QBFS 2021 Big Board: The Wide Receiver Edition
Well it is that time of the year, the most wonderful time of the year for draftnik's. Over the next two weeks we will be doing position by position big boards and analyzing the players. This will all culminate in the assembling of the first ever QBFS Top 100 big board.
This week we will be reviewing an absolutely stacked wide receiver class. This could most definitely be a position we see Philly target this coming year, they are desperate for a game changing WR. They have invested draft capital in the position over the past few years but nothing has come to fruition during that time. No matter if they want to get Carson Wentz back to form, or try to groom Jalen Hurts to be the QB of the future; giving your franchise quarterback a legitimate target can go a long way. Everyone knows the names at the top of the board but there are nearly a dozen WR coming out in 2021 who could become starting caliber players in the NFL.
1. Ja’marr Chase, LSU, Jr.
Ja’marr Chase is a straight up baller. People seem to have forgotten him a bit with all of the DeVonta Smith hype this year, but there is no question in my mind that Chase is the player to have at the WR position. He has everything you could want at the position. He's 6’0 and has a thick build at about 200lbs. He has blazing straight line speed clocking at an estimated 4.4, but he plays even faster than that on the field. He is far from a one trick pony though, he has arguably the best footwork in the country and gets in and out of his breaks effortlessly. He uses his hands well at the line of scrimmage when facing press coverage and has zero fear when high pointing the ball.
All of these things I've mentioned and I haven't even gotten to his best trait yet. Chase has some of the softest hands I have ever seen. If the ball touches Chase’s hands, there's a good chance it is a catch. He has already mastered waiting until the last moment to extend for the catch, giving the defense almost no chance to throw up a hand to defend the pass. The gap between Chase and the next best WR is almost as large as the gap between Trevor Lawrence and the next best QB. Whoever takes him will have a star in the making, and it will make life much easier on their quarterback.
2. Devonta Smith, Alabama, Sr.
Ja’marr Chase may be the best WR in this class, but the most explosive is Devonta Smith. Smith came into this season without the fanfare of a future top 12 picks, but he made his presence known in a big way. In Chase’s opt-out Smith asserted himself as the best receiver in the NCAA this year posting a ridiculous stat line of 117 catches, 1,856 yards, and 23 TDs; assembling arguably the greatest season by a WR in the history of college football. Smith has so much to like. He is absolutely deadly after the catch, making defenders look downright silly in the open field. He is an excellent route runner who can stop and start on a dime. He might be the most “game fast” player in the country regardless of position. He was buried behind three first round WRs at ‘Bama for the majority of his career (Jeudy, Ruggs, Waddle) but much like his quarterback Mac Jones, Smith made the most of his opportunity when it was granted. There are a few things that are concerning when it comes to Smith though. Smith is very skinny coming in under 180 pounds on a 6’0 frame, how he will fare against NFL press coverage gives me some pause. His small stature could also be problematic in short yardage situations, he may have been a fine blocker at the college level; but can he block a Darius Slay type on a critical 3rd&2 or will he have to come off the field? There is no doubt that Smith can be a game breaker in the mold of a Tyreek Hill, but he will need to add some weight. He also has shared the field with three NFL WRs, if he is the number one option on the field, will he be as effective? All of that aside, I have faith that Smith will be an excellent WR in the next level due to his speed, hands and route running ability. He certainly seems worthy of a top 10-12 selection.
3. Jaylen Waddle, Alabama, Jr.
The second half of the Crimson Tide duo comes in right behind his running mate. Jaylen Waddle is a highlight play waiting to happen whenever the ball is in his hands, making him one of the most exciting players in all of football. Waddle has high expectations heading into this year, he was supposed to be the star of the Alabama WR duo, but an opening day injury put him out for a big chunk of the season, and Devonta Smith took the football world by storm. Waddle’s stats don't jump off the page at you, but that is mostly a product of this years injury and being in a very crowded and talented wide receiver room his first two years in Tuscaloosa. Waddle is arguably the most shifty WR in the class, rivaled only by his teammate Smith. But unlike Smith, who is a pure receiver, Waddle is a matchup nightmare in multiple facets of the game. He is a prolific returner averaging nearly 20 yard per punt return, he is also a threat to score on every screen thrown his way. Waddle does come with some concerns though. He was WR3 on a team with two first round receivers in 2019 which led to him drawing a safety 1v1 on a lot of plays. 2020 was an injury shortened season and when he finally returned to the field it was alongside his Heisman Trophy winning teammate. Waddle has never been “the man” and if you are getting drafted in the first round, you are being selected to be the man. Waddle is not a very polished route runner unlike the first two guys on this list and has mostly relied on his freakish athleticism to get by. Waddle also isn't very big listed at 5 '10 180 lbs, pair that with his physical play style and recent injury; and you can see why teams have their reservations. This is not to say all is bad with Waddle, he has some exceptional traits in his arsenal. He has very good hands and will always command respect from a defense as a deep threat. If Waddle can add a few pounds to his frame and improve his hand work at the line of scrimmage he could be a better version of Terry McLaurin. If he does not improve on his strength and physicality he may be closer to Darius Heyward-Bey. A true boom or bust prospect.
4. Rashod Bateman, Minnesota, Jr.
Rashod Bateman was likely to be a first round pick after his 2019 campaign where he led the Golden Gophers to their best season in decades. He is one of, if not the most, pro ready WR in this year's draft. After a massive sophomore campaign he took a bit of a step back in production over the five games he played in. Still that shouldn't be too worrisome for a team due to his consistent production throughout the three years in Minnesota. Even after only playing 5 games this past year, Bateman has nearly 2,400 yards, 16.3 YPC, and 19 TDs in his career. He has such a special blend of route running, ball skills, and catch radius. He isn't a burner like some of the other guys in this class, but he certainly isn't going to have an issue getting separation in the NFL. He played against some of the best defenses in the country during his time in the BIG10 and comes from a pro style offense. If he didn't have a down year and wasn't in a WR class with Chase and Smith he would almost certainly be a top 10 pick. He has a lot of Mike Evans in him. If he slips out of the 1st round, it won't be based on his talent, it will be based on the depth this year.
5. Terrance Marshall, LSU, Jr.
Terrance Marshall would have a lot more buzz around him if he was on almost any other team in the country. Marshall shared the field his sophomore year with Justin Jefferson and Ja’Marr Chase, so there weren't too many spare targets to go around. He made the most of his chances though, putting up 13 TDs and 14.6 YPC on only 46 receptions. 2020 looked to be Terrance Marshalls chance to shine after Jefferson went to the draft and Chase opted out due to Covid. Even with QB struggles against SEC defenses he put up 10 TDs and averaged over 100 YPG in only seven games. Marshall is a versatile player, he is just as effective in the slot as he is on the outside. His size and catch radius profiles him as an outside WR at the next level. He is a very good run blocker, has excellent hands and is one of the best pure route runners coming out this year. At 6’4 and only 200 pounds, he could stand to gain some weight or risk getting bullied at the line by NFL CBs at the next level but that is arguably his biggest knock. He has some Davante Adams in his game and size, if he becomes half of what Adams is a team will be very happy with their selection.
6. Kadarius Toney, Florida, Sr.
Kadarius Toney might be thes best pure athlete of any wide receiver in the 2021 draft. He was a two sport athlete in high school excelling in track as well as the football field. Toney actually started off as a quarterback, and was a damn good one earning 2nd team all-state honors in his junior and senior year of high school. He was heavily recruited in the SEC but ultimately opted to sign with Florida. Soon after his arrival he was moved into the slot WR position. It took him a while to see consistent playing time due to depth and a few nagging injuries, but when he had a healthy season as the number one option he put up very good numbers. Toney is a pure burner, he is nearly unrecoverable out of the slot if the opposing team is in a base defense. He is very shifty in the open field and his history as a QB helps him from a mental aspect. HIs route running leaves a lot to be desired, Florida ran a pretty vanilla route tree; and he has only been a pure WR for the last 4 years. I don't think Toney will ever be a super star level burner along the lines of Tyreek Hill or DeSean Jackson, but he could be a John Brown leve type of contributor.
7. Rondale Moore, Perdue, Jr.
Rondale Moore is one of the most electric playmakers in the 2021 draft, but he is also one of the biggest question marks. He has the speed that scouts kill for, but his body of work is pretty limited. He was one of the most exciting WRs in the NCAA as a freshman. In his freshman year alone Moore had 114 catches for 1,258 yards and 12 TDs through the air and another 21 rushing attempts for over 200 yards and 2 TDs. Unfortunately for Moore, his production has taken a significant dip these last two seasons playing in only seven total games due to a laundry list of injuries and an abbreviated 2020 season for the Boilermakers. He has not reached the same level of production in his last two seasons combined as he did in his freshman campaign alone, so any team drafting him will be doing it on the merit of his 2018 season. A team will most certainly take a chance on him somewhere in the middle rounds due to his game breaking ability, and his versatility; but they will be hoping they can figure out his durability issues. There is a long list of exceptionally talented players who just couldn't stay on the field enough to make an impact.
8. Tutu Atwell, Louisville, Jr.
Atwell is one of the smallest players in this class, but he makes big time plays. He has the speed and shiftiness to make defenses pay for not respecting the top. Multiple times at Louisville he made defenders look silly as they trailed 5 yards behind him on a deep post. Atwell has a legit chance of being a sub 4.4 guy, and he will need every millisecond of that time to make up for his 5’9 160 pound frame. Much like Kadarius Toney, Atwell is new to the WR position; he was a dual threat QB in high school. He has used that experience as a QB to come into his own on the other side of the passing game. His communication skills and propensity to always be in the right place at the right time are both invaluable traits to have at the next level. HIs hands can be a bit suspect and he will occasionally get bullied at the line of scrimmage due to his diminutive frame; but if he beats the press without safety help, it's a guaranteed TD. Obviously nobody will be asking him to make a difference setting the edge on run plays,but he does have a bit of a mean streak which goes a long way. He will be exclusively relegated to the slot unless it is on clear passing downs, due to his inability to beat the press. There are also concerns about his catch radius and the quality of his hands, but speed kills and if he is wide open those things don't matter too much. Atwell can be a Desean Jackson type of game breaker at his best; and that's what prospective suitors will be hoping for.
9. Sage Surratt, Wake Forest, Redshirt Jr.
Adding to the list of players who sat out for all or some of the 2020 football season is Sage Surratt. The difference between Surratt and the rest of the prospects who missed time is that sitting out may have helped his draft stock. NFL prospect Jamie Newman, and former WF quarterback transferred to Georgia over the offseason which left a big hole on the roster at QB. During his last full campaign in 2019 Surratt posted 1,000 yards on 66 catches to go with 10 TDs in only 9 games. He has great size at 6’3 and 215lbs helping him win consistently on 50/50 balls. He has the potential to be an excellent red zone threat at the next level. The main problem is, that may be his most outstanding trait. Surratt is not exceptionally fast and doesn't have amazing hands, he can also be a bit sloppy with his route running which can lead to unnecessary turnovers. If he can clean up his route running, his size and length will make up for the lack of track star speed. Surratt is an exceptionally smart kid, he was committed to Harvard before switching over to Wake Forest, so learning the playbook and communication should never be an issue. You just have to worry about how he will fare against off-ball corners who can play soft at the line due to lack of speed, and be able to pounce due to his sloppy route running. He can become a serviceable red zone threat in the right situation with some coaching adjustments but he is definitely a project.
10. Marquez Stevenson, Houston, Sr.
Stevenson will not give you eye popping stats but he seems to pass the eye test. He battled injuries in his first year and dealt with subpar quarterback play his senior year. His sophomore and junior years were pretty prolific, hauling in over 127 balls for over 1,900 yards and 18 TDs in that two year span. It really is a shame he plays in a smaller conference with poor QB play because he would be a high profile name otherwise. He has the downfield speed and ball tracking to burn opposing corners, and the quickness to work underneath in space. He is also a prolific return man taking three kicks to the house in his time at Houston. He has to work on his route running ability, and like most undersized WR will struggle to beat the press. And of course there will be concerns about his injury history at Houston carrying over. He is a real boom or bust type of prospect, we have seen burners fizzle out quick like John Ross and we have seen them excel like Tyler Lockett. Only time will tell what will become of Stevenson but he is certainly worthy of a 3rd or 4th round pick.