Justin Jefferson, WR, Minnesota Vikings
It won’t be easy for the Vikings to replace Stefon Diggs after trading the star receiver to the Bills. And while Jefferson’s skill set is a bit different — he’s not quite as explosive as Diggs has proven to be — he’ll be an outstanding foil for Kirk Cousins with his ability in the slot. Last season, nobody in the NCAA caught more passes from the slot than Jefferson’s 109, and nobody gained more than his 1,518 slot yards. He also has potential as an outside receiver, as his nine deep catches and six deep touchdowns proved.
Jalen Reagor, WR, Philadelphia Eagles
Reagor caught just 43 passes for 611 yards and five touchdowns last season for TCU, so why did the Eagles take him with the 21st overall pick? Because his quarterback situation was one of the NCAA’s worst. Pro Football Focus charted just 30.7% of Reagor’s targets as accurate or catchable, and he still managed to catch eight deep passes for four touchdowns. Put him in an NFL-level passing game (heck, put him in an above-average Division-II passing game) and watch him become an estimable target for Carson Wentz.
Henry Ruggs III, WR, Las Vegas Raiders
Ruggs going to the Raiders with the 12th overall pick most have made the late Al Davis happy, given Davis’ decades-long thing for receivers who could burn down the field, forcing cornerbacks and safeties to play catch-up. Ruggs, the Alabama alum who ran a 4.27 40-yard dash at the scouting combine, has every bit of that speed on the field, and he’s a more diverse route-runner than you might expect. Once he lines up with Derek Carr, the Raiders’ passing could the vertical festival Jon Gruden clearly wants it to be.
Jerry Jeudy, WR, Denver Broncos
The one thing that set Jeudy apart from every receiver in an absolutely stacked receiver class is the consistency and versatility of his route-running. It showed all over his Alabama tape, and the only thing that will stop him from tying NFL defenders in knots is the relative inconsistency of quarterback Drew Lock, who’s still learning the nuances of the position.