This year's draft was pretty solid for receivers. Alot of them went in the draft and there was a pretty good variety to choose from. I want to talk about some of the receivers in this years draft and my opinions on them.
Justin Blackmon
This guy is the best receiver in this year's draft as far as I'm concerned. He played for Oklahoma State and was a beast at the position. He isn't a terribly big guy at 6' 1" 207 pounds, but he has excellent speed and acceleration out of his cuts. The route running ability of this receiver is almost perfect because of his knowledge of the defenses, and his ability to recognize coverages. He can work to get inside position if he needs it, or drive his defender off the line to get the position on them he needs. He recorded a 4.4 in the 40 on his pro day and is a great possesion receiver. It really doesn't matter where the quarterback puts the ball, if it is in reach, Blackmon will come down with it. His arms will stretch out to get the ball in high or low places, and he works pretty well in traffic. A great receiver for the league and probably a successful one.
Michael Floyd
Floyd has that playmaking ability that every scout looks for. His ability to break long runs after the catch make him a great prospect in this year's draft. He is a little taller than Blackmon with a little more weight on him as well. Look for this guy to be making plays early on in his career for his team. Jamming him didn't work great as a defensive strategy against him in college, and we'll have to see how he does against it in the pros. Floyd is an exceptional route runner and good knowledge of coverages. He can make defenders miss in the open field as well as flat out pick a side and run through them. This guy is one of my favorite receivers in the draft and should be successful for his team.
Stephen Hill
Hill is this year's track star with a recorded 40 yard dash time of 4.3. His great straight line speed will definitely prove himself a tough receiver to cover for defensive backs all around the league. Also, he can make the big fingertip catch to give his team that much needed first down or touchdown. His quickness throughout his route makes him potentially the toughest receiver to cover one on one in this year's draft. He'll be burning corners deep in the NFL just like he did in college. Also, he can be used as a returner for his team right away. The guy is tough and can take a beating on returns if that is how it turns out. There's no doubt in my mind he will be able to produce early on as a returner, we'll just have to see if his ability as an every down receiver can hold up well enough to earn him a starting position at receiver for his team.
Kendall Wright
Kendall Wright is a little undersized at receiver in the NFL, but I am not worried about his way of making plays out of nothing. Wright makes his size a non issue on the field. He stands at 5' 10" just a little under 200 pounds. He may be a little slower in his 40 yard dash than other prospects, but what he lacks in size and speed, he makes up for with a good motor and determination to make plays on the field. His game speed is right up there with the best of the draft even if his 40 time is not quite down to expectations.
A.J. Jenkins
Another guy I like alot in this year's draft is A.J. Jenkins from Illinois. I'm a Big Ten football fan ofcourse, but i really think Jenkins has what it takes to be a productive player for his team. He should go in the later rounds, but the guy has great athleticism. The ability to get around defenders and burst into speed is rare. I see him being a later round returner type pick. He has great straight line speed with just uner a 4.0 time in the 40. What sets him apart is his speed laterally. He can juke and cut with the best of them. His success as a returner is a for sure thing.
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