Welcome to draft season! This is the first of 11 positional breakdowns leading up to the NFL draft (April 27-April 29). Here are my top 10 wide receivers:
— 1. Jaxon Smith-Njigba (Jr., Ohio State, 6-foot, 196 pounds)
The Buckeyes had two receivers drafted in the first 11 picks last April. Smith-Njigba out-produced both as a sophomore, setting school records for single-season receptions (95) and receiving yards (1,606). An injury-riddled season dampened his stock, but he's checked out fine during the draft process. He's a manipulative route runner who uses his body language and varies his speed in order to create space wherever he is on the field. Projected: Round 1
— 2. Zay Flowers (Sr., Boston College, 5-9, 182)
Flowers won't be for everyone with his smallish frame, but he checks my boxes for a No. 1 receiver at the next level. He's a good route-runner with excellent hands who is extremely dangerous in the open field thanks to elite speed, agility and vision. He'll be the first BC receiver drafted since 1987 (Kelvin Martin). Projected: Rounds 1-2
— 3. Quentin Johnston (Jr., TCU, 6-2, 208)
Johnston has drawn comparisons to Cincy's Tee Higgins and the Chargers' Mike Williams, and he forces missed tackles when he has the ball in his hands — his 8.9 YAC in 2022 was No. 2 in the FBS. His hands are a concern to some scouts, but I feel he could benefit from a more accurate QB at the next level. Projected: Round 1
— 4. Jordan Addison (Jr., USC, 5-11, 173)
The 2021 Biletnikoff Award winner (with Pittsburgh) wasn't as dominant for the Trojans last season, but he's a silky smooth route runner with enough speed to challenge a defense at every level and features inside/outside versatility. Projected: Round 1
— 5. Jalin Hyatt (Jr., Tennessee, 6-0, 176)
Hyatt emerged as the premier deep threat in college football after exploding for 207 yards and five touchdowns (!) against Alabama in October. The 2022 Biletnikoff Award winner is track and field fast. I only have two questions: Why didn't he produce at this level his previous two seasons with the Volunteers, and can he produce on the perimeter — where he will face press coverage much more often — since he's primarily ran most of his routes out of the slot? Projected: Rounds 1-2
— 6. Tyler Scott (Jr., Cincinnati, 5-9, 177)
Scott is smallish and still learning the position, but the T.Y. Hilton and Tyler Lockett comparisons are apt. He's a former high school running back and Junior Olympic sprinter who offers dynamic versatility and big-play ability — 10 of his 14 career TDs went for 30-plus yards. He was a regular on special teams, thriving as a gunner on punt coverage (six tackles the last two seasons). Projected: Round 2
— 7. Josh Downs (Jr., North Carolina, 5-8, 171)
Downs' size will cause some consternation, but he's skilled and athletic enough to overcome it. His explosiveness will stress defensive backs at every level of the route tree and he's slippery after the catch. His father, Gary Downs, was drafted in the third round and played seven seasons in the NFL. His uncle, Dre Bly, was a second-round pick at cornerback and made it 12 seasons. Projected: Round 2
— 8. Jonathan Mingo (Sr., Ole Miss, 6-1, 220)
There's not a lot of polish here, but the right coaching staff could develop Mingo into a diamond at the next level. He has strong, consistent hands and he's hard to take down once he makes the catch. He had 10 receptions of 30-plus yards in 2022 (including two for more than 70 yards). Projected: Rounds 2-4
— 9. Xavier Hutchinson (Sr., Iowa State, 6-1, 203)
Brock Purdy's favorite target during his time in Ames was a three-year letterman in basketball in high school, but wasn't ranked by recruiting services and received marginal interest from football programs. Hutchinson became a three-star junior college recruit after spending two years at Blinn College (Texas). No FBS player had more receptions (254) over the past three seasons and he became a first team All-American as a senior. Projected: Rounds 3-4
— 10. A.T. Perry (Sr., Wake Forest, 6-3, 198)
Perry will need to overcome some drop issues, but he's big, fast (4.47 40-yard dash) and a top-tier field-stretcher in this draft class because of his ball skills. His 28 TD receptions are a school record (he's tied for seventh-most in ACC history with Calvin Johnson). Projected: Rounds 2-4
— BONUS: Rashee Rice (Sr., SMU, 6-0, 204)
Rice isn't a burner, but he consistently wins jump balls and was highly productive team captain for the Mustangs. He is top-five in school history in touchdown catches (25), receiving yards (3,111) and receptions (233). Projected: Rounds 2-3
— BONUS: Cedric Tillman (Sr., Tennessee, 6-3, 213)
Tillman has prototypical size (something the draft is lacking at this position) and the ball skills to thrive on the perimeter. He lacks top-end speed and will need to expand his route tree, but he has the traits to become a reliable target in the NFL. Projected: Rounds 2-3
— BONUS: Marvin Mims Jr. (Jr., Oklahoma, 5-10, 183)
Mims is a field-stretcher. He's one of only four receivers in this draft class to average at least 19.5 yards per catch in his collegiate career. He's capable of spectacular catches, but will also drop some easy ones too. Projected: Rounds 2-3
— BONUS: Kayshon Boutte (Jr., LSU, 5-11, 195)
Boutte bombed at the combine and has already had two surgeries on his right ankle, so don't be surprised if he falls further than you'd expect at the draft. He's a former top-100 recruit who has shown flashes of superstar potential, can play inside or outside and can turn short throws into chunk plays. There's real "steal" potential here if everything comes together in the pros. Projected: Rounds 3-4
— BONUS. Trey Palmer (Sr., Nebraska, 6-0, 192)
Palmer was a top-20 recruit at the position in 2019 and ended up signing with LSU, where he returned both a kick and punt for a TD in limited playing time over three seasons. He was a decorated track athlete in high school and the speed translates to the football field. He became only the second player in Nebraska history to surpass 1,000 receiving yards in a season as a senior. Palmer has shaky hands — he had more drops (18) than TD receptions (12) in his career — but a defense has to respect him when he lines up because of his game-breaking speed. Projected: Rounds 3-4
— BONUS: Nathaniel Dell (Sr., Houston, 5-8, 165)
"Tank" produced back-to-back seasons with 1,300-plus yards and had 29 TD receptions the last two seasons with the Cougars. Dell ran "just" a 4.49 40-yard dash in Indy, which was a bit surprising if you've seen him play. He moves with the suddenness of a pinball, but he's small — no receiver under 170 pounds is currently starting in the NFL — and drops a lot of easy passes. Still, he possesses game-changing ability as a receiver or punt returner. Projected: Rounds 3-4
— BONUS: Jayden Reed (Sr., Michigan State, 5-10, 187)
Reed was a three-year starter in East Lansing and is one of the more productive playmakers in this draft class. He's thrown and ran for a touchdown, made 26 TD receptions and returned three punts to the house in his collegiate career. However, he struggles against press coverage and will occasionally drop an easy one. Projected: Rounds 3-5
— BONUS: Michael Wilson (Sr., Stanford, 6-1, 213)
Wilson has been plagued by injuries while playing for a terrible Cardinal squad and is technically raw after only playing in 14 games over the last three years. However, he was a four-star recruit, features prototypical size and has proven dangerous in catch-and-run situations. Wilson is also a talented run blocker and could play gunner on special teams while he's earning his sea legs in the pros. He was also the best receiver during Senior Bowl week. Projected: Rounds 4-7
— BONUS: Andrei Iosivas (Sr., Princeton, 6-3, 205)
Iosivas (Yo-SHE-vas) finished fourth at the 2022 NCAA Indoor Championships in the heptathlon, including an NCAA meet record in the 60 meters (6.71). So now you know he's smart and fast. He never faced FBS competition, and struggled a bit during Senior Bowl week, but there's so much clay to mold for the right coaching staff. Projected: Rounds 4-7
— BONUS: Xavier Gipson (Sr., Stephen F. Austin, 5-9, 189)
Gipson is an undersized, but explosive playmaker. He led SFA in receiving each of his four seasons and was responsible for four punt return scores. He could thrive as a slot target in the NFL if he continues to develop his technique. Projected: Round 7-PFA
