March 12, 2008

1. Malcolm Kelly - Oklahoma 6-4/217

Malcolm wants the ball and demands attention from secondary's, those two qualities added together equal a number one receiver within a few years. His size and his hands are what gets him my top spot in this class.

2. Limas Sweed - Texas 6-5/215

Huge and athletic, he has a world of up-side. He does what few tall receivers do and he will jump to get the ball at it's highest point. The only draw back is his confidence in his hands, when there is no time to think it out, he's money but when it's a jump ball he struggles to secure it. Up-side is great but confidence is required at the wide receiver position.

3. Mario Manningham - Michigan 6-0/184

Mario has a wealth of talent and his ability to catch the ball cleanly with is hands is perhaps his best quality. He knows how to box out defenders and fights for jump balls but his attitude needs to be adjusted, being "me first" may be needed at wideout but definitely not needed on the sideline.

4. James Hardy - Indiana 6-7/220

James has some incredible playmaking ability downfield and showed he has more than just a fly route in his bag at the combine.

5. Early Doucet - LSU 6-1/210

Early has big play written all over him but it's the dirty work he does that makes him a great wideout. He has no problem going up for the ball in traffic and loves to run the ball as a gadget back. His size makes him a highly sought after commodity and his size will also help him adjust fairly quickly at the next level.

6. Lavelle Hawkins - Cal 5-11/185

Courage, balance and versatility, the more film I watch on Lavelle the more he impresses. He has incredible concentration in crowds and is fearless so I will wait for the numbers to come in on him but he will be rising in the rankings.

7. DeSean Jackson - Cal 6-0/172

DeSean is a playmaker in the purest sense, you need only get him the ball and a little space and fireworks are likely but his size will be a concern in the pros.

8. Devin Thomas - Michigan State 6-2/214

Devin will adapt quickly to the NFL game because he is strong off the line and runs solid routes. He showed some great quicks in Indy and helped his stock considerably.

9. Keenan Burton - Kentucky 6-2/195

Keenan is very fluid in his movements and will gash a defense if he's given a seam. Getting him the ball in any way would be paramount for an offensive coordinator. If he doesn't go through an injury plagued year, he's near the top of every ranking around but right now he may be laying low and some team is going to get a very dangerous player when he's healthy.

10. Jordy Nelson - Kansas State 6-3/210

Jordy is better than the 10th best receiver in this senior class but I want to see how he stacks up against the others in the post season and in Indy. He is the nations best possession receiver and after the season Anthony Gonzales (Ohio State) had, possession receivers may find more favor.

11. Jerome Simpson - Coastal Carolina 6-2/190

Jerome is a physical receiver and that will help his adjustment early but his footwork needs considerable improvement if he is going to gain separation in the NFL.

12. Earl Bennett - Vanderbilt 6-1/202

Earl has some great hip swivel and gets in and out of breaks very well. I am looking for how he compares during the draft season because anyone who can get open like him could go higher than expected.

13. Eddie Royal - Virginia Tech 5-10/174

A small frame but has some great hands but never really produced at Va. Tech. He can make plays and has speed but stats rarely lie. He is a very good return man much like his teammate Justin Harper, hmm Hokies who play well on special teams...get outta here. His combine performance may have vaulted him in scouts rankings.

14. Darius Reynaud - West Virginia 5-10/200

Darius has some very loose and quick hips and is very sound at being able to square routes and create separation.

15. Adarius Bowman - OK State 6-4/215

Adrius has great hand eye coordination but needs to improve in the basics when it comes to route running and not round off so much. He was primarily used as a deep threat for Okla. State and he developed great body control so he may not be an immediate starter but with his vertical passing ability, he will be a threat in the NFL.

16. Harry Douglas - Louisville 5-11/170

Harry was the go-to-guy for Brohm for a reason and whenever a guy averages over 17 yards per catch for his career you can bet dollars to doughnuts he has some playmaking skills.

17. Justin Harper - Virginia Tech 6-3/210

Justin is another large wideout in this years draft and that will allow him to adjust fairly quickly in the NFL and when he learns how to utilize his size he could become a great "go to guy" for a quarterback. His speed and his size will help but the fact he is also a very good return man will get Justin a good grade going into this draft.

18. Arman Shields - Richmond 6-1/188

Arman answered a lot of questions about his knee injury running a 4.3 40-yard dash and the kid has some great burst off the line and out of breaks.

19. Dorian Bryant - Purdue 5-10/175

Dorian was the best receiver for the Boilermakers and is a very intelligent player who reads defenses well. If he can impress during the draft season he could find his way up the rankings pretty fast.

20. Taj Smith - Syracuse 6-1/185

Taj really impressed me at the Combine with his quick burst off the line but even more so with his quicks in and out of the break. His 8 reps in the bench is a serious concern though.

21. Andre Caldwell - Florida 6-1/200

Speed, and more sickening speed. His single run against Florida State when he beat three Seminoles along the sideline should convince anybody of just how deadly speed really is.

22. Todd Blythe - Iowa State 6-6/209

A great showing at Shrine game and up goes the stock. He's athletic enough to find creases and perhaps can playa role as a third down receiver. Todd showed some great body control and hands on the fly routes as he continues to impress during the draft season

23. DJ Hall - Alabama 6-3/186

DJ can do it all and then some, he is has the height but his frame will need some work, maybe a combination of Balleys Fitness and some Ronnie Mac's is in order. Skill wise DJ is a top tier athlete but he should bulk up some this off season.

24. Maurice Purify - Nebraska 6-3/220

Maurice will have to show that he is past the off the field problems, he is a sound possession receiver but character is becoming more and more essential to teams.

25. Mario Urrutia - Louisville 6-6/220

Needs to improve his route running substantially, he rounds them off too much. He has good hands and got open in college but his technique must be sured up for the NFL game.

26. Paul Hubbard - Wisconsin 6-4/215

Paul was a sick track athlete for the Badgers and won the NCAA's as a freshman but his time spent on the fence concerning leaving football for track will weigh heavy on the minds of teams who are looking for an explosive player at wideout.

27. Jason Rivers - Hawaii 6-2/190

A great route runner who really learned how to sit down in zone coverage well but will need help with tight coverage, mostly with his concentration. He also must explode out of his breaks better if he wants to impress NFL scouts.

28. Dexter Jackson - Appalachian State 5-9/178

Dexter showed that his best asset is his incredible speed, his 40 was sick but he dropped a lot of balls both in the gauntlet and in drills, but everyone knew Dexter could fly.

29. Kevin Robinson - Utah State 6-0/190

Kevin is very explosive but can struggle at times and will fight the ball, perhaps some help with his confidence

30. Adrian Arrington - Michigan 6-3/187

Adrian can fit in the seems and find the pockets in zone coverage but is perhaps too slight and too slow to be a number one or two receiver.

31. Selwyn Lymon - Purdue 6-4/215

Selwyn was kicked off team after being stabbed in the chest and though he has had troubles, he does have the size you want and some pretty solid hands. Checkered pasts are rarely overlooked however.

32. Steve Johnson - Kentucky 6-2/200

Also...

Kenneth Moore - Wake Forest 5-11/200

Kenneth needs to work on his body control, his hips give out too easy during his breaks and he is running a bit out of control, fast but not under control.