2020 NFL Draft Wide Receiver Rankings Top Ten
10. Brandon Aiyuk, Arizona State
Size: 6-0, 205
The Good: There’s a good all-around mix of traits, tools and talent to get fired up about. He’s built well, can handle himself in traffic, and he’s got the 4.5 speed to average 17 yards per catch in his two years at ASU. He turned into a big-time playmaker when the team needed one last season. The combine workout was outstanding – especially the 40″ vertical.
The Not-So-Good: There isn’t any one thing that makes him stand out from the elite pack of this year’s class. The all-around game is good, but he had offseason surgery on his stomach, he’s still learning his trade, and he has to be able to battle a bit more when shoved around at the line.
NFL Draft College Perspective Thought: There’s a world of upside to like. He’ll fall just outside of the first wave of top receivers, but he’s a good deep threat who worked himself into a fantastic prospect who’ll thrive if he doesn’t have to be the No. 1 guy.
Projected Round: Second
9. Jalen Reagor, TCU
Size: 5-11, 206
The Good: Explosive, he was held in relative check in the pedestrian TCU offense, but he still averaged over 15 yards per catch with 22 touchdowns. With 4.47 speed and brilliant leaping ability, he’s got the athleticism and all-around quickness to be an instant all-around playmaker in any offensive system. Few receivers in this draft move better than he does.
The Not-So-Good: He doesn’t necessarily need to be in wide open spaces – he creates his own areas to move through – but he’ll be erased in press coverage more often than not. There isn’t necessarily No. 1 target potential with him, but …
NFL Draft College Perspective Thought: Just get the ball in his hands and let him be brilliant. He can shine as a kick returner, a runner, or a receiver who’ll dominate as a No. 2 man who gets to roam free. Every offensive coordinator dreams of having a guy like him to use.
Projected Round: Second
8. Bryan Edwards, South Carolina
Size: 6-3, 212
The Good: Very big and very physical, he more than held his own over the last four years as a top target for a wildly inconsistent Gamecock offense. He caught 234 passes for 3,045 yards and 22 touchdowns as a model of reliability, and then …
The Not-So-Good: He got hurt. He wasn’t able to go at the combine and will be a wee bit of an early concern after getting banged up late in the season and then breaking his foot this offseason. The elite quickness isn’t there, and he only averaged 11.5 yards per catch last season.
NFL Draft College Perspective Thought: He could be fantastic if surrounded by speed. Use him as a go-to third down target, a red zone main man, or a physical best friend for a quarterback to rely on. He’s missing some of the dangerous tools of the top guys, but he’ll have a very long and very productive NFL career as a strong No. 2 man.
Projected Round: Third
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7. Michael Pittman, USC
Size: 6-4, 223
The Good: Yeah, he’s got great size and bulk, and yeah, he blew up after USC changed around its offense – catching 101 passes last year for 1,275 yards and 11 scores even with the occasional quarterback concerns – but the deep speed isn’t there and … 4.52. That’s good enough for a guy with tight end size and physical style. Throw in his blocking ability, and there’s a whole lot to like.
The Not-So-Good: There’s little wiggle and there isn’t a whole lot of quickness. There’s a chance he becomes a bit limited as a decent physical No. 2 rather than a true No. 1. It took a switch to a Texas Tech-like offense to unleash him last year.
NFL Draft College Perspective Thought: Possibly the most underrated and underappreciated receiver in the draft, he’s got a rare blend of all-around tools and toughness to be someone’s No. 1 guy at a value price. Whatever you want out of an NFL wide receiver, here you go. Draft him, put him on the field on Day One, and don’t worry about one of your wide receiver positions for the next several years.
Projected Round: Second
6. Tee Higgins, Clemson
Size: 6-4, 216
The Good: A brilliant playmaker with a whole lot of size and big game experience, he’s everything you want in an NFL wide receiver. Smooth, athletic, and explosive, over his three seasons he averaged over 18 yards per catch with 27 scores. Experienced, he saw it all in his 37 games, and he’s ready to go right away at the next level.
The Not-So-Good: Just how much does he stand out from a deep pack of wide receiver talent at the top of the draft? He’s not quite as physical a target as you might like considering his size, and might turn out to be a bit of a one-trick deep threat.
NFL Draft College Perspective Thought: Don’t overthink this. With his size, skill, and ability to make himself massive with his leaping ability and length, he’s an NFL No. 1 wide receiver. Go ahead and put him in the top three of this list if you want to.
Projected Round: First