2022 NFL Draft Preview: Wide Receivers

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Earlier I discussed the importance of a #2 wide receiver opposite Terry McLaurin but the team apparently seems content with who they have on the roster. The one reason for being frugal in free agency is the anticipated extension Terry McLaurin may eventually receive and seeing how the market has gone for his position that tag will be pricey. So if there was a year to be cautious this draft class would be one to invest in a wide receiver. This draft may not have your Ja’Mar Chases of the world but the depth and talent in this class is exceptional. Considering the various rankings available I’ve decided on a growing rating system through Next Gen Stats while compiling this list (not necessarily my order of preference).

Day 1 (Round 1):

  • Jameson Williams (6’1″, 179lbs, Next Gen Grade 92): The risk here is his lean frame and coming off a torn ACL. He is regarded as one of the best wide receivers in this class. Stretches the field with top-end speed and has strong reliable hands but tracks the ball with some inconsistencies at times. Strong yards after catch receiver who can contribute in the return game. NFL Comparison: Will Fuller
  • Treylon Burks (6’2″, 225lbs, Next Gen Grade 88): Great size and body control but he is not consistent enough with 50/50 balls. Struggles out of his breaks at times but uses his size properly as leverage against defensive backs. Has the elite size to speed combo you look for in today’s wide receiver. NFL Comparison: AJ Brown
  • Drake London (6’4″, 219lbs, Next Gen Grade 87): London might be the most complete package of the group with his biggest weakness only being his run blocking and can be slow into his breaks too often. Has an elite combo of size and speed plus gets full extension on contested balls. Can work from the slot or outside and plays back to the ball exceptionally well. NFL Comparison: Ed McCafferty
  • Garrett Wilson (6’0″, 183lbs, Next Gen Grade 87): Another receiver capable of playing inside and outside with exceptional speed and clean release off press coverage. Still needs work on his route running and inconsistent catch rate but his acceleration off the line and after the catch plus his ability to track the ball very well gives him great upside. NFL Comparison: DJ Moore
  • Chris Olave (6’0″, 187lbs, Next Gen Grade 84): His report is nearly a cut and paste of another receiver Washington knows all too well. While smooth in his breaks, he reaches top-end speed quickly in the vertical game, Chris is very scheme dependent. Finds the holes in coverage in his comeback routes well and tracks the ball very well. NFL Comparison: Wait for it…..Terry McLaurin

Day 2 (Rounds 2-3):

  • Jahan Dotson (5’11”, 178lbs, Next Gen Grade 82): Excellent acceleration off the line plus a second gear that creates great separation downfield. Tracks the ball well and is one of the better 50/50 ball catchers in this draft. Does round out his routes far too much. Has inconsistent footwork and doesn’t break free from tacklers as well as you’d like. Is very dynamic in the return game and his work ethic gives Dotson a good ceiling. NFL Comparison: Emmanuel Sanders
  • David Bell (6’1″, 212lbs, Next Gen Grade 81): A polished route runner with the ability to work from the slot or outside. His precision, more than his speed, is his strongest trait, and he is absolutely fearless across the middle. Doesn’t possess the greatest acceleration after the catch but his ability to sit down on routes leads to positive gains after the catch more so than not. While he has a solid ceiling his floor is most likely going to be his peek, as a mid-level #2 receiver. NFL Comparison: Zay Jones
  • Jalen Tolbert (6’1″, 194lbs, Next Gen Grade 81): Not the elite speed you’d want but he is tough against press coverage off the line and breaks out of his routes with crisp movement. Carries a more imposing body frame than most would think at first glance. Was impressive against the tough SEC cornerbacks. A couple of concerns; untimely drops and doesn’t always establish a great position for the reception allowing the defender a play on the ball. Certainly has an achievable ceiling and is a true character guy. NFL Comparison: Marvin Jones
  • John Metchie (5’11”, 187lbs, Next Gen Grade 80): Not as explosive a receiver as his 40-time suggests but runs the full route tree effectively. If he can recover fully from a torn ACL in December he offers a great yard after catch option from the slot. Wins more often than not at the line of scrimmage. As a body catcher, he does suffer from bad untimely drops. NFL Comparison: Byron Pringle
  • Wan’Dale Robinson (5’8″, 178lbs, Next Gen Grade 80): Might be the best gadget guy in this draft having a solid frame with elite burst and quickness off the line. By no means is he a contested-catch receiver nor will he consistently beat the press coverage, Robinson is a guy that creates on the field with the ball in his hands. A shifty runner who tracks the ball very well too. NFL Comparison: Deebo Samuel.
  • Khalil Shakir (6’0″, 196lbs, Next Gen Grade 79): High character and a great work ethic. A player who fits the bill as a true slot receiver capable of playing outside. Not quite the weapon as Wan’Dale Robinson with the ball in his hands but he also allows so versatility on the field as a running back option too. Great center of gravity with very good vision on the field. Shakir won’t run away from many defenders on the field and needs more polish in his route running. NFL Comparison: Antwaan Randle El
  • George Pickens (6’3″, 195lbs, Next Gen Grade 78): Prior to his ACL tear in the Spring of 2021, George was exceptionally smooth in his breaks out of a route and made quick stop-and-turn on drive routes. He has some of the strongest hands in this class plus an exceptional catch radius. Game speed isn’t at an elite level but his hands are exceptional when defending against press coverage. If he can show no hesitation on that knee and has no setbacks, he could be a strong late day 2 pick. NFL Comparison: Josh Reynolds

Day 3 (Rounds 4-7):

  • Justyn Ross (6’4″, 205lbs, Next Gen Grade 77): Continued recovery from spinal surgery in 2020 and a November 2021 foot surgery for a stress fracture is the only thing preventing Ross from vaulting up draft boards right now. Returning late into the 2021 season, Ross certainly came back strong but the true question is can he ever return back to his old form. This is a high ceiling high-risk playmaker that, if healthy, could be the steal of this draft. NFL Comparison Tim Patrick
  • Skyy Moore (5’10”, 195lbs, Next Gen Grade 77): Good player in space and knows how to find the openings on the field for an easier target for the quarterback. Good hands but needs more work in and out of his breaks plus won’t create ideal separation downfield. A moderate ceiling guy who can develop into a solid number 4 starter but doesn’t offer much on special teams. NFL Comparison KeeSean Johnson
  • Tre’ Turner (6’1″, 184lbs, Next Gen Grade 76): Doesn’t possess great burst or separation but is a strong 50/50 ball receiver. Turner is very quick out of his breaks in intermediate routes and transitions into a runner very smooth. He does have some tendency in having poor focus resulting in bad drops and won’t finish off his routes at times. Solid special team contributor and if his flashes in 2019 could be harnessed he may very well become a solid backend of the roster player. NFL Comparison: Darius Slayton
  • Christian Watson (6’4″, 208lbs, Next Gen Grade 75): His intriguing combination of size and speed accompanied by great footwork plus good separation downfield makes Watson the most intriguing prospect in this draft. This is a very high ceiling player with nearly all the traits scouts covet but his time in the FCS vs lesser competition tempers some expectations. A raw player who can lack focus resulting in bad drops and needs to learn how to utilize his body frame more effectively against smaller corners. His floor is most likely where he ends up but the right coaching could uncover a diamond in the rough. NFL Comparison: Dontrelle Inman

Wild Card Wide Receivers

  • Calvin Austin III (5’8″, 170lbs, Next Gen Grade 72): This undersized receiver possesses elite track speed and great one-step quickness after the catch. His greatest toolset is absolutely a punt returner but could offer very good depth at the slot position. NFL Comparison Isaiah McKenzie
  • Bo Melton (5’11”, 189lbs, Next Gen Grade 71): Solid route runner with quick feet out of his breaks, Bo looks like a solid depth guy having plenty of explosive ability and very good in high pointing the ball. His best attribute would be as a gunner on special teams. NFL Comparison Griff Whalen

 

 

Note: Credit to Lance Zierlein on my final player evaluations