Take Your Pick: Best Wide Receiver Prospects

This is a multiple-part series that encourages readers to participate in the draft discussion. Don’t agree with my top prospects at a respective position? Tell me who should be or shouldn’t be included and why, I want to hear your opinions!

Unlike the first part of this series focusing on the safety prospects of this year’s draft, the wide receiving group has a couple of prospects that stand out from amongst the bunch in Georgia’s A.J. Green and Alabama’s Julio Jones. It is almost certain that Green will be a first round pick come late April and that Jones will not be too far behind him. There are a few teams picking in the early to middle part of the first round that have young, developing quarterbacks and could use a big play receiver that has the ability to stretch the field. In my opinion, both Green and Jones possess that ability and that is why they are ranked first and second respectively on my top three list of receiving prospects. Rounding out my top three receiving prospects is former Boise State receiver Titus Young. Here is a breakdown of each. Don’t agree with my take? Let me know who should be or shouldn’t be excluded in the discussion of best receiving prospects below.

1. A.J. Green, Georgia

Green had a magnificent junior season in 2010, putting up team-bests 848 yards receiving on 57 receptions with 9 touchdowns. The underclassmen declared for the 2011 NFL Draft after that season, a season in which he was named a semifinalist for the Biletnikoff Award, given to the nation’s best college wide receiver. He was also named second team All-SEC by the coaches within the conference after the 2010 season. His accomplishments did not stop when the regular season concluded. He was named Georgia’s offensive MVP of AutoZone Liberty Bowl after putting up 77 yards on 8 receptions in the game.

When talking about Green’s strengths and weaknesses, it starts with his ability to make the big play. He is a taller receiver at 6’4” and can beat corners and safeties for the jump ball. He has the acceleration off the line of scrimmage and breakaway speed to beat secondary’s over the top. Green is also good at making the spectacular catch on passes that are thrown inaccurate. He has no problem with making a play in the middle of the field and taking a big hit. When looking at his weakness, a lot of it starts with his lack of bulk (211 lbs.). He has trouble getting off of the press due to this and in turn can affect him getting into his route.

2. Julio Jones, Alabama

Jones put up a phenomenal numbers during the 2010 season, posting 1,133 yards on 78 receptions and adding 7 touchdowns. He was named AP All-SEC team and an AP All-American in 2010. He was also named to the All-SEC team by the coaches in the conference in 2010. In February, Jones was one of the most impressive prospects at the NFL Scouting Combine, putting up third-fastest forty time of all receivers with a time of 4.39.  He also recorded the longest long jump of the receivers group.

Jones has good size at 6’3”, 220 lbs. He has great acceleration off the line of scrimmage and will take advantage of any cornerback who gives him cushion. He has no problems finding windows for the quarterback to find him against zone schemes played by the defense and also shows no fear of going over the middle of the field to catch a pass. When comparing him to other prospects, he is one of the best at run blocking on the outside. He needs to improve on his route running. Sometimes he doesn’t show great body control and that affects the way in which he runs his routes.

3. Titus Young, Boise State

While Young may not have played against the quality of competition that Green and Jones did during the 2010 season, he still put up numbers that are tough to overlook. He finished his senior season with 71 receptions for 1,215 yards and 9 touchdowns. Over his four-year career, he finished with 204 receptions for 3,063 yards and 25 touchdowns. With his career yardage, Young is Boise State’s all-time leading receiver. He was named to the first team All-WAC team three times in his career.

When talking about Young’s attributes on the field, he is solid at finding the window against a defensive zone scheme and giving his quarterback an open target. While he doesn’t have the ability Julio Jones does to stretch the field, he can get behind the secondary at times and can make defensive coordinators pay attention to him. When talking about his weaknesses, it starts with his small size (5’11”, 174 lbs.). Like Jones, this causes him to have trouble getting off the press coverage and into his route on time.

While many experts agree on Green and Jones being the top wide receiver prospects in this draft, I am sure some of you out there have a player that you feel should be in the top three. If so, let me know at the discussion board below. Take your pick at which receivers you believe are the best in this draft’s class.