2020 WR Class – Deepest Class Ever

 

 

The 2014 wide receiver class is the greatest of all-time in NFL draft history.  Mike Evans (Bucs), Odell Beckham Jr. (Browns), Davante Adams (Packers), Jarvis Landry (Browns), Allen Robinson (Bears) and John Brown (Ravens) make this particular class a special one.  Sammy Watkins (Chiefs), Kelvin Benjamin (out of the NFL) and Jordan Matthews (undrafted free agent) also had solid production over their careers.  It would be tough for the 2020 WR Class to match the star power of the 2014 WR group.  However, this current class is the deepest wide receiver class ever.  We will see plenty of day three picks or undrafted free agents that will go on to become starters in this league. 

We look at the top 25 WR’s in this 2020 draft class plus some small school hidden gems.

 

1.    CeeDee Lamb (Oklahoma)

 

He is my top WR in this class.  He has been a contributor ever since his freshman season.  He had over 60 receptions and over 1,000 yards receiving the last two seasons.  He has scored 32 TD’s at Oklahoma and has averaged 19 yards per catch over his career.  Lamb is special when he has the ball in his hands.  He is electric in the open field and can make defenders miss.  His ball skills, body control and route running are top notch.  The only thing that he lacks is elite speed and strength.  He is quick in and out of his breaks and can easily create separation.  He blocks his tail off on every single play.  For a star receiver, you love to see that great effort. 

 

2.    Jerry Jeudy (Alabama)

 

Jeudy won the 2018 Biletnikoff Award as CFB’s top WR as a sophomore.  I believe many people including myself expected him to come in and dominate even more in 2019.  That didn’t occur.  He was often overshadowed by his other talented teammates like DeVonta Smith and Henry Ruggs III.  He had his best game of the season in the bowl game against Michigan.  He is a good athlete with very good speed.  He doesn’t have the size or the elite testing numbers.  But what sets Jeudy apart is his route running.  He is arguably the best route runner in this draft class.  His crisp footwork, his ability to change speeds and his attention to detail are impressive.  He is a terrific deep threat.  However, I see problems with drops on film.  Concentration lapses.  Teams respected his speed, but in those rare times when he faced press coverage at the line of scrimmage, he struggled.  He is strictly a slot WR at the next level.   

 

3.    Henry Ruggs III (Alabama)      

 

Speed kills.  Ruggs III has plenty of it.  He ran a 4.27 forty at the Combine, and that speed is evident when you watch his film.  He is explosive and is a big-time athlete.  He can stretch the field vertically and is also dangerous in the open field.  He scored 24 TD’s on 98 receptions during his three years at Alabama.  He only dropped one ball during his college career.  He needs to continue to improve as a route runner in order to become a more complete WR.  Just like Lamb and Jeudy, he will be a first-round selection. 

 

4.    Justin Jefferson (LSU)

 

He led the nation with 111 catches (while leading the team in receptions, yards, and touchdowns the previous year).  LSU put Jefferson in the slot this year and never looked back.  He was QB’s security blanket especially on third downs.  He has a good catching radius, speed and can make contested catches in traffic.  He has good hands and is a crisp route runner.  He excels on fade routes.  The question mark is whether he can separate against press coverage at the next level.

 

5.    Tee Higgins (Clemson)

 

He is a huge WR with a large catching radius.  He excels on slants and fade routes.  Higgins is a red zone nightmare.  He scored 25 TD’s during the last two years at Clemson.  He uses his body, long arms, tremendous body control and leaping ability to make some spectacular catches on the field.  He doesn’t have blazing speed and he didn’t run the full route tree in college.  I also saw inconsistent hands on film.  He is bothered by physical corners who get their hands on him in press coverage.  He is a possession WR at the next level.    

 

6.    James Proche (SMU)    

 

I have James Proche a lot higher than most.  He is a slot WR with exceptional, strong hands.  His ball skills are some of the best in this draft class.  He is a hands catcher.  He makes one-handed, tough grabs on a regular basis.  He also improved as a route runner during his senior season.  He was sharper in and out of his breaks.  He does an excellent job exploiting zone coverage.  His release off the line and body control are good.  He works hard as a blocker.  He lacks deep speed and won’t threaten vertically at the next level.  He won’t make defenders miss after the catch and needs to improve against press coverage like many other WR prospects on this list. 

 

7.    Michael Pittman Jr. (USC)

 

Pittman Jr. looks like a solid No.2 possession receiver at the next level.  He had his best season as a senior (101 catches, 1,275 yards and 11 TD’s).  He is a big, physical wideout.  He uses his frame to shield the defender away from the ball.  He makes contested catches in traffic.  He is a hands catcher and a good route runner.  He surprised me by running a lot faster at the Combine (4.52 forty).  His father played RB in the NFL and won a Super Bowl ring with the Bucs.             

 

8.    Denzel Mims (Baylor)

 

I want to go on record and say that I am not a big fan of Denzel Mims.  He has put on a show during the postseason and has helped himself more than any other WR prospect out there.  He is an athletic, explosive WR with track speed.  He started his ascend during the Senior Bowl.  He put on a show during the Scouting Combine (4.38 forty, 38.5 vert, 10’11 broad and 6.66 three-cone).  His size, large catching radius, terrific leaping ability and body control stand out on film.  He excels on back-shoulder throws.  But there are plenty of deficiencies in his game.  He doesn’t run the full route tree.  He fails to create separation in the short area and is a body catcher.  He displays inconsistent hands and is unable to get off press coverage.        

 

9.    Gabriel Davis (UCF)

 

He has gotten better every year at UCF.  He is a physical WR with good size.  He uses his hands well and shows crisp footwork at the line of scrimmage.  Able to defeat press coverage and create separation at the top of his route.  He catches the ball away from his body.  There are some drops on film, but he displays good overall ball skills.  He was a vertical threat in college.  But he doesn’t have elite speed, and I doubt that he would be able to consistently take that top of the defense at the next level.  He also needs to drop his hips better when he is coming out of his breaks.  He is a competitive player and a hard worker who sustains his blocks to the whistle.  I am a fan of Gabriel Davis, and he is one of the more underrated receivers in this draft.            

 

10.  Jalen Reagor (TCU)

 

Elite speed is the first thing that you notice when you watch Reagor play.  He is an outstanding vertical threat.  He shows a smooth release off the line and can highpoint the ball.  He is also very dangerous in the open field as a receiver and a returner.  He excels on double moves.  He has NFL bloodlines.  His father won a Super Bowl ring with the Colts.  He had a down year this past season, but the QB play really let him down.  He is also hit and miss when it comes to making contested catches in traffic.        

 

11.  Laviska Shenault Jr. (Colorado)

 

Shenault Jr. was my number three receiver on the board before the Scouting Combine.  I had to drop him considerably in my rankings.  Injuries continue to pile up for the talented receiver out of Colorado.  He had surgery on the core muscle injury and inflammation of the public bone.  He will miss approximately four to six weeks.  He has huge durability concerns.  He is also a very average route runner.  But he is a playmaker.  He has excellent ball skills and outstanding athleticism.  He is a dangerous weapon in the open field.         

 

12.  Antonio Gandy-Golden (Liberty)

 

He is an intriguing prospect that I am higher on than most.  He scored 32 touchdowns over his four-year career.  Gandy-Golden has great size and shows the ability to highpoint the ball.  He is an athletic, physical WR who wins a lot of 50-50 balls in contested situations.  He catches the ball consistently away from his frame.  He does a good job picking up yards after the catch.  His route running is something that he needs to continue to improve upon.     

 

13.  Lynn Bowden Jr. (Kentucky)

 

Bowden Jr. will remind folks of Randall Cobb or Antwaan Randle El.  He is a versatile playmaker.  Kentucky moved him to QB halfway through his junior season.  He profiles as a slot WR at the next level.  He has outstanding speed, athleticism and strong hands.  He can be a major weapon on jet sweeps and as a returner.  He is elusive in the open field.  Route running and blocking are the two major areas that he has to improve on.    

 

14.  KJ Hamler (Penn State)

 

I was surprised that KJ Hamler entered the draft after his redshirt sophomore season.  He has outstanding speed and can stretch the field vertically.  He has an excellent burst after the catch.  He is elusive and can make defenders miss in space.  He is the human joystick.  However, he has a slight build and struggles making catches in traffic.  He also has a tough time tracking deep balls at times.  He is a slot WR at the next level and will serve as the primary kick returner as well.   

 

15.  Isaiah Hodgins (Oregon State)

 

He has arguably the best hands in the entire draft.  Hodgins catches the ball away from his frame.  He runs a variety of routes and excels on double moves.  He has outstanding size and a large catching radius.  He has good quickness for his size.  He makes a living making tough grabs in traffic.  His father was a longtime fullback in the NFL.  Another underrated prospect.    

 

16.  Chase Claypool (Notre Dame)

 

He had his best season as a senior (66 catches for 1,037 yards and 13 TD’s).  Just like his former teammate Miles Boykin last year, Claypool had an outstanding Combine (4.42 forty, 40.5 vertical and 10’6 broad jump).  He is a huge WR who excels on crossing routes.  He displays above average hands.  He doesn’t do well locating the ball downfield.  You also expect him to outmuscle smaller corners or dominate as a blocker with his size, but he comes up short in those areas.       

 

17.  Quartney Davis (Texas A&M)

 

Davis is a bit of an enigma to me.  He has all of the physical tools that you look for in a starting WR at the next level, but he never looked dominant in college.  He flashed at times, but he was never able to put it altogether.  His production was average at best.  He has a smooth release off the line.  He runs crisp routes and can highpoint the ball with the best of them.  He is quick and displays tremendous body control.  But he has average hands.  He struggles against press coverage.           

 

18.  Devin Duvernay (Texas)

 

He had a fantastic senior season (106 catches, 1,386 receiving yards and nine TD’s).  Duvernay is a speedster who can stretch the field vertically.  He is a slot WR who shows the knack for picking up yards after the catch.  He is built like a RB.  It is tough to bring him down in the open field.  He is an average route runner at best.  He lacks suddenness in and out of his breaks.        

 

19.  Brandon Aiyuk (Arizona State)

 

Aiyuk is an overrated WR prospect.  I see him excelling strictly as a return specialist at the next level.  He is a dangerous deep target and has a large catching radius.  He is a threat after the catch because of his speed.  He is a body catcher.  You see multiple drops on film.  He needs to improve significantly as a route runner and as a blocker.    

 

20.  K.J. Hill (Ohio State)

 

He is the all-time receptions leader at Ohio State.  He was QB’s best friend on third downs.  He runs precise routes.  Hill is a slot receiver who is more quick than fast.  He displays reliable hands.  He shows outstanding hand/eye coordination.  He was a two-time captain.  However, he has physical limitations that will hold him back at the next level.  He is an undersized receiver with average speed and limited catching radius.  He lacks that burst and quickness after the catch to make defenders miss.        

 

21.  Tyler Johnson (Minnesota)

 

He has been a playmaker for the Gophers the last two seasons.  Johnson saved his best year for last (86 catches, 1,318 yards and 13 TD’s).  But It has been a weird and quite offseason for him.  He decided to skip the East/West Shrine game even though it could have helped his stock.  He decided not to test at the Scouting Combine and wait for his pro day.  For a guy who is projected to be a day three pick, he is certainly acting like a high-profile player.  He projects as a slot receiver at the next level.  He is a good route runner and shows outstanding body control.  But he is not a physical WR who is bothered when corners get their hands on him.  He has plenty of drops in those contested situations in the middle of the field. 

 

22.  Jeff Thomas (Miami, FL)

 

He is an intriguing prospect with character baggage.  Thomas was dismissed from Miami in 2018 and was about to transfer to Illinois.  Then Coach Diaz brought him back to the team in 2019.  He was suspended once again for two games last season. He has great speed and athleticism.  He is a big-time deep threat.  He shows acceleration and a burst after the catch, which makes him dangerous in the open field.  He projects as a slot WR and return man with potential at the next level.  Some teams will take him off the board completely due to his off the field concerns.      

 

23.  Van Jefferson (Florida)

 

Van Jefferson would have been in my top 20 if it wasn’t for the injury that was discovered at the Scouting Combine.  He underwent surgery for a Jones fracture in his foot and will miss 6-8 weeks.  He spent the first three years at Ole Miss before transferring to Florida for the final two seasons.  He is a hands catcher.  He is one of the best route runners in this draft and shows a smooth release off the line.  His dad was a WR and played in the NFL for over a decade.  However, his production was average and he never had that breakout season.  Speed is a concern. 

 

24.  Donovan Peoples-Jones (Michigan)

 

I don’t understand how Donovan Peoples-Jones can be ranked as a top 10 receiver in this loaded draft class.  He was a big-time recruit who had huge expectations placed upon on him even before he stepped foot on the Michigan campus.  He struggled with injuries and his production at Michigan was underwhelming, to say the least.  He is an inconsistent route runner who allows the ball to get into his body.  He is a weak blocker, lacks physicality and can’t get off press coverage.  His size, athleticism and speed will push him up some draft boards.  You are basically betting on his upside and hoping that he becomes a better pro than what he was in college. 

 

25.  Quintez Cephus (Wisconsin)

 

Quintez Cephus was suspended from the football program in 2018 and was expelled from the school.  He cleared his name after he was acquitted of sexual assault charges.  He was reinstated and returned to the team in 2019.  He led the team in receptions (59), receiving yards (901) and TD’s (seven) this past season.  He is a versatile WR who can line up outside or in the slot.  He displays very good ball skills.  He is a physical WR who specializes in making contested catches in the middle of the field.  He lacks speed and needs to improve his route running ability.        

 

 Small School Gems

 

Justin Hill (Mount Union)

 

He saved his best season for last.  He caught 80 receptions for 1,681 yards, 21.0 yards per catch and 23 TD’s.  He was a big-play threat in college.  He has good ball skills, leaping ability and body control.  Even though Hill is 5’11 ½, he uses his body well to shield the defender away from the ball.      

 

Mason Kinsey (Berry College)

 

Another Division III WR prospect who had a solid week at the East/West Shrine game.  He catches the ball away from his frame.  Kinsey has good speed and quickness.  His route running has become more precise.    

 

Josh Pearson (Jacksonville State)

 

He is a big WR with a huge catching radius.  He ran a 4.45 during his pro day, which was faster than anyone expected.  Pearson is a physical wideout with very good ball skills.  He catches the ball away from his frame.  He scores TD’s in bunches.   

 

Aaron Parker (Rhode Island)      

 

Parker is a possession receiver.  He has outstanding ball skills.  He makes a living making contested catches look easy.  His body control and strong hands are his big assets.  He has average speed and has some drops on film.  He also needs to improve as a route runner.  Those things hinder his ability to separate against NFL corners. 

 

Isaiah Coulter (Rhode Island)

 

Aaron Parker’s cousin who decided to declare early for the NFL Draft.  His speed and athleticism will get him looks.  But his route running is below average.