2022: Wide Receivers
The wide receiver draft classes are non-stop good. Year in and year out there’s a deep class of impactful players and NFL teams are starting to notice and deciding they don’t want to pay Tyreek Hill or Davante Adams insane money when they have good odds of drafting a receiver and filling a chunk of that production on a rookie salary. This year’s class is definitely solid, although I think all 3 of 2021’s top players at the position would top this pool of prospects. With limited talent available at other positions, expect at least 6 wideouts to hear their name in round one.
Drake London–WR–USC–6’4”-219–Top 20–94
The big receiver in this draft. London works the middle of the field mostly, so teams looking for an outside the numbers player will be making a projection for Drake’s fit outside. Although he’s got a few highlight catches on fade routes. Much closer to Chase Claypool than Michael Pittman Jr., Drake has top level ball skills and wins contested catches with regularity. He’s been productive since he stepped on campus at USC and at 20 years old, his development trajectory could make him a Brandon Marshall type player.
Treylon Burks–WR–Arkansas–6’2”-225–Top 15–92
Kind of an unusual prospect given the body type and the atypical usage at the collegiate level for a top level prospect. Burks played mostly in the slot with a lot of motion action in college. He shows flashes of making great plays on contested balls, then sometimes he’ll shy away from contact. I think the interviews and understanding his competitive mentality are going to play a huge role for when he hears his name called. But at his weight, he has tremendous athletic movement and shows a burst that is better than his timed 4.55 in the 40. I think he’s got lateral ability to deliver in the short game, and has the talent to go up and get it. I could see him being used as a stronger Jaylen Waddle, as long as he lands with the right offensive coordinator.
Jameson Williams–WR–Alabama–6’1”-179–Late 1st/Early 2nd–91
Without his injury, I think Williams is the consensus top receiver in this class. At slightly over 6’1” with route polish and top end wheels, I would have expected him to go in the top 15. With the questions about recovering from the ACL along with the absence of combine testing results, I think he’s going to slide into late round 1 where teams like the Ravens and 49ers who love to draft for upside, question marks be damned, will scoop him up. Beginning his career at Ohio State, Williams transferred to Alabama in time for the 2021 season and immediately lit it up. Jameson is a very angular player who can do damage on posts, corners, and stop routes. A pro comparison would be Will Fuller, who is a really good player when healthy, but now Williams may have people wondering if his career will have the same hiccups as Fuller’s.
Chris Olave–WR–Ohio State–6’0”-187–1st–91
Take your pick on these Ohio State wide receivers. With nearly identical measurements and production to his teammate Garrett Wilson, Olave ran a 4.39 second 40 yard dash. I like Olave much better because he has route running polish, ball skills, and has plenty of YAC ability. Not physically dominant in any way, I am confident Olave can get separation and then can make plays with the ball in his hands. I know it’s an easy comparison, but his game is quite similar to another former Buckeye, Terry Mclaurin. Also, Amari Cooper.
Jahan Dotson–WR–Penn State–5’11”-178–2nd–90
Doesn’t have quite the jets or open field draw dropping ability that former Nittany Lion K.J. Hamler had, but Dotson fits the same type of physical profile. He makes some plays with the ball in his hands, has route running ability, but maybe his most impressive trait is his ball skills and compete level at the catch point. The Emmanual Sanders comparison fits pretty well. Dotson is closer to DeVonta Smith than to DeSean Jackson. Penn State is quietly becoming wide receiver U.
Garrett Wilson–WR–Ohio State–6’0”-183–Top 20–85
I’m really not sure how Wilson is being projected as the top receiver in this draft class. I thought he was the 3rd best receiver on his college team. Nothing stands out about his game, but there aren’t any glaring flaws either. He has enough size, plays pretty strong, and ran a 4.38 40. But I don’t see exceptional route running, point of catch competitiveness, or dominant athletic traits. More than anything, he seems like a good, solid, #2 receiver, that I expect to land in Tennessee. Not sure why, just have a hunch. Wilson is a lot closer to Kendrick Bourne than he is to Justin Jefferson.