The 2021 NFL Draft is just around the corner, and it is shaping up to be one of the most offensively stacked draft classes in recent memory. Outside of the draft's litany of quarterbacks, this year's wide receiver class is incredibly deep, and teams are lining up around the block to get first dibs at a potentially generationally talented crop of pass catchers.
Now, if teams are nowhere near the top of the draft order, they can rest easy knowing that they can secure perfectly solid talent in later rounds. But the best receivers in this draft are truly a cut above, and teams at the front of the line will have a hell of a time choosing who to take. That's where we come in. These are the five best wide receivers in the 2021 NFL Draft.
NFL Draft top receivers:
5. Rashod Bateman, Minnesota
Bateman is the least spectacular receiver on this NFL draft list by far. He doesn't have the end-to-end speed of either of the receivers from Alabama, nor the playmaking skills of the top two prospects in this class. But he has a shot to be the best route runner in the draft, and makes very few mistakes. Possibly more than even the prospects ranked above him, Bateman is the safest bet in the 2021 class to hit. His ceiling might not be as high as these next four players, but he has prototypical size for the position (6'2, 210 lbs) and will learn an offense extremely quickly while his athleticism develops.
4. Jaylen Waddle, Alabama
Speed. If you're looking for the Tyreek Hill of this NFL draft, you just found him. Jaylen Waddle is the speed demon of this draft class, and while he's on the small side (5'10, 182 lbs), he will be an absolute terror at the slot. Take this stat, for example: he took two-thirds of his snaps in the slot, and yet averaged over 21 yards per catch. That tells you that Waddle is an absolute gamer and burner after the catch, and for quarterbacks that need checkdown options, or gadget-heavy teams, Waddle is that and more. If his hands and brain translate over to the pros, Waddle will be a highlight machine from Day One.
3. DeVonta Smith, Alabama
Of all the prospects in the 2021 NFL draft, DeVonta Smith has the biggest and most glaring hole in his profile: size. At 6'1 and 175 pounds, Smith is just not as built out as his contemporaries. But that problem didn't stop him from being a four star recruit heading to Alabama (6'1, 157 as a freshman), nor did it stop him from being the clear number one option on Nick Saban's offense. He produced at the position too, with nearly 2000 yards in 2020, to go with 23 TD's and nearly 16 yards per catch. That tells you that he was the smartest pure receiver in 2020, and the best route runner, with end-to-end speed to match Waddle.
No, he might not ever be a great blocker, nor will he do well against the physicality of modern secondaries, but Smith is clearly not done growing yet, and has experience both on the perimeter and in the slot. He'll memorize the playbook quickly, and immediately be one of the best route runners on whatever roster he ends up on. Throw in the softest hands in this class, and Smith earns his spot here on the NFL draft board despite the size concerns.
2. Ja'Marr Chase, LSU
It's tragic that Ja'Marr Chase was missing in the 2020 season after his magical 2019 run with Joe Burrow under center in the bayou. But his ranking here (and everywhere, really) should tell you something about how incredible he was in 2019. Waddle is a speed freak, Bateman has strength and size, and DeVonta Smith has all the polish. Ja'Marr Chase has an argument to be at least second best in all of those categories. He has a truly rare blend of speed, skill, size, and strength, and is the most well-rounded prospect in this NFL draft by far. He possesses comparable speed to Waddle, size to Bateman (6'1, 200 lbs) and ball skills to Smith, and injury or no, he is the best pure receiver in this draft by far.
Emphasis on pure…
1. Kyle Pitts (TE), Florida
Is this breaking the rules? Probably. Do I care? Not at all — not in this NFL draft.
The reason why Kyle Pitts is here is simple: generational playmaking potential and aligning weaknesses.
To address his talent: tight ends are remarkably hard to scout for teams in the NFL draft. Over the years, the position has grown to be wildly important in the receiving game as actual playmakers, but it's hard to spot generational talent early. As such, most aren't even drafted in the first round lest teams risk too much by overreaching. That trend holds true in this draft, except for one incredible outlier: Kyle Pitts. The problem is, generational talents at the position are hard to spot early. Not so here. Pitts combines incredible size (6'6, 246 lbs), speed (4.45 40-yard dash) and ball skills. In fact, Florida routinely lined him up all over the field, ranging from the line to the perimeter.
As for his weaknesses, most scouts actually spot Pitts as more of a big receiver than a true tight end. That said, his primary weakness in an NFL draft context is as a blocker. But that's against interior pass rushers. If you think that he'll have as much trouble as the previous prospects on this list in blocking, read his physical profile again. As for his weaknesses as a pass catcher and route runner, he has been listed as having none.
In short, Kyle Pitts is scouted as a big wide receiver with a very well-rounded blend of speed, size, athleticism, and skill. If that sounds familiar, it should: Ja'Marr Chase was highlighted as having a similar profile. The difference is just almost half a foot of height, and nearly 50 pounds.
Screw the rules: Kyle Pitts is the best wide receiver prospect in the 2021 NFL draft.
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