Top 10 WR Prospects | Football Jabber

This year’s class of wide receivers is a good mix of speed and size guys but lacks a standout top 10 guy. With many high profile offensive teams needing a top WR, this year’s class should prove to have good opportunity to make an immediate impact. A deep class, many teams may choose to wait until the third round to get their guys.

1) Limas Sweed, Texas

There was worry that Sweed would run a 4.5+ 40 at the combine and that teams may choose to ignore him until the second round. Well Sweed ran a 4.46 and had a solid combine, cementing his first round status. I think Sweed is the safest pick in the class with sure hands and crisp route running. He is a physical receiver who can fight off jams at the LOS. The only knock on Sweed is injury history.

2) Devin Thomas, Michigan State

Thomas may have earned the distinction of being the first WR selected in the draft with his monster combine. He ran a 4.32 40 at 215 pounds. A physical sure-handed pass-catcher, Thomas will receive some criticism for not producing at all until this past year but I believe that can be attributed to scheme and coaching as much as the player.

3) DeSean Jackson, California

The top speedster in the draft, he won’t get a lucky top 10 reach this year like the receiver many compare him to did last year, Ted Ginn Jr. Elite kick return abilities paired with 4.3 40 speed and sure hands, Jackson has Steve Smith-like upside but will need to adapt to playing at a much more physical NFL level.

4) James Hardy, Indiana

I really want to rank Hardy at #1 on this list. I really do but I always have difficulty ranking guys who have character concerns around effort. Look at guys like Dwayne Jarrett. Ranked highly and set up to succeed as the WR2 for Carolina but now he might be lucky to crack WR4 on that team. Hardy, at 6′5″, has the size to win jump balls all day in the red zone and has surprisingly good hands for a big man who doesn’t necessarily run the cleanest routes. Easily the biggest upside in the draft, Hardy could develop into the next TO.

5) Early Doucet, LSU

Many have Early Doucet as a proto-typical slot receiver; I couldn’t agree more. Doucet worked out and produced well at the Senior Bowl but neglected to perform at the combine and worked out poorly at LSU’s pro day, running a slow 4.56 40. Doucet has big game experience and the hands to produce in the NFL.

6) Malcolm Kelly, Oklahoma

Kelly has seen the biggest freefall in his draft stock outside of the now second day pick Adarius Bowman. Concerns about his knee, inability to tough out a thigh injury and finally a horrible 4.68 40 on the OU pro day have lead to Kelly falling from surefire WR1 to round 2 pick. Measureables and injuries aside, the kid has talent. We’ve all seen the circus catches that Kelly has made. I hope that the thigh injury bothering him had hampered his ability to run. If he can get/stay healthy, he might be a steal for a team in the second round.

7) Jordy Nelson, Kansas State

I like Nelson as a physical possession receiver for a team starving for WR help. He is the type of player who can fight for catches over the middle with his 6′2″ 217 lb frame and still have enough speed to beat his man occasionally with his 4.49 40 speed. He has shown the ability to beat elite corners in college and has the size to position out defenders in the NFL.

8 ) Donnie Avery, Houston

Donnie Avery sort of back up his claim to being a top level speedster. His 4.34 pro day time isn’t the 4.2 he predicted, nor was his 4.40 at the combine. However, 4.3 speed is still legitimate speed. Avery’s numbers are thought to be inflated because of the pass happy Houston offense but you cannot deny his ability to catch the ball. He also brings return abilities to the table. I like him to go in the late second or early third.

9) Eddie Royal, Virginia Tech

While a 4.39 40 time may not turn too many heads when you are 5′9″ 184 lbs, Royal won over scouts at the combine by performing well in the route running and catch drills. He was fluid and looked very comfortable in performing. Don’t be surprised if he sneaks into the first day.

10) Mario Manningham, Michigan

Manningham has done all he could to ruin his draft stock; running a 4.59 40 when speed is your calling card, lying directly to NFL GMs and scouts and terrible interviews to name a few. Mario is back on the rise after running a 4.42 on his pro day. He needs to works on his hands as the last time I recall watching some game tape on Manningham, he suffered through multiple drops. His injury history is also well documented. Still, when Manningham is on his game, he is a force on the field. Mario’s draft position may have much to do with what Gms are willing to gamble.

Close to the cut:
Andre Caldwell, Florida
Earl Bennett, Vanderbilt
Will Franklin, Missouri
Dexter Jackson, Appalachian State
Paul Hubbard, Wisconsin
Harry Douglas, Louisville
Marcus Monk, Arkansas

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NFL Draft Prospects | Donnie Avery

Name: Donnie Avery
Position: Wide Receiver
School: Houston
Year: Senior
Career stats: 210 rec 3289 rec yds 15.7 ypc 19 rec TDs
Ht: 5-11
Wt: 190
40: 4.27 (est)
Bench: N/A
Expected draft position: WR 8-14 3rd round - 5th round
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Strengths: Lightning quick, He will compete with runningback Chris Johnson as one of the fastest prospects at the combine. Elite kick return abilities. Huge threat to gain yards after the catch. Soft hands. Able to adjust and accelerate to make catches.

Concerns: Smallish, will likely deal with alot of jamming at the NFL level. A raw talent, does not have the seasoning of a receiver working in a complex program.

Comments: Avery’s speed alone will warrant first day consideration. He is a burner in the truest sense. However, Houston’s relatively simple pass attack likely hasn’t prepared him for the NFL as much as more complex programs would have. Odds are he will need to work on his route running to become a legitimate NFL receiver.

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NFL Draft Prospects: Early Doucet

Name: Early Doucet
Position: Wide Receiver
School: LSU
Year: Senior
Career stats: 160 rec 1943 rec yds 12.1 ypc 20 TD
Ht: 6-1
Wt: 210
40: 4.5 (est)
Bench: N/A
Expected draft position: WR 5-12 2nd round - 4th round
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Strengths: Good burst speed and is elusive in open space. Excellent vision, sees the field well when running with the ball. Good skills in the return game. Good blocker downfield. Decent deep threat.

Concerns: Too slow to be a burner and not big enough to be a big-body WR. Doucet also has durability issues. He has never put together the season of producing first round numbers as the “man” in LSU after Dwayne Bowe and Buster Davis left town.

Comments: Doucet is an odd draft commodity. He is decent at most every area of play as a receiver and also brings return man abilities to the table. What he lacks are the stellar numbers and good physical measurables. Doucet’s big game experience and all-around abilities may land him a first day draft choice but I think that he may be severely overshadowed by some of the bigger, faster and more productive receivers leading to a big of a freefall down the draft board. Don’t be surprised to see Doucet get picked in the 3rd or 4th round but end up securing a spot as a slot receiver/return man early in his career.

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NFL Draft Prospects: James Hardy

Name: James Hardy
Position: Wide Receiver
School: Indiana
Year: Junior
Career stats: 199 rec 2740 rec yds 13.8 ypc 36 TDs
Ht: 6-7
Wt: 220
40: 4.5 (est)
Bench: N/A
Expected draft position: WR 5-10 1st - 3rd round
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Strengths: Scary measurables; Hardy is 6-7 and is quoted to have a sub-4.5 forty time and a 42″ vertical leap. He has decent hands and manages to get open consistently despite being doubled routinely throughout his game.

Concerns: Practice field work ethic is a concern with Hardy as is his ability to deal with some of the more physical corners of the NFL. For his 6-7 height, he is not bulky enough to deal with being jammed at the line at the NFL level.

Comments: Comparisons to Plaxico Burress are frequently used to describe Hardy’s potential impact to a franchise. His red zone potential is higher than any receiver in the draft. Hardy will be somewhat of a project as he is not as complete as many of the other big body WRs in the draft but his size and hands alone will garner first day attention. Proving allegations of a sub-4.5 forty time will work wonders from his draft stock come combine season.

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NFL Draft Prospects: Adarius Bowman

Name: Adarius Bowman
Position: Wide Receiver
School: Oklahoma State
Year: Senior
Career stats: 145 rec 2516 rec yds 17.4 ypc 23 TDs
Ht: 6-4
Wt: 220
40: 4.55 (est)
Bench: N/A
Expected draft position: WR 3-7 Late 1st - 2nd round
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Strengths: Many cite Bowman’s excellent downfield blocking as a big plus in his game. Bowman has excellent hands and rarely drops a pass when he can get his hands to it. He is faster than his 4.55 measured time depicts and will get solid YAC. Good size and a solid frame.

Concerns: Character issues are legitimate concern with Bowman; he was suspended from NC for marijuana possession. He also has the knock of being slow and having difficulty separating from defenders although I envision him to have a good combine to erase that knock partly.

Comments: Bowman has the best chance of the big receivers in the draft to be a legitimate steal. He is first round talent hidden underneath second round hype. The wide receiver class is deep this year but I believe that Bowman will be a good talent for the NFL; whether he goes in the first or second round.

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NFL Draft Prospects: DeSean Jackson

Name: DeSean Jackson
Position: Wide Receiver
School: California
Year: Junior
Career stats: 162 rec 2423 rec yds 15.0 ypc 22 TDs
Ht: 6-0
Wt: 166
40: 4.32 (est)
Bench: N/A
Expected draft position: WR 1-3 1st round
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Strengths: Great speed, elite punt return abilities. Crisp and clean route running abilities. Able to make tacklers miss in the open field and is able to generate yards after the catch. Is a deep threat and has the ability to score with every touch of the ball.

Concerns: Smaller than your prototypical receiver at 166 lbs but his big play ability will likely overshadow that.

Comments: The Devin Hester effect will likely enter into the equation but the true value in Jackson will be his shiftiness and ability to create offense from screens and YAC. His deep threat will also be a boon for his draft stock. DeSean is easily the best speed receiver available in the draft.

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NFL Draft Prospects: Limas Sweed

Name: Limas Sweed
Position: Wide Receiver
School: Texas
Year: Senior
Career stats: 124 rec 1915 rec yds 15.4 ypc 20 TDs
Ht: 6-5
Wt: 219
40: 4.54 (est)
Bench: N/A
Expected draft position: WR 1-6 1st - 2nd round
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Strengths: Excellent jump-ball ability, knows how to use his size to catch and protect the ball from defenders. Good hands, is able to pick the ball out of the air at odd angles.

Concerns: Sweed is slow and will not be able to beat NFL corners and safeties with speed. Slight injury concern as he had wrist problems this year that cut his senior season short.

Comments: Sweed is a prototypical possession receiver. He uses his body to isolate the defender from the ball to make his catches. He won’t win any races and will likely always have a terrible YAC, but his size, ability and pedigree will ensure that Sweed is an early first day pick.

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NFL Draft Prospects: Malcolm Kelly

Name: Malcolm Kelly
Position: Wide Receiver
School: Oklahoma
Year: Junior
Career stats: 144 rec 2285 rec yds 15.9 ypc 21 TDs
Ht: 6-4
Wt: 219
40: 4.47 (est)
Bench: N/A
Expected draft position: WR 1-6 1st - 2nd round
YouTube Linkage

Strengths: Able to use his size and hands to isolate defenders and make difficult catches. Good hands, rarely drops the ball. Very physical, is not afraid to go up strong and fight for the ball. Deceiving speed and shiftiness.

Concerns: One of the more complete receivers in the draft, the only concern with Kelly is that he has never completed one full season of football at the collegiate level. There is always slight injury concern with him although I doubt that it will affect his stock much if any.

Comments: Of the big receivers in the draft, I expect Kelly to be the most impactful. He always seems to play with a chip on his shoulder. He isn’t afraid to go up and make the tough catches. He is physical and fights for the ball. My kind of receiver. If he has a good combine, Kelly should go in the first round if he declares.

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