2024: Wide Receivers

Marvin Harrison Jr. WR – Ohio State -  98

Effortless. Everything looks easy for this guy, reminds me of A.J. Green. I think Green was a better route runner, but MHJ is better at the catch point. He’s got all the gifts you want to see and on top of that has consistent production and NFL bloodlines that makes it feel can’t miss. I was confused by him skipping media sessions at the combine. Marvin Sr. was famously soft spoken so it might be the same thing. Part of me expects a Edgerrin James vs. Ricky Williams event at the draft where the famous college player – Ricky Williams and MHJ – get passed on the draft board by Edge and Nabers based on a team’s preference for their offense. Both great players and prospects. I lean to Marvin based on receiving skill, consistent production against the best defenses in the country with a bulls eye on his back, and the physical traits to back it all up. He’s the best wideout prospect since Amari Cooper (2015).

Malik Nabers – WR – LSU – 98

Has the burst to eliminate cushions immediately. I see Jamarr Chase immediately watching Nabers. Able to cut and maintain speed, play inside or out, and make defenders look silly for getting run past. He is so smooth you can’t believe he’s moving that fast. 100% deserving a pick in the top 8. Has plenty of size to boot. Malik won’t be the guy that moves the chains on 3rd and 4. But he’ll be the guy opening it up for the underneath throw on those plays. Nabers gets open with burst and change of speed, not route running chops. If he develops them later in his career, great, but either way he’s going to be an impact player down the field averaging 14+ yards per catch and helping everyone else on the offense.

Rome Odunze – WR – Washington  – 97

Rome has legit X receiver size and runs a smooth 4.45 40 with a sub 7 second 3 cone. Very impressive at 212lbs. I mean how many X receivers do you see returning punts! He’s a solid route runner and excels at the catch point. Oddly enough I think there’s more for him to unlock as he moves to an NFL offense. So much focus on down the field plays at Washington, I think Rome has an untapped short area game that can look like DaVante Adams. What a stacked class this year that Odunze is the 3rd overall WR. We could be talking about this class of receivers like the 2004 quarterback class. One thing that stuck out about Rome was being the last person on the combine field trying over and over to get the 3 cone time that he wanted. I am choosing to believe that he is a perfectionist and a worker and will do everything in his power to be the best receiver he can be.

Brian Thomas Jr. – WR - LSU - 95

Where does LSU come up with these guys? Brian Thomas Jr. looks like the best possible version of Mike Williams, formerly of the Chargers. Really good height, size, and ability to play the jump ball. Plus he runs a god damn 4.33 in the 40! Embarrassment of riches in Baton Rouge. Mike Williams didn’t have the ability to develop more areas of his game, but BTJ can. That’s where the upside comes in. Head to head, I think Williams catches more jump balls, but BTJ has a more productive career, injuries aside.

Keon Coleman – WR – Florida St. - 91

This might be the most polarizing of the receiver prospects this year. Big time playmaker for the ‘Noles. Coleman moves well with the ball in his hands and makes plays up and down the field. Limited on lateral mobility and quickness that hurts his separation ability. Plays strong on jump balls and using 38” vert to outleap defenders. He played for the Michigan State basketball team and his awareness in the air and box out positioning is evident. Proponents for Coleman say he played one year with a good QB and lit the world on fire. He dominated LSU. Coleman has the strength to play on the line of scrimmage as a true X and win the jump ball. He has open field playmaking ability evidenced by 12 yard avg on punt returns at 6’3”! Only Josh Cribbs does that. And he did it all before his 21st birthday. Detractors say he ran a 4.61 in the 40. That’s it. I side with the pros and would be happy with him at the top of round 2.

Adonai Mitchell – WR – Texas - 90

I cannot get over that UT listed him as 6’4” and he is 6’2” flat at the combine. But I digress. He’s got really good size and great 4.34 times speed. I don’t see that speed consistently show up on tape, but you see flashes which makes you trust that it’s there. Adonai has the willingness to actually run routes, though I don’t know if he has the flexibility and burst to a separator based on route running. His athletic traits will have to be enough to get the ball in his hands. The main question you have to ask is: why did AD need to transfer from Georgia to Texas to see consistent playing time? With these tools and onfield ability, there’s no reason AD should need a new situation to get some run.

Troy Franklin – WR – Oregon - 88

Tough break for Troy that this year’s class is loaded with guys that are big, tall, and can run. He is tall and can run, but at 175lbs, it clearly bumps him down a level. Honestly, he reminds me of Calvin Ridley. Same linear build, excels in 45 degree angle cuts where he can maintain speed. Franklin lit it up for the Ducks in 2023 to the tune of 1380 yards, 17 ypc, and 14 TDs. This is who Tyquan Thronton should be.

Malachi Corley – WR – Western Kentucky - 85

You just don’t see guys like this very often. Anquan Boldin, Deebo Samuel. The Wide Back position. Corley revels in the physicality of football. He brings attitude to an offense. Honestly, he’s further along as a wide receiver than Deebo was coming out of school. Granted Corley was playing against inferior competition than the SEC, but he was clearly the best player on the field. Good size and excellent play strength, this guy is going to be a menace in the open field.

Xavier Legette – WR – South Carolina - 84

We’ve been talking about traits and how that elevates prospects. Legette’s physical traits put him right into that conversation at 6’1”, 220lbs, running a sub 4.4 in the 40. On the field, he looks tight, like a walking hamstring problem. His get off at the line of scrimmage isn’t twitchy, like he needs 3 steps to get into his route speed. But once it’s built, he can scoot. Legette somehow looks even faster with the ball in his hands. Has good ups and caught plenty of jump balls. Xavier burst onto the scene in 2023 with 1200 receiving yards after not topping 200 in his previous 3 campaigns. That worries me and leaves him in round 2. But I could see him being a D.J. Moore type player.

Jalen McMillan –WR – Washington - 82

These stacked receiving cores are getting out of control in the college game. McMillan jumped out to me watching Washington because he was there gotta have it player. Money downs, he was their Julian Edelman. Good length and hand size, he ran pretty well. McMillan is one of my favorites and could have a Tyler Boyd like career, which is nothing to scoff at in the 3rd round. Plus he’s got ‘Tude.

Ja’Lynn Polk – WR - Washington - 81

He looks like Malik Nabers if you just gave him 80% speed and burst. Polk has a really good feel for the position and naturally gets his body and hands in place to make catches. Only ran 4.52 in the 40 but posted a 1.52 ten yard split. I like his body, production, and play style. But missing that top gear or upper end size is going to make it tough for him to win on the outside or deep. And the YAC ability is not going to translate.

Javon Baker – WR – UCF - 80

Transfer from Alabama. He had a great Senior Bowl week. Reminds me a bit of Josh Doctson as a shorter guy that catches a lot of jump balls on the outside. Really strong hands and good concentration. Has a little something in the open field, but nothing to write home about. He makes his money at the catch point.

Roman Wilson – WR – Michigan - 79

Number 1 at Michigan will always mean something. Makes you perk up right away. Wilson really had a breakout senior campaign for the Wolverines and was the number one threat in the passing game. He led the team with less than 800 yards receiving which highlights how little they threw the ball. Wilson’s compact frame allows him to make quick short area cuts and should be productive in the slot. I expect him to be in motion constantly because it’s going to be hard for him to get past a jam at the line. Tops out with 4.4 speed and has the ability to make people miss in the open field. Reminds me of a shorter Chris Olave without the years of production in a spread attack. Worthy of a 3rd rounder. Also, he has a Vlog on youtube. Not entirely sure how I feel about that.

Xavier Worthy – WR – Texas - 77

Speed. Worthy broke the sound barrier with a 4.21 in the 40 at the combine. Reminds me of Marquise Brown because of the surprising compete level at 165 pounds. Has several years of good production for the Longhorns. The thing is, it’s hard to get him the ball. Surprising right? People play off him so much he catches a lot of short passes and then he needs space to put the jets to work. But he gets tackled by a feather. I just don’t know how much value he can bring after the catch and he’s not going to be able to beat coverages with straight line speed consistently enough to warrant the playing time.

Johnny Wilson – WR – Texas - 75

I had to write this kid up cause how often do you see a 6’6” 230 pound receiver? He’s massive, duh. His feet are slow to get going but he did top out with a 4.52 in the 40, although the play speed doesn’t match that. He may have been playing heavier too. He should dominate contested catches, but does not consistently do that yet. I’m not sure where he fits on an offense outside of the red area. He could develop more, but it just looks like Kelvin Benjamin to me, which does not fit well in the current NFL.

Brenden Rice – WR – USC - 69

Jerry Rice has a son that is a wide receiver. And he has almost the exact same measurables as his dad. This should be a slam dunk right? Maybe. He’s got good talent. Solid size, pretty good burst, route running acumen, and nice feel. But something’s missing. Maybe it’s the fact he wasn’t crazy productive in Lincoln Riley’s offense with a Heisman winner under center. Maybe it’s the lack of a stand out trait. I’m not sure what it is, but he looks like a 4th round player, no disrespect. P.S. I wonder how many times he’s done his Dad’s legendary hill workout. Or caught bricks like Jerry did.