Sports

/

ArcaMax

2024 NFL draft prospect rankings: Wide receivers

Eddie Brown, The San Diego Union-Tribune on

Published in Football

Editor's note: The Union-Tribune's Eddie Brown is breaking down prospects, position by position, leading up to the NFL draft (April 25-27). Here are his top 10 wide receivers, plus "bonus" players he believes will be drafted or signed as a priority free agent:

———

— 1. Marvin Harrison Jr. (Jr., Ohio State, 6-foot-3, 209 pounds)

The Biletnikoff Award winner was a Heisman finalist and the first two-time unanimous All-American in Columbus since former No. 1 overall pick and NFL Hall of Famer Orlando Pace in 1995-96. In a program known for producing wide receivers, Harrison became the first Buckeyes receiver with multiple 1,000-yard receiving seasons and set the school-record with 15 100-yard receiving games. He's a route tactician who features prototypical size, strong hands and premium athleticism with Hall of Fame NFL lineage and tutelage (he's the son of Colts legend Marvin Harrison). He's the best player in this draft and the third best wide receiver prospect of the 21st century. My top-5: 1. Calvin Johnson, 2. Larry Fitzgerald, 3. Harrison Jr., 4. Julio Jones, 5 (tie). A.J. Green and Ja'Marr Chase. I actually believe he'll be even better in the pros. Projected: Top 5

— 2. Rome Odunze (Jr., Washington, 6-2, 212)

The four-star recruit was also a decorated track athlete at Bishop Gorman in Las Vegas and won the 2019 state title in the 200 meters at 21.25 seconds, a school-record and the fifth-fastest time in state history. Odunze was elected team captain as a junior, and features good size with elite ball skills and excellent hands. The two-time All-American led the FBS with 1,640 receiving yards last season, producing 32 receptions of 20-plus yards, second most in the FBS (only Malik Nabers had more). Odunze is also a reliable blocker in the run game and treats every jump ball as an opportunity to prove himself. Projected: Top 10

 

— 3. Malik Nabers (Jr., LSU, 6-0, 199)

Nabers is the latest prolific receiver to come out of Baton Rouge. His body control and route-running are top-notch, plus he's elite after the catch and a terror in the open field while playing all three receiver spots. The gap between him and Marvin Harrison Jr. isn't the Grand Canyon, but it's not as close as some may think either. Some teams have Nabers as the top receiver in this draft class. He led the FBS in receiving yards per game (120.7) and was an unanimous All-American last season. Nabers won't turn 21 until July. Projected: Top 10

— 4. Keon Coleman (Jr., Florida State, 6-3, 213)

Coleman, a Biletnikoff Award semifinalist after transferring from Michigan State, features a combination of size, strength and acrobatic skills you'd normally find in Cirque du Soleil. A lack of lateral agility hinders his ability to get consistent separation, but he doesn't really need to with his above-the-rim mentality and elite ball skills. Coleman is also a dominant blocker in the run game and will completely erase a cornerback from the play. He isn't a burner, and his draft stock has seemed to cool after running a 4.61 40-yard dash at the combine, which is very reminiscent of Anquan Boldin, another play-making Seminoles receiver. Projected: Rounds 1-2

...continued

swipe to next page

©2024 The San Diego Union-Tribune. Visit sandiegouniontribune.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

Comments

blog comments powered by Disqus