2010 NFL Draft WR Rankings - Garda
by Andrew Garda on 04/06/10
- Oklahoma State, 6’2” 225 lbs. - Bryant has a great combination of speed, athleticism and ball-handling skills. Although he is coming off a missed season due to a suspension, I’m really not terribly concerned about his character and if a team wants a guy who can catch the ball in traffic and make big plays, then it shouldn’t bother them either. While he doesn’t explode into a route, he gets up to speed quickly and that, coupled with his ability to beat jams and the agility to make quick cuts allow him to get good separation from the defense. Finally, Bryant also is not only willing to block, but does it well which will keep him on the field even during run plays. Bryant is the complete package in my opinion even if that complete package somehow managed to forget his cleats for his Pro Day.
- Georgia Tech, 6’3” 224 lbs. - Like Bryant, Thomas is a dynamic athlete who can make big plays. However, he is a bit rougher around the edges than Bryant and needs to work on some things like his route-running. Part of this may be due to coming out as a junior and in my opinion his upside is pretty big. He may not make as immediate an impact as Bryant, but when he gets up to speed he will be an incredibly effective wide receiver. After the catch is where he shines—Thomas can outrun the defense regardless of how good their angles are, has the size and strength to run through would-be tacklers. If his hands were a little more consistent, this might be a closer horse-race between he and Bryant but they aren’t and it’s not.
- Notre Dame, 5’11” 199 lbs. - Tate has some of the best hands in the class and will catch just about anything thrown his way. Occasionally uses his body to catch but not often enough to cause that much concern. Where he falls a bit short of the best of the best is his speed and explosiveness which aren’t nearly elite level. Also, Tate has some problems with press coverage, though he has the strength to overcome it most times. His route running skills also need work. Still, he shows amazing ability to gain yards after the catch, which is also on display in the return game. Tate has the vision to find seams and the ability to juke a defender with a quick direction change. That combination will interest many teams looking to add a playmaker in more than one phase of the game this April even if he takes a little while to develop.
- USC, 6’1” 197 lbs. - Damian Williams has phenomenal hands and not just on the easy balls coming his way. Williams doesn’t hesitate to go after balls either already in traffic - he’s fearless. When I did analysis of Mark Sanchez last year, I was worried that he had some accuracy issues which were covered a little by his receivers, most notably Williams. He remained incredibly reliable this year as well with freshman Matt Barkley throwing the ball and in fact had his best year ever with 70 catches for 1,010 yards, although his touchdown production dropped from nine to six. While by no means a speed demon, Williams still finds a way to be productive after the catch gaining yards with good instincts, vision and the patience to follow his blockers. Williams can also contribute in the return game on special teams. He’s not incredibly strong which hurts his blocking skills and overall ability to break tackles. But on the whole, I believe not only will Williams be a very solid player at the next level, he has the potential to be a great one as well.
- Cincinnati, 6’0” 187 lbs. - Gilyard is an explosive, fast player who is incredibly dangerous when he gets in the open field. He has good hands and can make difficult catches, though he struggled a bit with this at the Senior Bowl. He’s a little undersized at 187lbs and will need to add some meat to his frame to make teams less worried about it. It would also dramatically improve his blocking if he could add some more muscle. It’s not that he isn’t willing, he just isn’t big enough to be truly effective. If he can do that, his Senior Bowl drops don’t worry me tremendously—the tape doesn’t lie and to me, the tape shows me a very gifted play-maker.
- Illinois, 6’1” 219 lbs. - Benn’s 2009 numbers weren’t as good as his 2008 numbers, but a lot of that had to do with an offense (and quarterback) which didn’t play very well. His thick frame, physical style of play and excellent run after the catch skills make him a great target for hard to get yards and first downs. Needs to improve his focus and concentration and sometimes catches with his body a bit. While he can get up to a good speed, Benn isn’t running away from anyone and lacks elite speed and explosiveness. He does a great job after the catch and his strength, balance and aggressive style make him hard to bring down.
- Mississippi, 5’9” 172 lbs. - McCluster is a bit of a positional tweener - some rate him as a running back, some as a wide receiver. At Draftguys, we’ve gone the receiver route, but that isn’t to downplay his skills running the ball. His speed, determination while running the ball and agility serve him well in either aspect of the game. His hands are very good and he can make some very nice catches. He does fumble the ball a little too much (including at the Senior Bowl, marring an otherwise phenomenal week) and his size has folks worried about durability. But he can play multiple positions which allows a team great flexibility whenever he is in the game and will keep defenses on their toes. Whether he is running the ball from the backfield, after making a catch or returning a kick, his elusiveness and ability to get by defenders makes him a huge weapon.
- Minnesota, 6’3” 217 lbs. - Decker is basically a one trick pony though he does that one trick very well. He’s a possession receiver whose size, strength and hands make him a very good target in traffic. Decker is also a very savvy player who can find the soft spots in a zone and get there in time to make a tough catch. The problem is, he doesn’t often do much with the ball after he catches it. He doesn’t break many tackles and doesn’t make many defensive players miss. You need exactly ten yards? He’ll get it for you on a ten yard route. If you throw it nine yards, he’s not often getting you that last yard. On the plus side, he is an outstanding red zone target and you can depend on him to bring the ball down safely when a quarterback throws it at him.
- Texas, 5’11” 193 lbs. - Shipley is an agile and quick receiver who lacks the explosiveness a player needs to easily seperate from the secondary and occasionally catches the ball with his body. However, he can be exceedingly dangerous in the open field and has a nose for finding open spots when running his routes. Durability is a concern as he missed 2004 and 2005 due to leg issues. He also had shoulder surgery last summer though that didn’t seem to impact his Senior year as he compiled career highs in receptions (116), yards (1,485) and touchdowns (13). While Shipley proves himself on offense (and he will) he will be an immediate contributor on special teams, where his return kills will shine right away.
- Ohio, 6’1” 204 lbs. - Price is a fast athlete who screams ‘deep threat’. His quickness, hands and overall body control make him an ideal target for a team’s vertical game. However, Price isn’t a tough player and sometimes seems to shy away from contact and has a tendency not to fight for balls in traffic. He isn’t much of a blocker and isn’t physical enough to play special teams—he doesn’t have much return experience at all. A bit of a raw prospect, he has some good potential and if he can play a little more physically, Price’s role on a team would increase. As it is, he seems to be merely a long distance threat. albeit a very good one.
- Michigan State, 6’2” 209 lbs. - White is a very competitive player who is solid in multiple aspects of the game. He can block, he has good hands and can make adjustments to his route when the ball is in the air. He has great focus in traffic and will fight for the ball. White lacks good burst off the line or explosion in his cuts but he’s a smart player who will read defenses well which helps make up for his flaws. White was pretty productive in college and while he isn’t an elite prospect he should be productive as well in the Pros.
- LSU, 6’3” 211 lbs. - LaFell isn’t going to win many Gold Medals for sprinting, but he does move well for his size. That size, along with his strength allow him to run through the arm tackles (and over other tacklers) that his lack of speed will allow to get within striking distance. Aside from his lack of speed, he lacks the explosiveness off the line that teams look for in an elite wideout. His route running could also use some work.
- Syracuse, 6’2” 221 lbs. - For a guy as big as Williams, who plays as physically as he does, the Syracuse wide receiver actually has a fair bit of finesse in his game as well. Williams has soft hands which he does a good job of using to catch the ball away from his body, although on occasion he gets a little lazy, instead using his body to catch the ball. He runs very good routes and his agility allows him to get in and out of his cuts quickly and cleanly. All that said, he gets physical when he has to, whether by extending his body to make a catch on a high ball or using his body to block out corners or absorbing a big hit after the catch. Williams doesn’t have much explosiveness and has a hard time gaining seperation from press coverage. He also has a lot more trouble getting past jams than he should given his strength and physical style of play. That coupled with his lack of overall speed keep him from being a top prospect, but his size and willingness to catch balls in traffic will attract more teams to him than the speed will drive away.
- Florida, 6’4” 222 lbs. - Cooper’s production exploded during the 2009 season, more than doubling his receptions and tripling his yardage and touchdown totals as former teammate Tim Tebow found him early and often. While he does have good hands and runs fearless routes where he doesn’t shy away from tough catches resulting in big hits, Cooper lacks the explosiveness he’ll need to gain separation from NFL caliber cornerbacks. He’s an incredibly hard worker and will fight to gain yards after the catch, but isn’t quite strong enough to consistently break tackles for them. A tough player, Cooper will probably make his bones on special teams either in coverage to utilize his physical game or in punt return duties.
- South Florida, 6’3” 215 lbs. - Mitchell has the potential to be an outstanding vertical threat: he’s got the speed, the size and the ability to track and catch the deep ball. He’s got great burst off the line to beat a defender off the line and will make a corner pay if they give him too much cushion. He isn’t higher on this list for a few reasons. first, he catches with his body too much and for all his arm length, he doesn’t extend as much as he should for the ball. He doesn’t play as big as he is, physically, and could stand to play a little more physically.
- Baylor, 6’3” 217 lbs. - Gettis seems to have all the physical skills - size, speed and overall quickness - to be a lot more productive than he was in college. The problem is that his fundamental skills remain pretty raw. His route running is pretty raw and his cuts are a bit slow. He tends to body-catch though he has fairly good hands. He doesn’t have much burst off the snap. A team will probably take a chance on him given his size and speed, but it’s hard to say how long it will take him to pay off. I think he has promise but a team would likely be better off if they waited until at least the second - perhaps the third - day of the Draft.
- Kansas, 6’2” 207 lbs. - Briscoe is an outstanding athlete with great body control and agility who can turn a short pass into a big play at any time. His open field moves are incredible but he has more than a few issues. He has difficulty protecting the ball, isn’t consistent with his play and has his share of mental errors, which in part led to some off the field issues including a suspension in 2009. He has the talent - the maturity needs to match it if he is to become a solid starter in the NFL.
- Tulane, 6’0” 206 lbs. - Williams was a very productive receiver at Tulane, despite missing a chunk of 2008 with a torn ACL. The problem in translating that to the NFL is his lack of speed and explosiveness which will make it hard for him to gain separation from the secondary. He gets in and out of his cuts quickly though, has no fear of going after a ball in traffic and has enough agility to make tacklers miss after the catch which allows him to turn a short catch into a big play. Will probably start out as a returner and could develop into a nice third or fourth receiver.
- Citadel, 5’11” 195 lbs. - Not having played for a big school, against top competition is the sort of thing that can get a player passed over by many people. However, Roberts has already overcome that in many circles who recognize the value his speed, explosiveness and durability has both in the receiving and return games. Far from an elite athlete, Roberts also has to overcome a down senior season, though he began to put doubts to rest during the winter All-Star games. His ability on special teams will buy him the time to prove himself at the next level.
- Clemson, 5’9” 186 lbs. - Ford is an incredibly explosive, fast athlete whose lack of ideal size will hold him back from being a top prospect on Ddaft day. Certainly, his speed and agility allow him to get good separation from defensive backs and help him gain yards after the catch. Was able to break arm tackles in college but with his size issues, it’s not hard to imagine him having more trouble at the NFL level where the athletes are often bigger and meaner on a consistent basis. His size also leads to durability concerns. If he can assuage those fears by staying healthy, tighten up his routes his speed and explosiveness will be a valuable asset.
- Missouri, 6’5” 215 lbs. - Basically exploding from obscurity with a fantastic senior season where he compiled 113 catches for 1,781 yards and 14 touchdowns, Alexander nearly tripled his production in nearly every receiving category. Unfortunately for him, he hurt his knee at the Senior Bowl which has soured some of his momentum. There were already som durability concerns after he had missed some playing time throughout his college career due to other knee issues and a wrist injury. He doesn’t explode or have much burst off the snap but he is a big, strong receiver who will aggressively fight for yards after the catch. Alexander’s production jumped so much, red flags start going off-he’s going to need to prove 2009 was the mean, not the high water mark.
- Bowling Green, 6’0” 212 lbs. - Barnes has the speed teams look for in a wide receiver but his size and weight might be an issue for many teams. He possesses great hands but is very raw otherwise, and will need time to some basic things like route running. He has a very good head for the game and is good at getting defensive players to bite on fakes and cuts. An interesting player who is definitely a project who will need time to find his groove.
- Mississippi, 6’1” 209 lbs. - Hodge is a smart receiver with very good hands but his lack of speed will hold him back at the Pro level as it will keep him from gaining separation from the secondary and that could hold him back from true success in the NFL. Hodge has no compunction about going after a tough ball or across the middle and will fight for the ball but needs to sharpen his route-running and learn how to come back to the ball so defenders can’t jump in front of him on his routes. I like his upside, but I think he will likely end up just a role player on a team.
- Connecticut, 6’3” 210 lbs. - Easley emerged as a very productive wide receiver last year at UCONN and his size and willingness to make tough catches have attracted some interest. He is incredibly raw and needs to develop his game in order to be a consistent force for a team at wide receiver. Our own Cecil Lammey came away impressed after seeing Easley at Texas vs The Nation, but he still has a long way to go and there are many players above him on this list who will have less of a learning curve which might make Easley have to wait a long time before he hears his name in late April.
- Fresno State, 6’4” 204 lbs. - Ajirotutu’s numbers suffered because Fresno State ran the ball a lot - and with Ryan Mathews to carry the rock, why wouldn’t you? He’s very big and can use that size to block off a receiver when he goes up for a ball. With his size and jumping ability, he would be ideal as a target in the red zone. However, he needs to improve his overall pass catching as he will cradle the ball at times rather than catch it with his hands and he isn’t really quick. Ajirotutu can use his body to advantage when going up for a ball, and that will probably be his role on any team which takes him.
- Central Michigan, 5’10” 186 lbs. - The Junior from Central Michigan was very productive in his three years at college, though some will point to it happening in a spread offense. Still, taking advantage of the offense you’re in isn’t anything to sneeze at sometimes, and he gave quarterback Dan LeFevour every reason to use him early and often. The problem is he lacks both size and speed and will have some trouble dealing with faster, larger corners in the NFL. He also isn’t tough enough to cross the middle, sharp enough in his routes and sometimes fights the ball when catching it. He’ll mostly be a special teams guy who could develop into a depth receiver, but probably not much else.
- Arizona State, 6’1” 201 lbs. - McGaha’s well run routes, good hands and overall excellent receiving skills all of which helped him become one of the most potent weapons in the Sun Devils’ arsenal. He doesn’t have the top-shelf speed to become a vertical threat in the NFL, but his skill-set will make him very reliable on short and intermediate routes where he often finds the open spots in the secondary. He also possesses a high level of competitiveness and will win jump-ball battles he shouldn’t through tenacity and desire.
- Buffalo, 6’0” 189 lbs. - Roosevelt has some questions about durability and speed which will plague him into camp where he will have to work hard to earn—and keep—a spot. He has the attitude and work ethic to make the most of an opportunity should he get it and that and his size will help make an impact in camp. It’s an uphill climb for him though, and with his lack of speed he will struggle to gain separation at the next level. More than likely he will end up on a practice squad somewhere and have to play his way onto the main team.
- Utah, 6’0” 191 lbs. - Reed isn’t going to blow you away with anything on the surface - his size, his speed, his toughness; they aren’t bad, they just aren’t at a blow-me-away level. What he does have, he uses to great effect, though. Reed runs a very crisp route which allows him to get the jump on the secondary and he does not hesitate to go get a ball in traffic. A very tenacious worker, Reed will earn a coaches respect for his effort, even if his physical measurables aren’t wowing anyone.
- Purdue, 6’0” 202 lbs. - Valentin is a solid returner who doesn’t have enough overall speed or burst to gain a lot of separation from the secondary. However, he has great reach and size, will use his body to block out the secondary during a catch and is a tough guy not afraid to go across the middle. He is a very physical runner whether after a catch or on a return and he is very tough to bring down. Will be destined to be a returner who can also fill a posession receiver role.
- Michigan, 6’2” 208 lbs. - Mathews is pretty speedy, somethign most evident when he has to get under a ball that is over-thrown. That extra gear and ability to adjust allows a quarterback to throw to where Mathews will be and know he can get on top a defender and make the catch. He does have some issues beating jams at the line and can get overpowered in general by stronger cornerbacks. His routes are not as sharp as they could be and he needs to learn to use his size a little better. Can earn his keep as a returner while a team finds out whether he can take the next step and succeed as a third or fourth receiver.
- Ohio State, 5’10” 186 lbs. - Small is a very quick and relatively fast back-up wide receiver who will excel (at least at first) chiefly as a punt returner where his lack of size will be less of a factor at first. His quickness and speed in the open field will make him a dangerous player with the ball in his hands. At his size, he isn’t very effective in traffic or fighting off a jam, but his speed helps make up for that. Smalls greatest problem to overcome will be his maturity. He has had several off-the-field issues and he needs to grow up if he’s going to succeed at the next level as anything more than a return specialist.
- Kansas State, 5’6” 149 lbs. - Banks is way undersized and lacks any bulk but has exceptional athleticism and great hands. It’s hard to imagine him being a huge factor in the receiving game, but with his elusiveness in the open field I think that a smart team can find a role for him on offense even if it isn’t every down. The NFL does a lot of specialization and Banks may be a guy who would excel in a specific role and meanwhile would be excellent in return duties.
- LSU, 5’5” 166 lbs. - The second tremendously under-height guy on this list, Holliday is on this list for the same reason Banks is—versatility. As it is very hard for quarterbacks to find a guy as short as Holliday, he will likely be first and foremost a return specialist. But the things which make him excel in the return game will allow him to do several things offensively for a team which drafts him. Holliday is very explosive and has can change direction on a dime to make defenders miss. He has very good vision and can find the hole in a defensive formation and exploit it. It’s likely that Holliday may get some time at running back (something he did more frequently at LSU than receiving) but as with Banks, I thinka creative offensive coordinator could find numerous ways to get this explosive player on the field.
- Fresno State, 6’0” 212 lbs. - West has the ability to adjust well to the ball while it’s in the air and has good, soft hands to catch it with when it arrives. He won’t shy away from fighting for the ball in a crowd and with his arm length and overall strength, he has a very good chance of coming down with it when he does. He lacks burst and has problems beating the jam on the line. West scored a few touchdowns in punt and kick return duties while in college and that’s where he will start out on an NFL squad.
- Boston College, 5’10” 197 lbs. - Gunnell has average size and speed, but does a great job with the measurables he has. A very good route-runner, Gunnell is able to find spaces in the defense, no matter how small. When the ball does come (and most noticeably in tight spaces) Gunnell shows great focus and concentration. After getting the ball, he does a good job of gaining further yards. Unfortunately, he isn’t getting faster or bigger so he has limited upside and not much room to improve. Will work well as a returner and also be able to contribute as receiver depth.
- Rutgers, 5’8” 165 lbs. - Incredibly undersized, Brown makes up for it by having the vision and instincts to tunr any play into a big one. While not fast by the stopwatch, Brown plays faster on the field when it counts. Plays fearlessly, which could be to his detriment given his build. Uses his body a bit too much when catching the ball which causes some drops. Should make a fair slot receiver and returner if he can stay healthy.
- UC Davis, 6’0” 191 lbs. - As is common at this point in a list, Carter has upside which will have some team overlooking his shortcomings and taking a chance late. In order to hang on at the next level, Carter will need to improve his route running and focus—more importantly he needs to be more consistent. One play he’ll make a spectacular catch and then run for some extra yards by breaking arm tackles and dragging the odd defender with him. The next, he disappears. If he can improve his technique and focus, Carter could become a consistent threat down-field.
- Arizona, 6’2” 190 lbs. - Turner has good height and looks like he could add a few pounds of muscle to his frame as well. he worked mostly as a possession receiver in college and that’s likely to be where his value will lie in the NFL. His reach and willingness to fight in traffic for the ball will be an asset, though his so-so speed lack of quickness will weigh against him. While he will work in traffic, lacks an overall toughness teams like to see in a fringe prospect. Also has to overcome a tendency to drop too many easy passes.
- California, 6’2” 200 lbs. - Tucker is a very effective deep threat but unfortunately not much else. Some team will take a chance they can convert him to a returner or find a way to increase his effectiveness but so far he hasn’t managed to improve things like his route running or focus and while it may be worth a late flier or street free agent signing, he likely won’t amount to much.
