Wide receiver might be the deepest position in the 2020 NFL Draft. When NFL teams are constructing their wide receiver depth charts, they are looking to fill out their rosters with players who can win in different ways. Like a basketball team, NFL receiving corps need guys that can win with size, speed, quickness, vision and power. Regardless of need, NFL teams will have a multitude of talented prospects to pick from.
Let’s build a basketball team out of NFL Draft wide receivers.
Point Guard: Jerry Jeudy
Like a point guard, Alabama’s Jerry Jeudy has elite quickness and agility. Most importantly, a point guard must deploy a deep arsenal of shots to succeed. In the NFL, shot selection equates to route running, and there is no one better in this draft class at running routes than Jeudy. He has some of the best start and stop athleticism you will see at the receiver position and made a business of breaking ankles in the open field. It’s not just short area quickness for Jeudy, he has the speed to win deep down the field and consistently showed the ability to pull away from defenders after the catch. Jeudy has the skillset to be a topflight starter from day one in the league.
Honorable mentions: KJ Hamler (Penn State), Lynn Bowden (Kentucky), KJ Hill (Ohio State)
Shooting Guard: Henry Ruggs III
Great shooting guards need to hit from deep, and no one does better going deep in the 2020 class than Alabama’s Henry Ruggs and his 4.2 speed. Just like respecting a 3-point shooter, defenses must respect Ruggs speed and that allows him to find a ton of success on hitch routs and quick slants. Once the ball is in his hands Ruggs churns up yards and has the lower build to power through arm tackles of defensive backs. Ruggs will be used primarily as a big play threat at the next level and someone that has plays schemed up to help get that ball in his hands and let him go to work.
Honorable mentions: Jalen Reagor (TCU), Brandon Aiyuk (Arizona State), Devin Duvernay (Texas)
Small Forward: Laviska Shenault
The best small forwards are typically those who are versatile and have a potent offensive game with the ability to win in multiple ways. No player best exemplifies this at the wide receiver position in the draft more than Colorado’s Laviska Shenault. He lined up all over the field for Colorado winning with size, speed and power when necessary. He’s big enough to act as a team’s position receiver, yet fast enough get vertical and win down the field. After the catch, Shenault turns into a monster using his strength and power to run over would be tacklers. He is still a bit raw in some of his route running, but Shenault will be a YAC machine immediately with the ability to round into a consistent go too receiver for a lucky NFL franchise.
Honorable mentions: Justin Jefferson (LSU), Donovan Peoples-Jones (Michigan), Quartney Davis (Texas A&M)
Power Forward: CeeDee Lamb
When it comes to power forwards, it’s all about physicality and the ability to win one on one matchups. CeeDee Lamb has the makings of a #1 receiver and with elite power, strength and body control to dominate at the catch point. He’ll posterize defenders with his ability to make a circus catch over the top and just as easily run them over with his physicality and open field capabilities after the catch. A great power forward can also hit an occasional deep shot and Lamb has no trouble down the field. Some question his speed, but Lamb has shown the ability to get down the field and create big plays throughout his career at Oklahoma. Look for him to become a go-to receiver early on for whatever wide receiver needy team takes him in the draft.
Honorable mentions: Tyler Johnson (Minnesota), Chase Claypool (Notre Dame), Jawan Johnson (Oregon)
Center: Tee Higgins
Big, long and strong with the ability to box out opponents and get physical at the point of attack. If you’re a basketball fan you’ve got a center on your hands if you’re a draft analyst you’ve just described Tee Higgins. At Clemson, Higgins excelled in jump ball situations where he could use his long frame and physicality to box out and bully defenders at the catch point. Higgins isn’t a burner but has long strides and build up speed to make him a big play threat down the field. With great body control and high point ability, Higgins will be a nightmare for teams in the red zone.
Honorable Mentions: Michael Pittman (USC), Antonio Gandy-Golden (Liberty), Collin Johnson (Texas)
Photo courtesy of CUBuffs.com
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