THE NFL DRAFT REPORT PRESENTS
AN NFL DRAFT WIDE RECEIVER HISTORY LESSON
Based on out scouting analysis, wide receiver and cornerback are likely to follow tradition of having the most draft selections used on those positions. However, even though there are four receivers targeted as potential first-rounders, this draft class could see at least thirty and maybe up to forty wide-outs get a call from an NFL team on draft day.
Since the start of the 2000 draft, 619 wide receivers have been selected. Among them were 75 first round pass-catchers. All of them have appeared in at least one NFL game, but four played less than a full season schedule (sixteen games) - 2015 seventh overall pick, Kevin White-Chicago, Rashaun Woods, the 31st selection by San Francisco in 2004 and one of the biggest mistakes by the Great Lakes, Charles Rogers, the second overall choice by Detroit in 2005.
White, currently a recent signee by Arizona, has had a myriad of injury issues, but did see his most extensive action last season for the Bears. In three seasons, he's managed just fourteen games, pulling down 25 balls for 285 yards, but has yet to reach the end zone. Woods also succumbed to injury woes, lasting just fourteen games in 2004, as he made seven catches for 160 yards and a score. Rogers appeared in fifteen games over the course of three seasons, totaling 440 yards and four touchdowns via 36 grabs.
Of the 81 drafted in the second round, everyone played in the NFL. Just three of 89 third round choices never appeared on a professional field and eight of 85 fourth round selections were cut during their first and only training camps. Thirteen of eighty fifth round wide receivers also headed for the unemployment line. Ninety-two others were taken in the sixth round and 116 were added as seventh round choices.
Thirty-five of the receivers selected since 2000 have amassed at least five hundred receptions. Five have gone over the 1,000-reception mark, led by Arizona's third overall pick in the 2004 draft, Larry Fitzgerald, who has 1,303 catches. The year before, the Cardinals selected Anquan Boldin with the 54th pick in 2003. Through the 2016 season, he tallied 1,076 grabs.
Indianapolis used the 30th choice in 2001 on Reggie Wayne and he rewarded them with 1,070 receptions until retiring in 2014. Andre Johnson, Houston's third overall pick in 2003, made 1062 grabs from 2003-2016. One of our staff's favorite's, Carolina's 74 pick in the 2001 draft, Steve Smith, rounds out the 1,000 catch club with 1,031 snatches (2001-16).
Thirteen wide-outs from the 2000 draft class and beyond have collected at least 10,000 yards receiving, paced by Fitzgerald's 16,279. Steve Smith follows with 14,731 yards, with Reggie Wayne (14,345) and Andre Johnson (14,185) the only others to generate at least 14,000 aerial yards.
The leading scorers in this group features Fitzgerald again the "top dog" with 116 touchdowns, the only receiver to go over the century mark. A distant second is Denver's 2006 fourth round choice (119 overall), Brandon Marshall, who posted 83 touchdowns from 2006-18. The only others with at least 75 touchdowns are Calvin Johnson, the second pick in the 2007 draft by Detroit. From 2007-15, Megatron pulled down 83 scoring tosses. Reggie Wayne was on the receiving end of 82 touchdowns and Anquan Boldin ended his career with 82 scores, followed by Steve Smith's 81.
Now since the 200 draft, of the seventy-five first-rounders selected, they came from forty-three different universities. Clemson, Miami and Ohio State have seen their receiving units coveted the most, as each school send four first round receivers to the NFL. The latest Tiger was Mike Williams, taken by the Chargers with the seventh pick in 2017. Sammy Watkins was the fourth overall pick in 2014 by Buffalo and he has 232 grabs and 28 touchdowns on his pro resume. DeAndre Hopkins, the 27th pick by Houston in 2013, leads all Clemson receivers with 528 receptions for 7,437 yards and 47 scores. Rod Gardner caught 242 passes from 2001-06 after Washington selected him 15th in 2001.
The Miami quartet is paced by Houston's third overall selection in 2003. Until he retired in 2016, Andre Johnson amassed 14,185 yards and 70 touchdowns via 1,062 grabs. Reggie Wayne, the 30th pick by Indianapolis in 2001, totaled 1,070 catches for 14,345 yards and 82 scores. With Santana Moss (16th pick by the Jets in 2001) gaining 10,283 yards, 66 touchdowns and 732 receptions from 2001-14, the Hurricanes are the only school to produce three 10,000-yard receivers for the NFL since 2000. Heading up the pack is 2015 29th pick by Indianapolis, Phillip Dorsett. The current Patriot has just 95 catches for 1,237 yards, well off the pace of his fellow alumni.
Ohio State has a trio of 350-plus pass catchers, with Santonio Holmes (2006 26th pick by Pittsburgh) collecting 389 snatches for 6,030 yards and 36 touchdowns. Ted Ginn (ninth pick by Miami in 2007) has 31 touchdowns among 379 catches, good for 5,281 yards. Michael Jenkins (29th by Atlanta in 2004) posted 354 catches for 4,427 yards and 25 scores. Injuries limited Anthony Gonzalez (32nd by the Colts in 2007) to 99 receptions for 1,307 yards. Oklahoma State, Alabama and Tennessee follow those three universities, with three first round receivers taken from each school since 2000.
HOW THE 2019 DRAFT CLASS STACKS UP
Currently, our ratings system has at least forty receivers with the potential for being drafted, with the possibility of at least four going in the first round - Mississippi's D.K. Metcalf and A.J. Brown, Oklahoma's Marquise Brown and Ohio State's Parris Campbell. Ole Miss could add to their draft cache, as Damarkus Lodge has been tagged as a potential sixth rounder. More Rebels wide-outs could be in camp, as both Alex Weber and Floyd Allen have received priority free agent tags.
Campbell is certain to see two of his teammates leave Ohio State as draft day picks. Rising star Johnnie Dixon is a hot Day Three commodity, especially after teams named him the best route runner at the Scouting Combine. Anyone that saw Terry McLaurin's performance in Indianapolis and during Senior Bowl practices feel that the Buckeye has secured Day Two draft status.
For Day Three intrigue, Old Dominion has three receivers on the fringes of the draft, paced by Travis Fulgham, a big receiver whose possession-like skills target him in the seventh round. It would be a surprise to see Jonathan Duhart or Isaiah Harper get a draft day call, but expect both to show off their skills as camp free agents. On the other hand, Toledo's trio are all likely Day Three guys - led by Cody Thompson and speedy junior Diontae Johnson. Slot receiver JonVea Johnson's recent 4.46 clocking have a few teams looking at him as a possible camp find.
Scouts seem to be split down the middle in regards to who West Virginia's best receiver is. Most like the possession catch ability of former quarterback David Sills, V, stating he will go early in Day Three, but others like the quicker Gary Jennings Jr., with a lot of team boards moving the 6:01, 215 split end to late Day Two on their value boards. Camp types William Crest and Dominique Maiden should both get the calls to join teams in training camp.
While teams are trying to figure out if quarterback Ryan Finley is the next Philip Rivers, they do recognize that he had some pretty efficient targets, led by Kelvin Harmon, who should be selected before the third round ends. More towards the back of the draft, junior Jacobi Meyers is expecting a draft call and Stephen Louis looks like a camp project with good size, great hands, slow feet.
Between the draft and free agency, Georgia and Fresno State will likely see at least five of their receivers in camp. Riley Ridley heads the Bulldogs contingent and a lot of scouts say he won't last past the draft's second day. Some teams even have him as a fringe first rounder. Junior Mecole Hardman is blessed with one asset all teams covet - blazing speed. If he does not follow Ridley during Day Two, he won't have to wait long when the third day begins. Terry Godwin is a scatback type who could be drafted in the final round, thanks to 4.42 speed, but if not, his phone will be ringing after the draft as a primary free agent target. The others under camp consideration are Jayson Stanley and Ahkil Crumpton.
Outside of KeeSean Johnson, a late round target, the rest of Fresno State's receivers might not be drafted, but Justin Allen, Miciah Quick, Jamire Jordan and Delvon Hardaway have all been analyzed by league scouts as camp invites.
A LOOK AT THE BEST PLACES TO FIND DAY ONE-DAY TWO RECEIVERS
The Southeastern Conference will again dominate the draft, selection-wise, and at this position, there could be as many as six SEC wide-outs taken during the first two days. D.K. Metcalf should be one of the first receivers taken and his teammate, A.J. Brown, is also targeted as the draft's 1-2 punch at this position. South Carolina's Deebo Samuel will be snatched up in Round Two and Riley Ridley could be the Georgia Bulldog to close out second round action. His speedy teammate, Mecole Hardman is a strong possibility in the third round, with Auburn’s Darius Slayton, a potential early Day Three pick.
While he won't be the first receiver off the draft board, The NFL Draft Report lists N'Keal Harry of Arizona State, a second round prospect, as having the highest upside for any receiver in this draft class. Teams looking for that premier jump ball artist might like fellow Pac-12 Conference standout, Stanford's J.J. Arcega-Whiteside during the draft's second day, and do not be surprised if a team like New England uses their second round pick, bulk him up and convert him to tight end, despite the obvious mismatches he'd have as an NFL split end vs. the smaller cornerbacks.
The Big Twelve Conference features Marquise "Hollywood" Brown and the Oklahoma standout is well-regarded by teams, so much so, they have him tops on their receiver draft board, despite a foot injury, maturity issues (like his cousin Antonio) and the fact that he has a Corey Coleman-like body (5-8, 168). On the other spectrum of the size factor, 6:04, 225-pound LilJordan Humphrey gives Texas their best chance for a skill position player during Day Two action.
West Virginia will see both of their pass catchers - David Sills and Gary Jennings drafted. Sills is a great slot receiver, but Jennings excites our staff, as he has blazing quickness getting into his routes. Still, a man we feel will make Giants fans all but forget a recent trade by their team is Iowa State's Hakeem Butler, who really came into his own this year. The Giants will have to fret he's there in the second round, as Green Bay (second first round pick) and New England are pretty high on the guy. Detroit is trying to get back into the tail-end of the first round to snatch Butler, who would make for a towering tandem alongside Kenny Golladay.
The Atlantic Coast Conference has one valid Day Two prospect in North Carolina State's Kelvin Harmon, with Jakobi Meyers more likely to dip to round four. Clemson's scrappy route runner, Hunter Renfrow, could also be gone earlier than expected during Day Three action. The once overloaded Big Ten Conference has a first round prospect in Parris Campbell, with teammate Terry McLaurin taking Day Two honors, but after that, teams will have to play "Go Fish" to unearth any potential Day Two receivers (OSU's Johnnie Dixon is a prime Day Three guy) from this league.
The college major independents could see two prospects be taken at this position. Andy Isabella of Massachusetts seems a perfect fit for New England, as he's drawn Wes Welker-Julian Edelman comparisons. 6:03, 228-pound Notre Dame receiver Miles Boykin could have used another year in school, as he still has poor conception for route running.
THE TEAMS NEEDING WIDE RECEIVERS
Primary Needs...Arizona, Baltimore, Detroit, Indianapolis, New York Giants, New York Jets, Pittsburgh, San Francisco, Washington
Secondary Needs...Buffalo, Carolina, Dallas, Green Bay, Jacksonville, New England, New Orleans
Late Round/Free Agent Roster Builders...Houston, Miami, Minnesota, Oakland, Seattle
