NFL Draft Breakdown: Wide Receivers

By: Dean Garcia

The receiver class from the 2014 NFL Draft is already looking like a great one. The one for the upcoming 2015 NFL Draft isn’t far behind.

1. Amari Cooper (Alabama): Cooper will be a top 10 pick and will be a future No. 1 receiver on the team that drafts him. Cooper had 3 games with over 200 yards, and finished the season with 124 receptions and over 1,700 yards, which is impressive in a heavy run first attack at Alabama. Cooper has great size and speed to fight for the ball with defenders. He will be a Pro Bowl and No. 1 in no-time.
2. Kevin White (West Virginia): White will go in the top half of the first round. White will also be a future No. 1 wide out for the team that drafts him. White ran a 4.35 at the combine which was faster than what he was expected to run. White finished the 2014 season with 109 receptions and almost 1,500 yards. At 6’ 3”, 215 lbs White is too big for corners and too fast for safeties, which makes him a matchup nightmare.
3. DeVante Parker (Louisville): Parker could go in the top half of the draft, but is likely to go after Cooper and White, so if they haven’t gone yet Parker will fall out of the top half. Parker missed the first half of the season with a broken foot, but still grabbed 43 balls for 855 yards and five touchdowns. Parker will be a good No. 2 receiver for any teams and could be the No. 1 guy if he passes his expectations.
4. Philip Dorsett (Miami): Dorsett is no doubt the best vertical threat in the draft with his 4.33 speed at the combine and is said to have ran mid 4.2s at his pro day. Dorsett dominated at the Senior Bowl practices. Dorsett will be a phenomenal slot receiver with how fast he is in-and-out of breaks and his break away speed once the ball is in his hands. Dorsett could go from middle of the first round to second round.
5. Nelson Agholor (USC): Agholor could very well be the second best route-runner behind only the best receiver in the draft, Cooper. Agholor had 104 receptions and 1,313 yards and 12 touchdowns. Agholor is coming from the West Coast offense at USC, so he will have less of a learning curve than others.
6. Breshad Perriman (UCF): Perriman may have worked his way up to a mid to late first rounder with a stellar pro day, where he ran 40-yard dashes in the 4.19 to 4.25 range. Perriman has worried some scouts with very catchable balls dropping, but his ability to turn short throws into long plays, and that may be enough for a team to grab him in the first round and worry about the drops later.