(Mandatory Photo Credit: Brian Rojo - USA Today Sports)
(Pictured: Possible WR1 Treylon Burks of Arkansas)
Written by: Joseph Yun
Twitter: @2Yoon2ZeroBlitz
The 2022 wide receiver class was widely touted and boy, did they deliver throughout the season and the ongoing offseason process. These pass catchers are part of an ongoing renaissance that has delivered the likes of Justin Jefferson, AJ Brown, DeVonta Smith, and Ja’Marr Chase to the big leagues. Are there any weapons this year that can live up to those lofty standards? Who are the locks to go on Day 1? Can teams avoid potential land mines like Jalen Reagor and N’Keal Harry?
Note: all RAS scores are courtesy of @MathBomb
1. Garrett Wilson 5’11 183 Junior Ohio State
- Wilson vaulted to the top of the board after an outstanding 2021 season that saw him explode for 70 receptions for 1,058 yards and 12 touchdowns. Excellent route runner with plus plus hands. The pure unadulterated speed was on display as he was timed at 4.38 in the 40. The explosion grades were up there as well. He’s a twitched-up athlete who does great work in short area bursts. Wilson has WR1 potential and is a lock for the first round. He profiles similarly to former Minnesota and current Ravens receiver Rashod Bateman in both style and athleticism.
Round Grade: First
RAS: 7.70
Player Comparison: Rashod Bateman
2. Treylon Burks 6’2 225 Junior Arkansas
- The Arkansas native was the clear-cut WR1 in the class for the longest time until Wilson jumped him by a slight margin. Burks is one of the bigger receivers in terms of frame in the class. He has great spatial awareness for most occasions. A versatile player who even took the random quarterback snaps here and there for the Hogs. He was used in many different receiver roles as well. Most likely the best route runner in the class chock full of them. He’s trending towards WR1 category like an AJ Brown type. Athletically, he profiles similarly to JJAW but playstyle is more like Josh Gordon. He earned a first-round grade but could slip into the second round.
Round Grade: First
RAS: 5.76
Player Comparison: J.J Arcega-Whiteside / Josh Gordon
3. Drake London 6’3 219 Junior USC
- London burst onto the scene as a junior after waiting behind Michael Pittman, Jr for a couple of years. He led the team in the traditional counting stats for receivers. The former Trojan is one of a trio of receivers in the class vying for the title of the first receiver taken. He has a great shot at it given his athleticism and body composition. While improving as a route runner, he hasn’t quite gotten there yet. He has the size to be a true blue traditional X WR1 type of player but can slide inside to the slot to do damage there. In terms of athleticism, he profiles like current Bengals and potential PPR machine Tee Higgins. Playstyle is similar to another former Clemson star receiver and recent pay rise earner ($20m APY!), Mike Williams.
Round Grade: First
RAS: N/A
Player Comparison: Tee Higgins / Mike Williams (Clemson)
4. Jameson Williams 6’1 179 Junior Alabama
- After a couple of years buried on the depth chart in the star-studded receiver room at Ohio State, Williams blew up at Alabama. He put up a monstrous 79 receptions for 1,572 yards and 15 touchdowns, which was good for a whopping 19.9 yards per reception. Unfortunately, he suffered a knee injury in the national title game but has stated that he is ahead of schedule in rehab. The dynamic playmaker was having a Biletnikoff type of season before the injury. He is the best all-around receiver in the class. He’s another candidate to be the first receiver taken off the board and could have been a stone-cold lock to do prior to the injury. He compares physically and stylistically to the reigning offensive rookie of the year Ja’Marr Chase.
Round Grade: First
RAS: N/A
Player Comparison: Ja’Marr Chase
5. Chris Olave 6’0 187 Senior Ohio State
- After the COVID year minimalized the Big Ten’s season where he still produced 729 yards in seven games in 2020, he bounced back in 2021, posting 65 receptions for 936 yards and 13 touchdowns. Olave suffers from a bit of prospect fatigue as he has been on the radar for the past couple of years. Paralysis by analysis. He’s an above-average athlete (A 4.37 40!) with plus plus route running ability. Size-wise, he isn’t the biggest dude out there. Still, he’s still a top-five receiver on the board and could be much higher. He’ll likely settle into the late first to early second-round range. Olave compares favorably to longtime NFL veteran Kenny Stills.
Round Grade: First to Second
RAS: 7.99
Player Comparison: Kenny Stills
6. Jahan Dotson 5’10 178 Redshirt Senior Penn State
- Dotson came onto the scene as a junior with 52 receptions for 884 yards and eight touchdowns but almost doubled his receptions as a senior. He’s an athlete despite the middling RAS score. He was used everywhere in terms of receiver positions. Spatial awareness is top-notch and among the best in the nation. Great route runner. Just the latest receiver product from Penn State. He grades out as a second-round prospect with a chance to sneak in the first round. Profiles similarly to former Oklahoma receiver DeDe Westbrook.
Round Grade: Second
RAS: 6.02
Player Comparison: Dede Westbrook
7. Skyy Moore 5’9 195 Junior Western Michigan
- Corey Davis 2.0? Nope. Moore is definitely smaller and lighter than the former Bronco-turned Jet via Tennessee. He fits as a slot weapon at the next level given the frame and speed + agility numbers. While he certainly won’t be relied on as the primary target, he’ll likely carve out a decently sized career as the second banana from the slot. Projects as a third-round selection with the floor being the fourth round. Compares physically to Darius Reynaud of West Virginia fame and Ohio State’s Curtis Samuel. He has been right around the top ten receivers all season and offseason so seventh place seems the ideal spot.
Round Grade: Third to Fourth
RAS: 7.40
Player Comparison: Darius Reynaud / Curtis Samuel
8. George Pickens 6’3 195 Junior Georgia
- Medical Marvel. That is Pickens. After tearing his ACL in the spring of 2021, he came back a few months later to play a part in Georgia’s national title-winning team. He then proceeded to wallop the Combine and Pro Day circuit. Freaky athlete. Great ball skills in terms of my ball contest situations. He’s still learning the finer points of route running but in a league that values top-notch athleticism, he should find a team willing to overlook little details like that high in the draft. He probably will end up in the second round but the floor is the third round at maximum due to the medical in his recent past. His physical profile resembles that of a taller Steve Breaston of Michigan and Arizona Cardinals fame. A stylistic profile is that of current Dallas Cowboys star CeeDee Lamb with some physical resemblances.
Round Grade: Second to Third
RAS: 9.33
Player Comparison: CeeDee Lamb / Steve Breaston
9. Christian Watson 6’4 208 Redshirt Senior North Dakota State
- FREAK ATHLETE. Watson is that and then some. The North Dakota State product has flown up the boards after a solid season and an outstanding offseason process. Not many guys at his size have the athleticism he does. A 4.36 40 indicates that he has the blow by speed to take the top off of any defense. Surprisingly athletic given his size. Only one other receiver in league history achieved a perfect 10 RAS in real-time and all time, Megatron. Now I’m not saying that he will be that by any stretch. He graded out as a second-round selection due to the depth of the class. His physical profile resembles that of former Florida State receiver Javon Walker and Georgia Tech star Stephen Hill.
Round Grade: Second to Third
RAS: 10.00
Player Comparison: Javon Walker / Stephen Hill
10. Calvin Austin III 5’7 170 Redshirt Senior Memphis
- Yeah, Austin showed out in Indy as expected after a dominant showing in Mobile. He was clocked at a ridiculously blazing 4.32 40. The speed merchant from Memphis has explosion skills in spades. He does have some limitations due to size so a really creative mind will have him make plays from the slot and in space. While he probably won’t be a WR1, the former Tiger has a chance to be an outstanding and overqualified WR2-3 with return skills. He’s a carbon copy of Dri Archer of Toledo fame. Playstyle reminds me of Detroit’s Kalif Raymond and former Texas legend Marquise Goodwin. Take him in the fourth round and forget about special teams for at least half a decade.
Round Grade: Fourth
RAS: 9.42
Player Comparison: Marquise Goodwin / Kalif Raymond / Dri Archer
11. Alec Pierce 6’3 211 Senior Cincinnati
- Whew buddy, Pierce is having one heck of an offseason. He ran and jumped out of the gym, posting a fun 4.41 40 and an equally insane 40.5” vertical at 6’3! The former Bearcats star profiles like an “X” due to his size and speed potential. The RAS is pretty up there in terms of all-time scores. Physical and play style resembles D.J. Chark, currently of the Lions, who scored a decent payday recently. Could he be the next Adam Thielen in the right system? Pierce has WR1 potential but is a great candidate to be a WR2 for years on end. He’s on track to be an early Day 3 selection that has potential breakout written all over him ala Amon-Ra St. Brown.
Round Grade: Fourth to Fifth
RAS: 9.80
Player Comparison: D.J. Chark / Tyrie Cleveland
12. John Metchie III 5’11 187 Junior Alabama
- Metchie finally got his chance to shine as a junior after sitting behind an all-star receiver room in Tuscaloosa (what’s new, right?) after a sophomore breakout campaign. Unfortunately, he’ll be sidelined for a bit after tearing his ACL at the SEC title bout against Georgia. When healthy, he’s the spitting image of Terry Godwin, who has made a decent go at it in the pros. No RAS obviously due to the knee. If teams are sold on his rehab progress and on past record, he has a chance to sneak into Day 2 but Day 3 will likely be his landing spot. It’s a shame that he tore his knee that late in the year. Without the ACL issue, he was headed for an early call in the second round.
Round Grade: Third to Fourth
RAS: N/A
Player Comparison: Terry Godwin
13. Wan’Dale Robinson 5’8 178 Junior Kentucky
- Robinson was a Nebraska transfer who prospered for the Wildcats’ explosive offense. He was utilized as the modern-day (relatively) Percy Harvin was in his brief Lexington stay. While the Combine performance wasn’t up to par, his play on the field merits an early to middle Day 3 selection. The frame limits what he can do as an outside receiver but his athleticism should win the day most times. Lynn Bowden 2.0? Smaller Deebo lite? The former Wildcat star's physical profile resembles that of Texans and Texas Tech star Keke Coutee.
Round Grade: Fourth to Fifth
RAS: 5.30
Player Comparison: Keke Coutee
14. Kyle Philips 5’11 189 Redshirt Junior UCLA
- Underrated receiver who had a poor RAS and inconsistent college career until his “breakout” redshirt junior season with 739 yards and ten touchdowns. Philips got some praise at the Shrine Game thus the increase in stock during the offseason process. He’s likely a sixth-round selection at this point. Some team might take a late flier on him. Not the best athlete by any stretch but is consistently productive, which counts for something. Physically, he profiles in a similar manner to former Houston Cougars receiver Marquez Stevenson.
Round Grade: Sixth
RAS: 4.54
Player Comparison: Marquez Stevenson
15. David Bell 6’0 212 Junior Purdue
- From the same program that sent Rondale Moore to the NFL comes David Bell. Yeah the RAS isn’t great, which was marginally upgraded from a sub 3 to one barely missing the 4.0 mark. Regardless of the score, he’s still a good receiver and a top 15 one at that due to the tape. A guy who can do a bit of everything in terms of the route tree. He’s not the most explosive so there’s that. Bell suffered a downgrade in production as injuries and quarterback inconsistency took a toll. Once highly touted as a potential Day 2 selection, he slides into the middle of Day 3 as a guy who can play both inside and outside for a team creative enough to deploy him everywhere. A physical profile is that of Isaiah Ford.
Round Grade: Fifth to Sixth
RAS: 3.97
Player Comparison: Isaiah Ford
16. Khalil Shakir 5’11 196 Senior Boise State
- Entering the offseason, the Boise State receiver had some questions surrounding his overall athleticism that needed answering. Well, consider those questions no longer reasonably valid as he put down a robust 4.43 40 and was generally above average in the other testing categories. While he wasn’t heavily relied upon as a returner, he does have a little bit of experience there if need be. He’s purely a developmental prospect who has some things like route running and blocking to work on i.e. not a Tennessee Titans type of receiver who has to excel in both areas to be considered. Still, he has enough tools in his arsenal to merit consideration in the fourth round. The physical profile matches up to former USC receiver Ronald Johnson and stylistically, former Boise teammate John Hightower. The numbers are quite similar to both.
Round Grade: Fourth
RAS: 8.02
Player Comparison: Ronald Johnson / John Hightower
17. Erik Ezukanma 6’1 209 Junior Texas Tech
- Ezukanma was an incredibly consistent productive receiver for the Red Raiders despite the litany of quarterbacks on the Lubbock carousel. He had a middling Combine and didn’t run the 40. He’s an outside receiver with above-average speed and lateral agility. EE isn’t overtly fast but has a ton of quick acceleration. He seems like a Day 3 selection who plays better than his draft slot if he goes to the right team. The former Red Raider probably doesn’t end up being a WR1 but could be a good second banana type. Physically, he profiles similar to DeVante Parker and Mohamed Sanu.
Round Grade: Sixth
RAS: N/A
Player Comparison: DeVante Parker / Mohamed Sanu
18. Bo Melton 5’11 189 Redshirt Senior Rutgers
- Melton comes into the league from a program that has produced several quality receivers such as Kenny Britt, Mohamed Sanu, and Leontee Caroo. He’s a middling receiver with some return capabilities and could be developed into a WR3 type. Right now, he projects as a sixth-round selection with a possibility to sneak into the fifth round. Athletically, he profiles in a similar sense as former Florida State standout Willie Reid. Stylistically, he looks like former Oregon receiver Samie Parker, Jr.
Round Grade: Fifth to Sixth
RAS: 8.78
Player Comparison: Willie Reid / Samie Parker, Jr
19. Velus Jones, Jr 5’11 204 Redshirt Senior Tennessee
- Tennessee breakout star Jones 2.0 had an outstanding Combine after a great 2021 season. The USC transfer is an ATHLETE with the ball in his hands. He’s an electric playmaker. A 4.31 40 definitely attests to that fact. He definitely has the potential to be an X type of receiver but fits mostly as a slot at the next level. A Day 3 selection most likely not unlike his former Volunteers counterparts like Marquez Callaway, Jauan Jennings, and Josh Malone. His physical profile resembles Florida star Antonio Callaway and Wisconsin receiver Lee Evans.
Round Grade: Sixth
RAS: 9.05
Player Comparison: Antonio Callaway / Lee Evans
20. Jalen Tolbert 6’1 194 Redshirt Junior South Alabama
- The #FunBelt and Yellowhammer State native had an outstanding 2021 season, posting 82 receptions for 1,474 yards and eight touchdowns as a redshirt junior. This was coming off a 1,000 yard plus eight touchdown campaign in 2020 so the breakout was coming. He plays like a big receiver with great ball skills and plus speed with a 4.49 40. The hometown star had a ball in his own stadium and followed it up with a solid Combine performance. His RAS score is an impressive 8.55 as a result. A toolsy receiver with WR2 potential that could climb to being that dude aka WR1 for some team if he’s right. He could go much higher than anticipated but will likely settle into Day 3 due to the depth of the position. He was the best receiver in the high-powered Sun Belt. Physically profiles similar to former Washington Husky star Dante Pettis.
Round Grade: Fifth to Sixth
RAS: 8.55
Player Comparison: Dante Pettis