Ranking the WR's in the 2012 Draft Class...................

NFL Draft: Ranking the WR class by Tiers

Who are the prospects to look for throughout the first couple rounds… Wes Bunting

March 19, 2012 Share http://cdn.cloudfiles.mosso.com/c191...c/hotsheet.png

Breaking down the tiers of wide out prospects…

Tier 1

Justin Blackmon: Oklahoma State (6-1, 215)
The lack of play speed will limit him at bit. Nevertheless, he's got the skill set to line-up all over an NFL offense and make plays on all levels of the field.

Tier 2
http://cdn.cloudfiles.mosso.com/c191...hael-Floyd.jpgICONFloyd will likely come off the board in round one.

Michael Floyd: Notre Dame (6-3, 224)
Looked more sudden, explosive and showcased the ability to separate quickly as a senior. Is one of the draft's top receiving prospects.

Kendall Wright: Baylor (5-10, 190)
In the same mold as a number of Pittsburgh Steelers receivers (Mike Wallace, Emmanuel Sanders) and can be effective both inside and out making plays down the field at the next level.

Tier 3

Stephen Hill: Georgia Tech (6-5, 206)
Has a unique skill set, can pluck off his frame, track the football and is the next big time talent from the Georgia Tech program. Is going to need some time to develop, but can come in and track football vertically early on. Has a lot of upside to his game and skill set says he's an NFL starter.

Mohamed Sanu: Rutgers (6-2, 215)
Physically reminds me some of Hakeem Nicks. Isn't as NFL ready, but can go get the football, breakdown and separate on all levels of the field. Looks like a future NFL starter who might need some time, but the talent is most definitely there.

Tier 4

Devon Wylie: Fresno State (5-9, 185)
Is limited a bit by his size, but is the kind of cat-quick slot guy with great ball skills who can make a living in the NFL. The major positive with him is that he also has very good speed as well.

Joe Adams: Arkansas (5-11, 190)
An explosive athlete who can go get the football down the field and has some savvy to his game setting up routes. However, is inconsistent catching the football and as a route runner. Nevertheless, does enough well to make a roster and see early playing time inside and outside. An ideal fit for Philadelphia running the deep crossers.

Jarius Wright: Arkansas (5-10, 180)
A coordinated athlete who is sharp as a route runner, tough over the middle and knows how to get open vs. man and zone. Will get re-routed vs. press at times and looks more like an inside player at the next level, but has the skill set to make a roster and carve out a big niche early.

Tier 5
http://cdn.cloudfiles.mosso.com/c191...rvin-Jones.jpgICONJones showcases the ability to run the entire route tree.

Marvin Jones: California (6-3, 202)
Possesses good size, good body control and hand eye coordination, and for his size is a pretty fluid athlete as well. Isn't a dynamic athlete, but should be able to find a way to make and earn playing time on an NFL roster.

Rueben Randle: Louisiana State (6-4, 208)
Possesses that sneaky strider speed down the field and has some savvy to his game. However, lacks great burst out of his breaks and isn't going to be effective running sharply breaking routes. Looks like a potential NFL starter only.

Nick Toon: Wisconsin (6-3, 220)
I like his size, short area quickness and ability to adjust to the football. Isn't a guy who is going to create consistently down the field, but knows how to gain enough separation, pluck and create after the catch. Looks like a guy who can play on the outside as a legit number two wide out running the inward breaking routes with some time, but isn't ever going to be a dynamic playmaker.

Alshon Jeffery: South Carolina (6-4, 229)
Jeffery looks like a more dynamic version of Seahawks wide out Mike Williams who will be limited in the routes he can run (fade, slant, post, corner) at the next level. But can still be successful as the "Z" receiver where he will be put in motion and used a lot in two man routes with the tight end running vertical and adjusting to the throw. However, he's never going to be overly productive due to his inability to separate consistently of his breaks.

Marvin McNutt: Iowa (6-4, 215)
A tall, long armed receiver who can win off the line and use his big frame to box and go get the football. A big target who looks capable of fighting for a starting role now at the next level. However, is never going to be a guy who separates a ton in any area of the game.

Wasn't Randle being talked about at one point of being a potential late 1st rounder/early 2nd rounder? Surprised to see him way down in Tier 5.

This is a pretty fair synopsis of the best of the WR talent out there. These should be the guys who'll go in rounds one to three. Tier 4 seems to be made up mostly of the smaller guy who probably project as slot receivers but they're a talented group. Tier 5 is stocked with the type of big receiver every team covets.

A baker's dozen of the best this draft class he to offer. My guess is that somewhere in here we should take another big guy to work into the lineup. We should be set with Marshall and Bennett as Nos. #1 and #2 but everyone else is a smaller guy and a league that's trending towards bigger guys. Of that Tier 5 group I like Toon and Jones above the other. They are the kind of guys who could become effective #2 guys if it becomes necessary to move Bennett back into the slot.

We could get by without taking a younger WR this year but eventually it needs to be done and the cupboard is full of 2nd and 3rd round type guys who could come in and win a roster spot.

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Originally Posted by Papa Bear

Wasn't Randle being talked about at one point of being a potential late 1st rounder/early 2nd rounder? Surprised to see him way down in Tier 5.

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Well you can see the critique on him is that he's not a guy who in all likelihood can run the entire route tree effectively at the NFL level. That limits him to being primarily a down-field guy who fits with teams that feature that type of offense. He's an Oakland kind of pick IMHO or maybe even the Pats who signed Lloyd for that reason but probably need another to develop behind him.

I've seen a couple guys on here lovin' on McNutt (sounds dirty), also. Like you said, though, we have to start getting some young talent in this receiver corps. Might as well be at some point in this draft with as deep as it is.

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Originally Posted by soulman

This is a pretty fair synopsis of the best of the WR talent out there. These should be the guys who'll go in rounds one to three. Tier 4 seems to be made up mostly of the smaller guy who probably project as slot receivers but they're a talented group. Tier 5 is stocked with the type of big receiver every team covets.

A baker's dozen of the best this draft class he to offer. My guess is that somewhere in here we should take another big guy to work into the lineup. We should be set with Marshall and Bennett as Nos. #1 and #2 but everyone else is a smaller guy and a league that's trending towards bigger guys. Of that Tier 5 group I like Toon and Jones above the other. They are the kind of guys who could become effective #2 guys if it becomes necessary to move Bennett back into the slot.

We could get by without taking a younger WR this year but eventually it needs to be done and the cupboard is full of 2nd and 3rd round type guys who could come in and win a roster spot.

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I see guys like Toon, Jones, McNutt, and maybe Randle as 6'2"+ #2/3 types who we should look hard at for the #74 pick. One or two of them should make it there hopefully. Gotta start restocking our cupboard beyond just Marshall, esp. since we don't know what shape Knox will be in. The one offseason move (or lack thereof) by the organization I think deserves legit criticism is the failure to replace Drake with new blood. The other coaching and FO moves were stellar but that one I just don't get.

Well like I was saying in another thread, we have fixed the problem as far as a #1 WR goes and with any luck it will stay fixed for several years or more. Marshall is only 27. Now the goal should be to upgrade the #2 and #3 positions and/or the Slot position.

Bennett has been the Slot Receiver and I think he should be moved outside to Flanker. The other option is that we draft one of these bigger body guys as a potential #2 opposite Marshall and keep Bennett in the slot. I think the whole idea is to be three deep in good WR talent so despite what talent we have, and I don't think it's as bad as some believe it is, we should still be looking to upgrade in years like this where there's a lot of 2nd and 3rd round guys.

After Wright's average combine and Hill's stock climbing where do you guys think Wright will fall to? Still late first round or do you think he could even drop into the second? I know he'd never be around at #50 but just sorta curious what everyone thought.

I would love to add Marvin Jones

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Chi66

After Wright's average combine and Hill's stock climbing where do you guys think Wright will fall to? Still late first round or do you think he could even drop into the second? I know he'd never be around at #50 but just sorta curious what everyone thought.

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I don't think he'll fall that far. There's a pretty fair list of smaller guys who rate anywhere from 2nd to 5th round picks but I think Wright out ranks them all by a pretty wide margin. He may no longer be a top 20 pick but I don't think he'll go much later than that.

Jones or Toon are guys I like in that 5th tier. I'd be overjoyed if we could get either of them in the 3rd but I don't think they'll fall that far. Right now it's hard for me to predict the needs we'll look to fill there let alone who other teams may be looking at.

We've got separate factions here on the board where there are guys like Windy and others who thinks an OG would be the way to go and guys like mo who believe we should draft another WR in two. There's also possibilities we take a LB or CB. I'm real comfortable with the thought that we'll get three good ball players out of the early rounds just like we did last year but who and at what position is still unclear.