NFL Draft 2018
Wide Receivers – Grade: B
by Frank Coyle / Publisher
NFL Teams in need:
1 Ravens 5 Jets
2 Cowboys 6 Lions
3 Giants 7 Cardinals
4. Rams 8 Titans
Positional Overview:
This year’s group of receivers is a quality class that is not top heavy with blue chip prospects. It does not rank with the recent groups over the past decade, though is a deep position that will provide many NFL starters and playmakers. The addition of numerous underclassmen enhances this class significantly with many of the top 15 players from that group. This class should produce starters into the 3rd day of the NFL Draft. Calvin Ridley and Christian Kirk are blue chip prospects who probably come off the board from the middle of the first round. They will begin a run of at least 10-12 prospects chosen in the top 100 overall choices. D.J. Moore, D.J. Chark and Courtland Sutton could hear his name called late in the 1st or early 2nd rounds. James Washington, Anthony Miller, Deon Cain and Equanimeous St. Brown are solid 2nd day players. This especially deep group should also provide many return specialists, such as Kirk and Dante Pettis. Possibly 20-25 receivers from this position in the top 200 overall picks. The underclassmen will once again play a huge factor for this position with many of our top 150 prospects from that designation. There are a few fast rising prospects like Deon Cain, Tre’Quan Smith and DaeSean Hamilton moving up quickly off impressive postseasons. Highly regarded relatively unknown prospects like Korey Robertson and Marquez Valdes-Scantling will probably go in the early part of the 3rd day and capable of becoming pro playmakers. There will probably be at least 30-35 chosen over the three-day event in another strong deep receiving class.
Wideout Rankings
1 Calvin Ridley – Alabama
2 Christian Kirk – Texas A&M
3 * D.J. Moore – Maryland
4 Courtland Sutton – Southern Methodist
5 D.J. Chark – LSU
6 James Washington – Oklahoma St
7 Anthony Miller – Memphis
8 * Deon Cain – Clemson
9 * Equanimeous St. Brown – Notre Dame
10 Dante Pettis – Washington
11 * Tre’Quan Smith – Central Florida
12 Michael Gallup – Colorado St
13 DaeSean Hamilton – Penn St
14 * Simmie Cobbs – Indiana
15 J’Mon Moore – Missouri