NFL Draft Prospect Comparisons: Wide Receivers

The reason that teams are concerned or excited about a prospect is because there has usually been some ground work and evidence to suggest one of those outcomes. That evidence is looking at former and current players’ successes and failures and comparing them to this year’s crop of franchise changers or busts.

So, by taking a look at which of this year’s top receivers remind of current NFL players, we can possibly get a good indication and projection of their potential of NFL success.

Dez Bryant, Oklahoma State – Calvin Johnson
With the spread offense becoming the prime location to find the top NFL receiving talent, it’s becoming hard to find complete, pro ready and elite talent receivers coming into the NFL.

And while Bryant doesn’t have the route running expertise or overall receiver smarts that Calvin Johnson had coming out of college, both players have the speed of deep threat receivers, the hands or possession receivers, and the size of red zone receivers.

DeMaryius Thomas, Georgia Tech – Sidney Rice
Both very raw receivers, Thomas could slip into the 2nd round of the draft similar to how Sidney Rice did because he’s more of an athletic pass catcher than a fine tuned wide receiver.

Thomas has outstanding jumping and in-air adjustment ability, great instincts on his breaks to the ball, and the size and strength to be a tough match-up against most receivers. Like Rice, he may take a year or two to develop, but both are bound to be Pro Bowlers in the long run.

Golden Tate, Notre Dame – Steve Smith
It’s hard to project what Tate could become because he’s got so much of his former running back-self in him as a receiver.

Steve Smith of the Panthers makes the most sense as a comparable player because both are very good in air catching ability despite their size, and both are surprisingly tough and effective runners after the catch. 

While Tate can be a little more complete because of his size, he’ll likely never be as explosive out of the break or as fast as Smith, but can play in a similar way.

Brandon LaFell, LSU – Terrell Owens
From a skill set perspective, I really like what Brandon LaFell has to offer, similarly to why Terrell Owens has been so successful over his career.

Usually receivers are viewed as the softies of the offense, the guys who don’t like to get contact and usually use their speed to avoid it at all costs.

However, like TO, LaFell is a great inside route runner, is willing to take a hit, and can break tackles for big gains. Both lack deep speed, though LaFell’s is a bit more noticeable, yet both can/have been effective as receivers willing to go inside and give slot receivers a chance to make deep plays.

Damian Williams, USC – Greg Jennings
Some detractors of Williams claim he isn’t a consistent pass catcher and while he has all the tools, it’s not a lock that he can put them together to be a starting caliber receiver.

I understand those and that’s a key reason why he may bust, but if he does put his speed, route running, and game breaking ability together, he could be a great deep target like Greg Jennings has been for Aaron Rodgers.

Arrellious Benn, Illinois – Mike Wallace
More of a potential driven guy than a complete receiver, Benn has the quickness and size to be a dangerous strong slot receiver.

Mike Wallace came on huge for the Steelers because his size, reliable hands, and his deceptive quickness allowed for Santonio Holmes to get vertical and give Big Ben another reliable short field target, and that’s exactly what Benn can become.

Andre Roberts, Citadel – Eddie Royal
It’s hard to find route running smaller receivers that are NFL ready and still explosive in the draft anymore because most smaller receivers run vertical routes the whole time or play in the slot in a spread offense.

Roberts is a very solid route runner who understands how to use his deep speed and foot placement to get vertical on both routes and in open field. 

His contributions on kick returns as well will remind scouts of Royal who even though he didn’t have great size, emerged as a number two receiver and versatile contributor.

Dexter McCluster, Ole Miss – Leon Washington/Percy Harvin
It’s hard to project where a game changer yet position-less player will go in the draft and what he will become in the NFL.

McCluster has the quickness out of the backfield and the speed to turn the edge as well as the hands to play like a Leon Washington, but doesn’t have the strength inside or the kick return ability of Washington. McCluster also has the quick breaks in his cuts like Percy Harvin and the explosive speed, but doesn’t have the size or the consistent hands like Harvin.

He’s somewhat of a poorer version of both players, but he can still be productive and explosive in the NFL if he can fine tune his game to one or both of these players.