The 2022 NFL wide receiver draft class may not have the top-end talent of years past, but this class will still provide a lot of productive NFL wideouts. For teams looking for specific skill sets, this draft class has a little something for everyone.
Let’s dive into the superlatives.
Best Deep Threat: Jameson Williams, Alabama
This one isn’t up for debate. The only debate is how fast Williams would have run the 40-yard dash had he not torn his ACL in the National Championship Game. He makes corners with verified 4.3s look slow, and that’s tough to do. Not only can he run fast in a straight line, but he’s also exceptional at controlling his speed to lull defensive backs to sleep. He was a starter for just one year, but he racked up 13 deep receptions for 671 yards in that year.
Jameson Williams: PLAYMAKER 💯 pic.twitter.com/Kju4yspYqu
— PFF College (@PFF_College) February 25, 2022
Best Route-Runner: Chris Olave, Ohio State
Olave has looked like a seasoned vet ever since his sophomore season in 2019. He’s a pure technician who also possesses the kind of speed to threaten every level of the football field. If teams want a “safe” pick, Olave is the man.
It can be hard for receivers to separate in the red zone in man coverage with less space to operate with.
Here’s two filthy routes from Chris Olave making it look easy. pic.twitter.com/4GXwb2M16n
— Field Yates (@FieldYates) April 2, 2022
Best Releases: Skyy Moore, Western Michigan
Yes, it was a low level of competition. But, on 146 snaps against press coverage last season, Moore never got “got.” That includes matchups against Michigan and Pittsburgh, as well. His suddenness combined with a running back-esque build will make him a handful for whoever he’s matched up with at the next level.
Skyy Moore and his releases 😳 pic.twitter.com/F4fremzsLG
— Ben Fennell (@BenFennell_NFL) February 27, 2022
Best After the Catch: Treylon Burks, Arkansas
This was the most hotly contested superlative on this list. Burks gets the nod for the sheer number of ways he can win. He can break ankles, break tackles and stiff arm you into oblivion. He averaged 9.3 yards after the catch on the season and managed 12.2 yards per reception on 18 screen passes.
Treylon Burks shouldn’t be this fast at his size.
Manufactured touches is his game. pic.twitter.com/NbGM4REiSe
— Full-Time Dame 💰 (@DP_NFL) September 19, 2021
Best at the Catch Point: Drake London, USC
It’s not hyperbole to say London is the best catch-point receiver we’ve seen in our eight years of college grading. He led the FBS with 19 contested catches despite playing in only nine games last year. And he did it all at only 20 years of age. His basketball background is evident in how he attacks the football in the air every time it’s thrown his way.
Drake London finished the season with 19 contested catches, 3 more than any other player in College Football
He hasn’t played since Week 9🤯 pic.twitter.com/bathLh73un
— PFF College (@PFF_College) December 22, 2021
Best Hands: George Pickens, Georgia
Lest we forget just how nasty Pickens' hands are because we haven’t seen much of them in a while. As a freshman back in 2019, he hauled in 49 passes without dropping a single one. He has only two drops on 92 catchable targets for his career — good enough for the lowest drop rate in the draft class.
Pickens isn’t hauling in screens, either. His 15.4-yard career average depth of target is one of the highest marks in the class.
One month until we see more of this from George Pickens. pic.twitter.com/xCNf7cOyVO
— UGA Savage Pads (@savagepads) August 26, 2020
Freakiest Athlete: Christian Watson, North Dakota State
What Watson did in Indianapolis was nothing short of an all-time performance. At 6-foot-4, 208 pounds, he ran a 4.36-second 40-yard dash, jumped 38.5 inches in the vertical and 11-foot, 4 inches in the broad jump. He capped it off at his pro day with 18 reps on the bench, a 4.19-second shuttle and a 6.96-second three-cone. Those numbers are usually reserved for your undersized receivers, not guys with near prototype size.
🔄 North Dakota State running G/H Counter Bluff Reverse
WR1 Christian Watson does the rest! pic.twitter.com/cGhOpTYocS
— Coach Dan Casey (@CoachDanCasey) February 7, 2022
Best Slot: Kyle Philips, UCLA
This isn’t necessarily who will be the best in the slot at the next level. Rather, it's the best receiver who was already a slot-only at the collegiate level.
No receiver graded out higher over the week of Shrine Bowl or Senior Bowl practices than Philips. While he was facing some lesser competition in Las Vegas than the receivers in Mobile, it was still an utter demolition.
While he doesn’t have the size or speed to work from the outside, his 6.75-second three-cone and 4.09-second shuttle indicate an elite change-of-direction ability that will play from the slot.
https://twitter.com/Ryan_Spags/status/1493595620111757318?s=20&t=kCuIo9dMOSuZji8PUxuy6Q
Best Gadget Player: Calvin Austin III, Memphis
The crazy thing is, “gadget” really wasn’t Austin’s role for Memphis despite him measuring at 5-foot-8 and 170 pounds. In fact, the former walk-on took 90.5% of his snaps from the outside for the Tigers.
Given his 4.32-second 40, 1.44-second 10-yard split, 39-inch vertical, 11-foot-3 broad jump, 4.07-second shuttle and 6.65-second three-cone, Austin was tailor-made to create in space.
Invites for the #SeniorBowl have started rolling out, and one player the #Bears should keep an eye on is Memphis WR Calvin Austin III.
He’s an explosive athlete with elite YAC ability and punt return value. He’s small but is insanely fun to watch. pic.twitter.com/vB0koW7JFB
— Jacob Infante (@jacobinfante24) November 16, 2021
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