Onto the pass catchers we go, with an Uber-talented bunch. Many of these names will be gone before we reach the turn of first, with a very real possibility not one sees the third round. That's just the state of the game these days-- in conjunction with the very real skill sets some of these guys boast.
Honestly, it wasn't easy to narrow this list down to a dozen, as there's so much playmaking talent in this class. So with no further adieu...
The Receivers
Marvin Harrison Jr. (Ohio State): One of the highest touted receivers to ever enter the draft-- the measurables, the production, the pedigree. He's big-- at 6'4", 205-- hard to tackle and a pure hands catcher. Despite his size, he's shifty in space, yet willing to battle through contact to secure the grab. He runs every route on the tree, maybe better than any receiver in the draft. Some say he's as a surefire prospect as you'll encounter.
Marvin Harrison Jr. checks all the boxes, so I'm expecting get crucified in saying that I'm not 1000% sold on him being generational. This is all completely subject to change too, in what could be a brutal case of recency bias after a whole slate of Kyle McCord throwing you the ball. But for now, my WR1 for this class is...
Malik Nabers (LSU): Electric speed, with subtle angles that open up massive amounts of space for him. On the rare occasion corners can stick with Nabers, he's capable of making difficult catches. Fantastic hands and run after catch ability; just an absolute weapon with the ball in his hands. While he may not boast as advanced route running as MHJ, his game breaking wheels are simply on another level. "Relatively" outshined teammate and fellow star wideout Brian Thomas Jr., which is a testament to Nabers' skill rather than an insult to Thomas. The wide receiver factory LSU's pumped out two more stars.
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| Photo: Draftwire/ USA Today |
Rome Odunze (Washington): 6'3", 215. Big, athletic with outstanding body control. Makes contested catches with ease, phenomenal concentration. Better straight line speed than what you see on the field, not like he's slow though. Runs all the routes well, finds space in zones routinely
Brian Thomas Jr. (LSU): As we mentioned above, Brian Thomas Jr. was slightly overshadowed by Nabers, which would've been a Herculean task to avoid, but he still managed to get his. A 4.33 40-time lit up the combine and it shows on the game tape-- as the kid always seems to find a way to get behind coverage. Thomas absolutely commands safety help over the top on every route, with possibly the most functional speed in this WR class. He rocks soft hands and has the ability tough grabs away from his body. To nit pick his flaws, the Tiger could utilize his 6'4" height better when high pointing the ball, will body catch a little more than preferred, and needs to refine his route tree some. But an astronomical ceiling.
Troy Franklin (Oregon): Franklin is stupid fast after the catch, with incredibly twitchiness and the ability to explode from stop to full speed. The Duck separates from defenders almost at will, though he has some struggles against physical corners/press coverage. He's tall, but only 185 pounds-- pretty slight by NFL standards. But that speed... it is absurd. Plus he's got video evidence of growth throughout his career, suggesting he can continue to develop into his pro years. Pro scouts seem to agree, as he's ascended from projected 4th/5th rounder to a late 1st on many draft boards
Keon Coleman (Florida State): The Florida State star ran a slow 40 (4.61), which'll be more of a media talking point than a deterrent for teams. Coleman has outstanding concentration, body control and the ability to adjust to the ball in the air. He makes hard plays look routine. Strong hands, quickness in small space plus some absolute blockbuster catches. Could show a higher motor during run blocking and will need to work on route running to overcome his relative lack of speed. But as a prospect, this kid reminds me a lot of Anquan Boldin-- high praise, not spoken lightly. He also played basketball under Tom Izzo, which is pretty sick. A true, well-rounded athlete!
Ladd McKonkley (Georgia): Very Wes Welker-esque, and not just due to the lack of melanin. Ladd boasts a diverse route tree, with the ability to get open on multiple levels. While not particularly explosive when stopping and going, he does gets off press coverage at the line of scrimmage quickly. Will play on the perimeter but seems more adept in the slot. Great blocker, willing to put in the dirty work for his running backs. A reliable, albeit not flashy part of any offense.
Adonai Mitchell (Texas): While teammate Xavier Worthy was the one making all the headlines last month with his blazing 4.21 40, Adonai Mitchell was quietly flying under the radar as the superior Texas wideout. He's lanky, more of a strider than a runner-- which negatively impacts his agility. His route tree is a bit undeveloped, but that's going to be the case for most receivers. Mitchell's a prototypical X body type with soft hands and strong concentration through contact. While I don't see him being an immediate impact player for any team, the Longhorn shapes up to be a high upside project.
The Tight Ends
Brock Bowers (Georgia): The best tight end prospect since Kyle Pitts. Incredibly fluid with and without the ball in his hands, sneaky fast--as evidenced by his 4.48 40-- and a seamless route runner. Insanely balanced, making him difficult to bring to the ground. Fearless over the middle of the field, but just as willing to build up a head of steam out off a flats to take out would-be tacklers. Also willing to handle the occasional carry, with a 19/193/5 career rushing line. Slightly undersized for the position, currently listed at just 230 pounds. Will likely struggle early against physical defenders, especially press coverage.
Ja'Tavion Sanders (Texas): Very fast for his size, which'll cause some real mismatches at the next level. Super reliable pass catcher who doesn't have drop in his vocabulary, contact be damned. The Longhorn has excellent run after catch skills and will make you pay for giving him a lane. Would be the TE1 in virtually any other class. Like many collegiate tight ends, he'll have his issues against bigger, stronger defensive lineman, but Sanders' offensive versatility and willingness to block will keep him on the field.
Cade Stover (Ohio State): Cade Stover does not fear contact, but is always on the lookout for a hurdle attempt. Really adept at finding soft spots in zones, as well as losing his defenders through traffic. Gets up to a modest full speed quickly after the catch, regularly picking up extra yardage for the Buckeyes. Strong, soft hands. Not a ton of tape on him blocking, nor any off-the-chart physical traits-- just a steady, solid tight end.
Theo Johnson (Penn State): Being a Theodore myself, I had to try and end the list with one. Johnson's not particularly agile or fast, using his body to secure catches more frequently than preferred. Doesn't fear contact and can produce after the catch. At 6'6", he's a huge target. Surprisingly weak blocker and will have a bit of a learning curve transitioning from a primitive Penn State offense to more complex NFL schemes.
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@Choppinglines
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