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My top 15 WRs in the 2020 Draft

Discussion in 'Miami Dolphins Forum' started by sports24/7, Apr 16, 2020.

  1. sports24/7

    sports24/7 Season Ticket Holder Club Member

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    I did one of these last year, and people seemed to enjoy it, so I'm going to try and keep it going. As some of you know, my history in football is as WR coach. It's my favorite position to watch in football, and I feel like while I'm no expert, I know the position fairly well. Because of that, I try to pay attention to the incoming WR classes. While I didn't get to watch as many of these guys during the season as I'd like due to having a new baby around, I went back and tried to watch at least 3 games (if available) for the top guys in the class. Because this is an extremely deep class, I watched about 20 of the top consensus guys, and instead of the top 10 that I did last year, I did a top 15.


    Let me start off by saying that all 15 of these guys will probably be drafted fairly high. That's how good this class is. You could see most, or even all of these guys gone in the top 100 picks. Also, because this class is so good, I struggled with slotting some of these guys, and some areas of my rankings there is very little separation between players. Let me also say, from the sound of it, I think there is a strong possibility the Dolphins take one of these 15 guys.


    Anyway, without further ado, here’s my list. Feel free to comment on your opinions on any of these players.


    1. Jerry Jeudy, Alabama
    There are no such thing as safe picks in the NFL draft, and surely not at the WR position. That being said, to me, Jeudy is one of the safest bets to be a legitimate #1 WR that we’ve seen in the last several years. He really has everything you want in a WR. He’s fast, he’s got decent size, he’s a fantastic route runner, and he has good ball skills. He did suffer some concentration drops at times, but I wouldn’t worry about that too much. He’s just a really clean prospect.

    2. CeDee Lamb, Oklahoma
    It’s really close to me between these two. In fact, I think they’re both in a tier above everyone else. They are almost foils to each other in that Jeudy is all polish, and Lamb is just a dude that goes out and asserts his will on the game. He’s not the cleanest route runner, and he’s not blazing fast, but he’s just an alpha that makes plays. If the ball is in the air, it’s his. With the ball in his hands, he turns into a RB. While he has more bust potential than Jeudy (one concern is the level of competition he faced), I think his upside might be higher, as you could see him become a DeAndre Hopkins.

    3. Brandon Aiyuk, Arizona St.
    He’s not this high on most lists, but I absolutely love this guy. The more I watched him, the more I liked. He’s not a burner, and his route running will need to be refined in the NFL, but he’s really smooth, he accelerates well, and he’s really good with the ball in his hands. He also brings return ability. He came from the JUCO ranks, so I think there is a decent amount of untapped potential here. I think he can be a Z, or at the very least a really good slot WR in the NFL.

    4. Justin Jefferson, LSU
    Jefferson does a lot of things really well. He has decent size, runs good routes, and has great ball skills. I don’t think the 4.43 speed he ran at the combine shows up on film as I don’t think he’s a guy that’s going to win over the top a lot, but I think that’s ok. I think he’s going to be a very good slot receiver in a league where that position is becoming increasingly important.

    5. Henry Ruggs III, Alabama
    I know most people have him much higher than this, some even think he could be the top WR taken. While I like him, and his speed is definitely a weapon, I just don’t like him as much as the four guys ahead of him. Obviously his calling card is his speed. He ran a 4.27 at the combine, and he was disappointed with that time. He’s not your stereotypical speed guy though, as he he has a little more size to him than those guys, and is not afraid of physicality. He also has impressive hands. I don’t see the route running that some others cite as a strength, and I don’t think he’s going to be a high volume WR, but he still could be a difference maker with big plays in the right situation.

    6. Laviska Shenault, Colorado
    Shenault is more athlete than wide receiver right now, but he’s also so much fun to watch. He’s not a crisp route runner, but he’s explosive, tough, and dynamite after the catch. He can be used in so many different ways, and I believe was hampered by a bad offensive system, and a bad QB. He also has had some injury issues, so that is a concern. But if he can refine his game, and/or be used in a way to maximize his skillset by manufacturing touches for him, he could be a weapon.

    7. Denzel Mims, Baylor
    Mims is a height/weight/speed guy with tons of upside. He may be the biggest boom or bust player on this list. He’s a big guy that can run, has a great catch radius, and impressive ball skills. He has more build up speed than sudden acceleration, and he needs to become a better route runner. That being said, he’s quicker than most guys his size, so that’s an area I think he can improve on. He has the chance to be a very good X, although he’s riskier than some of these other guys, in my opinion.

    8. KJ Hamler, Penn St.
    Hamler is small, but exciting. Speed is his game, and off the line it looks like he’s shot out of a cannon. But he’s also a fluid route runner that will shake defenders out of their shoes. He’s not a natural hands catcher, and because of his size, can get pushed around at times, but he’s a threat to score on every snap. He reminds me a little bit of Hollywood Brown, although I had Brown as a better all around prospect.

    9. Tee Higgins, Clemson
    Most people have him much higher, and in years past I probably would too. But I’ve been burned by guys with questions about separation before, and to me, that’s the biggest issue with Higgins. Will he separate in the NFL? I’m not sure. If you watch many of his catches in college, the defender is right there. But that is also where you see Higgins’s biggest strength. When the ball is in the air, Higgins is coming down with it. His length and ball skills are big time. There have been players that succeed this way in the NFL, but when they’re bigger, stronger, and better than the guys he faced in college, it’s a legitimate worry. Of all of the players on this list, ranking him at 9 might end up looking the worst in a few years, but we’ll see.

    10. Michael Pittman Jr., USC
    Pittman is a big bodied receiver with great hands and ball skills to go along with his impressive catch radius. He isn’t very fast, but he’s not bad off the line. He may not have the upside of some of these other guys, but at the very least, I think he’ll be a solid possession-type X receiver that can move the chains and make plays in the red zone.

    11. Van Jefferson, Florida
    Jefferson is another one of my favorite prospects in this class. He’s a little bit older for a guy entering the league, but he’s such a technician on the football field, probably because his father is a (former Dolphins) WR coach in the NFL. Jefferson might be the second best route runner in the draft behind Jeudy, and his quick feet and sharp cuts help him get separation. He also has nice ball skills and hands. He doesn’t have high end speed, but he has enough that along with his other abilities, I think he will carve a solid NFL career out for himself. He brings the added bonus of being able to play all 3 WR positions for you.

    12. Jalen Raegor, TCU
    Raegor is another guy I’m not as high on as the consensus. To me, Raegor is a speed WR that plays like a traditional speed WR, even though he didn’t actually time like an elite speed guy at the combine. He’s a guy that thrives on vertical routes and getting the ball in space. He showed inconsistent effort, though, which you don’t like to see, even if he was rightfully frustrated with poor QB play.

    13. Chase Claypool, Notre Dame
    Going into the combine, there was speculation that Claypool was going to have to move to TE. Then he blew up the combine, and that talk stopped. I’m not sure it should have watching him on film. He’s a big receiver that plays like a big receiver. I don’t think his film matches his timed speed, and there isn’t much lateral quickness. He wins by bullying defenders. I think his best fit is as a big slot.

    14. Tyler Johnson, Minnesotta
    Johnson is not overly explosive, but he has impressive ball skills and body control. He’s a physical receiver that also does a nice job of finding space in zone coverage. He’s kind of a poor man’s Jarvis Landry, and I think he could be a solid slot receiver in the NFL.

    15. KJ Hill, Ohio St.
    You don’t get to be the all time reception leader for a program like Ohio St. by accident. Hill is a guy that isn’t really elite in any one area, but he’s pretty good in several. He’s a good route runner with nice quickness. He lacks size, but should be a dependable slot receiver in the NFL.
     
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  2. texanphinatic

    texanphinatic Senior Member

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    So who were the 5 that didn't make your cut? And if by some chance Jeudy makes to 18, would you consider that a no-brainer?

    I find it odd that the mocks have WR slipping a bit. I get that there are some really good OL and defenders, but man Jeudy and Lamb are intriguing.
     
  3. my 2 cents

    my 2 cents Well-Known Member

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    I have mine as follows:
    1. Justin Jefferson
    2. Cee Dee Lamb
    3. Jerry Juedy
    4. Henry Ruggs, III
    5. Brandon Aiyuk
    6. Michael Pittman
    7. Tee Higgins
    8. KJ Hamler
    9. Van Jefferson
    10. Jalen Reagor
    11. John Hightower
    12. Joe Reed
    13. Denzel Mims
    14. Gabriel Davis
    15. James Proche

    I agree with you on Shenault in that he is far more athlete than football player, although I do not see him as "athletic", I see him more as "tests well", I am not a fan, at all....... Claypool is not sudden enough IMHO although teams will love his physical style and measurables ......much like Denzel Mims, although Mims has ankle weights and really struggles and plays slow going through space horizontally, but he will high point balls and make some plays vertically and likes going away from the LOS. KJ Hill does not jump at me although he is as you said adequate at about everything. Reagor is really interesting depending on the investment to get him because he has some AA but seemed to not compete at times. Hightower and Reed do not have the pedigree but have all the skill sets to be WR1 options...particularly Hightower. The corona virus killed any chance of crashing the party but a sleeper down the line has to be Malcom Perry the Navy QB who simply should be looked at on his change of direction and the stop start acceleration. Personally I think Jefferson and Lamb are the tip of the spear. I also really like Aiyuk. Reminds me of a faster Brian Hartline, always getting redirected into his routes, never gets caught tangle footed, naturally plays to his open side, lines up well into man coverage and separates off handsy coverages, anticipates zones well...just all in all plays much faster than he times and plays through transition zones quickly like he understands it all.......really like him. If he were a step faster he would be my personal WR3.....FTR I do not think they come off the board this way, this is just how I see them.
     
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  4. sports24/7

    sports24/7 Season Ticket Holder Club Member

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    The guys that I watched that didn't make the cut were Brayan Edwards, Donovan Peoples Jones, JaJuan Jennings, John Hightower, and Devin Duvernay. I do think some of those guys are decent prospects, and/or have some upside, but I just liked the 15 I listed better.

    Admittedly, I didn't watch guys like Gabe Davis, Lynn Bowden, and James Proche, who are players that I know some really like. Maybe I'll get to them before the draft, but between work and the baby at home, and the fact that I wanted to put this out there with enough time before the draft, I had to cut the list off somewhere.

    As for Jeudy at 18, I'd say probably, but they really need tackle help, so if they think they're going to miss out on some of those guys in the second tier if they wait, they might have to pull the trigger at 18. If I were to guess what they're going to do at the position, I'd think they'd be looking at a slot guy. I'd love it if they could get Aiyuk, but they'd probably have to spend 26 on him, and I'm not sure they're going to do that. More likely, I think a guy like Van Jefferson, Tyler Johnson, or KJ Hill is who they'll look at. They also might look at Shenault if he falls a bit, and see him as an offensive weapon they could use in different ways.
     
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  5. phinswolverinesrockets

    phinswolverinesrockets If he dies, he dies

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    1. Jerry Jeudy
    2. Ceedee Lamb
    3. Henry Ruggs III
    4. Justin Jefferson
    5. James Proche
    6. Brandon Aiyuk
    7. Laviska Shenault Jr.
    8. Michael Pittman Jr.
    9. Devin Duvernay
    10. Tee Higgins
    11. Jalen Reagor
    12. Tyler Johnson
    13. Denzel Mims
    14. KJ Hill
    15. KJ Hamler
     
    Last edited: Apr 17, 2020
  6. thetylernator

    thetylernator You're as cold as ice, Officer Friendly.

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    Great thread! I largely agree with those rankings, especially with Ruggs, Higgins, and Reagor being lower than the consensus.

    Although, if you haven't already, I highly recommend watching some Antonio Gandy-Golden (Liberty) film--it should blow you away. He hasn't gotten much attention throughout the pre-draft process, and from my research, he's being viewed as a 4th-6th round guy. At 6-4, he's a 50/50 jump-ball monster in the mold of DeVante Parker and Kenny Golladay. He wasn't asked to run very precise routes at Liberty since he could Moss every defender at that level, but other than that, he's surprisingly refined and has the looks of an immediate contributor with a high ceiling. He's the No. 6 receiver on my big board.
     
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  7. Surfs Up 99

    Surfs Up 99 Team Flores & Team Tua

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    Nice thread! Considering who we have on the roster, what WR would be your top choice for the Dolphins?
     
  8. phinswolverinesrockets

    phinswolverinesrockets If he dies, he dies

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    Jerry Jeudy, Justin Jefferson, James Proche, Devin Duvernay.

    In that order. Top-notch hands, speed, and versatility to play slot or outside.
     
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  9. hitman8

    hitman8 Well-Known Member

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    1. Justin Jefferson
    2. Cedee Lamb
    3. Henry Ruggs
    4. K.J. Hamler
    5. Tee Higgins
    6. Jerry Jeudy
    7. Chase Claypool
    8. Tyler Johnson
    9. Laviska Shenault
    10. Jaelon Raegor
    11. Brandon Aiyuk
    12. Michael Pittman
    13. Van Jefferson
    14. Denzel Mims
    15. Quez Watkins
     
    Last edited: Apr 17, 2020
  10. sports24/7

    sports24/7 Season Ticket Holder Club Member

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    Good stuff. Shenault was the hardest evaluation for me, partly because he's somewhat unique, partly because I think he so raw, and partly because of how awful that offense was. Either that is one of the worst designed offenses I've seen, Montez is just awful, or some of both. It looks like they're playing sandlot football where he takes the snap and just starts running around until he sees someone open. Then, you also have to factor in the injuries. I think his 2018 tape is actually better than his 2019 tape, and that makes me wonder how healthy he was last year. I still see enough that intrigues me to the point that I'd take a chance on him if he started to fall. I think at worst, he's a guy you can use as a gadget player in some of the ways the Patriots used Patterson, but I also think theres some real upside. I did wonder while watching him, though, if he'd be a better RB, and I wonder if he doesn't figure it out at WR, if that will be an option for him in the future.
     
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  11. sports24/7

    sports24/7 Season Ticket Holder Club Member

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    Top choice? Jeudy, Jefferson, or Aiyuk. Jeudy is just so good, and I think he can play any position you need him to. Jefferson would be a perfect fit in the slot, and if Parker is who we saw last year (I've always been a fan), and Williams gets healthy and continues his development, I think you have three receivers who fit really well. Same for Aiyuk, although I think he can play outside too if Parker's season was an aberration, or Williams doesn't develop into what we think he can.

    I don't think they're going to get any of those guys, though, so if we're talking realistically based on value, need, and where I think Miami will be going with other positions, I'd be looking at guys like Van Jefferson (although I think his draft slot is probably in that big window between Miami's pick in round 3 and round 4, but I kind of think they'll maneuver to get a pick in there) or Tyler Johnson for that Allen Hurns role, or maybe Shenault as just an offensive weapon-type.

    One thing I'll be watching for in this draft is where the runs are. There are so many good receivers, that there's a chance some of these guys fall further than they should because teams know they can get a good one later on. Because of that, you should have some really good value at the position in rounds 3 and 4. So if a KJ Hamler is sitting there in round 3, I think you have to think about it.
     
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  12. Cashvillesent

    Cashvillesent A female Tannehill fan

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    Do you think the two Alabama WRs are as talented as Cooper was/is?
     
  13. sports24/7

    sports24/7 Season Ticket Holder Club Member

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    I like Jeudy better, but I think they're similar players. I don't think Ruggs is as good. I think the best version of Ruggs is DeSean Jackson, but I'm not sure he's there. He played a pretty defined role at Alabama, and I think his success could be very dependent on where he goes.
     
  14. Surfs Up 99

    Surfs Up 99 Team Flores & Team Tua

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    I would be happy with a lot of these guys. However, if I had to pick one, after reading about what Zierlein says about him, I would go with Henry Ruggs III because I think he complements what we have in Parker and Williams.

    Let's be honest. We need all the help we can get. If a WR can help our running game by forcing safety help, then I am all for it.

    https://www.nfl.com/prospects/henry-ruggs iii?id=32195255-4731-8217-5970-b4a47789eeaf
     
  15. Etrius24

    Etrius24 Well-Known Member

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    I have Mims ranked 3rd on the WR list.
     

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