There were a record 37 wide receivers drafted during the 2020 NFL draft, with six of those going during the first round. Each of the wide receivers selected seems to be in relatively good spots to produce early, but some are going to have better seasons than other.
Let's break down each of the six first-round draft picks, what their outlook is for 2020, and who will finish with the best season.
Henry Ruggs, Las Vegas Raiders
Henry Ruggs was the first wide receiver off the board to the Las Vegas Raiders. Jon Gruden is a guy who loves to throw the ball around a lot so Ruggs should have plenty of chances. There really isn't a lot of proven talent in the Raiders' wide receiver room, so it wouldn't be shocking if he was the No. 1 target for Derek Carr to start the season.
Jerry Jeudy, Denver Broncos
Jerry Jeudy is a guy who can get separation from defensive backs with his footwork and speed. Drew Lock showed flashes last season of being a franchise quarterback. Jeudy also has Courtland Sutton lining up on the other side which should help draw a lot of defensive attention off of him. As long as Lock can continue his strong play, Jeudy is going to be in line for a big season.
CeeDee Lamb, Dallas Cowboys
Many draft experts had CeeDee Lamb being the first wide receiver off the board but he fell to 17th overall to the Dallas Cowboys. Much like Jeudy, Lamb is going to be lining up with a good wide receiver corps. Amari Cooper and Michael Gallup are also in Dallas and should take some of the attention away from Lamb.
In terms of helping the team's success, Lamb might have the biggest impact, but the stats might not be there with the ball having to be spread around so much. Don't forget the Cowboys also have Ezekiel Elliott in the backfield.
Jalen Reagor, Philadelphia Eagles
Down the line, Jalen Reagor could be a very good playmaker for the Eagles, but it's hard to imagine he is going to be a star right away. He played in 39 games for TCU so he is durable, something that can't be said about all Eagles wide receivers.
In the first year, he is going to have some success catching the ball but look for most of his success to come on special teams. Last season the Eagles didn't have a lot of success with punt returns, but Reagor should change that.
Justin Jefferson, Minnesota Vikings
Justin Jefferson is entering a unique situation with the Vikings. During college, he played almost exclusively out of the slot. Current Vikings standout Adam Thielen also has a lot of success out of the slot, so someone will probably have to change roles.
With Stefon Diggs no longer on the team, Jefferson will step in and be the second wideout for the Vikings. Jefferson has speed and Kirk Cousins can hit the deep ball; is this a match made in heaven?
Brandon Aiyuk, San Francisco 49ers
The San Francisco 49ers needed to give Jimmy Garoppolo more targets and by adding Brandon Aiyuk they did just that. Aiyuk should have some success with the 49ers, but he also has a lot of growing to do. It could take him a few years until he reaches his full potential in the NFL. The 49ers have George Kittle, who could also take away some of Aiyuk's targets, especially in the red zone.
So who has the best season?
Reagor is going to have the most success on special teams as a rookie, but he may not have many opportunities to show out at receiver, so that takes him out of the discussion. This is a three-man race between Jeudy, Ruggs, and Jefferson. Sutton is going to take up a lot of defensive attention in Denver, which will really help Jeudy's game.
Look for Jeudy to have a lot of success and quickly become one of the top wideouts in the AFC. The Broncos are going to make the playoffs in 2020, and Jeudy is going to be a key reason why.
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