2021 NFL Draft WR rankings: Is Rondale Moore worth the risk?

This year’s wide receiver crop is a strong group and has two of the top six players in the 2021 NFL Draft class. Overall, five players carry first-round grades in this group which would be the second most receivers we have seen taken in the first round since 2015. The group also has plenty of depth as a total of 33 players earned draftable grades.

Most underrated wide receiver in 2021 NFL Draft: Tyler Vaughns

While Vaughns is not going to blow scouts away with his testing numbers or overall athletic ability he has been a very productive player in college. He was named to the All-Pac-12 team each year he was in college and finished with 222 career receptions and 20 touchdowns. He is the type of player who comes in as a late-round draft picks but finds a role as a slot receiver in the NFL.

Most overrated wide receiver in 2021 NFL Draft: Terrace Marshall Jr

LSU’s Terrace Marshall Jr is getting late first-round talk, which is much higher than the late second-round grade he receives here. Part of the reason he is not worth a first-round selection is that he can be lackadaisical at times on the football field. He has also battled his share of injuries during his college career including missing three games in 2019 due to a toe injury.

Day three gem in 2021 NFL Draft: Pooka Williams

This pick is purely based on the team that drafts Williams moving him to wide receiver. While Williams lacks the size and strength to play running back in the NFL he has the speed and elusiveness to play wide receiver. He has been an effective pass catcher in college as well having caught 66 passes in college.

Wide Receiver that is the biggest risk in the 2021 NFL Draft: Rondale Moore

While there is no doubt Rondale Moore is one of the most explosive playmakers in the 2021 NFL Draft, there are questions about how much he will stay on the field. Over the past two seasons, he has only played in seven of eighteen games.

Top small school wide receiver in 2021 NFL Draft: Cade Johnson

Coming out of high school Cade Johnson was a lightly recruited prospect who ended up walking on at South Dakota State. Since then Johnson has turned himself into the top small-school receiver in the 2021 NFL Draft. He has been a dynamic playmaker for the Jackrabbits as both a receiver and kick returner and will likely be asked to do the same in the NFL.

2021 NFL Draft Wide Receiver Rankings

1. Ja’Marr Chase LSU (first round)
2. Devonta Smith, Alabama (first round)
3. Jaylen Waddle, Alabama (first round)
4. Rashod Bateman, Minnesota (first round)
5. Kadarius Toney, Florida (first round)
6. Rondale Moore, Purdue (second round)
7. Tylan Wallace, Oklahoma State (second round)
8. Elijah Moore, Ole Miss (second round)
9. Terrace Marshall Jr., LSU (second round)
10. Amon-Ra St. Brown, USC (third round)
11. Nico Collins, Michigan (third round)
12. Tutu Atwell, Louisville (third round)
13. D’Wayne Eskridge, Western Michigan (third round)
14. Dyami Brown, North Carolina (third round)
15. Anthony Schwartz, Auburn (third round)
16. Dazz Newsome, North Carolina (fourth round)
17. Amari Rodgers, Clemson (fourth round)
18. Ihmir Smith-Marsette, Iowa (fifth round)
19. Marquez Stevenson, Houston (fifth round)
20. Sage Surratt, Wake Forest (fifth round)
21. Tyler Vaughns, USC (fifth round)
22. Seth Williams, Auburn (fifth round)
23. Shi Smith, South Carolina (sixth round)
24. Jonathan Adams, Arkansas State (sixth round)
25. Jaelon Darden, North Texas (sixth round)
26. Josh Imatorbhebhe, Illinois (sixth round)
27. Cade Johnson, South Dakota State (seventh round)
28. Pooka Williams, Kansas (seventh round)
29. Demetric Felton UCLA (seventh round)
30. Josh Palmer, Tennessee (seventh round)
31. Jalen Camp, Georgia Tech (seventh round)
32. Austin Watkins, UAB (seventh round)
33. Brandon Smith, Iowa (seventh round)
34. Simi Fehoko, Stanford (free agent)
35. Michael Strachan, Charleston (free agent)
36. Whop Philyor, Indiana (free agent)
37. Branden Mack, Temple (free agent)
38. Dez Fitzpatrick, Louisville (free agent)
39. Damonte Coxie, Memphis (free agent)

40. Frank Darby, Arizona State (free agent)
41. Tre Nixon, UCF (free agent)
42. Osirus Mitchell, Mississippi State (free agent)
43. Warren Jackson, Colorado State (free agent)
44. Jhamon Ausbon, Texas A&M (free agent)
45. Tre Walker, San Jose State (free agent)
46. Taysir Mack, Pittsburgh (free agent)
47. Tim Jones, Southern Miss (free agent)
48. T.J. Vasher, Texas Tech (free agent)
49. Rico Bussey, North Texas (free agent)