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My top WRs in the 2021 Draft

Discussion in 'Miami Dolphins Forum' started by sports24/7, Apr 27, 2021.

  1. sports24/7

    sports24/7 Season Ticket Holder Club Member

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    So I’ve done these the last couple of years, and while it’s really more for myself to look back on and see if I was right or not, some people seemed to enjoy it, so I figured I’d post one again this year, especially with the Dolphins heavily in the WR market. With a 18 month old running around, it’s been harder to get around to watching a bunch of games this year, but after finally finding some time to get around to digging in to some of these guys, I was finally able to put together a list of my top receivers in this class. I like to watch at least three games for each guy. I won’t pretend to have seen all of the WRs that will go in the first few rounds, but I feel like I’ve seen most of the top guys, which has allowed me to make this list. Watching more games, has caused my opinions to change a bit on some of these guys in making a final determination of what I think. My goal was to get to watch the top 20 consensus guys, or so, but I only got to about 15 this year, and wanted to post it before the draft got here, so here it is. I was originally going to make it a top 10 list, but I went to 11 because I think there's a dropoff after that, and wanted to make sure to add St. Brown. I found that this year more than usual, I have pretty different ranking than a lot of the experts you see out there. As always, I'd love to hear what you guys think.


    1. DeVonta Smith, Alabama - Most lists you’ll find will probably have Chase here, but as much as I like Chase, I have Smith just ahead of him. I think he’s the best WR prospect since AJ Green and Julio Jones. Among fans, he got lost in the all star group of receivers Alabama had in 2019, but he actually had the best numbers that season among the group. This year, after Jeudy and Ruggs went to the NFL, and Waddle was injured, Smith absolutely took over and dominated the best conference in college football, despite teams knowing he was going to be the focal point of the passing game. He’s a guy who excels in basically every area you look for in a WR. His route running is a thing of art as he uses his lateral quickness and football IQ to consistently beat defenders and create separation running the full route tree. His hands are also elite as he easily plucks balls away from his body with soft hands. He doesn’t have elite speed, but he still has more than enough to win over the top, as well as to run away from defenders. A lot is made of his size, but if you watch him play, the size never limits him. Teams pretty much stopped trying to press him because with his quickness, defenders were struggling to get their hands on him. He also plays tough, and is an effective blocker. While he’s “only” 6-1, he’s long and uses his length and outstanding body control to win 50/50 balls. After the catch, he’s not going to break a ton of tackles, but he’ll use his quickness and speed to make defenders miss. He’s probably best suited as a Z, but he played every position for Alabama, and while he’s probably not ideal for X, he’ll certainly be able to play the slot as well. I think he’s a high floor, high ceiling player that has the ability to eventually be one of the best WRs in the NFL.

    2. Ja’Marr Chase, LSU - The fact that he’s number two on my list is in no way an indictment on Chase. I also think he’s one of the best WR prospects of the last 10 years. Chase is a player that wins on power and explosion. Before Smith dominated the SEC, Chase did, on his way to winning a National Championship at LSU. It’s a little bit of a shame we didn’t get to see him in 2020, because he was only 19 years old during his dominant 2019 season, and it would have been interesting to see which areas he improved in. Chase is a 50/50 specialist that uses his physical tools, strong hands, and body control to dominate at the catch point. With the ball in his hands, he’s a bully that does a lot of damage in run after the catch. He has the speed and tracking to be a dangerous deep ball threat, but is a good route runner as well to win underneath. He put up video game testing numbers at his pro day. My question with him is he doesn’t create a ton of separation, and at 6-0 200lbs, is he going to dominate physically in the NFL in the same way he did in college. Overall, I think there’s enough to be excited about with him, that I’m not overly worried about that, and feel he has the chance to be a special WR in the NFL. His best fit would probably be as an X receiver, but I think he could play in the slot as well.

    3. Jaylen Waddle, Alabama - Waddle makes up the third name in a really good top three. Most years, I think Waddle would be the top WR selected, but an injury, and more importantly having Chase and Smith in his class, put him at 3 for me. With Waddle, the obvious thing that stands out is his speed. He can flat out fly. But Waddle isn’t your typical speed receiver that just runs verts and screens. He was starting to run more of the route tree in 2020 before his injury, and his route running is smooth. He shifts gears effortlessly, making his speed that much more functional. He’s a threat to take it the distance on any play due to not only his speed, but his elusiveness. Because of this, he’s also a weapon in the return game. His hands are pretty good, although I do think he will have a tendency to body catch a bit, and doesn’t always high point the ball, but it’s not something I’d be overly concerned about. The one thing that keeps Waddle third on this list for me is his profile is one that tends to carry bust potential. I’ve already said that I think he’s different than the typical player with that profile, but it still does concern me a little bit. Also, to really maximize a player like that, you need a coach can that can use him in creative ways. But while I have that concern, it also wouldn't shock me even a little bit if he ended up being the best WR in this class when it’s all said and done, because his ceiling is that high. Waddle’s best fit is as a Z receiver, but he’s really a chess piece that should be moved around similarly to how Tyreek Hill is used.

    4. Terrace Marshall, LSU - Marshall took over as the go to guy in the LSU offense after the departure of Justin Jefferson, and with Ja’Marr Chase opting out in 2020. Marshall looks like a prototypical receiver with good size and speed. He has good hands and ball skills, but concentration drops were a concern. He’s not overly sudden, but he’s not plodding for a guy his size, either. Good at tracking the football, and is a real weapon down the field. Looks a little bit like DeVante Parker, although Parker’s ball skills are a little bit better, but Marshall is better after the catch. He uses his size and ball skills well to win contested catches. The effort wasn’t always there, and while you can understand his frustration going from a powerhouse national champion to a very mediocre team, you still don’t want to see that. He was used a lot in the slot this year, but while I think he can give you snaps as a big slot, he’s probably best suited to play the X position. One interesting note about Marshall is this is a class full of a lot of receivers who are average size or undersized. Marshall is really the only WR on this list with close to prototypical size for the position. I wonder if that helps his stock a bit.

    5. Dwayne Eskridge, Western Michigan - I like this player a lot. I don’t think you’ll see him this high on many lists. He has nice feet, and really impressive stop/start ability. He’s a good route runner. He’s undersized, but physical. He’s good at using his hands to keep defenders off of him, but when they do get hands on him, he can get pushed off his route a little bit. He really gets after it as a run blocker, which is a small, but nice thing to see from a college player. From a Dolphins perspective, I think this guy is a really good fit for Tua. He will take a slant to the house as he has the acceleration to hit the seam, but also is really elusive and tough after the catch. He played outside and inside in college, but his best fit in the NFL will probably be in the slot where you can do a better job of protecting him from press. He also brings impressive return ability. If the Dolphins take Kyle Pitts at 6, this is absolutely someone they should target on day 2, if he’s there.

    6. Kadarius Toney, Florida - He’s a guy that the more I watch, the more I like. Explosion and lateral quickness are his game. He’s almost more like a basketball player breaking his man down off the dribble than a WR. He’s a lot of fun to watch. He’s kind of in that Deebo Samuel mold, in that he’s a guy you find ways to get the ball to in space, but I actually like him better than I liked Samuel coming out. He has just average size, and isn’t blazing fast (he’s another guy who I don’t think is as fast as his pro day 40 time), but he plays tough, and is definitely a playmaker. He isn’t a guy that wins a bunch of contested catches, and he can get knocked off of his route by physical defenders, but trying to get your hands on him can be dangerous because if he makes you miss, he’s going to be gone. He only has one year of production, which is always a little bit concerning, especially when talking about a senior. If he goes to a team that can utilize his strengths, and work around some of his route running deficiencies, he’s going to be a fun and productive slot guy, that can also line up in the backfield. He does have a couple of off the field incidents, being found with a loaded assault rifle in his car, and being suspended for a game due to an alleged off the field altercation in Gainesville, that will have to be looked at by teams interested in drafting him.

    7. Rashod Bateman, Minnesota - He’s a guy who is good in a lot of areas, but doesn’t really excel in any one area. He is a good route runner, with good hands, and tracks the ball well. He isn’t overly explosive or fast. He did time well in his pro day workout, but that speed doesn’t really show up on the field. He has average size, but plays bigger than he is. He’s ok after the catch, as he runs with toughness, but he’s not necessarily a threat in that area. I think his best fit is in the slot. I thought he was better in 2019 than he was in 2020, and maybe that’s because he had a weird 2020 where he had Covid, opted out, then opted back in, and only played in 5 games, with two of Minnesota's games getting cancelled. There are a lot of smart people that like him more than I do, so I might have him a little low. If he can be more like the guy in 2019, I think he has the chance to be a good slot WR. I don’t think I’d spend a 1st round pick on him, though. That being said, if he goes to somewhere like Green Bay, I could see him thrive immediately.

    8. Rondale Moore, Purdue - This guy is a lot of fun to watch, but has some big questions that come along with drafting him. He’s undersized, but like a lot of the undersized receivers in this class, he plays with toughness for a little guy. His game is electric as he’s really fast and elusive. He’s fantastic with the ball in his hands, and should be a good return man. The biggest problem is his durability. He couldn’t stay healthy at Purdue.He also wasn’t really asked to run many routes, and I think that’s somewhere he’s going to have to make major strides to be a good NFL player. He also had too many drops. It’s interesting, because there are some parallels to Leviska Shenault from last year. Injury questions, and more of a playmaker than a WR. The difference is, Shenault was a lot bigger. When you evaluate Moore, the fear (aside from the injury issues) is that he’s another Tavon Austin. Someone you have to manufacture touches for, but his limitations prevent him from being an impact WR. That being said, the skill is there to be a difference maker.

    9. Elijah Moore, Ole Miss - This is a player a lot of people are very high on, and I just don’t see it. For a guy whose calling card is speed and quickness, I don’t think it shows up always. He’s a long strider. I think he has a poor getoff. Doesn’t create a lot of separation. He does have a nice double move (his sluggo is particularly impressive). I think he can be an effective slot receiver in the NFL because despite being on the smaller side, he plays really tough, and is good after the catch. I wouldn’t take him in the 1st round, though, and there are other guys I’d prefer in round 2.

    10. Amari Rodgers, Clemson - Rodgers has a short, but solid frame. Looks straight out of central casting for a slot receiver. He has good feet. hands, and body control. I don’t know that I’d call him a burner, but he certainly has good enough speed to win deep. He’s a crafty receiver that wins in different ways. I think he’s a high floor player, who should be a good slot receiver for a long time in the NFL.

    11. Amon-Ra St. Brown, USC - I’m not sure why you’d take Bateman in round 1, when you can probably get this kid in round 3. Like Bateman, he’s good in almost every area, but doesn’t necessarily excel in any one area. He’s not overly sudden, but a good route runner with good hands. He has average size. He’s probably best suited in the slot in the NFL, and I think he’ll be a very solid “move the sticks” type of WR that you will be able to count on when you need a reception.
     
  2. Galant

    Galant Love - Unity - Sacrifice - Eternity

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    Great post. Far beyond my ability to evaluate. After reading many opinions, watching tape breakdowns, and just seeing as much as I can, I've come down on Smith as my top choice other than Pitts, although I could understand, and be okay with, even taking Smith over Pitts depending on what you're looking for.

    Either way, if we come out of our first pick with any of the top 4 -Pitts/Smith/Chase/Waddle I think we should be happy, although I have some doubts about Waddle. I'm not a fan of guys whose premier trait is speed. I get that Waddle shows more than just speed, but most evaluations come back down to that trait. Then there is the injury, and last of all, people want to make a lot about Smith's skinny frame, and I get that, but Waddle might not even be 5'10", and about 180lbs. He produces separation, which is what we want, but that size and speed mean that he's going to be great in middle of the field, but isn't going to be a great on shorter red zone plays. He's certainly not going to be bullying many defenders. Maybe that's just what we need, and we leave the red zone to Gesicki and others, but I prefer the safer hands and smarter play of Smith over the speed demon.
     
    sports24/7 likes this.
  3. The G Man

    The G Man Git 'r doooonnne!!!

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    Terrace Marshall draft value falling due to injury concerns. Could be a value pick if he falls far enough and his medicals check out OK.
     
  4. Striking

    Striking Junior Member

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    If the Dolphins skip on WR in round 1, who do they target at 36 or 50 to fill that slot position?

    Bateman from my understanding was misused last year out of desperation. I would give him a bit of a pass on his 2020 numbers
     
  5. The G Man

    The G Man Git 'r doooonnne!!!

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    Rondale Moore & Elijah Moore (not related I don't think) are both supposed to be good slot receivers from what I understand. Both are projected second round picks I believe, but Elijah could sneak into the back of the first round (Baltimore or New Orleans most likely).
     
  6. Galant

    Galant Love - Unity - Sacrifice - Eternity

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    sports24/7 and Dol-Fan Dupree like this.

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