The NFL Draft kicked off with a bang asreceivers A.J Brown and Marquise Brown were both traded. A.J was traded to the Philadelphia Eagles while Marquise Brown was shipped off to the Arizona Cardinals. Along with the receiver’s movement, six wideouts were taken in the first round of the NFL Draft.
Drake London – Atlanta Falcons
London only played eight games for USC last season due to an ankle injury but was still regarded as one of the best receivers in the draft. At 6-4, 219lbs, London has a large catch radius and wins most jump balls.
The former Trojan has good hands, and is a Mike Evans clone when it comes to making contested catches in the red zone. London is solid after the catch but doesn’t have the same elite speed as some of the other wideouts in the draft class. But he more than makes up for this with his size and hands.
The Falcons now have a pass catching threat beyond just Kyle Pitts.
Garret Wilson – New York Jets
Garrett Wilson caught 12 touchdowns this past season for Ohio State. He’s a good route runner and knows how to create separation. Wilson gets in and out of routes quickly, making him an effective receiver in the short passing game for the Buckeyes in 2021.
He can be successful outside and in the slot and has the athleticism to be a big-play threat. The only thing Wilson can improve on is his ability to high point the ball. Nevertheless, Wilson should command immediate targets in New York.
Chris Olave – New Orleans Saints
Chris Olave is another Ohio State receiver with outstanding route-running ability. He’s quick and a threat to score with the ball in his hands. Olave knows how to use his speed to get extra yards after the catch and uses it to keep opposing defenses honest.
Olave will be a safe choice in the draft, but sometimes he struggles with body control when adjusting to catch the football. He’s also shown a tendency to struggle against the physical play of cornerbacks, but overall Olave is the best route runner in the draft and will get more than his fair share of open looks.
Jameson Williams – Detroit Lions
Jameson Williams had an outstanding season at Alabama amassing 1,561 receiving yards with 15 touchdowns. Williams had 4.3 speed and is a big-play threat averaging 20-yards per reception.
Williams could be a big-play threat in the NFL because of his ability to track the deep ball and is good with the ball in his hands. The red flag is obviously the ACL injury he suffered in the college football playoffs, but prior to that he was the consensus number 1 wide receiver in the class. He will however need to bulk up to avoid getting pushed around at the NFL level.
Jahan Dotson – Washington Commanders
In 2021 Johan Dotson caught 91 passes for 1,181 yards and 12 touchdowns. Dotson has good lateral speed as well as breakaway acceleration. He’s a big-play threat and had six touchdowns of 60-plus yards in college.
Dotson is an above average route runner with reliable hands. However, Dotson’s size could be a problem in the NFL as bigger defenders could knock him off his routes.
Treylon Burks – Tennessee Titans
Burks is another big receiver with a lot of versatility. He can be used in motion, in the slot, and out of the backfield. While Burks might not be the fastest receiver, clocking in with a 4.55 40-yard dash time, he can win jump balls and is good at breaking tackles after the catch.
Burks was primarily used in the slot in college, so it may take some time to learn how to play on the outside. Nevertheless, Burks should be an excellent red-zone target in the NFL and will certainly have lots of targets available with Brown and Jones no longer in Tennessee.
-LaMarr Fields
Twitter: @raiderway83