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NFL Draft Early Entries: Wide Receivers
2016 NFL Draft Early Entries: It's a huge year for wide receivers with lots of talent, lots of size, and a little something for everyone.
September 24, 2016
2016 NFL Draft Early Entries: The wide receivers are coming out in huge numbers, and they should be the stars of the draft.
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Bralon Addison, Oregon, 5-10, 190
Right Move? Banged up in 2014, he came back and was terrific cranking up 63 catches for 804 yards and ten scores. He might not be all that big, but he’s ultra-quick, is good at finding the holes in the defense, and has the athleticism to grow into an NFL kick and punt returner.
Projection: Fourth Round
Demarcus Ayers, Houston, 5-10, 190
Right Move? Really quick, really productive, and really in need of one more year to improve his stock, he had a nice season catching 98 passes for 1,222 yards and six scores. If he could bulk up a little bit and be a bit more physical he could hang on as a No. 3 receiver, but he’s going to be a late round flier.
Projection: Sixth Round
Tyler Boyd, Pitt, 6-2, 200
Right Move? He’s been ready for a while. With NFL size and great ability to make things happen after the catch, he’s smooth, reliable, and consistent. As good as he was as a college player, he should be even better at the next level once he finally gets a quarterback who can throw to him on a regular basis. He was the No. 1 guy for defenses to stop, and they couldn’t do it.
Projection: Second Round
Daniel Braverman, Western Michigan, 5-10, 177
Right Move? Corey Davis might have led the Broncos in receiving yards, but Braverman was the dangerous pass catcher who came up with a team-high 108 catches for 1,371 yards and 13 scores. Ultra-quick, he’ll be used as an inside target and a punt returner, but he’s missing the raw bulk. That’s okay – he’ll find a role with his route-running ability and great hands.
Projection: Sixth Round
Corey Coleman, Baylor, 5-10, 190
Right Move? He’s too thin, played in a gimmicky offense with inflated numbers, and … he’s really, really good. Dominant in the wide-open attack, he flourished with 76 catches for 1,363 yards and 20 touchdowns before undergoing hernia surgery late in the year. The deep threat of deep threats, he might not be franchise receiver like a Dez Bryant or a Calvin Johnson, but he’ll be a devastating home run hitter.
Projection: First Round
Pharoh Cooper, South Carolina, 5-11, 207
Right Move? There’s absolutely no reason for the dangerous and shifty playmaker to stick around for the rebuilding process. A jack-of-all-trades, he caught 66 passes for 973 yards and eight scores, ran for 111 yards and a score on 24 carries, and could serve as both a kick or punt returner. While he might not be a franchise NFL receiver, he’s the type of toy all good offensive coordinators want to play with.
Projection: Second Round
Thomas Duarte, UCLA, 6-2, 225
Right Move? Josh Rosen’s big target came up with 53 catches for 872 yards and ten scores, and now he’s ready to be a big No. 2 target at the next level. He’s going to be seen as a bit of a tweener – he’s not a tight end, but he’s not a deep threat NFL wide receiver. Even so, he can catch and get physical when attacking the ball. He’ll have to fit the right type of offense.
Projection: Third Round
Will Fuller, Notre Dame, 6-0, 184
Right Move? Will he or won’t he? After originally thinking about sticking around, he wisely chose to take off early after catching 62 passes for 1,258 yards and 14 touchdowns averaging over 20 yards per pop. While he’s not all that big, and he’s not built like an NFL No. 1 target, he always found ways to get into the clear and was great at finding another gear whenever he had to make something happen. He’s not an elite prospect, but he can fit as a solid No. 3.
Projection: Third Round
Rashard Higgins, Colorado State, 6-2, 190
Projection: Third Round
Cayleb Jones, Arizona, 6-3, 215
Right Move? It’s a curious move. He caught 55 passes for 904 yards and five scores last season, but the former Texas Longhorn could’ve used another year of seasoning. He has the frame NFL scouts like, and he can move, but he’s not a blazer and he has to do all the little things right. There’s upside, but he probably would’ve been a mid-round pick if he stayed one more season.
Projection: Sixth Round
Kenny Lawler, California, 6-3, 195
Right Move? Jared Goff’s main man caught a team-high 52 passes for 658 yards and 13 touchdowns. With the right size and just enough toughness to handle himself in traffic, he’s a solid route-runner with a nose for getting free in the red zone. He looks the part, but he needs to add a little more bulk.
Projection: Third Round
Roger Lewis, Bowling Green, 6-0, 196
Right Move? Explosive and dangerous no matter how he got the ball in his hands, he came up with a whopping 1,544 yards and 16 touchdowns on 85 catches in the high-powered Bowling Green offense. He’s always open with the upside to be a phenomenal part of a big passing game – he’d be perfect for Green Bay.
Projection: Third Round
Jalin Marshall, Ohio State, 5-11, 205
Right Move? With upside as a kick and punt returner as well as a dangerous receiver, he’s shifty, quick, and really, really, really fast. He’ll blaze away in the workout circuit and should be a sub-4.4 guy. Expect him to be seen mostly as a special teamer early on.
Projection: Fifth Round
Michael Thomas, Ohio State, 6-3, 210
Right Move? He’s not his uncle – Keyshawn Johnson – but the big Buckeye deep threat averaged almost 14 yards per catch making a team-high 56 grabs for 781 yards and nine touchdowns, but he has the upside to be an even better pro. While he might not be the most polished target, it shouldn’t matter too much right away considering he’s got a huge catching radius and will always fight for the ball.
Projection: Second Round
Laquon Treadwell, Ole Miss, 6-2, 210
Right Move? While he’s not going to be an explosive all-around playmaker, he’s got the size, the hands, and the skills to be a true No. 1 target as a route runner and a star for a passing attack. All back full after his horrific leg injury in 2014, he led the team with 82 catches for 1,153 yards and 11 touchdowns looking quicker, sharper, and better than ever. Consider it a shock if he’s not the first receiver off the board.
Projection: First Round
De’Runnya Wilson, Mississippi State, 6-5, 215
Right Move? Dak Prescott’s big target is a nice deep threat catching 60 passes for 918 yards and ten touchdowns this season. He’s not shifty in any way and he’s not going to be the type who makes big things happen on the move, but he’ll use his big frame and physical style to be a go-to target in key situations and be a tough No. 3 receiver. He’ll drop a bit because of problems off the field – he was arrested for pop possession – but he could be just getting started as a player. There’s huge upside.
Projection: Fourth Round
