but he has all the traits to be just as good, if not better, than the rest of this class. He may sneak into the end of the 1^st round but is most likely a 2^nd round selection.
7. Jaelon Darden, North Texas: 2nd Round: 5’8” 174lbs: Darden had a great 2020 season, finishing 2^nd in the NCAA in TDs with 19 (behind the Heisman Trophy winner) and 1,190 yards in 9 starts (132.2 yards per game). Basically, he was a man among boys in the C-USA. Darden agility is mesmerizing on film, constantly making defenders whiff completely, fall over, and run into one another. I don’t see how this wouldn’t transfer to the NFL. Darden is being overlooked mainly because of the conference he was in and his frail frame/ small hands. However, if can be utilized in the NFL like he was in North Texas, he should be an impact player immediately. Moreover, he strikes me as the kind of person who will keep that chip on his shoulder of knowing how scouts are discounting him for his size harder than some of the other prospects in this draft. If it were up to me, I’d select him in the 2^nd round but some say he could go as late as the 4^th.
8. Elijah Moore, Ole Miss: 2-3^rd Round: 5’9” 178lbs: Moore is another play-making slot receiver to add this to this deep class of playmakers. Moore catches everything, setting a Ole Miss school record of 86 receptions in a season that last held by AJ Brown. Moore has great balance and is a precise route runner. Further he has fantastic body control, balance and agility as well. One scout even compared him to Antonio Brown and honestly, I can see it. Look for his name to be called either late round 2 or early round 3.
9. Rondale Moore, Purdue: 3^rd Round: 5’7” 180lbs: Moore’s pro day was incredible: he ran a 4.29 40 and showed off a 42.5” vertical. There are also clips of him squatting 600lbs as a freshman. Yet, Moore’s 4.29 speed didn’t always show up on film and seemed to go down easy on contact. Still, Moore is a threat to take it all the way every time he has the ball in his hands and has a knack of getting open. Moore will slip in this draft due to his height but I can see him being a fine slot receiver in the NFL for the right team.
10. Dwayne Eskridge, Western Michigan: 3-4th Round: 5’9” 190lbs: Eskridge rounds out my top 10 and he’s yet another exciting speed demon to add to this loaded class. Eskridge averaged 21.4 yards per catch in 2020 and ran a 4.38 40 at his pro day. Obviously, this speed overmatched his competition in the MAC conference, where he scored touchdowns of 72, 76 and 85 yards. Scouts have issues with the limited route tree he ran in the Western Michigan offense (basically sent him deep every play) and there are concerns about him being over powered by stronger, pressing DBs. Yet, speed kills and if this guy finds a seam, he’s gone. Look for Eskridge’s name to be called late in round 3.

Summary: Honestly, there might be 20 WRs in this draft that could start for the WFT tomorrow. Few names that failed to make the top 10 but I really like are Nico Collins (3-4^th round, Michigan), Sage Surratt (4^th round Wake Forest), Shi Smith (4^th Round, USC), Amari Rodgers (5^th round, Clemson), Dax Milne (5-7^th round BYU).  Frankly, this class is stacked. I’ll add there is no reason for the WFT to draft a WR at #19 (unless Smith or Chase falls). There will certainly be a few studs available later in the draft that could fill our 3^rd and 4^th spots.