The number in parentheses represents the ranking for the top overall players in the draft.
Click here to check out that list…ORDER 66
Click here to check out our QB list…QUARTERBACKS
Click here to check out our RB list…RUNNINGBACKS
This list will be updated following all-star week performances from the East/West Shrine Bowl (1/28 – 2/3) and the Senior Bowl (2/1 – 2/5) as well as individual player pro days and the NFL Combine (3/1 – 3/7).
RANKINGS
1 (13) Treylon Burks, Arkansas (Jr.) Good size at 6-3, 225; 4-Star recruit who also lettered in baseball and basketball in high school with over 3,400 receiving yards including a 900-yard rushing season; 2020 2nd-team SEC and 2021 1st-team SEC; good combo of size and speed; very good at yards after catch and breaking tackles; high-character; led Arkansas in receiving the last three seasons and eclipsed 1,000 in 2021 for the first time (66-1,104-11 TDs); mainly lines up in the slot and can also line up in a variety of other spots including the backfield to take advantage of his speed and ability to break tackles like a running back; has consistently averaged 16 yards per reception over his career; KR/PR reps as a freshman; his competitiveness really took off this season and it shows the most in one-on-one situations; just throw it his way and he will come down with it.
2 (15) Drake London, USC (Jr.) 6-5, 210 with very good length but can stand to put on more bulk to his upper and lower body; 2021 Pac 12 Offensive Player of the Year even though he broke his ankle week 8 vs. Arizona and ended up playing in just eight games; still ended up with 88-1,084-7 TDs; was on pace of breaking the school’s single season record in receptions and yards by Marqise Lee in 2021, and would have won the Biletnikoff Award (Nation’s top WR) just as Lee did in 2012 if he had remained healthy; a very polished, true No. 1 wideout with great hands; elite receiver skills includes his athleticism and physicality which helped him attain 19 contested catches and 22 broken tackles in only eight games this past season; lines up mostly outside; star basketball player in high school and even played several games for the Trojans hoops team in 2020.
3 (17) Garrett Wilson, OSU (Jr.) 6-0, 192; 5-Star recruit and leading high school basketball player; 2021 2nd-Team All American; has steadily improved all three seasons and eclipsed 1,000 yards for the first time (1,058) in 2021 along with double-digit TDs (12) for the first time; has averaged 15.4 yards per catch over his career; punt return experience; mostly lined up on the outside in 2021; played more in the slot in 2020; elite route-runner and gets separation; can make the difficult catch; excellent off-the-field person.
4 (19) Jameson Williams, Alabama (Jr.) 6-2, 189; 4-Star recruit and track star in high school; transferred here for the 2021 season after two unproductive seasons at Ohio State; 2021 1st-team SEC receiver and 2nd-team return specialist; big play ability; became the Tide’s downfield threat with 1,572 yards (5th nationally) averaging 19.9 yards per catch and 15 TDs (3rd nationally); 12 of his touchdowns came from 20+ yards out to lead all ‘Power 5’ programs; plays all over on special teams - including at gunner - and added two kick return scores on only 10 attempts; lined up mostly outside but also played in the slot some; excellent separation and yards after the catch combo makes him an elite and dangerous weapon; torn ACL early in the first half against Georgia in the national title game; his injury will undoubtedly alter his draft stock and is the only reason why I rank him fourth instead of first, but ultimately Williams could end up a draft day steal even as a first round selection.
5 (24) David Bell, Purdue (Jr.) 6-2, 205; 4-Star recruit who also played high school basketball; 2019 Big 10 Freshman POY; 2020 1st-team Big 10 and All-Academic; 2021 1st-team All-American and 2021 Big 10 WR POY; coming off his best season (93-1,286-6 TDs) ranking 5th nationally with 116.9 yds./game; led team all three seasons with a pair of 1,000-yard seasons and 21 TDs; lined up mostly on the outside; his 13.8 average per catch in 2021 was a career-high; excellent leader and person off the field; great competitor; had some past injury issues including a concussion but did not miss time; speed is not his main asset, but fast enough; elite body control and smooth; very good after the catch with 25 broken tackles on his 93 receptions; plucks the ball right out of the air; just swallows them up.
6 (29) Jahan Dotson, Penn State (Sr.) Not very big at 5-11, 184; 3-Star recruit who also lettered in basketball and track (relay and long jump) in high school; played all four seasons with Penn State, leading the team the past two including his first 1,000-yard season in 2021 (91-1,182-12 TDs); very good route-runner with elite ball skills; good football IQ; natural ball skills; great hands with only two drops on 138 targets in 2021; mostly lines up outside but did play some in the slot; getting bigger and stronger which is key since he was never a physical player before; committed himself to get better and will keep improving; good punt return skills too.
7 (35) Wan’Dale Robinson, UK (Jr.) 5-11, 185; 4-Star recruit and second-ranked all-purpose back for his class; chose Nebraska over native Kentucky; transferred from Nebraska after 2020; multi-skilled player who attempted 134 rushes in two seasons with the Huskers along with 91 receptions and 914 yards; 2021 2nd-team SEC; played exclusively at wide receiver for Kentucky, which helped him refine his game; lined up more in the slot than outside and set career marks across the board (104-1,348-7 TDs); his average was only 12.9 but it was still a career-high; playmaker with elite cutback ability; has some limited experience as a punt returner.
8 (39) George Pickens, Georgia (Jr.) 6-3, 200; 5-Star recruit who chose Georgia over his native Alabama; led team as a freshman in 2019 (49-727-8) and was the MVP of the Bulldogs Sugar Bowl win over Baylor with 12-175-TD; after another solid 2020 season in just eight games (36-513-6 TDs) it appeared he was on his way to a huge final season until he tore his ACL during the spring of 2021 and did not play until the final game of the regular season; made a few key catches in both games against Alabama including a 52-yarder in the national championship game; makes the tough, highlight reel catches; uses his arms and body well to snag high balls; developing player who has missed the last two springs (Covid and injury) which I look at as a plus for someone who can fulfill his potential in the NFL.
9 (52) Romeo Doubs (Dubs), Nevada (Sr.) 6-2, 200; 2020 and 2021 1st-team MWC; productive over four seasons including back-to-back 1,000-yard seasons in his final two (80-1,109-11 TDs in 2021); tied a school-record with 19 receptions against Fresno State on 10/23/21 with 203 yards and a score; his receptions went up in 2021 but his average dipped a bit from 17.2 to 13.8, even though his skill level was at an all-time high; he was working on his route-running this past season which might be why his deep ball totals took a dip; lines up mostly outside; scored a touchdown on his
first career punt return in 2018 and earned 1st-team MWC punt returner for 2021; hard-working player; good ‘Group of 5’ sleeper; also ran track in high school.
10 (55) Chris Olave, OSU (Sr.) 6-1, 188; 4-Star recruit who also played basketball, ran track and long jump in high school; 2021 2nd-Team All American and 2021 1st-team Big 10; played all four seasons (176-2,711-35 TDs) and was very consistent over the final three; averaged 15.4 yards per catch for his career; lines up mostly on the outside; California native who passed on participating in the Rose Bowl.
11 (57) John Metchie III, Alabama (Jr.) 6-0, 195; born in Taiwan; grew up in Canada from six years old through high school; 4-Star recruit; 2020 and 2021 2nd-team SEC; broke out in 2020 playing catch with veteran quarterback Mac Jones and averaged an excellent 16.6 yards per catch on 55 receptions behind star Devonta Smith; his yards per catch average (11.9) took a hit without Smith and Jones in 2021 but he still hauled in a team-best 96 receptions as teammate Jameson Williams became the big play receiver, not him; lined up both on the outside and in the slot with most of his patterns coming from out wide; torn ACL in SEC Title game against Georgia will impact his draft status; considering he is a hard-worker he should rehab well.
By Greg DePalma
The Draft Apprentice and Executive Producer of the Ourlads’ Football Network at Ourlads.com.