Since it's the only position I've studied so far, I figured I'd throw out my (too early) list of top WR's for the sake of conversation. 1. Drake London -He's at the top of my list now. To me he looks like a quicker twitchier version of Mike Evans. I love the big WR's that can dominate contested catches and DL has no equal. 2. Traylon Burks - Size and speed, with his ability makes me think of AJ Brown. 3. Garrett Wilson - His ability to seperate from defenders is second to none. Explosive. 4. Chris Olave - The best route runner in the class. Does everything well. Smooth. 5. Jameson Williams - Speed to burn. The numbers don't lie. 6. Jahan Dotson - After Wilson, probably the 2nd most difficult guy for DB's to stay with. 7. David Bell - Tough and tenacious after the catch. Production through the roof. 8. Wan'Dale Robinson - Dangerous. Probably the closest thing to Tyreek Hill in this draft. 9. Skyy Moore - Playmaker. Short but stout. Plays like he loves it. 10. Jaylen Tolbert - Size, speed, hands...what's not to like? Big play waiting to happen. Drake London
Just outside my top 10 for now, though plenty of time to move up; - John Metchie III - Came on strong down the stretch for Bama. Needs work in the weight room. - George Pickens - Incomplete season makes him tough to grade. I'm expecting him to move up the list though. - Justyn Ross - Hasn't tapped full potential. Passes the eye test. - Khalil Shakir - One of my favorite prospects at WR. Works the middle of the field well. Fearless from the slot. Great hands. (Khalil Shakir)
Check out Dontario Drummond and Alec Pierce. Both of them could be sneak up draft boards after the combine.
Baylor’s Tyquan Thornton runs 4.28-second 40-yard dash, fastest receiver at the Combine Baylor wide receiver Tyquan Thornton is the fastest wide receiver at the 2022 NFL Scouting Combine. Thornton ran his 40-yard dash in an official time of 4.28 seconds, topping what was a very fast group of wide receivers. Eight wide receivers ran a 40 faster than 4.4 seconds: Thornton, Tennessee’s Velus Jones (4.31), Memphis’ Calvin Austin III (4.32), SMU’s Danny Gray (4.33), Rutgers’ Bo Melton (4.34), North Dakota State’s Christian Watson (4.36), Ohio State’s Garrett Wilson (4.38) and Ohio State’s Chris Olave’s (4.39). The 6-foot-2, 181-pound Thornton has good size to go along with his great speed. Last year at Baylor he caught 62 passes for 948 yards and 10 touchdowns, all the best marks of his four-year college career. He is not viewed as one of the elite receiver prospects in this year’s draft, but that 40 time will open some eyes around the NFL. PFT
Calvin Austin III electrifies NFL Scouting Combine with 4.32 40-yard dash, explosive jumps INDIANAPOLIS -- One of the smallest prospects in the 2022 NFL Draft class put on a big show in the first day of on-field testing at the NFL Scouting Combine. Calvin Austin III, who checked in at 5-foot-7 3/4 and 173 pounds, ran a 4.32 40-yard dash at Lucas Oil Stadium on Thursday evening. And that was just one part of an electric display from the former Memphis Tiger. Austin also posted a vertical leap of 39 inches and a broad jump of 11-foot-3. For context, that last figure is twice Austin's height. In fact, he's the shortest player to broad jump 11 feet since NFL Network launched in 2003. Austin's impressive marks in the 40, vertical leap and broad jump all ranked in the top three among receivers at this year's combine. Blazing speed is Austin's calling card. In high school, the Memphis native was a nine-time state champion in sprints and relays -- and he continued those pursuits in college, earning All-America honors as a member of the Tigers' 4X100 meter relay team. Initially a football walk-on, Austin led Memphis in catches, yards and touchdowns during each of the past two seasons: 63 receptions for 1,053 yards and 11 touchdowns in 2020; 74 grabs for 1,149 yards and eight scores in '21. And this past fall, he made the most of his one carry, taking an end-around 69 yards to the house. Austin's explosiveness has gotten him to this point, but will his game translate to the pro level? NFL Network draft analyst Lance Zierlein calls the wideout a "productive playmaker with below-average size but above-average heart," crediting him for his fearlessness between the lines. Predictably, size questions are nothing new to Austin, but the wideout doesn't shy away from them. "It's me. I've been having to deal with that my whole entire life and it's never held me back," Austin told Cleveland.com at the Senior Bowl in February. "Obviously, since I've been this size my whole life, it's allowed me to learn new techniques and new ways to use that to my advantage. One of the coaches had told me that this is my superpower, this is my advantage. Just with that, I think it's the best thing going." NFL.com
This is one of the deepest classes of WR's I can remember. I wouldn't be surprised if we see 12 or so come off the board before round 3. Moving up: Chris Olave Moving down: David Bell
As much as all of us Buckeye people love the fact Olave returned last season, I think he hurt himself in the end in the draft. I think he would have gone higher last year than he will in this year's draft.
