Top 10 Wide Receivers in the 2021 NFL Draft

1. Jaylen Waddle, Alabama

When watching Alabama’s Jaylen Waddle a player from a different sport comes to mind every time: Steph Curry. Yes, Steph Curry plays basketball, but I believe that he has a similar threat in his game that Jaylen Waddle will have in football. When playing Curry, the entire defensive game plan has to center around him and his dynamic scoring. The most frustrating part is you can have the perfect defensive game plan to stop Curry. As a defensive unit, all five players can be doing exactly what they need to stop him… and he’ll still just make a play. Even with a hand in his face from well beyond the three-point line, he still is going to hit that three, rip your heart out, and make you feel defenseless.
Jaylen Waddle can have this exact same impact on a football game and that’s why he is the best receiver in this class. You can do everything right on defense, and he still can just make a play. Numerous times in college defenses did everything they could to stop Waddle. They would double him and bracket him, and his combination of otherworldly speed and route running was still too much for the defense. He has insane speed and is so in control, and it’s truly a special thing to watch.

2. Devonta Smith, Alabama

You can worry about Devonta’s Smith size all you want, it hasn’t stopped him from dominating the best corners in college football over the past two years. Smith became the first wide receiver to win the Heisman since Desmond Howard in 1991, and it was well deserved. 

Week after week, Smith torched defenses with his smooth athleticism and superb route running. Smith understands the technical aspects of route running and gaining separation, and he has a smoothness to his game that makes it extremely hard for corners to stick with him. He’s a dangerous threat with the ball in his hands, where his great play speed really shines. Smight might also look small, but don’t tell all the opposing cornerbacks who have lost 50-50 balls to him that. Smith dominated the collegiate level and could be the next Stefon Diggs for whichever lucky team drafts him.

3. Ja’Marr Chase, LSU

Ja’Marr Chase is an interesting prospect. He was seen as the consensus #1 wide receiver after a tremendous 2019 National Title campaign with LSU. Just because he is the #3rd ranked receiver, doesn't mean he isn’t still a fantastic prospect. Chase is still very much worth a look extremely early in the first by any team looking to add a potential true #1 receiver to their team.

Ja’Marr Chase wins with physicality. He bullies corners at the catch point, coming down with nearly every jump ball. Like Smith, Chase plays much bigger than his height. With the ball in his hands, Chase looks like a running back, able to turn a simple slant into a spectacular touchdown. He’s a good athlete on the field and being so young at only 21 he’s probably going to continue developing physically a good deal.

 His age is important to remember when it comes to the areas he needs to improve on as well. Yes, he needs to improve on his releases, with DBs getting hands on him too often. Yes, he can improve with some smoother and more nuanced routes. At the same time, he’s extremely young with a ton of room to grow… and he was dominating the best conference in football without an entirely fleshed-out game. It might take him longer to break out than some other receivers, but just imagine what he can become in the future.

4. Rashod Bateman, Minnesota

With such a stacked top of the wide receiver class, Rashod Bateman has almost become the man left out. Forgetting about the Minnesota receiver would be ill-advised, Bateman still an extremely talented receiver.

Where Bateman wins a lot is at the catch point. He has great body control and extremely strong hands, able to bail out his quarterback on tight-window throws. He is a smoother than explosive athlete, with the ability to run better routes than you’d think. He might not have the traits that the top three receivers do, but the trait Bateman does have is just being a good football player.

5. Terrace Marshall Jr, LSU

Terrace Marshall Jr. could potentially be the steal of the draft at wide receiver. When just looking at Marshall Jr. he checks off all of the boxes. Marshall has great size, phenomenal athleticism, and hasn’t even scratched his ceiling yet.

A big question regarding Terrace Marshall Jr. was how he would fare this season. How would “the other guy besides Chase and Jefferson” perform on his own and without #1 overall pick Joe Burrow throwing him passes? The answer: like a star. Marshall’s 13 touchdowns his sophomore season were no fluke, with the Louisiana native reaching the end zone 10 times in only 7 games. You watch Marshall and he just glides down the field. He has some drops issues but can be a big deep threat reminiscent of Devante Parker coming out of Louisville.

6. Elijah Moore, Ole Miss

The 2021 NFL Draft class sports a wide number of fantastic slot receiver prospects, and Elijah Moore is the crown jewel. Moore was the runner-up to Devonta Smith this year in both receiving yards, as well as receptions. He was the guy for the Rebels, and no matter how hard they tried, virtually no defense had an answer for Moore.

Moore does everything you want your slot receiver to do. He’s a home run threat whenever on the field, whether it’s making defenders miss with the ball in his hands or just as a deep threat. He shows signs of being a good route runner with his great athleticism. He has to develop a bit more, but there makeups there for him to be a great route runner. What stands out about Moore besides his athleticism and small stature is how good his hands are. He doesn’t drop passes, even when facing a big hit. Moore looks to be an extremely good slot weapon who can benefit all on the field.

7. Rondale Moore, Purdue

Rondale Moore is the biggest question mark in the 2021 wide receiver class. Just a few years ago, Moore looked to be in contention for the top receiver spot. He was insanely good his freshman year at Purdue but has only played 7 games since due to injury and a COVID shortened season. There are some big risks with Moore. He is extremely small at only 5’7 even. He already has had injury problems and there are questions about his game translating… but boy is he exciting.

Rondale Moore is one of the best overall athletes in the entire draft class. He possesses blurring speed, with phenomenal explosiveness and agility. With Moore, you just have to get the ball into his hands and watch him create magic. He looks like a running back with how he makes guys miss and breaks tackles (I wonder if a team gives him some backfield snaps.) The big question is whether he is just a dangerous gadget weapon or if he can use all of his physical tools to be a real deep threat receiver. He didn’t have a ton of targets downfield at Purdue, but was that just scheme limiting an explosive deep threat? There’s a risk with him but a ton of potential reward in Rondale Moore.

8. Tylan Wallace, Oklahoma State

When I look at Tylan Wallace, I see someone who while successful in college, was held back a bit. The Cowboys had Wallace run a simplistic route tree, despite him performing very well when asked to run more than just a go route. A lot of his tape is just deep routes and the quarterback hoping Wallace wins a 50-50 ball. Thanks to his phenomenal body control and hands, Wallace did win a lot of those aerial challenges. Even when restricted, Wallace still managed to win in college.

I believe that Wallace’s best football is still ahead of him and that he can be a high-end 2nd option on an NFL team. When allowed to be more open with his releases and his routes at the Senior Bowl, Wallace looked really good and fluid. He isn’t the fastest receiver in the world, but Wallace projects to be a really good route runner at the next level and catches nearly everything. I can very much see Wallace being a chain mover and a player that opposing fans within the division dread playing against. 

9. Amon-Ra St. Brown, USC

Amon-Ra St. Brown is almost the exact opposite type of slot receiver that Rondale Moore is. He isn’t the explosive athlete Moore is. He didn’t test off the charts at his pro day, just putting up good solid numbers. That is Amon-Ra St. Brown, in a nutshell, a good solid receiver. 

While not the explosive athlete that either Moore is, St. Brown possesses one of the most well-rounded games in the class. He just seems pretty good at all aspects of being a wide receiver. He shows the ability and potential to run any route you ask him to, and he thrives making plays away from his body near the sideline. He has really nice releases and will be a nightmare for corners to try and cover in the redzone. He does well with the ball in his hands, a tough and elusive runner. Like Tylan Wallace, St. Brown may never be a true #1 for his team, but he can be a very good fan-favorite #2 option in an offense.

10. D’Wayne Eskridge, Western Michigan

D’Wayne Eskridge is the best player that you haven’t heard of. If I told you there was a receiver who averaged over 20 yards a catch in each of his past three seasons, you would be wondering why that prospect didn’t receive more buzz. Criminally underrated: that is D’Wayne Eskridge.

Eskridge has some of the most fun wide receiver tape in the class. Watching him at Western Michigan this past year, you could tell that he was just on another level athletically than his MAC opposition. Every time Eskridge touched the ball, he looked primed to score. He has great releases off the line, using his hands well to blow by corners. He dominated the Senior Bowl practices, further supporting his wonderful game tape. He has legit 4.4 speed and can be a fantastic speedy slot receiver at the next level.

Wirter

-By: Jacob Keppen