1. Josh Doctson, TCU--silky smooth outside receiver with desired length at 6’2” and tremendous explosive and agility metrics:

  • 41” vertical
  • 131” broad jump
  • 4.08 short shuttle

Doctson led the Horned Frogs in receiving all three years in Ft. Worth after transferring from Wyoming. Has a well-earned reputation for being able to make catches away from his body and either high above his head or scraping his knuckles on the ground. Smart enough to take what the defense is giving him (see Minnesota game) and adjust his approach to the game flow. Can win short or deep, outside or over the middle but better outside the hashes. Outstanding toughness for a lighter (played at 195) receiver:

Eats up cushion quickly and can get vertical before the over-the-top help arrives. Has some slipperiness as a route runner, though his footwork can be more precise and purposeful. Very adept at getting into open space and staying open. Understands how to set up moves and string them together to create space in small areas. Moves like a smaller receiver before the ball is in the air, which gives him potential to line up all over the formation. Works well on broken plays and has experience with a scrambling QB.

Gets straight-legged and tall as a blocker and can also fall into that habit on shorter routes. Doesn’t seem comfortable releasing off the jam, fails to use his hands or shoulders well to leverage off defenders early in routes. Routes and burst off line are inconsistent, as is his fight after the catch at times. Adding a few pounds of muscle would serve him well, though his frame might not hold much more. Played almost exclusively on the right side. Missed three games with a broken wrist which also kept him out of the Senior Bowl.

He wins better than anyone in this class at making the contested catch or pulling down throws other receivers cannot, such as this gem against underrated Kansas State CB Danzel McDaniel:

The body control and explosiveness with the ball in the air is non pareil. His ability from 10 to 30 yards is handily best in class too, and how he wins in that arena translates directly to the NFL. Doctson will have to learn to handle more physicality and less QB improvisation, but he has the athleticism who can challenge the top NFL defenses. He should find immediate success as a “Z” receiver and is the safest bet of the top wideouts in class to actually hit his potential ceiling. Probably not a guy you want being your top receiver but he can be the alpha dog of a pack of skilled receivers. Middle of first round pick. 

2. Corey Coleman, Baylor--explosive, dynamic downfield threat with an outstanding fight/size of dog ratio. Just 5’11” but can high-point the ball and outmuscle corners. Incredibly fast feet and little wasted motion. Catches balls over his head and on the dead run quite well. Destroys even 12-yard cushions with instant acceleration and a top gear as awesome as the British TV show of the same name. Shows elusiveness as a runner (see OK State game). Scored 20 TDs on 74 receptions and that’s wildly impressive even in the wide open Big 12. Confident in his ability and not afraid to let DBs know when he beats them, but also has the mental toughness to ignore it the other way.

Biggest issue is he doesn’t always look the ball into his hands, which leads to some double catches and drops (10% drop rate), especially on shorter routes. Goes to the “slow play” route well too often, though this appears by scheme design. Showed some neediness and pouting when he wasn’t getting the ball (see Oklahoma and Baylor games). There’s a fine line there between competitive fire and understanding the game dynamics and Coleman pushes that line. Failed to score or top 77 receiving yards in his final four games before a sports hernia ended his season. Route tree was simplistic and he didn’t show instinctive ability on broken plays. Was not required to block, though he did show the ability to at least stay in the way when he did. Sideline awareness can improve.

Here’s Coleman at his worst, and then best, on the exact same play three snaps apart vs. Oklahoma State:

 

Because of his size, many NFL teams will want to stick Coleman in the slot. That’s not his game; he’s not polished on cuts or comebacks and doesn’t catch the ball so well in traffic. He is an outside, vertical threat who can roast even the fastest corners. As the clip above shows, he doesn’t run shorter routes with consistency, but when he’s sharp he’s darn near unstoppable. There is a gamble his learning curve progresses slowly and he struggles early on with the more intricate, more diverse responsibilities of the NFL game. In fact, that wouldn’t surprise me. However, he’s bigger and more prepared to handle the vertical threat role than John Brown was, and he was a rookie phenom in Arizona. Top 20 pick who compares to me to Desean Jackson, only faster and more reliable. 

3. Michael Thomas, Ohio State--before 2015 he was most notable for being Keyshawn Johnson’s nephew, but a strong ’15 campaign with the Buckeyes elevated his draft profile. Thomas is a 6’3”, 215 pound receiver with a huge catch radius and sticky hands. Very strong but also quite shifty for a bigger receiver, has some real wiggle to his routes and can shake & bake on the fly.

 

I normally don’t like to include other’s opinions in my scouting reports but this one sums up Thomas so well. The route running needs to get sharper and more consistent, but that can be taught and learned. Can make the catch in traffic away from his body and hold on while taking the big hit (see Maryland game). Powerful runner after the catch, often requires more than one DB to bring him down. Can climb the ladder and get the toes down in the end zone and on the sidelines. Drop rate of just 6% on throws longer than 5 yards, one of the best in class and handily better than Coleman or Treadwell.

Doesn’t sell the “-and go” fakes well or have the innate timing on routes and releases. Can look gangly while running. Shorter throws get into his pads too often. Doesn’t have great field vision with the ball in his hands. At times is a powerful blocker but doesn’t locate targets in space well and effort is spotty. Lined up all over the formation at Ohio State but will be a split end only in NFL. Just doesn’t feel the holes in zone coverage. Long speed is average (timed 4.55).

Thomas has a lot to offer, more than he showed in Ohio State’s offense. The trick is finding out just how much more he can do right away, because the route running and intricacies of playing wide receiver aren’t polished. That’s somewhat odd for a 23-year-old with his pedigree, but that’s why there are many doubting Thomas. His strength, hands and powerful ability after the catch are all impressive enough to consider in the top 25 overall even knowing there is some bust risk.

4. Sterling Shepard, Oklahoma--Shepard is almost universally cited by draft media as the sharpest route runner in the class. There’s good reason for this, as Shepard is so smooth and precise in and out of breaks. From his first step off the line, it is obvious Shepard has a variety of ways to get open. Check what he does here to Mackensie Alexander, a likely first-round pick:

 

At his size (5’10”, 194) and quicker-than-fast athleticism, he projects primarily in the slot. His fast feet and outstanding body control and lateral wiggle translate quite well. Shepard is experienced at beating both man and zone coverages. He is sudden to the holes in the zone and then patient enough to sit there and snatch the ball. Can take a hit but seldom does because he senses the defense and knows when to say when, which is a great trait for a smaller wideout.

He did show some ability to work down the field, notably getting behind Baylor’s defense a few times, including one deep TD where he slammed the ball into the pylon cam.

 

He caught over 80% of his targets from the slot (thanks Pro Football Focus!) and that’s where he will make his NFL living. Being sure-handed and able to get open against any type of coverage while being comfortable working the middle of the field is an easy sell to NFL teams. Shepard won’t break many tackles and probably won’t rack up the YAC at the next level. His blocking needs some technical cleanup (tends to have his hands too low) and he’s not a return man or special teams guy. He’s a first-round pick for me, probably won’t go quite that high but stands a very good chance of leading all rookies in receptions.

5. Laquon Treadwell--if you want a receiver who plays like a pulling guard, Treadwell is your guy. Incredibly physical and powerful X receiver who plays bigger than his 6’2”, 221 pound size. Flips his shoulders to present a wide target and can reach out and snatch the ball from the air. Big catch radius but he also understands how to shield defenders away from the ball to make it even bigger. Absolute angry bull after the catch, incredibly tough to bring down once he’s got his legs moving. Nasty blocker who enjoys delivering hits and pushing smaller guys around. Can separate on in-breaking routes with nice shoulder and feet fakes. Made a living on slants and curls and understood how to quickly get to the catch point. Capable of making the one-handed stab catch and looks natural plucking the ball with his hands. Enjoys the competition and doesn’t lack confidence.

Biggest issue is speed, or lack thereof. Doesn’t have burst off the line. Long speed is well below average at a 4.63 40 on what is a notorious fast track at Ole Miss pro day, and that shows on film. Relies heavily on pushing off and using his physicality to create separation down the field. Not as effective on contested catches as expected. Had several concentration drops (10-13% drop rate, depending on source) in 2015. Feasted on smaller CBs (see bowl game vs. Oklahoma State, Auburn) but more physical corners who can run (see LSU, Mississippi State) really limited him and he’ll see a lot more of those at the next level.

His game doesn’t meet the No. 1 WR hype and he’s both smaller and slower than those to whom he’s often compared, namely Alshon Jeffery or Demaryius Thomas. I genuinely don’t understand the first-round hype other than what he did against non-NFL competition back in 2014 before he broke his leg. That doesn’t mean Treadwell won’t be a very effective pro. The key is for his NFL team to understand he’s not a deep threat and to take advantage of his frame and powerful YAC ability. As long as he proves the concentration issues were a one-year fluke, Treadwell should prove a reliable, big No. 2 wideout in any style of offense. Could be outstanding working the middle of the field and in the red zone. Second-round pick who won’t last nearly that long. 

6. Charone Peake, Clemson--overshadowed by Sammy Watkins and then Nuk Hopkins, Peake emerged as the latest strong Clemson WR prospect with an impressive, oft-overlooked 2015. Impressive physical specimen at 6’3” and a put together 215 pounds. Gets off the line with urgency and quickly gets to top speed. Can beat the press with his hands and quick releases to either side, doesn’t get predictable. Catches the ball on the run well and can extend out to make the snag away from his body. Showed he could stretch the field and get behind the over-the-top help. Runs aggressive routes, though his feet aren’t always as fast as his brain wants them to be. Makes defenders who try to tackle him high look silly (see Syracuse game). Stood out during Senior Bowl team drills for his hands and ability to overpower corners. High character guy who aced interviews and earned fans in front offices for his attitude and intelligence.

Has had two knee surgeries, including a torn ACL in 2013. Put up over 50% of his college production as a senior. Situational context is important but it still makes you wonder if he benefitted from opportunity and great QB play more than increased skill. Had some intermittent drop issues and doesn’t always time his jumps perfectly.

If the Peake we got as a senior is the real one hitting the NFL, he’s wildly undervalued by both the major draft media and the general public. That guy has a lot of Jordy Nelson to his game. The guy with the knee issues and underwhelming career prior to 2015 won’t ever do much more than play special teams and catch 12-15 passes a year as the third outside wideout. I’m betting pretty hard on the 2015 Peake and wouldn’t hesitate to take him in the second round. It’s 50/50 he gets drafted by the end of draft Friday night.

7. Braxton Miller, Ohio State--for a guy who was a quarterback up until late last summer, Miller’s emergence as a wideout prospect is quite impressive. Explosive quickness and open-field running ability. Ran for over 1000 yards twice as Ohio State’s starting QB. Moves with amazing agility and explosive quickness in all directions for a bigger guy at 6’1.5” and 201 pounds.

The short-area burst and creativity is truly amazing. Check out this artwork from Senior Bowl practice (the audio is NSFW):

Miller is fantastic in one-on-one matchups in space as a receiver. And he’s obviously got outstanding potential working gadgets plays and even taking reps at QB. But those are not frequent situations in the NFL, and the rest of Miller’s game at receiver needs a lot of work.

Most notable is the lack of timing and coordination with the offense. His ability to separate from coverage is reliant on moves that don’t necessarily sync well with the play call. On more traditional routes, Miller lacks precision and experience. Doesn’t naturally seize the ball out of the air, must learn to attack the throw. Flippant ball security, carries the ball away from his body and doesn’t quickly secure the catch either. Inexperienced blocker, though not ineffective. Moved to WR because of a serious shoulder injury.

His movement skills remind me a great deal of Golden Tate, except Miller is about 3” and 10 pounds bigger. Much of what he doesn’t do well right now as a wideout will ameliorate with more experience. The question for NFL teams is how fast Miller soaks in that experience. Can contribute right away in the slot and on screens and jet sweeps, but not near NFL ready for more timing-based passing attacks or traditional routes. Offers some return potential. Second-round talent with the potential to wind up being wildly productive in time, but there is definite bust potential if asked to do too much, too soon. 

8. Michael Thomas, Southern Miss--draftnik darling rose to prominence with a solid combination of speed and ability to make athletically challenging catches.

Can make the difficult catch away from his body with either hand and quickly secures the ball into his body. Presents a bigger catch radius than most guys with his 6’1” length. Can get vertical with his speed but accentuates it with sharp footwork and the ability to change gears seamlessly. Very good at setting up the defender and reacting accordingly with quickness and burst.

Doesn’t have elite speed but can turn on the jets, as with this play against Washington:

Can get too cute and enamored with his own quickness in his routes. While he’s not weak, doesn’t use his size or length all that well other than the moment of catching the ball. Not an effective or technically sound blocker, though the effort is there. Has a tendency to make the catch look more dramatic than needed. Needs to add some bulk and learn to use it too. One-year receiving wonder who was more notable as a kick returner in his first season in Hattiesburg.

Really impressive player with a lot of desirable traits, Thomas rocketed up media draft boards by making all kind of difficult catches and consistently beating coverage. While he lacks bulk, Thomas proved his speed and quickness are both legit. The arrow is pointing up for the Chicago native. Worth a late second round pick for a team that runs a lot of 11 personnel, a third rounder for a team that goes more old school.

9. Malcolm Mitchell, Georgia--so much of Mitchell’s evaluation is predicated on him being healthy, which has really been the only impediment between the Bulldog and stardom. He tore up his knee in 2013 and it hampered him throughout his return in 2014 after being All-SEC as a freshman.

In ’15 we saw the old, prime Mitchell. He was sharper in and out of his breaks and was able to do so with more burst and quickness. Can stop and start on a dime and has instant acceleration to top speed. Long speed is decent, but it’s his control over his movement while at full gallop down the field that sets him apart. Reliable hands catcher. Can climb the ladder and made several highlight-reel catches over his head. Good field awareness. Sets up blocks on shorter routes to improve YAC (see Penn State bowl game). Incredibly high character guy who will be an asset to his community. Plays smart, judiciously understanding when to fight for yards and when to get down and avoid the walloping hit. Not afraid to go over the middle. Has enough burst and savvy to get himself free on crosses and drags.

Overaged at 24 and his body is what it is, 6’ and 198 wiry pounds. Had some issues separating against the press and that showed during Senior Bowl practices. Can be a nibbler as a blocker. Even though it improved last year, there was still some downshifting on comebacks and hitches. Doesn’t sell fakes all that well (see Missouri game).

Mitchell is an easy guy to root for, given his strong personal character and how he overcame serious injury. No. 26 has a lot of ability in working the intermediate range with just enough speed to challenge deep, but he’s on the smaller side for an outside guy and not as shifty as a typical slot. Fits best in an offense like Pittsburgh or New Orleans where he would be part of a varied attack. Third round. 

10. Keyarris Garrett, Tulsa--long-limbed, long-striding big man (6’3” and 220) who is capable of making the big play down the field. Extremely prolific working outside the hashes as a vertical threat. Looks like a basketball power forward with the ball in the air, able to box out the defender and rip down the pass. Tough to tackle with the ball in his hands even though he’s not real elusive as a runner. Feisty competitor. Can cover a lot of ground quickly in the open field and his combination of size and speed is very difficult to defend down the field:

Has some injury issues in his background, including a 2013 lost to multiple fractures in his left leg. As a function of being tall, does not have quick feet or instant acceleration. Doesn’t make himself small to avoid the jam at the line. Needs to come to almost a stop before breaking back on shorter routes, really gears down. Doesn’t secure the ball into his pads quickly, which allows defenders to make a play as he brings the ball in. Surprisingly ineffective blocker for his size (see Memphis game). Got a lot of clean releases as a result of offensive scheme and stacked formations. Can be demonstrably needy if he’s not getting the ball.

Garrett bears some physical and stylistic resemblance to Tampa Bay’s Mike Evans coming out of Texas A&M as a wide-bodied downfield threat. No. 1 from Tulsa isn’t quite as big or top-end fast and doesn’t work back to the ball as well, but also had similar massive peaks and valleys in production. Also compares to Davante Adams, who has disappointed in Green Bay with eerily similar negative traits. Split the difference and Garrett is a late third to mid fourth round talent, probably gets selected a little later than that come draft weekend. 

11. Chris Moore, Cincinnati--vertical threat with a gaudy 21.8 yards per catch average on 40 receptions as a senior in an offense where five wideouts had at least 45 targets, an unusually high number for college. Despite running an expected 4.53 40 at the Combine, Moore seldom had issues getting free down the field thanks to his ability to sustain top speed and the ability to vary his speeds and releases off the line. Has some toughness which shows on posts and deep in routes. Reliable catcher who quickly presses the ball into his pads. Some will call Moore a “body catcher” but I see it more that he’s pulling the ball in to protect it.

Limited as a route runner as he played the deep role in the Bearcats offense. Doesn’t have a lot of wiggle to his movement and his ankles look tight on breaks. Needs to work on hand usage when pressed. Showed real promise during Senior Bowl week with his ability to extend out and highpoint the ball, and was one of the best at creating space for himself in the red zone. Was also handily the best blocking WR in Mobile, an unexpected development as he didn’t show much at UC. Turned some heads at the Combine with best-in-class 3-cone drill and broad jump figures and did it after adding about 12 pounds of muscular bulk from last fall. Arrow pointing up for a player who thrived at everything he’s been asked to do. I’d take him in the third round but Moore likely won’t be drafted before the fifth.

12. Will Fuller, Notre Dame--wiry deep threat with strong production in his two years as a starter (138 receptions, 29 TDs). His best-in-class 4.32 speed shows on the field, as he hits top speed in two steps and can really stretch out the defense. Varies speeds nicely to set up corners. Likes to slow-play his inside releases but can sharply burst in either direction based on the coverage. Solid route runner who can get in and out of breaks quickly and pull away from trail coverage on crossing routes. Makes big cushions look silly and can quickly flash back on hooks and comeback routes. Willing blocker. Dangerous open-field runner.

He’s very good at getting open, but Fuller struggles mightily with the primary function of playing wide receiver: he doesn’t catch the ball well.

Fuller doesn’t even catch it at a below-average level. Hands are small (8 ¼”) and not strong at all. Officially had 18 drops the last two years but some NFL teams have the number as high as 26. Cannot catch the ball below his waist. Poor hand-eye coordination.

He’s not as big (6’, 182 pounds) or lightning fast as Ted Ginn, a similar deep threat with balky hands. Also has minimal return experience (2 PR in his Irish career). Fuller is a better overall route runner but for my money has less trustworthy hands. Will make some big plays and highlight reels but will also make a high number of unacceptable drops.  I cannot draft a guy like that before the fourth round, though Fuller’s speed and hype will make him a top 40 overall pick.

13. Kenny Lawler, California--smooth, twitchy and versatile receiver who frequently helped make Jared Goff look better. Catches everything near him and can extend his target zone with quick closing burst and the ability to stretch out his long arms. Can plant a foot and burst off in the opposite direction better than most. Has the “being chased” gear that makes him faster than his 4.64 timed speed, though his speed tops out quickly. Not a vertical threat and might find his NFL home as a taller slot guy. Would be nice if he could add a few pounds of muscle, as he’s pretty easily tackled after the catch and can get bounced around by more physical coverage. Good all-around football player who understands how to get open against various coverages, though he’s an odd size to play inside and doesn’t have blazing speed or enough power to play outside fulltime. Fourth round, probably goes in the third.

14. Tyler Boyd, Pittsburgh--highly productive and experienced receiver who has played all over the formation. Exceptionally precise route runner who sets up moves expertly. Big enough to play outside at 6’2” and 200 but has the footwork and tight movement of an inside guy. Very large catch radius that extends from his shoetops to well over his head, and he can snag the ball on the dead run. Quick to transition from receiver to runner. Very natural at finding holes in zones. Confident in his hands, had very few drops or body catches.

All of that is great, but Boyd is an average--at best--athlete for the position. Has no immediacy or explosiveness to his speed or movement. Often looks like he’s slow-playing his release off the line. Also not very strong or physical, especially after the catch. Top speed is below average. As Matt Harmon of NFL.com has said of Boyd, it’s troubling that he doesn’t get much separation in college even while running picture-perfect routes. Looks like a possession receiver but could be a very effective one with his versatility and strong hands. Projects to be overdrafted (2nd-3rd round) but is as NFL-ready as he’ll ever be. Fourth round.

15. Daniel Braverman, Western Michigan--nifty, sure-handed slot receiver who easily invites comparisons to Julian Edelman. Lacks size at 5’10” and 180 pounds of playing weight, and top-end speed is average. Agility and route running skills are both off the charts; no receiver with the possible exception of Sterling Shepard is better at getting open on short routes or in tight spaces. Has a variety of quick moves and twitchy jerkiness off the line and in/out of breaks. Incredibly fast feet. Has impressive YAC ability and better toughness than his size would indicate. Good at catching the ball on the run and immediately transitioning to runner. Strictly a slot who might not catch more than 5 passes a year beyond 10 yards from the line. Pretty strong return skills augment value, can take over as punt returner right away. Again, the Edelman comparison is inescapable, though the Patriot is thicker and more physical. Would consider taking him in the fourth, but he probably won’t get drafted before the late fifth.    

16. Paul McRoberts, Southeast Missouri State--well-built 6’1” FCS receiver who acquitted himself nicely during Senior Bowl week. Good burst off the line and strength at the catch point. Can set up moves and cut sharply for a bigger guy. Strong, big hands and long arms for his height. Build-up speed but has an extra gear with the ball in his hands. Attentive blocker. Needs consistency to his game; I saw two games and Senior Bowl week and there were times I loved his potential and times I wondered why I was watching him. Because of his size, leaping ability and strength going across the middle he merits fourth-round consideration, with the knowledge he probably won’t contribute much as a rookie.

17. Kolby Listenbee, TCU--lanky deep burner with great speed. Explodes off the line and can fly on 7-9 routes down the field. Timed at 4.35 at the Combine and did so despite a lingering sports hernia injury that required surgery. The deep speed shows on film, where he was consistently able to take the top off the defense. Placed in both the 100 and 200 meters in the Big 12 track championships. Tracks the ball in the air well and can climb the ladder pretty well for a sprinter-type body.

Though he’s got a slight frame, Listenbee does not lack strength with the ball in the air, and he can work back to the quarterback well if the play breaks down. Bulked up to 197 after playing in the 180s but didn’t lose speed, which portends well for his NFL chances. Very limited as a route runner, straight-linish and almost completely reliant on using his speed to win. Wasn’t all that productive in college, just 71 catches in the final two years for the Frogs. Never caught on as a return man and he is not an effective blocker. Has missed time with hip and ankle injuries.

Big-play deep threat with some durability and size concerns but world-class speed and enough polish and receiving acumen to contribute right away. A better prospect coming out than the similar Johnnie Lee Higgins, who flopped as a 3rd round pick in 2007 because he never learned to do anything but run fly routes. Arrow is pointing up if he can stay on the field at his increased bulk. Fifth round talent.

18. Roger Lewis, Bowling Green--look up a few spots. See Corey Coleman up there? Lewis played the same basic role in the same basic offense. Thus, he has the same basic proven set of skills but also similar schematic downsides.

Lewis has a little bit more size and bulk than Coleman, and that’s where the divergence begins. Lewis has great deep speed but lacks instant acceleration. He gets open deep by having an extra gear in the open field that no corners could keep up with in the MAC. Can break from coverage and flag down a deep throw over his head, but doesn’t always track the ball in the air effectively. Productivity and efficiency took a big hit when teams started shading more help his way late in the year. Doesn’t always look the ball into his hands. As with press coverage, Lewis tries to run around defenders rather than getting physical or power through. Pretty good at using his hands and shoulders to separate, but he needs to add strength to do that effectively in the NFL. Plays with confidence and high expectations of both himself and his teammates.

And he may never get a shot. Wound up at Bowling Green because of a rape charge in high school that kept him from attending Ohio State. Several teams have removed him completely from consideration even though he has not been in trouble since. There are whispers the league is not keen on having someone with his unsavory domestic violence background come into the league, so it would not surprise me if he’s undrafted. I graded him a fourth-round pick.

19. Jordan Payton, UCLA--big intermediate-range target with reliable hands and excellent functional strength. 6’1” and 207 and it’s solid muscle. Started for 3+ years and continued to improve his route running and ability to create space for himself with more than just pushing off. Got better at getting off defenders and working deeper. Presents a huge target and gets his shoulders around to the QB in a hurry on comeback routes. Plus blocker who actively seeks out safeties and created spaces for runners down the field. Doesn’t play to his 4.47 Combine 40 time and is not a twitchy athlete. Good sleeper who could outplay this ranking if he continues to grow his game, which is saying something for UCLA’s all-time leading receiver. Fourth/fifth round to me. 

20. Aaron Burbridge, Michigan State--so much about Burbridge screams “average”, from his 6’0”, 205 pound size to his 4.5 speed to his career production. Burst into draft consideration with 85 catches as a senior after never topping 29 prior, proving he was a legit No. 1 receiver for Connor Cook in Michigan State’s pro-style passing attack.

Runs good-not-great routes with average acceleration and burst. Shows strong body control while at top speed and exhibits balance to bounce off hits. Can catch the ball away from his body and his hand reliability improved as a senior (4 drops). Lacks top-end gear and does everything at the same speed. Smart, high-effort player who does a lot of the little things like selling fakes, blocking behind the run and working free and presenting a target on broken plays quite well. Did not test well athletically. Has all the makings of a quality No. 4 wideout but lacks any elite trait that would elevate him up the depth chart from that role. Sixth round pick.

21. Rashard Higgins, Colorado State--Higgins is a case study in athletic metrics against on-field production. Pretty much everything that is true of Tyler Boyd above is exaggerated in Higgins, from the exceptional route running and clean feet on breaks to the decided lack of athleticism and speed. Boyd gets the bonus of having played against better competition and in an offense where he had to do more. I love Higgins’ hands and footwork, but he’s both slow (his 4.65 40 was not a surprise) and slightly built (6’2”, 188). His frame looks maxed out and he’s already shown struggles getting off jams and operating in traffic. The list of receivers who succeeded at his size with his speed is as barren as Greenland. Showed enough skill to get a long look as a 6th round pick, but likely won’t ever be more than a No. 4 in the NFL. 

22. Leonte Carroo, Rutgers--his playmaking talent alone would make Carroo rank in the top 10, but he’s got quite a few flags. Has some off-field concerns, including a domestic violence arrest. Has some durability concerns after missing time with various maladies including three documented concussions. Has some competitive fire issues, tapping out of playing more than once when he was reportedly healthy. There’s a lot of ability here but too many questions for my liking. Will be drafted in the 3rd or 4th round unless the NFL takes those concussions and other flags more seriously than expected.

23. Cody Core, Ole Miss--silky 6’3” outside threat already accustomed to being the second banana after playing across from Laquon Treadwell. Has significantly more dynamic athleticism than his Ole Miss teammate, but lacks bulk and displayed an alarming tendency to body catch even when uncontested. Improved his route running from his senior season to the Shrine Game week, where he clicked with Charlie Weis and the coaching staff. Pretty low floor but if Core can click with his NFL staff the same way he did in St. Pete, the likely fourth-round pick could be a quality No. 2 option a la Jermaine Kearse.

24. Tajae Sharpe, UMass--productive, smart target with decent length (6’2”) over the middle and in the intermediate range routes. Has played every WR spot and understands how to get open. Tiny hands and small frame are severely limiting factors. Tough sell as a reserve as he doesn’t project well to special teams play. Confident and hungry, plays a smart game.

25. Geronimo Allison, Illinois--I wrote about Allison in Draft Prospecting Illinois

26. Reggie Diggs, Richmond

27. Canaan Severin, Virginia--I wrote about both Diggs and Severin earlier in Draft Prospecting the State of Virginia.

28. Pharoh Cooper, South Carolina--I was very excited by Cooper early in the season, even comparing him to Randall Cobb as a versatile slot weapon after an exciting, intriguing 2014. That guy was not visible in 2015, though the chaotic state of the Gamecocks program could very well be a legit excuse. Nifty, quicker-than-fast guy who doesn’t have great quickness either. Tough for his size (5’11”, 202) but not overly creative or physical either before or after the catch. A worthwhile late-round reclamation product who will work very hard to prove doubters like myself wrong. I like that.

29. Nelson Spruce, Colorado

30. Alonzo Russell, Toledo--big (6’4”, 208) target with functional strength who catches off-target throws adeptly. Huge catch radius even though his athleticism is average for position. Plays with intensity but has also had run-ins with coaches. Powerful and confident in his hands. Doesn’t have initial burst but can scoot once the feet are moving. Solid No. 4 option with upside if he gets after it.

31. Jordan Williams, Ball State

32. Quinshad Davis, North Carolina

33. Devon Cajuste, Stanford--is he a tight end or a supersized WR at 6’4” and 234? A strong workout season elevated his profile but he rarely showed the athleticism on the field. Lags as a route runner and doesn’t offer much after the catch. Big target who can box out and create space in the red zone with his sheer size. Good blocker, which is why he projects better as a move TE than a traditional WR.

34. Jaydon Mickens, Washington--nifty slot receiver with some top-end burst and quick hands. Four-year contributor who led team in receptions final three years working the shallow middle and quick outside routes. Lightweight at 5’10” and 170 and never got much of a chance as a return man despite obvious potential. Never developed much beyond what he was in 2013. Compares to a lighter Jeremy Kerley coming out of TCU.

35. Jalin Marshall, Ohio State--much more value as a return man, as his balky hands and atrocious ball security make him a real stretch as an undersized deep threat.

36. K.J. Maye, Minnesota

37. Danny Anthrop, Purdue

38. De’Runnya Wilson, Mississippi State

39. Jared Dangerfield, Western Kentucky

40. Mitch Matthews, BYU--angular 6’6” finesse guy with a great catch radius and leaping ability. Has some crispness to his movement for a tall guy but sorely needs functional muscle. More physical DBs erased him from the field and he doesn’t have the speed to break away.

41. Hunter Sharpe, Utah State

42. Jamaal Jones, Montana

43. Chris Brown, Notre Dame

44. Marquez North, Tennessee--lots of potential if he can actually stay on the field, which was a major issue during his Volunteer era.

45. Ricardo Louis, Auburn

46. Bryce Treggs, California

47. Jay Lee, Baylor

48. Ed Eagan, Northwestern State--offers more value as a return man, though can also be a quality No. 2 slot option. 5’10” Senior Bowl call-up could win a return job right away.

49. Cayleb Jones, Arizona

50. Robby Anderson, Temple

Demarcus Robinson, Florida and Duke Williams, Auburn were not rated because no NFL team should even consider them after their immaturity issues that led both to be dismissed/quit their teams.

I haven’t seen enough of several smaller school prospects who have caught my attention or been rated by other folks.