2015 WR Draft Snapshot

With the draft only a few weeks away, here is a look at how I rank the wide receiver position, with a quick take on each player that also includes a projection on what round I think they will be drafted, possible NFL fits and where I think there current value lies in rookie fantasy drafts.
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Kevin White, West Virginia

Kevin White tops my list based on his physical characteristics, potential, and ability to win in both the small and big receiver games. He possesses a rare combination of elite size, speed, physicality and athleticism, in addition to great hands. He can win on screens and on short or intermediate routes with his explosion to create yards after the catch. He has the ability to get vertical by using his speed, strength and leaping ability, to high point the ball and come down with the catch. His body type and rare athletic traits is comparable to Julio Jones, who was drafted out of Alabama by the Atlanta Falcons in the first round of the 2011 draft. The two questions that surface with White are his lack of production before this past season and were his elite numbers partly due to the offensive system at West Virginia. While both are valid questions, I believe White’s talent will shine and deem those concerns meaningless.

NFL Draft Projection: Top 10
Possible NFL Fits: Oakland, Chicago, New York Giants, St. Louis
Dynasty Rookie Draft Projection: Top 4

Amari Cooper, Alabama

The debate between Amari Cooper and White for the top spot at the receiver position is a fascinating one. I slightly rate White ahead of Cooper because he offers more upside with rarer physical traits and an ability to win more vertically. With that said I believe Cooper is the most complete receiver in the draft and carries the least amount of risk. He has good size, reliable hands, with great speed and change of direction skills.  He is the best route runner of any receiver in the class, is more familiar with pro route concepts, and has performed at the highest level of college football and dominated for three years. His game reminds me of Reggie Wayne and I believe he has the skill to regularly catch 90 plus passes for over 1,200 yards most years.

NFL Draft Projection: Top 10
Possible NFL Fits: Oakland, Chicago, New York Giants, St. Louis
Dynasty Rookie Draft Projection: Top 4

DeVante Parker, Louisville

While some see DeVante Parker as more of a possession type receiver best suited for a west coast offense at the next level, I believe he possesses excellent size, with enough speed and athleticism to be a vertical weapon as well. His best attribute currently is his ability to go and get the ball in the air, which will lead him to be a dangerous red zone weapon right away in the NFL. Parker has the skill set and makeup to become a number one receiver for any team that drafts him.

NFL Draft Projection:   Top 15
Possible NFL Fits: Minnesota, Cleveland, New Orleans, Houston
Dynasty Rookie Draft Projection: Top 6

Dorial Green-Beckham, Missouri/Oklahoma

One of the great mysteries of the draft is when Dorial Green-Beckham will come off the board. His talents are early first round worthy but off the field and character concerns make him a huge risk. Ultimately, I still believe he will be a first round pick due to his rare skill set that includes great size, good speed and hands and a catch radius that enables him to make difficult catches regularly. With a year away from football, he is far from a finished product as he must work on his overall technique and polish up his route running skills to reach his limitless potential.

NFL Draft Projection: 1st  round
Possible NFL Kansas City, Baltimore, Cincinnati, Carolina
Dynasty Rookie Draft Projection: Top 10

Jaelen Strong, Arizona State

Jaelen Strong has traits such as his size, physicality at the catch point, and ability to high point the ball that make it easy to see how he will win at the next level. The questions that still linger even though he showed much better speed than was expected at the combine will be his ability to create separation on the outside. His game and the questions that surround him as he enters the NFL are very similar to when Alshon Jeffrey was drafted by Chicago in round two of the 2012 draft.

NFL Draft Projection: 1st round
Possible NFL Fits: Kansas City, Philadelphia, Carolina, Baltimore
Dynasty Rookie Draft Projection: Top 10

Breshad Perriman, Central Florida

Breshad Perriman is one of the late risers at the receiver position in this draft. After an injury forced him to the miss the combine, Perriman put on a show at his pro day and has everyone going back to the film to see how his athleticism and talents will translate to the NFL. Perriman has the size, physicality, movement skills, and game breaking speed that can be found in few receivers. His traits would seem to indicate a top ten pick, but he has concerns such as drops and lack of consistency in his routes, that he must continue to work at it to reach his ceiling as a player.

NFL Draft Projection: 1st round
Possible NFL Fits: New England, Baltimore, Chicago, St. Louis
Dynasty Rookie Draft Projection: late 1st/early 2nd round

Sammie Coates, Auburn

Sammie Coates is one of the more intriguing receivers in this class. Coates has elite speed and enough athleticism to be a dominant vertical weapon in the NFL but right now the rest of his game is limited. He needs to show better hands, more consistency and develop better route running techniques. Any teams that drafts him will need to put him in a good position to succeed early, using him on vertical routes, receiver screens and other manufactured touches as he tries to refine the rest of his game.  He will be taken earlier than many expect because of the tactical value he brings to an offense as someone that the defenses must account for on every play.

NFL Draft Projection: late 1st/early 2nd round
Possible NFL Fits: Baltimore, Washington, New York Giants, St. Louis
Dynasty Rookie Draft Projection: late 1st/early 2nd round

Phillip Dorsett, Miami

Miami’s Phillip Dorsett has game breaking speed and is one of one of the top vertical threats in the draft. For a guy his size, he attacks the ball well and is physical at the catch point. He can win inside or outside as a receiver and will be a tough matchup for any defense. His game reminds me of a cross between DeSean Jackson and Steve Smith. His lackluster stats were more a product of the quarterback play at Miami than Dorsett’s actual talent.

NFL Draft Projection: 2nd round
Possible NFL Fits: New England, Kansas City, Houston, Seattle
Dynasty Rookie Draft Projection: 2nd round

Nelson Agholor, USC

Nelson Agholor is one player that does not seem to be getting enough attention as we near the draft. He is one of premiere route runners in the draft, and is comfortable with many different routes, coming from a pro-style offense at USC. He is very smooth getting in and out of his breaks, shows great lateral agility and has the long speed to make plays vertically as well. The one question mark is will his thin frame force him to be used predominantly inside rather than as an outside receiver.

NFL Draft Projection: 2nd round
Possible NFL Fits: Tennessee, New York Jets, San Diego, Philadelphia
Dynasty Rookie Draft Projection: 2nd round

Tyler Lockett, Kansas State

Tyler Lockett has tremendous speed and change of direction ability to get in and out of his breaks quickly. While he will mostly be used in the slot in the NFL, he has the speed to also be able to get down the field vertically and be a deep threat on the outside as well at times. His size, style of play and how I believe he will be used in the NFL, is similar to T.Y. Hilton.

NFL Draft Projection: late 2nd/early 3rd round
Possible NFL Fits: San Francisco, Atlanta, Carolina, Tampa Bay
Dynasty Rookie Draft Projection: 2nd/3rd round

Devin Funchess, Michigan

Former tight end Devin Funchess continues to be one of the more polarizing prospects in the draft as questions remain about which position he will play in the NFL. While he showed improved athleticism at his pro day, questions still linger about his ability to create separation and his hands. His size will make him a mismatch in the red zone area and I feel his best fit, might be used inside, whether at receiver or tight end in a similar way to how New Orleans uses Marques Colston.

 

NFL Draft Projection: 2nd round
Possible NFL Fits: Miami, New Orleans, Houston, Atlanta
Dynasty Rookie Draft Projection: late 1st/early 2nd round

Rashad Greene, Florida State

Rashad Greene seems to be another player flying under the radar as we approach the draft, but his route running techniques are right up there behind Cooper, Agholor and Lockett as the best in this class. His size will be a concern for some teams, and he most likely will be ticketed inside to slot duties but he knows how to get open. It will not surprise me to see him become a receiver that regularly catches 70 or more passes a year out of the slot in the future.

NFL Draft Projection: 3rd round
Possible NFL Fits: Atlanta, San Francisco, Tampa Bay, San Diego
Dynasty Rookie Draft Projection: late 2nd/early 3rd round

Devin Smith, Ohio State

Devin Smith is one of the premiere vertical deep threats in this entire draft and will make an impact in that area immediately in the NFL.  In order to become a more complete wide receiver though, he has to show more consistency in his other route running. Right now, his game reminds me of Torrey Smith, when Smith was drafted out of Maryland in the second round of the 2011 draft.

NFL Draft Projection: 2nd round
Possible NFL Fits: Baltimore, San Diego, Carolina, Seattle
Dynasty Rookie Draft Projection: 2nd round
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