How does trading for Amari Cooper impact the Browns 2022 NFL draft plans?

Now that the Browns have a No. 1 WR in Amari Cooper, will their 2022 NFL draft plans change at No. 13 overall?

One of the consensus biggest needs for the 2022 Cleveland Browns has been a playmaking wide receiver. Mock drafts furiously projected a variety of wideouts to the Browns at the No. 13 overall pick in the first round of April’s draft.

But now the Browns have agreed to trade for Amari Cooper, a viable No. 1 target from the Dallas Cowboys. The draft cost to acquire Cooper is just a fifth-round pick and a swap of sixth-rounders this year, but Cooper’s $20 million-per-year salary represents a major investment. He’s the fourth highest-paid receiver in the league in 2022, per Over The Cap.

That changes the calculus for what sort of further draft investment GM Andrew Berry and the Browns might devote to the wide receiver position. It’s especially true if Jarvis Landry and his $15 million-plus obligation remains on the books (which is extremely unlikely).

The mock drafts have been very big on Ohio State’s Garrett Wilson to the Browns at 13 overall. Some have projected USC’s Drake London or Treylon Burks from Arkansas as well, though the post-combine mocks have already turned away from those two for the most part. Now that Cooper is on board, the urgency of drafting a premium wideout figures to diminish.

Cooper is one of the NFL’s top receivers, and he should help youngsters Donovan Peoples-Jones and Anthony Schwartz develop without nearly as much pressure upon them to deliver big-time results. There is still room for more help at WR, however. If/when Landry leaves, he joins Rashard Higgins as free agents who won’t be back. Ja’Marcus Bradley and Ryan Switzer aren’t more than depth options with limited upside.

If Berry and the Browns are looking to use more 3-WR sets, then a player like Wilson at 13 still makes sense. He’s a very talented prospect who would help the offense get even more dynamic. Yet it’s much less of an urgent option, especially with the recent decision to franchise tag TE David Njoku, who often operates in a WR-type role; over 200 of his 600 snaps were played in the slot or as a full-fledged wide receiver in 2021.

It’s more likely the Browns wait until later in the draft to tap into a deep WR class. Candidates should include Purdue’s David Bell or Christian Watson from North Dakota State in the second round, Skyy Moore from Western Michigan or Jalen Tolbert from South Alabama in the third, or later-round prospects like Alec Pierce of Cincinnati, Rutgers’ Bo Melton or Erik Ezukanma from Texas Tech.

Doing so would allow the Browns to address the holes at EDGE, defensive line or even offensive tackle with a more premium pick. A player like Georgia athletic freak Jordan Davis or Purdue pass rusher George Karlaftis becomes more likely at 13 than it was when wide receiver was a more pressing need.

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Browns mock draft watch: ESPN has Browns adding defensive tackle

Browns mock draft watch: @joshkeatley16 dives into ESPN’s latest that has Browns adding defensive tackle: #Browns

Todd McShay has released his most recent mock draft after taking in the 2022 NFL Scouting Combine and after the fall-out of the most recent blockbuster trades featuring Russell Wilson to the Denver Broncos and Carson Wentz to the Washington Commanders.

Obviously, with all of these dominoes falling, McShay has a few notable changes to his mock draft and has the Cleveland Browns selecting a slightly different name than usual.

It looks like the NFL isn’t exactly feeling this quarterback class and it is yet to be seen if the Browns benefit from this or not, but draft day is right around the corner and we need to dive into the most recent ESPN mock draft (subscriber, $).

Ten prospects that shined at the Combine that would look good in Cleveland

Our @joshkeatley16 has ten prospects that shined at the Combine that would look good in Cleveland:

#Browns

The NFL Scouting Combine is now in the books and as I am speaking someone somewhere is moving a prospect either up or down by six rounds due to their 40-yard dash time, but the combine should be taken into consideration, but shouldn’t be the only way to evaluate a prospect.

The scouting combine is just one of the tools in the scouting tool belt and I typically don’t move my rankings based on combine results, but I will go back and take a second look at a prospect to see if there is something that I missed or if I need to take a deeper look at a guy.  The following are ten guys that had impressive enough showings that I need to take a deeper look and I urge the Cleveland Browns to do the same.

One Ohio State receiver moves up in Todd McShay’s latest first round NFL mock draft

Which of the two OSU receivers would you like to see go to your NFL team?

We’re getting closer and closer to the 2022 NFL draft, and there are a couple of Ohio State receivers that have been projected by almost everybody to go in the first round. And with the latest NFL Scouting Combine in the books, there has been some movement with all of those mock drafts that are making the rounds.

One of the foremost experts and most followed draft experts is ESPN’s Todd McShay. He just released his latest first-round mock draft (subscription required) after the scouting combine and has one of the OSU receivers moving up further in the first round.

Which wide receiver between Chris Olave and Garrett Wilson does he have making a move and where does he have him going? We’re sure glad you asked.

NEXT … Which receiver is moving up the boards?

Giants select defensive end, wide receiver in latest Todd McShay mock draft

In the latest mock draft from Todd McShay, the New York Giants whiff on offensive linemen, instead landing an edge rusher and wide receiver.

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The New York Giants need offensive linemen. Several of them. But in the latest mock draft courtesy of ESPN’s Todd McShay — which comes after the NFL Combine and several big-name trades — general manager Joe Schoen ignores the position outright.

With Ikem Ekwonu and Evan Neal going off the board just ahead of them (No. 3 and No. 4), McShay has the Giants pivoting and addressing their other major need: pass rush.

With the No. 5 overall pick, the Giants select combine standout and Georgia defensive end Travon Walker.

The Giants generated just 34 sacks (tied for 22nd) last season, and while Walker didn’t pile on the QB hits at Georgia (six sacks and 29 pressures last season), he was asked to do a lot of different things in a Bulldogs’ front seven that presents three other likely first-rounders. The 272-pound Walker had a terrific workout in Indy, running a 4.51-second 40 and 6.89-second three-cone drill. Few players I’ve ever evaluated can generate the power he does from the ground up, and that was on display with a 35½-inch vertical and 10-foot-3 broad jump. Teamed up with Leonard Williams and Azeez Ojulari, Walker will only continue to develop while giving the Giants a dynamic edge rusher to spark the defense.

Walker would certainly provide the Giants with a premiere edge rusher who will start on Day 1. But it leaves them empty along the offensive line, so naturally they address that with their next pick, right? Wrong.

Rather than taking someone like Trevor Penning — and having missed out on Charles Cross (gone at No. 7) — the Giants instead add yet another skill position player. This time, Ohio State wide receiver Garrett Wilson.

Kenny Golladay led the Giants in receiving last season with just 521 yards. Evan Engram led the team in catches with all of 46, and he’s headed to free agency. The next two on the list were running backs. And Sterling Shepard and Kadarius Toney each struggled to stay healthy. You get the point. With the top three linemen in the class off the board already, new GM Joe Schoen and new coach Brian Daboll can get quarterback Daniel Jones help in another fashion. Wilson has elite body control, 4.38 speed and a big catch radius. New York can walk away happy on Day 1 with exciting new players on defense (Travon Walker) and offense (Wilson).

Walker and Wilson are quality picks, but it leaves the Giants’ offense in the exact same position it was a year ago. And unless the team can find several legitimate O-Line starters in the middle rounds, Wilson will struggle to produce in much the same way Golladay, Toney, Shepard and others did in 2021.

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Saints land a top-tier receiver in Todd McShay’s mock draft

The Saints landed a top-tier wide receiver in Todd McShay’s latest 2022 NFL mock draft:

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We’re more than a month away from the 2022 NFL draft, but some consensus is beginning to build for expert takes on where the New Orleans Saints may go in the first round. Wide receivers run deep in this draft class and the Saints are frequently projected to take one of the best pass catchers available. In his latest mock draft for ESPN, Todd McShay has the Saints acquiring Ohio State Buckeyes wide receiver Chris Olave. Here’s what he wrote of the match:

“Quarterback is super tempting, especially with Liberty’s Malik Willis still sitting on the board. We know Taysom Hill isn’t the answer, but I do think Jameis Winston goes back to New Orleans in free agency and puts at least a short-term solve on the Saints’ signal-caller woes. But who is he throwing to? Michael Thomas hasn’t been able to stay healthy, and two of the team’s top three wide receivers from 2021 — Tre’Quan Smith and Deonte Harris — are free agents. Olave, meanwhile, is a silky smooth runner with 4.39 speed and great acceleration — and he scored at least once in nine of 11 games last season. Winston (or whoever ends up under center) would immediately have a reliable downfield target.”

I can only speak for myself, but to me Olave is the best receiver in this draft class. His college resume is unimpeachable: he appeared in 38 games, scoring 35 touchdowns and catching 175 receptions for 2,702 receiving yards. He led the Buckeyes in receiving yards in 2019 and 2020, with teammates Garrett Wilson and Jaxon Smith-Njigba benefiting from the attention he demanded defenses commit to him in 2021.

And that production was paired with a solid performance at the NFL scouting combine in which Olave timed the 40-yard dash in 4.39 seconds. He’s not the biggest or most explosive receiver around, but the work he’s put in to refining his routes and his straight-line speed make him a threat to score on every down. Olave hasn’t posted the extreme Relative Athletic Score that lines up with New Orleans’ standards, but he’s awful close (and he hasn’t finished testing), so don’t overthink it.

That’s an ideal pairing for Michael Thomas, who has done his best work underneath the coverage as an automatic first down conversion for his quarterbacks. With defenses focused on guarding Thomas, Olave can fly downfield. When they respond to Olave’s presence Thomas gets more room to work with. Both players win, and it’s worth remembering the relationship Thomas is already cultivating with Olave as a mentor.

But, hey, it’s March. Free agency hasn’t begun yet. We don’t know what the Saints’ top team needs will look like on draft day. If they add a couple of receivers in free agency, the position becomes a luxury and Olave, or any other pass catcher, may not be considered once New Orleans is on the clock. Maybe the Saints start to look harder at quarterbacks, safeties, or left tackles should Jameis Winston, Marcus Williams, or Terron Armstead leave for better opportunities. We’ve still got a ways to go.

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Saints have the means to make a big draft-day trade for a top wide receiver

The Saints haven’t traded up for a wide receiver since picking Brandin Cooks in 2014, but it may be time for them to make a big draft-day move, via @RossJacksonNOLA:

The New Orleans Saints have traded up at some point in the NFL draft every season since Jeff Ireland joined the staff as director of college scouting assistant general manager. The pattern of aggressive mobility in the draft hasn’t been isolated to Ireland’s time, but he’s the connective tissue that binds the team’s most successful drafts of recent years. In 2022, with Sean Payton no longer with the team, Ireland’s draft habits shouldn’t be expected to change and neither should the front office’s willingness to go get the players they want.

With the Saints heading into the new league year as one of the NFL’s wide receiver-neediest team, there are ample opportunities to address the position with a talented rookie group in this year’s draft. However, after some impressive NFL scouting combine performances, prospects like Chris Olave, Garrett Wilson, and even Jameson Williams could possibly require the Saints to trade up from pick 18. Could this be the first year in Jeff Ireland’s tenure that the Saints trade up for a wide receiver?

Of the positions the Saints have moved up for since his hiring in 2015, wide receiver is not one of them. In fact, it’s the only non-special teams position the Saints haven’t traded up for with Ireland on staff. The last time the Saints did make a jump for a wideout was in 2014 when New Orleans selected Brandin Cooks. Since then the team has only drafted three wide receivers: Michael Thomas in 2016’s second round, Tre’Quan Smith in 2018’s third round, and Kawaan Baker in 2021’s seventh round.

Since the selection of Michael Thomas, who went on to become a three-time Pro Bowler and two-time All-Pro, New Orleans has mostly relied on the veteran player market or undrafted free agents to population the receiver room. This year, there’s reason to expect that to change and for a new focus to be granted to the position, including new wide receivers coach Kodi Burns.

With that said, the Saints could look to add a top wideout talent in the first year this year’s NFL draft, such as Ohio State receiver Chris Olave. Olave stole the show, even if only briefly at the combine after running an unofficial 4.26 40-yard dash. His time has since been adjusted to a 4.39, only .06 seconds behind Brandin Cooks’s 4.33. And Olave’s teammate Garrett Wilson clocked in just barely ahead of him with an official 4.38. If the Saints have shown that they are willing to make a move for anything, it’s top-tier speed and athleticism.

And if the Saints were interested in moving up for either Ohio State Buckeye, the team to get ahead of may be the in-state Cleveland Browns, who also have a big need at receiver, and who select 13th overall. For the Saints, there is a familiar draft-day trade partner in the Minnesota Vikings at 12th overall, a team that loves to stockpile picks (the Saints traded four picks with Minnesota in a bold move just a few years ago). A trade for the Saints’ 18th overall selection and either their compensatory third or one of their two expected fourth round picks could possibly help New Orleans get up ahead of the Browns and have their pick of the litter at wideout.

If the Saints pulled that off, it would still leave them four selections in the top 140 to continue to retool their offense. With needs at offensive line, tight end, and possibly even quarterback, they’d have enough fodder to continue to be aggressive in the trade market and make the moves necessary to maximize the fresh talent they can bring in this April.

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2022 NFL Combine Results: QB, RB, WR and TE

Measurables for QB, RB, WR, and TE from the 2022 NFL Combine

The NFL combine is always interesting since those player measurables are no longer under the control of the college athletic PR department. This is not considered to be as strong as a draft class as last year, particularly for running backs.  The below positions are split between those that are a consensus early draft pick

Quarterbacks

Top QB School Height Weight Hand Arm 40-yard
Malik Willis Liberty 6’0″ 219 9 1/2″ 31 3/4″ na
Kenny Pickett Pittsburgh 6’3″ 217 8 1/2″ 30 7/8″ 4.67
Sam Howell North Carolina 6’1″ 218 9 1/8″ 30 3/4″ na
Matt Corral Mississippi 6’2″ 212 9 5/8″ 30 3/4″ na
Desmond Ridder Cincinnati 6’3″ 211 10″ 32 3/4″ 4.49
Later Round QB School Height Weight Hand Arm 40-yard
Jack Coan Notre Dame 6’3″ 218 9 1/2″ 31 1/8″ 4.90
Dustin Crum Kent State 6’1″ 210 9 3/8″ 31 3/4″ 4.75
Kaleb Eleby Western Michigan 6’1″ 208 9 1/4″ 30 5/8″ na
Cole Kelley SE Louisiana 6’7″ 249 9 7/8″ 33 3/4″ na
D’Eriq King Miami 5’9″ 196 9 1/4″ 28 7/8″ na
EJ Perry Brown 6’2″ 211 9″ 32″ 4.60
Brock Purdy Iowa State 6’1″ 212 9 1/4″ 29″ 4.76
Carson Strong Nevada 6’3″ 226 9 1/8″ 32″ na
Skylar Thompson Kansas State 6’2″ 217 9 3/8″ 31 3/4″ 4.86
Bailey Zappe Western Kentucky 6′ 1″ 215 9 3/4″ 31 3/8″ 4.78

The Top-5 quarterbacks are expected to be first rounders, though not lumped inside the Top-10 like last season.  Matt Corral did not throw the ball but should be a first-round pick. Malik Willis may be the first selected and brings incredible arm talent and the ability to run.

Kenny Pickett was a Heisman Trophy Finalist and won the Johnny Unitas Golden Arm award last year. He’s the top quarterback on many boards and yet much was made of his 8 1/2″ hand size that would be the smallest in the NFL in a position where players have to be able to hold onto the ball and throw it with velocity. He’s still a lock for an early pick, and Joe Burrow was also questioned with 9″ hands at the combine, and he’s worked out pretty well.

The consensus on the Top-5 already seems very strong. And since they are expected to be more spread out in the first round means that teams in the back half of the draft still have a chance for one of the more coveted quarterbacks.

Running Backs

Top RB School Height Weight Hand Arm 40-yard
Brian Robinson Alabama 6′ 2″ 225 9 3/4″ 31 7/8″ 4.53
Isaiah Spiller Texas A&M 6′ 0″ 217 8 5/8″ 31 3/4″ 4.37
Zamir White Georgia 6′ 0″ 214 8 1/2″ 31 1/2″ na
Breece Hall Iowa State 5′ 11″ 217 9 3/4″ 31 1/4″ 4.39
Dameon Pierce Florida 5′ 10″ 218 9 3/8″ 30 3/4″ 4.38
Kenny Walker III Michigan State 5′ 9″ 211 9 1/2″ 30 3/8″ na
Later Round RB School Height Weight Hand Arm 40-yard
Rachaad White Arizona State 6′ 0″ 214 9 3/4″ 31 1/4″ 4.6
Abram Smith Baylor 6′ 0″ 213 8 1/4″ 30 1/4″ na
Trestan Ebner Baylor 5′ 11″ 206 8 1/2″ 29 3/4″ 4.38
Tyler Allgeier BYU 5′ 11″ 224 9 5/8″ 31 1/2″ 4.45
Jerome Ford Cincinnati 5′ 10 1/2″ 210 9 1/8″ 30 5/8″ 4.52
D’vonte Price Florida International 6′ 1″ 210 9 3/8″ 31 1/2″ na
Jashaun Corbin Florida State 5′ 11″ 202 9 1/2″ 31 1/2″ 4.55
Ronnie Rivers Fresno State 5′ 7 1/2″ 195 8 1/2″ 28″ 4.6
James Cook Georgia 5’11 199 9 3/8″ 30 3/4″ na
Tyler Goodson Iowa 5′ 9″ 197 9″ 29 1/2″ 4.4
Ty Davis-Price LSU 6′ 0″ 211 9 1/4″ 30 3/4″ 4.6
Hassan Haskins Michigan 6′ 2″ 228 9 1/4″ 31 3/4″ na
Jerrion Ealy Mississippi 5′ 8″ 189 8 1/2″ 29 1/8″ 4.53
Snoop Conner Mississippi 5′ 10″ 222 9 1/4″ 30 1/4″ 4.43
Tyler Badie Missouri 5′ 8″ 197 9 1/8″ 29 3/8″ 4.42
Bam Knight N.C. State 5′ 11″ 209 9 1/4″ 30 1/2” na
Ty Chandler North Carolina 5′ 11″ 204 9″ 32 1/8″ 4.48
Kyren Williams Notre Dame 5′ 9″ 194 9″ 28 5/8″ 4.64
Kennedy Brooks Oklahoma 5′ 11″ 209 7 5/8″ 30 1/4″ 4.38
Jaylen Warren Oklahoma State 5′ 8″ 204 9 1/4″ 29 7/8″ 4.46
CJ Verdell Oregon 5′ 8″ 194 9 1/2″ 29 1/4″ 4.59
Isiah Pacheco Rutgers 5′ 10″ 216 9 1/4″ 30 1/2″ 4.42
Greg Bell San Diego State 5′ 10 1/2″ 201 9 3/8″ 30 7/8″ na
Kevin Harris South Carolina 5′ 10″ 221 9 1/4″ 31 1/4″ 4.65
Quan White South Carolina 6′ 0″ 206 9″ 30 3/4″ na
Pierre Strong South Dakota State 5′ 11″ 207 9 1/4″ 31 7/8″ 4.48
Keaontay Ingram USC 6′ 0″ 221 9″ 31 1/2″ 4.59
Sincere McCormick UTSA 5′ 8 1/2″ 205 9 1/8″ 29 7/8″ 4.59
Max Borghi Washington State 5′ 9″ 210 9 1/8″ 29 5/8″ 4.37
Leddie Brown West Virginia 6′ 0″ 213 9 3/4″ 31 3/8″ na

2022 is considered one of the weaker classes of running backs in recent years, and there’s a distinct possibility that there are no first-round picks, and there may only be three or four taken over the first three rounds. The majority will be no better than Day 3 selections.  The last two drafts contained fewer than 20 running backs chosen.

There is less consensus about the order and which backs will be the eventual initial choices.  Brian Robinson (Alabama) and Zamir White (Georgia) will be among the first taken if only because they attended football factories. Still, these are the best running backs coming out of college and every NFL team will have a shot at them since they’ll last longer. It may seem disappointing from a fantasy perspective, but less hype means lower values in fantasy drafts.

Wide Receivers

Top WR School HT WT Hand Arm 40-yard
Treylon Burks Arkansas 6’2″ 225 9 7/8 33 1/2 4.55
Garrett Wilson Ohio State 6’0″ 183 9 7/8 32 4.38
Drake London USC 6’4″ 219 9 3/8 33 na
Jameson Williams Alabama 6’1″ 179 9 1/4 32 1/8 na
Wan’Dale Robinson Kentucky 5’8″ 178 9 27 5/8 4.44
Jahan Dotson Penn State 5’11” 178 9 1/2 30 3/4 4.43
Chris Olave Ohio State 6’0″ 187 9 1/2 31 1/8 4.39
George Pickens Georgia 6’3″ 195 8 3/4 32 3/8 4.47
Justyn Ross Clemson 6’3″ 205 9 5/8 32 1/8 na
David Bell Purdue 6’1″ 212 9 1/4 31 7/8 4.65
Alec Pierce Cincinnati 6’3″ 211 9 33 4.33
Calvin Austin Memphis 5’8″ 170 9 1/4 30 4.32
John Metchie Alabama 6’0″ 187 9 1/4 30 5/8 na
Later Round WR School HT WT Hand Arm 40-yard
Slade Bolden Alabama 5’11” 193 9 3/4 29 3/8 4.66
Tyquan Thornton Baylor 6’2″ 181 8 1/4 33 1/8 4.28
Khalil Shakir Boise State 6’0″ 196 9 1/2 29 4.43
Ty Fryfogle Indiana 6’1″ 205 L 9 5/8 30 5/8 4.53
Charleston Rambo Miami 6’1″ 177 9 3/4 32 4.57
Jalen Nailor Michigan State 5’11” 186 9 1/8 30 1/4 4.50
Dontario Drummond Mississippi 6’0″ 215 9 1/4 31 1/2 4.65
Braylon Sanders Mississippi 6’0″ 194 10 31 1/2 4.48
Makai Polk Mississippi State 6’3″ 195 9 1/2 32 1/4 4.59
Romeo Doubs Nevada 6’2″ 201 10 32 1/4 na
Dai’Jean Dixon Nicholls State 6’2″ 205 9 5/8 32 5/8 4.62
Christian Watson North Dakota State 6’4″ 208 10 1/8 32 1/2 4.36
Isaiah Weston Northern Iowa 6’4″ 214 9 1/2 32 1/2 4.42
Kevin Austin Jr. Notre Dame 6’2″ 200 9 32 7/8 4.43
Mike Woods Oklahoma 6’1″ 204 9 5/8 33 4.55
Johnny Johnson III Oregon 6’0″ 197 9 3/4 30 1/2 4.60
Devon Williams Oregon 6’4″ 210 9 7/8 34 1/8 4.65
Bo Melton Rutgers 5’11” 189 9 31 1/4 4.34
Danny Gray SMU 6’0″ 186 9 5/8 31 7/8 4.33
Jr. Reggie Roberson SMU 5’11” 192 9 1/2 32 5/8 na
Jalen Tolbert South Alabama 6’1″ 194 10 32 1/4 4.49
Velus Jones Tennessee 5’11” 204 9 3/4 30 7/8 4.31
Erik Ezukanma Texas Tech 6’2″ 209 9 3/8 33 1/2 na
Josh Johnson Tulsa 5’10” 183 8 5/8 31 7/8 na
Kyle Philips UCLA 5’11” 189 8 5/8 29 5/8 4.58
Tré Turner Virginia Tech 6’1″ 184 8 1/2 30 3/4 4.51
Skyy Moore Western Michigan 5’10” 195 10 1/4 31 4.41

The two measurables that are most valued with wideouts are height (without losing speed) and 40-times. It briefly seemed that the Combine record of 4.22 (John Ross – 2017) was broken by Baylor’s Tyquan Taylor with an unofficial 4.21, but it was later changed to 4.28. Speed is a tremendous advantage to a wide receiver but it isn’t even the most important characteristic.  John Ross set the record but hasn’t translated that into being a difference-maker.

The 13 wideouts at the top of the listing are the consensus best and should all be taken before the end of the third round at the latest. Their order will change constantly over the various NFL mock drafts, but the first four – Treylon Burks, Garrett Wilson, Drake London, and Jameson Williams all have a legitimate shot at being the first selected in April and should all be gone by the second round.

Some mock drafts have as many as eight wideouts selected in the first round but almost all come in the latter half of picks. Matching up a talented wideout on a team that needs a new starter and already has an established quarterback is the ideal and that can happen for any receiver.

Tight Ends

Top TE School Height Weight Hand Arm 40-yard
Jalen Wydermyer Texas A&M 6’4″ 255 9 3/4″ 33 1/8″ na
Trey McBride Colorado State 6’4″ 246 10 1/8″ 32 1/2″ na
Isaiah Likely Coastal Carolina 6’5″ 245 10″ 31 7/8″ na
Charlie Kolar Iowa State 6’6″ 252 10″ 34 1/2″ na
Later Round TE School HT WT Hand Arm 40-yard
Curtis Hodges Arizona State 6’8″ 257 9 5/8″ 34 1/2″ 4.85
Peyton Hendershot Indiana 6’4″ 250 9″ 32 5/8″ 4.80
Chase Allen Iowa State 6’6″ 251 9 5/8″ 34 1/8″ na
Chigoziem Okonkwo Maryland 6’3″ 238 9 3/4″ 32 3/4″ 4.52
Connor Heyward Michigan State 5’11” 233 9 1/2″ 31 7/8″ na
Austin Allen Nebraska 6’8″ 253 9 1/2″ 33 5/8″ 4.83
Cole Turner Nevada 6′ 6″ 246 9 7/8″ 33″ 4.76
Jeremy Ruckert Ohio State 6’5″ 250 10 1/8″ 32 3/4″ na
Jeremiah Hall Oklahoma 6’2″ 239 10 1/2″ 31 5/8″ na
Teagan Quitoriano Oregon State 6’6″ 258 9 3/8″ 33 3/4″ na
Daniel Bellinger San Diego State 6’5″ 253 10 1/8″ 32 1/2″ 4.63
Grant Calcaterra SMU 6’4″ 241 10″ 33 1/4″ 4.62
Greg Dulcich UCLA 6’4″ 243 9 7/8″ 33 3/8″ 4.70
Jelani Woods Virginia 6’7″ 259 9 1/4″ 34 1/8″ 4.61
James Mitchell Virginia Tech 6’4″ 249 9 3/4″ 32 7/8″ na
Cade Otton Washington 6’5″ 247 9 1/2″ 32 3/4″ na
Jake Ferguson Wisconsin 6’5″ 250 9 1/2″ 32 5/8″ 4.81

Fantasy tight ends are invariably poor contributors, but the first four are worth tracking. And even more so for dynasty teams. There may be no tight ends taken until round two, but at least two or three should show up before the third round.

Ohio State receivers Garrett Wilson, Chris Olave just second pair of teammates to run sub 4.4 time at NFL Combine

This is an impressive stat and trump card for the wide receiver position at Ohio State. #GoBucks

In case you missed any of the exploits at the 2022 NFL Scouting Combine on Thursday, we’re here to tell you that the receivers took their turn in the sun in Indianapolis. That means that Ohio State receivers Chris Olave and Garrett Wilson were put in front of the cameras for NFL scouts and executives with one of the events being the 40-yard dash.

It might be the most popular test at the combine because everyone loves speed, and if that’s the case, then Olave and Wilson only improved their draft stock with both of them running sub 4.4 times.

It’s not every day that you get teammates running times that fast, and in fact, according to ESPN’s Field Yates, it’s only the second time since 2006 that two receiver teammates ran sub-4.4 times.

That’s awfully impressive. What might be of interest to you and even more impressive is that the only other time was also from two teammates from Ohio State when Parris Campbell and Terry McLaurin pulled off the same feat.

Are you reading what we’re putting out there top receiving prospects? Ohio State is the place for speed when it comes to the wide receiver position. Speed kills, sells, and makes guys lots of money at the highest level.

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WATCH: Garrett Wilson runs extremely fast 40-time

BREAKING: Garrett Wilson is pretty fast.

The 2022 NFL Scouting Combine is underway in Indianapolis and there are plenty of Ohio State players being poked, prodded, and timed. Yesterday, Buckeye receivers Chris Olave and Garrett Wilson had their turn to be put under the spotlight and they lit up the place, especially with their 40-times.

Olave originally put up a 4.26 time that was adjusted officially to 4.39, but Wilson put up an even faster time. We’ve got the video of Wilson for your craving and need for speed that you can watch thanks to the NFL’s official Twitter account.

Click below and watch Wilson blaze down the track for that holy grail of a sub 4.4 forty time.

What’s amazing is that not only can Wilson play on the outside with this speed, but he has the route running and burst to get free in the slot as well. We saw that in 2020 when he was OSU’s main inside receiver. That’s going to play awfully well with NFL scouts and executives.

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Contact/Follow us @BuckeyesWire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Ohio State news, notes, and opinion. Follow Phil Harrison on Twitter.

Let us know your thoughts, comment on this story below. Join the conversation today.