Wide receiver has never been a more important position in the NFL, and this year's Draft class is one of the deepest at WR in recent memory. There is plenty of elite talent at the very top, and teams will be finding starters well into Day 3. Here are the five best in the 2020 NFL Draft.
5. Tee Higgins, Clemson
Higgins is falling victim to being part of a stacked class, as even though he's WR5 on this list, he's still an excellent prospect who should be a first-round pick, and would be in any other year. He isn't a burner, but he has good speed for someone who is 6'4″ 205lbs. He could stand to fill out his lanky frame a bit more, and needs to be more consistent about getting off of press coverage, but Higgins was very productive in college, and the skillset that made him one of the best receivers in the country will translate to the NFL.
Over the last two seasons, Higgins caught 118 passes for 2,103 yards and 25 touchdowns. He has fantastic hands and an amazing catch radius. As long as he can touch the ball, he can bring it in, and he can get to passes that many other players cannot. If Higgins does end up falling to the second round, some team will be getting an excellent value, and a very good weapon on the outside.
4. Justin Jefferson, LSU
54 catches for 875 yards and six scores is modest production for a sophomore, so Jefferson was expected to take a step forward as a junior, but he surpassed all expectations and positioned himself as a possible top-20 pick. Lining up primarily in the slot, Jefferson destroyed zone coverage to the tune of 111 grabs for 1,540 yards and 16 touchdowns. His ball skills and route running are superb, and he should be able to make a big impact right away for his new team.
He's not yet proven that he can consistently beat press man, but Jefferson has the athletic ability to be a complete receiver at the next level. He surprised many at the NFL Combine by running a 4.43s 40-yard dash, proving he has the long speed to go with his fluidity. Jefferson is likely to be the fourth receiver off the board in the NFL Draft, but could easily be selected in the top 20.
3. Henry Ruggs III, Alabama
Speed kills in the NFL, and Ruggs has it in droves. To give an idea of just how fast he is, 4.27s 40-yard dash was disappointing because of buzz that he could potentially break John Ross' 4.22 record. Imagine being disappointed in a sub-4.3 40 time.
Ruggs' speed showed up on the field, as he is capable of turning every single touch into a long touchdown. Calling him explosive would be an understatement, but he isn't just a straight-line deep threat. His route running is a work in progress but it's more advanced than many give him credit for. In 2019, Ruggs turned his 40 grabs into 746 yards and seven TDs, and had just one drop on the season.
Expecting him to be Tyreek Hill 2.0 is unfair, but Ruggs is a similar type of player, and could end up having that type of impact. Whichever team drafts him will be adding a new dimension to their offense, as defenses will be forced to respect Ruggs deep on every single play. Ruggs will instantly be a legitimate deep threat, but he's much more than that, and shows the potential to develop into a complete receiver.
2. CeeDee Lamb, Oklahoma
Marquise “Hollywood” Brown was the 25th overall pick in last year's NFL Draft, but Lamb is significantly better. He has a good frame at 6'2″ 198lbs, and is much more explosive than he gets credit for being. He ran a 4.5s 40-yard dash, which was faster than expected, but what was even more impressive was his 1.46s 10-yard split, which ranks in the 99th percentile among all WRs. He can get up to speed in a hurry, which is a devastating combo with how good his route running is. He has a brilliant command of the intricacies of the position, and will only improve as he receives NFL coaching. His hands and ball skills are great, and after he catches the ball, he is very dangerous, as evidenced by his 26 forced missed tackles in 2019.
Over the past two seasons, Lamb caught 127 passes for 2,485 yards and 25 scores. He did play in a very favorable offense, in a conference where good defenses aren't easy to come by, but Lamb's technical prowess is that of a player far beyond his years, and he should be an instant star for his new team. He could potentially be taken in the top 10, but shouldn't last past pick 15.
1. Jerry Jeudy, Alabama
Lamb would be WR1 in most classes, but he has the misfortune of entering the same Draft as Jeudy. For the past two seasons, Jeudy absolutely tore up the SEC, hauling in 145 passes for 2,468 yards and 24 touchdowns. He has very good deep speed and his route running is pristine. His short-area quickness, whether he's running his route or making moves after the catch, is just deadly. The way he can stop on a dime and quickly accelerate in the opposite direction is just special, and that's what made his shuttle time at the Combine so puzzling. His 4.53s mark placed him in the sixth percentile of all WRs, which simply could not contradict his tape any more. The NFL's decision to move the Combine to primetime certainly affected some results, and Jeudy's shuttle was likely one of them. Nevertheless, he'll end up going early in the NFL Draft.
Great hands, great route running, elite agility, Jeudy has it all except for an imposing frame. He's a bit slight at 6'1″ 193lbs, but should be able to add more muscle, which will only make him more dangerous. He played primarily from the slot for the Crimson Tide, but has the ability to play outside as well, and no matter where he lines up, he should be a legit #1 wideout, and if he makes it out of the top 10, the phone lines will be hot with teams trying to move up for him.
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