Sun Sentinel Palm Beach Edition
Omar Kelly continues our series on NFL draft prospects, breaking down wide receivers.
Miami Dolphins columnist Omar Kelly continues our 10-part series looking at the top prospects in the upcoming NFL draft (April 29-May 1) with receivers, which happens to be the deepest position in the draft for the second consecutive season. That means teams don’t have to rush to select one, and someone taken on Day 3 could very well end up as the best receiver selected in this draft class.
LSU’s Ja’Marr Chase
Chase plays the game like he’s a 6-foot-4, 220-pound split end, but has the movement skills of a slot receiver. While he doesn’t have elite size (6-0, 200) for the position, he has a phenomenal catch radius, and an uncanny knack for getting open. He has a chance to become one of the top-five players at his position in a season or two.
Alabama’s DeVonta Smith
Smith, who led Alabama in receptions the past two seasons despite playing in an offense with what will ultimately be three other first-round picks at receiver, is as natural a hands catcher as you’ll find in any draft. He’s competitive in catch-and-run situations, but there is some concern about his size (6-1, 170) and whether or not he’ll physically hold up in the NFL.
Alabama’s Jaylen Waddle
Waddle has game-breaking speed, which makes him a threat to score from anywhere on the field. When healthy, which he wasn’t last season because of an ankle injury, he’s able to stretch the field, which will occupy a safety. And he has value as a return specialist. But there are some rough edges when it comes to his route running, and he doesn’t always catch the ball cleanly.
Ole Miss’ Elijah Moore
This former St Thomas Aquinas High standout has impressive short-area quickness, which indicates that he’ll be utilized as a slot receiver in the NFL. A lot of Moore’s production in college was a byproduct of motion, or working off the line of scrimmage. There’s some concern that the 5-foot-10, 178-pound receiver could struggle getting off press coverage versus bigger cornerbacks who have the speed to stay with him.
Minnesota’s Rashod Bateman
Bateman is a well-rounded boundary receiver who runs good routes, and has the functional strength to beat press coverage. He has the ability to track the ball well, finding the soft spot in zone coverages, and uses his frame to come down with tough catches. The biggest knock on Bateman is that he’s not a yards-after-catch producer, and he has build-up speed.
Best of the Rest
Florida’s Kadarius Toney, LSU’s Terrance Marshall Jr., Purdue’s Rondale Moore and USC’s Amon-Ra St. Brown all have the talent to lead a team’s receiver unit, and could very well end up being first-round picks. The depth of this draft class will allow teams with a need to wait until Day 3 and still add someone who could end up becoming a starter in a year or two like Wake Forest’s Sage Surratt, Oklahoma State’s Tylan Wallace, Michigan’s Nico Collins, Louisville’s Tutu Atwell and South Carolina’s Shi Smith.
Class Grade: A
For a second year in a row, receiver happens to be the draft’s deepest position, which means teams will be able to wait to address a need unless they have their hearts set on someone specific. This class has depth when it comes to slot receivers who can eat up the field with their speed and ability to produce yards after the catch. The amount of 2020 COVID opt-outs at this position makes it difficult to project how good each player can become because we didn’t see many of them become the top playmaker on their teams for defenses to stop last season.
Teams in Need
The Patriots, Colts, Jaguars, Eagles, Lions and Saints desperately need to upgrade their pass-catching unit by selecting a young receiver early, and incorporating him into the offense. The Dolphins, Bills, Ravens, Browns, Titans, Chiefs, Giants, Bears and Packers all need another playmaker, but their units can survive without selecting a receiver early. Don’t be surprised if almost every team adds a pass catcher in this draft because there are about 25-30 available who belong on a team’s 53-man regular-season roster.
Dolphins’ focus
This unit got watered down late last season because of injuries to front-line starters, and the COVID-19 opt-outs of Albert Wilson and Allen Hurns. But if every veteran who has been battling injuries the past few seasons returns, stays healthy, and makes it onto the 53-man roster the Dolphins are fairly stacked at this position. Will Fuller, who was signed to one-year deal worth $10 million this offseason, is the deep threat and playmaker this offense has lacked since Kenny Stills was traded to Houston before the 2019 season. DeVante Parker and Preston Williams are talented split ends who can run every route in the route tree. Wilson and Hurns, two former starters, are the wildcards in this unit.