[PARAM]

I think it's safe to assume the Rams are going to get a WR in this draft. The question is, how high? I also think it's safe to assume Jeudy, Lamb, Ruggs and Reagor are out of the question. They'll be gone before #52. So what's left? I like Hamler the most as I think he's an Az Hakim clone (and not unlike Desean Jackson). Not that there's any connection with McVay and TGSOT, there's not. But an athlete like Hamler would thrive in his system.

Laviska Shenault Jr – Colorado –6’1 227 lbs

Strengths: Shenault Jr is an impressive receiver from the Buffaloes that came onto the scene after his stellar sophomore campaign where he had over 1000 yards and 11 touchdowns. Built with a massive and thick-cut frame, showing tremendous toughness and power throughout his frame. A dynamic physical presence that is a reliable middle of the field target that shows trustworthiness in heavily contested situations. A beast with the ball in his hands that will routinely pick up chunks of yardage after the catch bullying smaller targets and showing some tremendous open-field shiftiness coupled with a 2nd gear. Shenault shows the versatility to play any of the receiver positions, including in the slot. Despite his large frame, Shenault moves extremely well, showing good initial quickness out of his stance and excellent change of direction ability to stop on a dime and change course. Excellent down the field, showing good body control and ball tracking abilities to snatch the ball out of mid-flight. Has experience in the return game as well, showing added upside as a return guy. Was used as a wildcat rusher, showing his ability to do damage anywhere on the field.

Weaknesses: After a stellar sophomore year, Shenault Jr had a bit of a down final season as a junior. Wracked up a lot of yards on designed screen plays and quick outs predicated on him getting the ball quickly to do damage after the catch, lacking the diversified route tree. He needs to learn how to set up his routes better throughout the stem, frequently running his routes lacking necessary precision at the top. Has battled a few injury concerns, including a toe injury and a labrum tear. Good overall athlete but doesn’t possess the top-end speed to threaten the back half of a defense. I wish he would use his physicality a bit more in the blocking department, sometimes looking a bit disinterested.

Justin Jefferson – LSU –6’1 202 lbs

Strengths: A 2-year starter for the Tigers that emerged as the #1 receiver during his sophomore campaign. As a junior (final season) he posted gaudy statistics, dominating against SEC competition and finishing with 111 catches, 18 touchdowns, and over 1500 yards receiving. A high-volume receiver that makes his living in the slot, showing incredible savvy and smoothness to the way he plays. A competitor that battles and shows a feistiness about the way he goes about his business, showing toughness and ‘WANT’ when it comes to blocking downfield for teammates. Jefferson quickly accelerates out of his stance, showing good initial quickness to get from 0-60. A crafty route-runner that varies route speeds and uses good deception throughout his stems to create uncertainty for nickel corners at his release point. His precise footwork allows him to set-up corners and then separate with his ability to stop on a dime at the top of routes. Uses his coordinated feet to change direction and redirect his frame with subtlety and few wasted steps. Excellent spatial awareness when working against zone coverage, finding soft creases and sitting in. An excellent hands’ catcher, he catches everything in his direction, showing fearlessness when having to work across the middle of the field. A QB friendly target who never gives up on a play and will find a way to get open on broken down plays. Better than expected after the catch, showing some open-field shiftiness to create additional yardage.

Weaknesses: Has played almost entirely in bunch formations or in the slot and has very little outside experience. Possesses a very wiry built frame that lacks ideal strength and body armor to handle the beating of working in the middle of the field at the next level. Lacks elite long-speed and is not a vertical threat down the field, and is usually a shorter to intermediate-based route runner only. When occasionally having to handle bigger and physical corners, Jefferson struggled to get off press, failing to have the necessary upper-body strength to quickly disengage.

Tee Higgins – Clemson –6’4 216 lbs

Strengths: A 2-year starter for the Tigers who has played in all 30 games the last 2 years for the Tigers, winning 1 championship and losing in the championship game this past season. He’s had outstanding levels of production in each of the last 2 seasons, totaling over 2100 yards and 16 touchdowns the last two years combined. Higgins is a versatile and big-game receiver that has shown the ability to play both inside and outside. Built with a long and powerful frame possessing an unreal catch radius (over 81”) to dominate at the catch point against smaller defensive backs. Higgins is dynamic in red-zone situations with his ability to get vertical and high-point the football. A good straight-line athlete who shows impressive long speed, showing on a number of occasions the ability to win and get behind a defense. While he doesn’t have a large tree, the ones he does run, he shows terrific suddenness at the top to create some spacing. He utilizes his body to shield and box out defenders. Good body control and ball tracking ability to find the ball in flight. Shows enough quickness and wiggle at the line of scrimmage to beat jams against press corners. A natural hands’ catcher comfortable in contested situations or 50/50 balls. Dynamic after the catch, showing the ability to bully and create for himself. A hardworking target that will battle down the field and create a QB friendly option on broken plays.

Weaknesses: While generally a reliable hands’ catcher, there were quite a number of times this year where I questioned his overall hand strength where he would get outmuscled upon the balls arrival. He will need to learn a more diversified route tree to play at the next level in most offenses. His routes lack nuance through the stem and he will need to learn how to better utilize his hands and footwork to alter his releases. Does the majority of his damage on the perimeter and lacks a lot of experience playing through the middle of the field. I wish he was a bit more of a dynamic and aggressive blocker, tending to be a bit too passive considering his frame.

Tyler Johnson - Minnesota - 6’1 206 lbs

Strengths: A former top point guard in Minnesota, Johnson has excelled at receiver in each of the last 2 seasons. Finishing with nearly 2,500 yards and 25 touchdowns, Johnson was one of the main reasons Minnesota had as good a season as they did. A well-built prospect that shows good overall muscularity and length capable of adding additional weight to his frame. As a receiver, Johnson is a smooth operator who runs routes with nuance and precision. Running his routes with a variety of different releases both at the line of scrimmage and at the top of his routes to separate. I love the way he uses subtle little body movements and footwork to create for himself, displaying looseness and core flexibility to play laterally. He’s a versatile guy that shows the ability to line up inside and outside. His best trait is his ability to adjust to the football, showing flexible body control to contort his body in space. Excellent against zone coverage, showing football intelligence to sit in and find soft pockets of space. A good hands catcher that shows good concentration with the ability to extend and snatch away from his frame. Impressive after the catch, showing a real finishing ability and fight to pick up additional yardage.

Weaknesses: Johnson isn’t a great ‘straight-line speed’ guy per se and will struggle separating on vertical routes. A bit of a clunky and choppy athlete that doesn’t always appear to have a plan when running his routes. Johnson is overly concerned with creating and picking up additional yardage after the catch which causes him to have some concentration lapses where he is looking downfield and drops the ball. Not an overly physical guy and could struggle against press coverages at the line of scrimmage, he wasn’t tested often.

Brandon Aiyuk – Arizona State –6’0 205 lbs

Strengths: Aiyuk blew out of relatively nowhere this year to have a monster senior campaign with almost 1200 yards and 8 touchdowns. A compactly-built athlete that shows good overall toughness in his frame. Aiyuk has added versatility as being a really impressive return guy, showing experience in both punt and kickoff return duties. Built with a solid and compact frame, Aiyuk has good muscularity and wide shoulders. Really impressed with Aiyuk’s nuance in his route-running ability, showing diversity in his releases as well as unpredictability at the top. Sets up his double-moves nicely, having a plan and then selling it, using his impressive long-speed to create spacing vertically. Excellent post-catch showing concentration, violent hand usage, toughness and physicality to pick up additional yardage. Does an excellent job altering and varying speeds at various points of his stem to create separation. Combines his impressive short-area quickness with his precise footwork at the top of routes to create. Comfortable working inside or outside, showing fearlessness while doing damage across the middle of the field. Above average in contested situations, utilizing his frame and soft hands to make 50/50 balls.

Weaknesses: Aiyuk has very little experience as the “main guy” being the #2 behind N’Keal Harry his junior season. He has some poor concentration drops on his resume, oftentimes due to thinking about what he wants to do post-catch. A build-up speed guy that takes a bit to get going and can struggle a bit when he needs to win quickly, especially against press-man corners where he fails to quickly beat jams. Despite his physicality and size, he doesn’t regularly attack the football enough and is too passive in allowing it to reach his chest. Needs to show more interest and desire when blocking for his teammates, far too easily disengaging and leading to stops in the run game.

KJ Hamler – Penn State –5’9 178 lbs

Strengths: Hamler is an exciting redshirt sophomore prospect for the Nittany Lions that has set the record for all-purpose yards in a freshman season, surpassing Sequon Barkley. One of the youngest players in the draft and will only be 20 years old on draft day. Quite possibly could be one of the most explosive players in this draft. Hamler is an electric, versatile player that is used on all special teams’ units for the Nittany Lions, returning both kickoffs and punts. Had an outstanding final season with over 900 yards receiving and 8 touchdowns. The definition of a big-play guy, he has averaged almost 18 yards per reception. Hamler isn’t just a speedster, but he’s also incredibly agile. Possessing tremendous mobility throughout his lower body, Hamler gets defenders on skates with his transitional quickness and change of direction abilities. Dynamic with the ball in his hands, possessing the rare vision and open-field ability to create additional yards, preventing defenders from getting their hands on his frame. Excellent on double moves, selling his routes and showing 0-60 speed to create considerable separation downfield. Love the way he runs his routes with deception, altering route speeds throughout his stems, and showing terrific top-gear speed to separate. Despite his stature, Hamler isn’t afraid when it comes to the physical aspects of the game. I was really impressed seeing his willingness and competitiveness when asked to block, showing terrific ‘want.’

Weaknesses: Hamler is small and slight, possessing a track type of frame making his frame highly susceptible to potential injuries as evidenced already in his college career, missing some game time to major and minor knocks. Tore his ACL in 2016 while he was in high school causing him to miss 2 years of playing football. He has been improving in his overall route running ability but still needs to clean up some of his footwork in his routes. Might be limited to solely slot responsibilities at the next level and will get overwhelmed if trying to play on the line of scrimmage against bigger corners who will control him at the line of scrimmage. While dynamic post-catch in space, he generally will go down upon 1st contact if defenders get their hands on him.

Donavon Peoples-Jones – Michigan –6’2 212 lbs

Strengths: The former #1 receiving prospect in high school football, Peoples-Jones shows all the talent in the world to be a top-level receiving prospect. Despite very mediocre production in college, I wouldn’t be in the slightest bit surprised if he goes on to be a better NFL player than he was in college. He constantly had to deal with terrible QB play where he was missed so many times down the field when he was open by 5 yards. Peoples-Jones has a nice developed frame with good size, height, and length. Plays mostly inside and is used in bunch formations quite a bit, but has experience playing on the outside as well. A bad ball catcher that shows the ability to constantly adjust to the football or make diving circus catches. Completely comfortable using his big mitts to snatch the ball out of flight. Excellent usage of the sidelines to make boundary catches. Uses his full wingspan to extend, out jump and outreach smaller defenders in flight, making him a dynamic red-zone target. A really good straight-line athlete that has shown, on numerous occasions, his ability to separate on vertical plains downfield. Not just athletic but also physical as well. Is often used as the point of attack blocker in the run game, showing good strength and physicality at the 1st level. Physical post-catch as well, showing the ability to gain additional yardage after contact and fall forward with the ball. Holds additional value as a punt return specialist, returning 2 punts for touchdowns.

Weaknesses: To say People-Jones college career was a disappointment would be putting it lightly. His best season (sophomore season) he only had 600 receiving yards. Despite his big and powerful frame, he can be a bit too passive at the catch point, allowing the ball to reach his chest as opposed to attacking the football. Inconsistent hand usage when countering press coverage, allowing himself to be disrupted and re-routed at the line of scrimmage against physical corners. Mostly an oversized slot receiver and had by far the most production when playing inside. A bit of a clunky runner that takes some time to get into top gear, playing a bit too upright in his stems.

Chase Claypool – Notre Dame - 6’4 238 lbs

Strengths: Claypool has contributed offensively in all 4 seasons at Notre Dame, having a tremendous final season as a senior. Finishing with over 1000 yards and 13 touchdowns as a senior, Claypool has shown increased production each season. Built with a big and powerful frame, showing impressive compactness, muscle and length. Claypool is a rare prospect that has very few negative concerns. Claypool wins mostly with size and strength and he knows how to utilize these two things to his advantage. While running routes, Claypool utilizes his body to box out and shield smaller defenders and keep them away from the football. Excellent at the catch point, Claypool uses his strong hands, length, and physicality to snatch the ball away from his frame. Excellent with the ball in his hands, Claypool will fight for additional yards to get the first down. Plays with some versatility, showing the ability to play both inside and outside. A precise route-runner that runs clean routes, showing crispness and finish at all levels. A reliable target that shows sticky hands to adjust to poorly thrown balls or to catch the ball in heavy traffic. Runs a wide diversity of different routes, showing some variance and nuance.

Weaknesses: Claypool isn’t the most explosive athlete and his deep speed is just slightly above average. Plays with a very limited route tree at this point in time. I would prefer if Claypool had a little more separation quickness in and out of his breaks to separate himself a bit more.

Denzel Mims - Baylor - 6’3 207 lbs Strengths: Mims, a 3-year starter for the Bears, he has posted impressive production in each of the last 3 years. Built with a big and powerful frame, showing a tremendous wingspan to be able to outstretch and outreach any defensive back. He couples his size, length, and rare vertical leaping ability to high point the ball at an alarming and almost impossible to cover rate. A former track athlete who possesses outstanding long speed, showcasing the ability to utilize his explosive nature to win at all levels of a route. Mims possesses outstanding body control to adjust and time his leaps accurately to win the majority of the 50/50 balls. He’s a bad ball catcher that will adjust and snatch poorly thrown footballs. Mims has a good understanding of how to best utilize his frame and body to box out and win on slants and in-breaking routes. A willing down the field blocker that shows good lower body strength to anchor and seal running lanes. Weaknesses: While Mims has the athletic ability to separate, he doesn’t do it enough at the college level due to his rawness in the way he runs routes. He fails to utilize precise footwork or wiggle at any area of his route to create deception, allowing corners to telegraph his routes. Mims isn’t physical enough at the catch point, nor does he show strong enough hands to consistently win against competitive corners. Faster than quick, Mims fails to have elite quickness or agility due to his frame and he could take a bit to build up his speed.

(All info from DTP's 2020 NFL Draft Guide: The Ultimate Football Draft Resource)

Scott Wright's WR rankings:

Rank First Last College Height Weight 40-Time Class
1 Jerry Jeudy Alabama 6-1 193 4.45 JR
2 CeeDee Lamb Oklahoma 6-1 ⅝ 198 4.50 JR
3 Henry Ruggs III Alabama 5-11 188 4.27 JR
4 Justin Jefferson L.S.U. 6-1 ¼ 202 4.43 JR
5 Denzel Mims Baylor 6-2 ⅞ 207 4.38 SR
6 Brandon Aiyuk Arizona St. 5-11 ⅝ 205 4.50 SR
7 KJ Hamler Penn St. 5-8 ⅝ 178 4.36 rSO
8 Tee Higgins Clemson 6-3 ⅝ 216 4.56 JR
9 Laviska Shenault Colorado 6-0 ⅝ 227 4.58 JR
10 Jalen Reagor T.C.U. 5-10 ⅝ 206 4.47 JR
11 Chase Claypool Notre Dame 6-4 ¼ 238 4.42 SR
12 Michael Pittman, Jr. USC 6-4 223 4.52 SR
13 Bryan Edwards South Carolina 6-2 ¾ 212 4.52 SR
14 Gabriel Davis Central Florida 6-2 216 4.54 JR
15 Lynn Bowden, Jr. Kentucky 5-10 ⅝ 204 4.48 JR
16 Devin Duvernay Texas 5-10 ½ 200 4.39 SR
17 James Proche S.M.U. 5-10 ⅝ 201 4.52 rSR
18 Isaiah Coulter Rhode Island 6-1 ⅞ 198 4.45 JR
19 Antonio Gandy-Golden Liberty 6-4 223 4.60 SR
20 K.J. Hill Ohio St. 5-11 ⅞ 196 4.60 rSR
21 Donovan Peoples-Jones Michigan 6-1 ⅝ 212 4.48 JR