2014 Wide Receiver Draft Prospects

By John Laub
John Laub

Receiver might be the deepest position in the draft and clubs will look to gobble up elite skills: Four outstanding game breakers adorn the rankings of the annual allocation of college players in May. In the first round of the draft, five wide outs may be selected as teams seek offensive firepower. If general managers bypass a flanker on opening night, there is plenty of talent available the next day, and a few of the second-round selections are likely to become starters quickly and assist offensives immediately. With the advent of better coaching and sophisticated passing games in college, the youngsters entering the NFL are capable of making an impact on Kickoff Weekend. Without question, speed and size often separates the college all-star from a professional superstar and cannot be ignored when evaluating players. Three indicators—Career Receptions, 40-yard Dash and Yards per Reception—among future players provide insight into long-term NFL potential. Listed below are the top-ten wide receivers available in the draft and some late-round bargains to keep an eye on during training camps.

Benchmark College Stats for Draft Consideration

Receptions: 150
Breakaway Speed: 4.50 (or less) in the 40-yard dash.
Yards per Reception: 15.0

2014 Wide Receiver Prospects

1. Sammy Watkins, Clemson

A legitimate game breaker who can score at any moment. Prodigious athlete with terrific body control, big (and soft) hands, quick footwork, long arms and astounding acceleration. Dynamic offensive weapon, lining up wide as well as in the slot and backfield. Runs all the routes on the passing tree. Utilized on returns and in the run game on sweeps and reverses. Employs both hands to grab the football before reeling it into his body. Can snatch the pass at its highpoint. Accelerates off the line and follows blocks well. Marvelous at catching the football over his shoulder. Catches ball, immediately heads north and gains separation from opponents. Spins and darts to make first tackler miss. Prefers space on jump balls and struggles with a defender draped over him. Smaller than some of the elite receivers in the league at 6’1” and 211 lbs. Two misdemeanor drug charges in May 2012 and suspended for opening two games of the season. After a huge freshman campaign (82 receptions and 13 TDs), numbers dipped significantly during his second season. Bounced back last year with 101 catches for 1,464 yards and 12 touchdowns. A remarkable Orange Bowl performance against Ohio State with 16 receptions. Will provide instant offense as a rookie.

Key Career Stats: Watkins
Receptions: 240
40-Yard Dash: 4.43
Yards per Reception: 14.1

Draft Potential: Elite top-five prospect



2. Mike Evans, Texas A&M

A physical receiver who enjoys contact and plays well in traffic. Long strider who out runs opponents once he gets a lead. Mismatch for smaller corners and uses his hands and body to gain separation. Utilizes physical skills to get open. Willing blocker in the ground game. Great body control with good hands. Can change direction with the ball in the air. Catches the pigskin with defenders hanging onto him. Tracks throws over his shoulder. Hit home runs consistently at A&M. Scored 17 touchdowns and averaged an outstanding 16.5 yards per reception during his two seasons at school. An intense competitor with a mean streak on the gridiron at times. Freshman All-SEC in 2012 and All-SEC and consensus All-American last year. Ideal jump-ball target in the red zone at 6’5” and 231 lbs. Not a speed demon who takes awhile to accelerate and reach top speed. Dropped a few too many passes and needs to improve against press coverage. Moving up draft boards quickly among scouts and league personnel. Possibly a top-ten selection in May.

Key Career Stats: Evans
Receptions: 151
40-Yard Dash: 4.53
Yards per Reception: 16.5

Draft Potential: Top-fifteen talent


3. Odell Beckham, Jr., LSU

An impressive college resume without any off-the field issues. Masters the sideline with good body control and great feet. More dangerous after the catch (a YAC celebrity) than on vertical routes. Makes first defender miss on inside slants and out routes to the sideline. Remarkable vision and acceleration and uses double moves on defenders. Very smooth receiver on film and beats man coverage. Elite speed: recorded a 4.43 40-yard dash at Combine. Used in various facets at LSU. Returned kicks and punts and won the Paul Hornung Award as college football’s most versatile player. Possibly the greatest All-purpose yardage campaign in the Tigers’ illustrious history, compiling 2,222 yards. Average height, build and strength. Prefers to play outside the hash marks. Wants to be a good blocker but whiffs at times and makes mistakes. Caught from behind once in awhile. Clearly a playmaker who will be selected within the first 40 picks.

Key Career Stats: Odell Beckman, Jr.
Receptions: 141
40-Yard Dash: 4.43
Yards per Reception: 16.3

Draft Potential: First-round talent




4. Kelvin Benjamin, Florida State

Few prospects offer his size and athleticism. Thick and muscular body with tight end dimensions at 6’5” and 240 lbs. Long strider who pinpoints ball in the air. Long arms and enormous wingspan supplies a magnificent catching radius. Big hands and impressive body control. Great strength and toughness. Separation comes in the routes when ball is being delivered. Frame allows him to shield defenders and break tackles downfield. Career Yards per Reception average (17.9) jumps off the stats sheet. Scored 15 times on only 54 catches last year, a whopping 28% of the time he caught the ball. Will work in the middle of the hash marks and would be a slot-receiver nightmare in the right coordinator’s passing attack. Needs to improve underneath routes and separation off the line. Below average hands and dropped some easy passes. Does not give 100% effort or commits to blocking for others. A boom-or-bust talent. Cannot coach size at the next level and unlimited upside with proper tutelage.

Key Career Stats: Benjamin
Receptions: 84
40-Yard Dash: 4.61
Yards per Reception: 17.9

Draft Potential: First-round talent

5. Marqise Lee, USC

Incredibly productive college career with 248 receptions for 3,655 yards. As a sensational sophomore, won Biletnikoff Award in 2012. Did not meet expectations last year as left knee injury and QB change derailed a promising campaign in which he missed two games. On the small side at 6’0” and slight frame under 200 pounds. Plays more physical than size indicates. Athletic and tough with eye-popping straight-line speed. Returned kickoffs and punts: good vision and burst, seeking a crack to penetrate against defenders. Determined and patient runner who weaves through traffic in wide-open spaces. Can take pigskin to the house at any time. Fluid athlete with elusiveness and acceleration. An acrobat at times who naturally hunts down the ball. Faster in uniform than clock-watch speed illuminates and lulls defenders. A scary YAC receiver. Surpassed 100-yards receiving a remarkable fifteen times with a high-mark of 345 yards against Arizona in 2012. As a freshman against city-rival UCLA, gained 224 yards. Scored 29 career touchdowns. Not as polished a receiver as other prospects. Will to be taken early but body size isn’t characteristic of today’s NFL superstars at the position.

Key Career Stats: Lee
Receptions: 248
40-Yard Dash: 4.52
Yards per Reception: 14.7

Draft Potential: First-round talent



6. Donte Moncrief, Ole Miss

Moving up draft boards as scouts examine the Mississippi playmaker more closely. Exciting home run hitter who excelled against tough competition in the SEC. Muscular frame at 6’2” and 221 pounds. Good eyes and arm extension when catching football. On film, jumps off the screen, beating defenders deep. Runs full-route tree: Positioned in the slot and out wide. Numerous targets on screen passes during each contest last year. Good over the shoulder catcher. Elite speed and accelerates rapidly, collecting chunks of yardage. Powerful runner in the middle of the field. Scored 20 career touchdowns and averaged 15.2 yards per reception at Ole Miss. Below average body control and struggles in tight man-to-man coverage. Does not string together moves to make tacklers miss. Needs to master the fundamentals to surpass natural abilities. Impressive Combine ignites talent evaluators’ interest. Possible day one starter in the NFL next year.

Key Career Stats: Moncrief
Receptions: 156
40-Yard Dash: 4.40
Yards per Reception: 15.2

Draft Potential: Second-round talent




7. Brandin Cooks, Oregon State

The 2013 Biletnikoff Award winner conquered PAC-12 opponents last year. During past two seasons, registered back-to-back 1,000 yard campaigns on 195 receptions and scored 24 times. Also, reached the end zone twice on the ground. On the small side at 5’10” and less than 200 pounds. Solid route runner and student of the game. Very elusive and devastating in one-on-one matchups. Evades coverage and shakes and bakes defenders in the open field. Terrific at reading blocks on screen passes. Ventures into the middle of the field without hesitation. Cuts on a dime and avoids tacklers with nifty feet. Attacks defensive backs and fights for the football. Never missed a game in high school or at Oregon State. Diminutive stature will definitely ward off some clubs that prefer big targets for its QBs. Small frame and lacks bulk. May have problems competing against physical defensive backs with long wingspans in the pros. A hard worker who can help a team in a variety of ways.



Key Career Stats: Cooks
Receptions: 226
40-Yard Dash: 4.33
Yards per Reception: 14.5

Draft Potential: First-round talent

8. Jordan Matthews, Vanderbilt

Despite the focus of defensive coordinators’ game plan and poor QB play, marvelous college career in a tough conference. First team All-American in 2013 and All-SEC past two years. 262 career catches for 3,759 yards and 24 TDs. Impressive size at 6’3” and 212 lbs. Fearless in the middle and looks forward to contact. Dips shoulders into tacklers and fights defenders for the football. Comfortable with defensive backs draped over him. Remains focused on pigskin despite getting hit. Great hands, good route runner and determined blocker. Lacks ideal long speed. Elusiveness and separation a concern at the next level. Defenders can stick to him sometimes in man coverage. Catches passes with body to often. Reminds astute aficionados of Chargers WR Keenan Allen. Better football player than skills may indicate. Possibly most polished wide out in the draft class.

Key Career Stats: Matthews
Receptions: 262
40-Yard Dash: 4.46
Yards per Reception: 14.3

Draft Potential: Second-round talent



9. Davante Adams, Fresno State

Did QB Derek Carr make the Fresno prospect a Saturday star or visa versa? Led the nation in receptions (131), yards (1,718) and receiving touchdowns (24). Physically outclassed competition and dominated smaller corners in the Mountain West Conference. Thin frame with long arms. Long strider with good hands who high points the football. Runs nice deep routes and catches over the shoulder passes. Uses long arms to shake off defenders. Good leaping ability and hand-eye coordination. Plucks football out of the air. Nice size at 6’1” and 212 pounds. Will wade through traffic and takes hits. Speed fails to reach top-end status and ordinary acceleration. Did not play against top corners in college and level of competition a concern. Must improve route running. May need a year of seasoning in the league to advance skills. Looks like a Packers’ prospect who could learn behind some terrific players with good coaching.

Key Career Stats: Adams
Receptions: 233
40-Yard Dash: 4.56
Yards per Reception: 13.0

Draft Potential: Second-round talent

10. Martavis Bryant, Clemson
Played second fiddle to first-round talents DeAndre Hopkins and Sammy Watkins at Clemson. Did not make many catches during first two seasons with the Tigers. Last year, made huge strides on the field with 48 receptions for 828 yards while scoring seven times. Also, averaged 19.7 yards per catch and recorded 17 receptions over 20 yards. Tall linear athlete with long arms: Superb size at 6’4” and 211 lbs. A raw talent with great athletic ability who ran a 4.42 40-yard dash in March. Long strider who vanishes from defensive backs in the open field. Works best outside the hash marks. Flexible with nice body control and good hands. Ability to stretch the field and gobbles yards rapidly. Good leaping ability: Makes acrobatic and off-target catches. Drops too many passes and needs to improve route running. Absence of toughness to challenge the middle of the defense. Similar skill set and body type of Jets’ WR Eric Decker and will require time to develop into a well-rounded pass catcher.

Key Career Stats: Bryant
Receptions: 61
40-Yard Dash: 4.42
Yards per Reception: 22.2

Draft Potential: Third-round talent

Later Round Prospects:

11. Paul Richardson, Colorado
12. Allen Robinson, Penn State
13. Jarvis Landry, LSU
14. Kevin Norwood, Alabama
15. Cody Latimer, Indiana
16. Josh Huff, Oregon
17. Jared Abbrederis, Wisconsin
18. Brandon Coleman, Rutgers
19. Bruce Ellington, South Carolina
20. Devin Street, Pittsburgh