Part 2 of the 2020 NFL Draft Prospect series continues with Wide Receiver and Tight Ends. 2020 is an incredibly deep class for wide receives and really light class for the tight ends. Let’s take a look at some of the prospects.
Summary of Needs
The Packers could use a starting WR to pair with Davante Adams despite signing Devin Funchess and having MVS/Allen Lazard on the squad. The Minnesota Vikings need two WRs after trading Stefon Diggs and letting Laquan Treadwell go in free agency. The Bears could add a WR after cutting Taylor Gabriel but have Allen Robinson, Patterson, Ridley and Anthony Miller (slot). The Lions need two future WRs with Marvin Jones, Amendola and Kenny Golladay (Lions should re-sign) in contract years. Backups Geronimo Allison and Marvin Hall are also in contract years for Detroit. Detroit could look for a WR on day 2 and day 3.
Wide Receiver
Round 1
TIER 1
This a great WR class and many should go in the first round including possibly some in the top 10 picks. Speedster Jerry Jeudy (Alabama), precision route running Henry Ruggs III (Alabama) and Cee Dee Lamb (Oklahoma) all have a chance to be top 10 picks and most likely all top 15.
Cee Dee Lamb is 6’2 189 pounds out of Oklahoma. Lamb has great ball skils and hands with good size. His speed is good but-not-great but he is still the total package at WR. Lamb has 1,100 yards and 1,300 yards the last two seasons with 32 TDs in 3 seasons.
Jerry Jeudy is 6’1 192 pounds is a route running technician. He does everything well but isn’t the blazer like Ruggs. He can beat the press, get YAC and still win contested catches. His route tree is strong and will get separation because of it. He has some drop issues but should still be a very good WR in this league. Jeudy has 1,300 and 1,100 yards the last two seasons with 24 TDS.
Henry Ruggs III is a blazer with an incredible sub 4.3 combine time (4.27). Think Tyreek Hill. Ruggs is a little smaller at 6’0 but his speed more than makes up for it. Ruggs won’t win the contested catches but if he gets open field watch out. Henry only had 740 yards each of the last two seasons but a great average per catch. He added 18 TDs in two seasons with the Crimson Tide.
TIER 2
Justin Jefferson (LSU), Tee Higgins(Clemson), Brandon Aiyuk (Arizona State), Laviska Shenault Jr (Colorado), Jaelen Reagor (TCU) and Denzel Mims (Baylor) all have a shot to go in Round 1 or early day 2. This class is stacked with big, fast, production receivers.
Justin Jefferson is 6’3 192 route technician. He has great ball skills with good hands but fails to get clean separation. He still flat out makes plays and was a huge weapon in LSU’s championship run with a whopping 1,540 yards and 18 TDs in 2019. Joe Burrow’s favorite target for a reason.
Tee Higgins is from Clemson with 1,100 yards and 13 TDs in 2019 and 936 yards and 12 TDS in 2018. Higgins is the good to receiver for Trevor Lawrence at Clemson. Higgins is 6’4 with good speed, ball skills but needs more separation like Jefferson.
Brandon Aiyuk is a big play threat from Arizona State. He generates YAC well and can stretch the field. He has good return abilities as well so could aid a team no special teams.
Laviska Shenault Jr is a big 6’2 receiver from Colorado. He is very strong, wins contest catches and has ability to break away from DBs. He has some shoulder injury history but can be a starting WR in the league.
Jaelen Reagor is smaller at 5’11 but has good acceleration, agility and speed. His hands need work but he can be a big play threat in the league.
Denzil Mims is 6’3 from Baylor. He is strong, wins contested catches and has good athleticism for his size. He needs to work on his route running but that will come over time.
TIER 3
TIER 3 is still impressive with big USC WR Michael Pittman, productive, small land shifty KJ Hamler (Penn State), jump ball artist Tyler Johnson (Minnesota) and big Notre Dame WR Chase Claypool. These players could go in Round 2 or Round 3. Round 3 could be 13-deep for WRs which shows just how good this class is.
TIER 4
Day 3 still has some talent at WR. Donovan People-Jones (Michigan), Devin Duvernay (Texas), Van Jefferson (Florida), Antonio Gandy-Gurden (Liberty), Bryan Edwards (South Carolina), KJ Hill (Ohio State), James Proche (SMU), Lynden Bowden Jr (Kentucky), Jawuan Jennnings (Tennesee), Gabriel Davis (UCF) have potential
Tight End
This is a weak class but there is a few talented players that could taken on day 2 or day 3.
TIER 1
Cole Kmet is the top tight end in the class and should be selected in Round 2 out of Notre Dame. Kmet is a two way tight end that can be a receiver and solid blocker. He has some athleticism but a good feel for how to beat coverage. He won’t be a down the seam guy but is good all-around to be a starting tight end.
Adam Trautman out of small school Dayton is another Round 3 possibility. Trautman is 6’5 and produced from a small school. Great physical ability with strength and speed for tight end but needs to be way more polished coming from a small school. Could sneak into Round 3 on day 2.
TIER 2
Hunter Bryant, Bryce Hopkins, Thaddeus Moss and Albert Okwuegbunam is the next tier of tight ends. This guys could be selected in the Round to Round 5 range.
TIER 3
Harrison Bryant, Jacob Breeland and Cheyenne O’Grady round out the class for day 3.
Summary
Deep WR class will be interesting for WR-needy teams. Not much help in the tight end department but there are a few prospects with potential. New weapons will be added to the league in a few days.