Ranking The 2019 NFL Draft WR Class In Year Three: Who Tops The List?

1. Terry McLaurin, Washington Football Team

When the 2019 NFL Draft went down, to think that through almost three seasons Terry McLaurin would top the list, was a bit ambitious. It’s definitely earned, though. McLaurin was a third round pick for Washington in 2019, and really rose in the draft process with his Senior Bowl performance.

The value McLaurin brought to the table with that pick was immediate. He caught 58 passes for 918 yards and seven touchdowns as a rookie, and followed that up with 1,118 yards in his second season. He’s on pace to cross the 1,000-yard mark again in 2021.

McLaurin has been dynamic since he stepped on a field for Washington. His burst and explosion is evident from his release package and out of breaks in his stem. That burst, efficiency, and bend to break down and explode out of breaks makes him lethal with intermediate crossers. McLaurin can win in the quick game as well, and use his speed to eat up cushion to stack corners quickly. He’s a good route salesman and can attack blind spots with ease.

McLaurin has really improved in a few areas as his third season rolls along. He looks more confident in contested spots, hauling in 23 of those passes this season. McLaurin has always been a plus tracker, but he’s used his frame better to maintain position when he needs to slow up and adjust. But perhaps the most stark improvement is how he’s using his speed to his advantage more. To accelerate quickly and sell vertical while snapping off comeback routes efficiently is a big deal, and makes it that much more difficult to cover him.

Terry McLaurin is still a bit of a body catcher, one of the main issues analysts had with him in the draft. Still, he’s proven that the age concern was no problem as he leads the 2019 NFL Draft receiver class.