RYAN DUNLEAVY’S TOP 10 WIDE RECEIVERS
Player School Ht Wt
1. Marvin Harrison Jr. Ohio State 6-3 209 Take all great parts of his Hall of Fame father’s game — smooth routes, great feet, etc. — and put them in Larry Fitzgerald’s bigger body. Physicality for contested catches, speed for big plays. Two-time All-American opted out of all combine-style training and drills.
2. Rome Odunze Washington 6-3 212 Knows how to use size to his advantage, absorbing big hits and winning 75 percent of 50/50 balls en route to FBSbest 1,640 yards last season. Rare ability to contort body mid-air and catches everything he gets his strong hands on.
3. Malik Nabers LSU 6-0 199 LSU’s all-time leader in catches (189) and receiving yards (3.003) was a big-play machine. Why? Tackle-breaking and speed to gain easy separation and take the top of a defense. Majority of production from the slot. Arrested for illegally carrying a weapon (charge dropped).
4. Brian Thomas LSU 6-2 209 FBS-best 17 touchdown catches to go with 17.3 yards per catch last season. Speed poses problems for press-coverage cornerbacks. Slot or perimeter formation versatility. Just scratching surface on a high ceiling. Other tools need sharpening, particularly the top of routes.
5. Adonai Mitchell Texas 6-2 205 Lanky playmaker gets vertical with ease. Tracks the deep ball well. Big catch radius leads to some red-zone jump-ball highlights. Two-touchdown game against Alabama left scouts excited. Developing route-runner. Wasn’t a big factor in two years at Georgia.
Player School Ht Wt
6. Xavier Worthy Texas 5-11 165 Fastest 40-yard dash time in NFL Combine history (4.21 seconds). Cut his drops from 10 in 2022 — when he had an injury — to five on 114 targets. Runs crisp routes but thin frame is a concern. Dynamic punt returner.
7. Ladd McConkey Georgia 6-0 186 A quarterback’s best friend, who is a technician about uncovering. Bag of tricks includes head fakes, start-and-stop moves and manipulating body leverage. Polished route-runner who slips away after the catch to move the chains — not a deep threat.
8. Troy Franklin Oregon 6-2 176 Catch-and-run weapon, especially on slants, who turns on the jets with the ball in his hands. Will draw safety help away from other receivers. Totaled eight 40-yard catches and 14 touchdowns last season. Some concentration and fail-tosecure-the-catch questionable drops.
9. Malachi Corley W. Kentucky 5-11 215 Nicknamed “The YAC King” for yardsafter-catch ability. Quick first read on many plays, leading to 269 offensive touches from 2021-23, but questions about downfield route-running. Physical style and in-motion handoffs draw Deebo Samuel comparisons. Runs through tackles.
10. Ricky Pearsall Florida 6-1 191
Made arguably 2023’s One-Handed Catch of the Year against Charlotte — typical of his stickiness. Smooth getting in and out of breaks. Never takes a play off — even if the ball is far away. Could struggle against press coverage.