It’s a great draft for teams looking for potential high-end wide receiver talent. There are three headline receivers who could go in the top 15 picks of the draft, and it is possible that four or even five are in contention to be first-round picks. With that level of talent, there’s a lot of depth at the position, which is great news for teams in need of offense.
Here are our picks for the five best receiver prospects in the 2020 draft.
5. Tee Higgins, Clemson
Higgins has a huge advantage: natural size (6-foot-4, 215-plus pounds) that makes him incredibly difficult to cover. He scored plenty of touchdowns at Clemson and has big play potential. His size and instincts make him easy to project as a huge red zone threat in the NFL. Questions linger about how he will adjust to NFL coverage, but he has all the basics that teams look for in elite wide receivers, and he was a dominant figure at Clemson on multiple title contenders.
4. Justin Jefferson, LSU
Jefferson’s 4.43 40-yard dash time got the attention of teams at the NFL Combine and likely helped his draft stock significantly. He played mostly in the slot at LSU but was a huge success there in 2019; it’s hard to argue with 1,540 yards and 18 touchdowns. He may be best there at the NFL level too, but there’s great value in a quick and gifted pass-catcher in that role. Quarterbacks love those guys, and Jefferson could end up filling that role nicely.
3. Henry Ruggs, Alabama
There is more to Ruggs’ game than his speed, but that trait is definitely the headliner. Ruggs is elite in that department, posting a 4.27 40 time at the NFL Combine, which still managed to disappoint him. The Alabama product doesn’t really profile as a volume target, but instead looks more like a big play weapon similar to Tyreek Hill. Hill is one of the toughest players in the NFL to defend and breaks off big plays regularly. Don’t be surprised if Ruggs finds himself effectively serving in a very similar and dynamic role.
2. CeeDee Lamb, Oklahoma
Lamb isn’t quite as fast as Henry Ruggs or as physically imposing as Tee Higgins. He doesn’t need to be with the all-around skill set he possesses. Lamb is smart and agile, a gifted route-runner with elite ball skills. At Oklahoma, he was the main weapon for Jalen Hurts, averaging 21.4 yards per catch in his final season with the Sooners. Lamb has the potential to make similarly big plays at the NFL level and has all the tools required to be a No. 1 receiver.
1. Jerry Jeudy, Alabama
You can’t really go wrong between Lamb and Jeudy, but the Alabama receiver barely gets the nod on this list. He was utterly dominant in college and became the main weapon in Alabama’s passing game. He possesses good speed and is an outstanding route-runner, making him an incredibly polished draft pick. He wasn’t quite the big play threat that Lamb was at the college level, but he made more catches in each of the last two seasons, solidifying Jeudy as a volume target. Jeudy too has everything necessary to become a No. 1 wide receiver at the NFL level, which is why teams are considering trading up for him.
