All signs are pointing to the Commanders selecting a wide receiver with their 11^th overall pick in the 2022 NFL draft and for good reason. Outside of Terry McLaurin, Washingtons receivers have been nothing short of putrid. Ever since Terry was drafted in 2019, the next best wide across from him has been either 2019 Cam Sims with his 477 yards or 2020 Adam Humphries with his 383 yards. Yikes. The gameplan for opposing defensive coordinators has been simple: take out Terry and Washington has no one to throw to.

Curtis Samuel signed a big 3-year deal last off-season and was supposed to be that true #2 receiver who would take the pressure off McLaurin. However, a strange groin injury lingered all season long and kept him off the field leading everyone to wonder if he’ll even be healthy in 2022. The Commanders also selected UNC’s WR and speedster Dyami Brown in the 3^rd round last year. However, he failed to win that #2 role even as Cam Sims was in and out of the lineup and Curtis Samuel was nowhere to be found. The jury is still out on whether Brown can be our #3 or #4 receiver but you have to imagine Rivera is going to do everything he can to make sure we do not end up with no true #2 receiver for the 3^rd straight year.

Luckily for the Commanders, there is plenty of help in this year’s draft class. This WR class is arguably the best and deepest position in the draft.  Similar to last year, there may be a dozen receivers that could start for the Commanders week 1. Here are the top 10:

1. Chris Olave, OSU (1^st Rounder): There is so much to like about Chris Olave. Olave stands 6’1”, weighed 188lbs at the combine and now owns all the receiving records in Ohio State history. He is an excellent route-runner, likely the best in the class. He has incredible burst and acceleration and he had no problem in creating separation against everyone he faced. He has track-star speed (4.39 40 time) and made a habit of catching the deep ball which earned him the nicknamed him “Big Play Olave”. He is phenomenal in the over-the-shoulder catches, tracking ball perfectly at full speed. I liked how even though he isn’t the biggest WR, he was never afraid to stick his nose in there when blocking on screens or for runs. He would’ve been a 1st round pick last year but he decided to come back for his senior season to try and win a National Championship (another plus in my book). I saw someone comparing him to Emmanuel Saunders and while I like that comparison, I see more Terry McLaurin 2.0 or Devonta Smith. The biggest critique I could find was he doesn’t break a lot of tackles after the catch and goes down pretty easily on contact. His small frame may also get him in trouble in the NFL against bigger, stronger corners. However, if he is able to stay healthy, I have no doubt that Olave will be Pro Bowler in no time.
   
   
2. Garrett Wilson, OSU (1^st Rounder): Wilson and Olave are basically 1a and 1b in this draft class and, sadly, their careers will be unfairly be linked together for the rest of time. A majority of scouts believe Wilson is the better player, judging by the mock drafts I see. Standing 6’0” and weighing 183lbs, there is also plenty to like about Wilson. Like Olave, he has home run speed (running a 4.38 40 at the combine) and is a threat to take it to the house on any given play. Wilson isn’t quite as good of a route-runner as Olave, but he was still able to create plenty of separation with his speed. Unlike Olave, Wilson is a little savvier when catching balls over the middle and making a big play after the catch. Essentially, Wilson seems like he plays with more aggression than Olave which could in turn lead him to having more success than Olave in the long run. However, it could lead to him taking more hits and getting injured as well. Given his smaller frame, CBs at the next level will try and body him up so he will need to work on his release and clean up his route-running but I have no doubt he will become an impact player for whoever drafts him.
   
   
3. Treylon Burks, Arkansas: (1^st Rounder) Burks led the Razorbacks in receiving since he was a true freshman and finished this past year catching 66 passes for 1,104 yards and 11 TDs in just 12 games, setting a school record with six 100-yard games in a row. Burks is more of a prototypical WR than the two Buckeyes. He is 6’2”, weighs 225lbs and looks far bigger than that on film. Burks can do it all. He has a knack for high-pointing the football and making spectacular catches when a DB is draped over him but he can also stick his foot in the ground, stiff arm a linebacker, and take a slant 75 yards to the house like he did numerous times in the 2021 season. Burks reminds me a bit of Andre Johnson but with more speed. Burks will need to work on his route-running (which was pretty ugly at times) in order to reach his full potential but he is certainly worth a top 20 pick. With the right QB and the right system, he could be a star.
   
4. Jameson Williams, Alabama: (1^st rounder) Williams was the best WR in college football before he tore his ACL in Alabama’s loss to Georgia in the National Championship. Yet, all reports are Williams is ahead of schedule on his ACL rehab and all signs are pointing to him coming back as the same explosive player he was in 2021. Williams was essentially unstoppable at Alabama. He stands 6’2”, weighs 189lbs and is without a doubt the fastest player in this class. Many believe he is Desean Jackson 2.0 and I have a hard time disagreeing with that comparison. Speed kills and he has plenty of it. There are multiple clips of him being double teamed with a corner underneath and a safety over the top and he would still outrun both of them for an easy score. If a safety takes one misstep, just one, he’s gone. He has no problem creating separation with that elite straight-line speed but he will need to incorporate some kind of intermediate routes into his game in order to be a true #1 in the NFL. Heck, he might be worth a pick if he exclusively only returned kicks. Williams is an exciting prospect but the ACL tear and his rush back to the field concerns me. Still, I expect to hear his name called on day one and reports are the Chiefs are interested…
   
5. Jahan Dotson, Penn State: (1-2 rounds): Dotson stands 5’11”, weighs 178lbs and is yet another burner in this deep class. He ran a 4.43 40 at the combine and similar to Olave and Williams, much of Dotson’s highlights are him burning defenders and easily gliding into the endzone on long passes. This class is full of deep threats and Dotson is absolutely one of those players who can take it to the house on any given play. Even though he’s listed under 6’, I was impressed by the amount of jump balls he was able to win and sideline toe-taps he was able to secure. Dotson could easily end up being the best WR in this class if he goes to the right team with the right vertical offense. He’s a heck of a good return man as well. Dotson will need to work on his catches in traffic and his underneath routes, which he wasn’t asked to do much at Penn State. If he can improve there, some NFL team will be getting a steal. Early in the draft process, I thought Dotson would be a 2^nd round steal. Now, it rumors are he will be taken late in round one by a Super Bowl contender who just traded away their best WR (Chiefs/ Packers).
   
6. John Metchie, Alabama: (2^nd rounder): Metchie was a going to be a top 20 pick before he tore is ACL in the SEC championship game this last Fall. I can’t figure out why there is so much hype around Jamison Williams and not John Metchie considering they both tore their ACLs last year but Metchie tore his almost a month earlier. Metchie stands 5’11”, weighs 187lbs and is easily a better route runner than his teammate Jameson Williams and is arguably more of a threat with the ball in his hands than Chris Olave. Some of Metchie’s best plays were against the best DBs in this year’s draft such as the game-winning catch against Auburns McCreary in this year’s Iron Bowl in which he made McCreary loo. Metchie appears to be a polished route-runner and has great quickness getting in and out of his breaks. Metchie will need to polish up his drops a bit but if Metchie can return to full health, he could be easily be Devonta Smith 2.0 and a big-time steal for anyone selecting him in the second round.
   
7. Drake London, USC: (2^nd rounder): Drake London stands 6’4”, weighs 219lbs and has been anointed the next great WR to come from USC after the last two years produced Michael Pittman (Colts 2020) and Amon-Ra St-Brown (Lions 2021), both of whom have become the best WR for the teams that drafted them. London was a two-sport athlete at Southern California, playing basketball for USC one year before focusing fully on football. He is a big, strong receiver who dominated the PAC-12 with his ability to win almost all contested throws thrown his way. London has great body control for a player of his size and is by far the best receiver in this class at high-pointing the football and coming down with a 50/50 ball. He will not beat you with speed, but he’s no slowpoke either. He was used heavily in the Trojans offense and had a knack for making big plays after the catch. However, all that being said, Drake London scares me. He is the exact kind of player I have been wrong about before so I may be a bit jaded here. London’s stats were heavily padded by a USC offense that threw him the ball almost 70% of the time he was on the field. You could say that’s because he was their best player but c’mon, 70% of the passes thrown to one player is Madden stats. Further, he reminds me a lot of Josh Doctson and Laquon Treadwell but possibly slower than both of them. I fear that London will be exposed in the NFL by these elite, speedy corners and his lack of separation will force QBs (and coaches) to look in another direction which could frustrate him since he’s used to 70% of the targets. This could lead to him being nothing more than a one-trick pony and only catching 50/50 balls on fade routes or Hail Mary’s. There is a lot of hype around London lately with some analysts comparing him to Mike Evans and saying he will go in the top 10. I feel it would be better for him if he were to fall into the 2^nd or 3^rd round and hopefully use that tumble down draft boards as motivation for him to succeed similar to how it did with DK Metcaff. However, even so, if he can’t separate from DBs, he easily could be the biggest bust in this class and is nowhere near being a 1^st round selection.
   
8. Skyy Moore, Western Michigan (2^nd rounder): Sky Moore stands 5’10”, weighs 195lbs and is one of the most interesting prospects in this year’s class. Much like London, he was force-fed the football at Western Michigan which led to his 95 receptions, 1292 yard and 10 TDs. However, he excelled in a much different way. Time and time again on the film, Moore beats the CBs with precise routes and quick in-and-out-cuts which would leave the defense in the dust. He wasn’t considered a burner at school but after running a 4.41 at the combine, it appears his speed was greatly underestimated at college. I liked the toughness Moore played with as well. There are times when he got clobbered catching a pass over the middle but he bounced right up from the hit and fired up his teammates after getting a big first down. His hands are excellent; he catches everything – 50/50 balls, over the shoulder deep balls, diving out of the corner of the endzone, etc. I’ll admit, Moore did most of his damage against some not-so-great opponents in the MAC conference so it will be interesting to see how he fares against NFL competition. For instance, he was bottled up against Michigan (2 catches for 22 yards). Yet, if there is a Steve Smith 2.0 in this class, it’s Sky Moore. There were some rumors that Moore could be a late 1^st round pick after his combine performance but he will most likely go day 2.
   
9. George Pickens, Georgia: (2^nd rounder): Pickens may be one of the most slept-on prospects in this draft. He stands 6’3”, weighs 195lbs and has a knack for making spectacular plays. His film easily has some of the best catches out of anyone in the class. He doesn’t appear to have a ton of speed on film but he still seems to easily fly by corners vertically time and time again (4.47 40 at the combine – that’s plenty fast). He also has a little nastiness in him. On run plays, he likes to do this stutter-step- bull-rush to unsuspecting corners and send them tumbling backwards and out of the play. His biggest issue is his knee. He suffered an ACL tear in 2021 spring practice but rushed back to play in final four games last season to help the Bulldogs win the National Championship. You could tell the knee was still bothering him a bit when he returned. He didn’t have the same burst that he had before his injury but he still was able to make some big plays including a diving 40-yard catch against Alabama in the playoffs. Before that knee injury, Pickens was well on his way to being a 1^st rounder. He has the size, the quickness, and can catch everything thrown his way. However, him rushing back from that knee injury concerns me. Honestly, I really like what I saw from Pickens highlight film and I applaud the toughness he showed by coming back that quickly. However, I do wonder if he’ll ever regain that burst and if this knee injury won’t linger. It will be interesting to see where Pickens goes but I like him going mid to late 2^nd round. If his knee isn’t right, give him a redshirt year, let him get back up to speed and he could be the gem of the class.
   
10. Calvin Austin III, Memphis: (2^nd-3^rd rounder): Calvin Austin III is one of my favorite players in this class. He stands 5’8”, weighs 170lbs and dominated the pre-draft process running a 4.32 40 as well as a 39” vertical jump, 135” broad and leading all WRs in the 3-cone drill and shuttle. He was expected to shine at the combine since Austin was an All-American track and field star at Memphis before he decided to walk-on to the football team. It took him a few years but he exploded his junior year, finishing the season with 1,053 receiving yards with 11 TDs (6^th in FBS) and finished 1^st-Team all AAC with 1,149 yards and 8 TDs his senior year. Austin’s film is fun. Memphis coaches did all sorts of things to get him the ball in space and he did the rest, easily burning his opponents for huge scores. He is a below average route-runner and definitely doesn’t possess the best hands. Even in his highlights, you can tell he’s not a very confident catcher of the football, awkwardly mistiming his jumps here and there and letting the ball hit his chest on slant routes. He will need to work on that at the next level but that is correctable with repetition. What really stuck out with me was just how dominant Austin III was at the senior bowl. It seemed he took the NFL coaching well because in he was downright uncoverable by his peers in Mobile. He made big play after big play and scouts took notice. He was one of the top performers at practice every single day. Given his size, Austin III projects as a slot receiver and kick returner at the next level which limits his usage a tad but every team could use a swiss army knife slot receiver who has game-breaking speed. If he’s as uncoverable in the NFL as he was in the Senior Bowl, he should be a star in no time.

Honorable mentions:

Christian Watson, NDSU (2^nd-3^rd rounder): Watson is another player who has dominated the pre-draft process. Many scouts see him as a project since seemed to have a drop problem at NDSU and didn’t run a whole lot of routes. However, him being 6’4” and running a 4.36 40 will make GMs overlook that. Watson didn’t play against anything close to NFL competition at North Dakota State but he dominated them to the tune of 18.6 yards per catch, 7.6 yards per rush and 8 total TDS last year. It will be a steep learning curve in the NFL given he mainly ran nothing but vertical routes at NDSU but if he is given time to develop, he could be a heck of a weapon for an NFL team. There are rumors he could even be selected at the end of the first round by the WR-needy Chiefs…

Khalil Shakir, Boise State (3-5^th rounder): Similar to Austin III, Shakir was another one of the players who dominated the senior bowl, finishing as one of the best players of the week. It’s interesting when I put on his tape, I can’t help but wonder why he is being overlooked? He stands 6’0” tall, weighs 196lbs, and finished the last season with 77 receptions for 1117 yards and 7 TDs at Boise State.  He may not have that elite quickness and stop-and-start that the top receivers in this class possess but he has great balance/ body control and was able to make defenders miss in the open field. He also looks very comfortable catching the ball over the middle in traffic and on deep throws. He will not win those 50/50 battles in the NFL as much as he did in college, though, and that might be an indication that he will not be able to separate as well in the pros, either. However, he seemed to prove the doubters wrong in the Senior Bowl and I can see him doing the same thing in the NFL.

Velus Jones Jr. Tennesse (4-6^th rounder): Jones is a kick return specialist who might have finally found his receiving prowess this past year at Tennessee. He stands 6’0”, weighs 204lbs and ran a 4.31 40 at the NFL combine. Jones led the Volunteers last year with 807 yards and 7 TDs and was dangerous every time the ball was in his hands. He is not a good route runner but has above average hands and is not afraid to take a hit. He should have no issue making the team as a kick returner or a gunner but he led the Volunteers last year with 807 yards and 7 TDs so do not sleep on him making the cut at receiver. Jones will be 25 his first season in the NFL which hurts his draft stock but if the Commanders miss out on their guy in the first few rounds, Jones Jr would a great low risk, high reward player we could select late.  Heck, maybe we select him day 3 even after selecting a receiver with our first-round pick given the lack of depth we have the WR position.

Conclusion: Given the depth of WRs in this draft, it’s hard for me to get excited about selecting one at pick 11. However, if Mayhew and Rivera think that’s the best way to go to get the most out of their new QB, I am okay with it. Ron Rivera appears to be smitten with Chris Olave, as he was seen smiling and chit-chatting with him towards the end of the Ohio State pro day. I would bet the house Chris Olave will be starting across from Terry next season, with a third Ohio State Buckeye Curtis Samuel starting at slot.

However, rumors around the league are both Ohio State prospects are going to go ‘earlier than people may think’ but I imagine that simply means the word is out that the Commanders will be selecting one (Olave) at #11. Wilson is odds-on favorite to be the first WR selected in this year’s draft so he could easily go to the Jets at #10 or possibly the Falcons at #8. It’s unlikely both Olave and Wilson are selected before our pick, but if they are, I wonder if Mayhew and Rivera will stick to the plan and go best WR available (Burks or Willaims) or would they take a blue chip defender who fell to #11 (such as LSU’s CB Derek Stingley or Notre Dame’s SS Kyle Hamilton) and address WR in the 2^nd round? I would hope they would do the latter and select the best player available at #11 and address WR later. We will find out in a few weeks.