2022 NFL Draft: Ranking this year's best wide receivers

These are the top wide receivers available in the 2022 NFL Draft.
2022 NFL Draft: Ranking this year's best wide receivers
2022 NFL Draft: Ranking this year's best wide receivers /

As the game of football opens up into a more spread-oriented offensive style, the wide receiver position will continue to be one of the most important. That's not expected to change looking ahead to the 2022 NFL Draft.

This year's crop of college football stars are full of potentially electric receiver talent. Who are the best, and what can we expect from them?

Scroll through to see the 10 best wide receivers available this year.

2022 NFL Draft: Wide receiver rankings

10. Justyn Ross

justyn ross

School: Clemson

Height: 6-4

Weight: 205

40 time: N/A

Stats: 158 rec, 2,379 yards, 15.1 ypc, 20 TD

Strengths: Good size and length, smooth route-runner, high scoring volume prior to injury, plays well vertically, highly athletic, good footwork, can catch contested passes

Weaknesses: Spinal contusion surgery that kept him from 2020 season, played in worse offense coming off the surgery, needs to run better after the catch, foot stress fracture surgery late last season

9. John Metchie

john metchie

School: Alabama

Height: 5-11

Weight: 187

40 time: N/A

Stats: 155 rec, 2,081 yards, 13.4 ypc, 14 TD

Strengths: Size and speed, extended catch radius, experience running pro-style routes, highly instinctual in traffic, can track the ball well downfield, can play each position well but probably best in the slot, physicality

Weaknesses: Tendency to drop passes against his body, average release time against larger defensive backs, coming off an ACL tear in December.

8. David Bell

david bell

School: Purdue

Height: 6-1

Weight: 212

40 time: 4.65

Stats: 232 rec, 2,946 yards, 12.7 ypc, 21 TD

Strengths: Equally adept in the slot and wide, a high-volume target, instinctual and subtle runner who can throw DBs off course, good balance and agility, good after the catch

Weaknesses: Average burst, can be beat on longer passes downfield, can use more speed on intermediate patterns

7. Jahan Dotson

jahan dotson

School: Penn State

Height: 5-11

Weight: 178

40 time: 4.43

Strengths: Can display different speeds on the same route, good punt return specialist, can adjust well on routes, very agile, accelerates quickly

Weaknesses: Not as confident in the middle of the field as on the perimeter, can get undercut occasionally on patterns, can get tackled easily in the open field

6. Drake London

drake london

School: USC

Height: 6-4

Weight: 219

Stats: 160 rec, 2,153 yards, 13.5 ypc, 15 TD

Strengths: Good positioning ability and can catch contested balls with basketball experience, elite mismatch potential, can use his size to manufacture running lanes, physical fixture on short and intermediate patterns

Weaknesses: Lack of separation burst could mean a lot of contested catches, needs to work on initial quickness, slow developer on downfield plays, has to work on earning harder yards after the catch

5. George Pickens

george pickens

School: Georgia

Height: 6-3

Weight: 195

40 time: 4.47

Stats: 90 rec, 1,347 yards, 15 ypc, 14 TD

Strengths: Elite ball skills, can adjust well during routes and mid-catch, excellent catch radius, skillful hands-catcher, doesn't get bogged down in traffic, acceleration getting out of tight coverages

Weaknesses: Coming off ACL tear, needs more physicality

4. Chris Olave

chris olave

School: Ohio State

Height: 6-0

Weight: 187

40 time: 4.39 

Stats: 175 rec, 2, 702 yards, 15.4 ypc, 35 TD

Strengths: The definition of smooth, top-flight speed sets up spectacular deep plays, adjusts well, highlight play waiting to happen, good burst out of coverage at each level, high-volume target

Weaknesses: Needs to work as a blocker, can get pushed around and thrown off schedule by bigger, more athletic defensive backs

3. Treylon Burks

treylon burks

School: Arkansas

Height: 6-2

Weight: 225

40 time: 4.55

Stats: 146 rec, 2,399 yards, 16.4 ypc, 18 TD

Strengths: Good mismatch receiver who can play variety of positions, can push you around, body control, combines size and physicality with natural speed, can use his body to block out defenders

Weaknesses: Needs to be more aggressive on contested balls, more speed after the catch needed, occasionally slow-developer on medium plays

2. Jameson Williams

jameson williams

School: Alabama

Height: 6-1.5

Weight: 179

40 time: N/A

Stats: 94 rec, 1,838 yards, 19.6 ypc, 18 TD

Strengths: Long speed that can break a play open, instant acceleration, a record-breaking hurdler in high school, led college football in 30-plus yard TDs, excellent after the catch

Weaknesses: Could use some more mass, coming off an ACL tear, needs to get more aggressive

1. Garrett Wilson

garrett wilson

School: Ohio State

Height: 6-0

Weight: 183

40 time: 4.38

Stats: 143 rec, 2,213 yards, 15.5 ypc, 23 TD

Strengths: Can elude most any coverage, can separate very well, excellent ball skills, deceptive, can change speed well mid-route, can get some serious air, accelerates very well

Weaknesses: Relies too much occasionally on physical skills, can get sloppy in traffic, still pretty raw


More from College Football HQ

Follow College Football HQ: Bookmark | Facebook | Twitter | Flipboard | Newsbreak


Published
James Parks
JAMES PARKS

James Parks is the founder and publisher of College Football HQ. He previously covered football for 247Sports and CBS Interactive. College Football HQ joined the Sports Illustrated Fannation Network in 2022.