While I have been, over the last few years, unquestionably the best NFL quarterback draft scout on the planet, I’ve really stumbled when it comes to wide receivers. In my last two draft evaluations, I tabbed Laquon Treadwell out of Ole Miss in 2016 and Mike Williams out of Clemson as my top prospects. Williams was hurt most of last season with the Los Angeles Chargers and Treadwell is rocketing his way straight to the bust pile with the Minnesota Vikings. In fact, there’s no guarantee Treadwell will even have a job in 2018.
On the bright side, I did peg USC’s JuJu Smith-Schuster as a budding superstar last season. On the not-so-bright side, I didn’t even have Eastern Washington’s Cooper Cupp in my Top 10 and he and Schuster were the best rookie wideouts in the league in 2017. Unlike others in NFL punditry, I can admit my past mistakes and strive to do better.
First off, let’s round out the Top 10 before I dive into the seven best wide receivers on my list.
10. Tre’Quan Smith (UCF), 9. Deontay Burnett (USC), 8. D.J. Moore (Maryland)…
All these guys will get drafted and have the chance to craft a solid NFL career. As usual, there are probably really only three or four that will be true No. 1 WRs and NFL stars. Let’s take a look.
TOP SEVEN WIDE RECEIVERS
7. Anthony Miller, Memphis
2017: 96 catches, 1,462 yards, 18 touchdowns (5-11, 190 pounds)
Miller was obviously the top receiving option at Memphis, but I think he’ll be better served as a No. 3 in the NFL. Miller. He works well in traffic, has good hands and isn’t afraid to take on tacklers when he’s turns into a runner.
Ideal situation: Green Bay Packers, New England Patriots, Atlanta Falcons
6. Auden Tate, Florida State
2017: 40 catches, 548 yards, 10 touchdowns (6-5, 225 pounds)
Tate is going to take a hit based on his 40 time, but as Kenny Powers once said, Tate plays a real sport. He’s not trying to be the best at exercising. Tate was a red zone mismatch in college and that won’t change in the NFL. Like Miller, Tate needs to be used in the slot to match up with linebackers and safeties especially in short yardage situations. He may never be a 1,000 yard guy, but he’ll scare the shit out of any team on first and goal.
Ideal situation: New Orleans Saints, Cincinnati Bengals, Jacksonville Jaguars
5. Marcell Ateman, Oklahoma State
2017: 59 catches, 1,156 yards, eight touchdowns (6-4, 220 pounds)
Ateman is the first guy on the list that looks like a true NFL No 1 or 2 receiver. He played second fiddle to James Washington with the Cowboys and still put up huge numbers in a pass-first offense. He too didn’t lay down a fire streak in his 40 time, but he can get open and knows how to use his body to catch and protect the ball.
Ideal situation: Houston Texans, Buffalo Bills, Kansas City Chiefs
4. James Washington, Oklahoma State
2017: 74 catches, 1,549 yards, 13 touchdowns (6-0, 205 pounds)
Washington is an interesting prospect to me. He ran a 4.54 at the combine, which doesn’t blow away the scouts, but the kid knows how to run routes, get open and catch the ball. He tracks the ball in the air probably better than anyone in the draft. He could end up being a real star in the right situation and is just as fast as Jerry Rice and Isaac Bruce and those two guys did alright in the NFL.
Ideal situation: Carolina Panthers, Buffalo Bills, Pittsburgh Steelers
3. Michael Gallup, Colorado State
2017: 100 catches, 1,418 yards, seven touchdowns (6-1, 200 pounds)
I have Gallup just a spot ahead of Washington, but could change my mind on these guys tomorrow. They’re so much alike, not only in body size and ability, but also production. Neither guy is a burner, but they know what to do with the ball in their hands. I give Gallup the edge here because his flypaper hands and ability to weave through traffic in the open field.
Ideal situation: Arizona Cardinals, Baltimore Ravens, Washington Redskins
https://youtu.be/yD6tS0iyZJA
2. Courtland Sutton, Southern Methodist
2017: 68 catches, 1,085 yards, 12 touchdowns (6-4, 215 pounds)
Sutton looks like the second coming of Terrell Owens to me and since that dude just recently got voted into the NFL Hall of Fame, that’s not too shabby. Sutton is No. 1 on most draft lists, so I’ll tell you why he isn’t on mine. I don’t like the way he could be taken away by the competition in real games. When the Mustangs played No. 20 Memphis, Sutton had one catch for 35 yards. Against No. 15 UCF? Five catches for 46 yards. Against No. 20 TCU? One catch for ZERO yards. Sutton was gameplanned completely out of these contests and he wasn’t facing a single defensive back that will make an NFL roster. He’s a lot like Corey Davis out of Western Michigan last year. He’s probably not ready to a real factor in the NFL from the first day.
1. Calvin Ridley, Alabama
2017: 63 catches, 967 yards, five touchdowns (6-1, 190 pounds)
Ridley is simply the total package. He can run pristine routes, he can beat a DB in a foot race (he ran a 4.43 at the combine) and, importantly, he can downfield block in the run game. Ridley is the one dude on this list that can become a team’s No. 1 wide receiver the first day he gets on the field. If Sutton is Terrell Owens then Ridley is Tory Holt.
Ideal situation: Chicago Bears, San Francisco 49ers, Miami Dolphins
