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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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