It's only mid-March and we've run out of superlatives. Johnson really is THAT GOOD. His combine (4.35 40) and pro day (11'7" broad jump) numbers confirmed what we all suspected - There is no precedent for the kind of package Johnson brings to the table (my nickname for him is "The Prototype"). Johnson's size, speed, hands, and character are all exceptional. Don't forget, he has plenty of room to improve - he struggled to hone his game this year because of poor QB play in the form of Reggie Ball. Is he the best physical prospect at WR in the history of the draft? Probably.

NFL Comparison: Larry Fitzgerald with a 5th Gear

Sorting out the next five WRs on this list is very difficult. In some ways, the draft order will depend on what exactly the teams picking in the mid to late first are looking for in a WR. Rice is my favorite of the "best of the rest" because he can make the transcendental individual play with body control and leaping ability, much like Calvin. He needs to develop more courage and tenacity in his game, but the foundation is there for a standout big play WR.

NFL Comparison: Slower Chris Chambers with Better Hands

Meachem is making a strong bid to be the #2 WR off the board at Radio City Music Hall. Meachem's long frame, ball tracking, and straight line speed suggest a great deep threat in the making. He's also a strong, tough runner after the catch.

NFL Comparison: Less Unstoppable Terrell Owens with Better Concentration

Bowe is what I call an "optical illusion" player. It doesn't seem right that a player as muscular and thick as Bowe should be able to run, cut, and leap the way Bowe does. Bowe's strength and physicality, on the other hand, do match what his physique suggests. He won't break games open with track speed or circus catches, but few WRs will be tougher to jam and bring down after the catch than Bowe. Bowe is prone to concentration lapses, but don't confuse that with bad hands - he's a natural hands catcher.

NFL Comparison: Less Imposing Anquan Boldin

Ginn the return man and Ginn the vertical WR are proven and enough to assure him first round status. Those qualities alone will also provide return on investment for his team no matter how the rest of his development goes. The verdict is out on whether Ginn can fight through the jam and run crisp routes. Unfortunately, his injury from the Title Game loss to Florida is lingering and kept us from seeing him next to his peers at the combine.

NFL Comparison: One Part Dante Hall, One Part Joey Galloway

The Good: Jarrett's courage in traffic and on jump balls. Jarrett's crisp breaks in his routes, Jarrett's hands and concentration.
The Bad: Jarrett's strength and technique getting off the jam. Jarrett's perceived work ethic and attitude.
The Ugly: Jarrett's 40 time?
In a deep class of WRs, Jarrett can not afford to have a subpar Pro Day if he wants to stay in the first round.

NFL Comparison: The USC WR special: Keyshawn Johnson meets Mike Williams

Higgins was the underappreciated gem in a Miner offense that saw Jordan Palmer get more ink despite his uneven play. Higgins lays it all on the line, complimenting his natural speed and quickness with courage and work ethic. There's room for him to refine his game. Higgins punt return ability gives him added draft value.

NFL Comparison: Laverneus Coles

Smith made just as many tough, clutch catches as his more vaunted Trojan teammate Jarrett, but they weren't necessarily of the highlight variety. He is trying to overcome being pigeonholed as a possession receiver with his outstanding combine numbers across the board (4.44 40, 39" vertical, 6.68 3 cone).

NFL Comparison: Derrick Mason

Gonzalez made a career out of punishing defenses that chose to focus on Santonio Holmes or Ted Ginn at Ohio State. He has the physical attributes to carry that success over to the NFL, but he does seem to have gotten by on physical gifts and distracted defenses more than natural receiving ability. Just like his time with the Buckeyes, He wasn't as fluid or natural as the best of his peers at the combine. Gonzalez projects as a complimentary WR at the next level.

NFL Comparison: Reggie Brown

Allison's quicks, speed, and overall athleticism passed the test at the Senior Bowl and again at the combine to prove that he belongs in the first day WR mix. 'Drae is wiry, and he can be pushed around, but he is also a lethal open field runner.

NFL Comparison: Donte Stallworth

Hill was probably the #1 Senior WR coming into the 2006 season, but an injury-plagued year cast doubts on whether he was even first day material. His deep speed and ability to separate were being questioned, but those questions were at least partially answered with a 4.32 40 at the combine. Hill was always a clutch 3rd down and red zone WR for the Cougars and he should be a trusted target at the next level.

NFL Comparison: Eric Moulds

Davis has the potential to be one of the top 5 WRs from this class, but only if he dedicates himself to his craft. "Buster" displays the quickness and speed to do damage in the NFL, but his route running, effort, and technique all need work.

NFL Comparison: Devery Henderson

Jones "show me" tour through the pre-draft activities had another successful stop at the combine. He continues to prove himself as a fast, quick, and tough WR in addition to having the long, lean frame that translates well at the next level. Jacoby held his own in the drills, including the gauntlet, at Indy, and has become of the worst kept secrets in the draft.

NFL Comparison: Troy Williamson Minus a Gear and Speed Setting but with Hand-Eye Coordination

Listen to the talk with Jacoby at the Shrine Game.

Walker was known as a reliable possession WR before the combine. Then his 4.35 40 allowed Walker to join Jason Hill and Steve Smith as the WRs that did the most for themselves in Indy, proving that he was over a 2005 ACL tear in the process. Like last year's 2nd day steal UCF WR, Brandon Marshall, Walker was a standout in the secondary before converting to offense for good.

NFL Comparison: Marty Booker

Breaston was once a much more highly rated WR prospect, but he only rates out as a slot receiver type coming into the draft. His speed and quickness numbers were not particularly special at the combine, but he did put a positive punctuation mark on his disappointing 2006 season with a nice week at the Shrine Game. He will at least contribute as a return specialist.

NFL Comparison: Antwaan Randle-el Without the Arm

Brandon was overlooked in a run-first offense at WVU, and overlooked when it came time to hand out combine invites, but he was undeterred, having a standout week at the Senior Bowl. Myles also flashed great speed (4.41 40) and explosion (10'11" broad jump) at his pro day. He's one of many 2nd day WRs in this class with the potential to start down the line.

NFL Comparison: D.J. Hackett

Listen to the talk with Brandon at the Senior Bowl.

Robinson was basically unstoppable at the 1-AA level for two years running, and he showed why at the combine: 4.38 40 (including an excellent 1.46 in the 10 yard split), 39" vertical, 10'7" broad jump, and oh, he was basically flawless in the drills, adjusting to errant throws and catching everything. Robinson is long and lean with breakaway speed, and he knows how to turn that ability into production.

NFL Comparison: Mark Bradley

"Coach" McKnight had a decent combine across the board (4.16 short shuttle, 34" vertical), but decent pales in comparison to the measureables recorded by the other reliable targets (Steve Smith, Anthony Gonzalez, Mike Walker). His hands are far from impeccable, which also really hurts the stock of a possession type WR who is known more for his polish than his tools.

NFL Comparison: Jason Avant

Listen to the talk with Rhema at the Senior Bowl.

It's a real shame Price wasn't invited to the combine, because his reported numbers would have lit up Indy. He will work out at the South Carolina pro day next week, and confirmation of his 4.4 40 speed, 11' broad jump and 40" vertical will definitely get scouts attention. Don't think that he's just a tools guy - Price led all of Division I with 103 catches this year.

NFL Comparison: Nate Burleson

Listen to the talk with Maurice at the Texas Vs. The Nation game.

Williams flashes first round physical tools and natural ability on one play, and doesn't even seem to want to be on the field the next. He is frustrating to watch, and he will be frustrating to coach, but that won't stop a team from taking him on the second day.

NFL Comparison: Chad Johnson, but Playing with a Fresh Concussion

Listen to the talk with Paul at the Senior Bowl.

Here's your best hands catcher of the entire class. I get the impression that Ball could carry on a conversation about astrophysics while catching balls from a juggs machine and not miss a beat - he seems to have completely internalized his technique to the point where he doesn't think any more (except when he was nervous on NFL Day at the Shrine Game). Ball may not be quick or fast enough to be more than a 3rd WR, but he will help his team convert third downs and make a few highlight catches a year.

NFL Comparison: Mike Hass in a Wiry Frame

Listen to the talk with David at the Shrine Game.

Jones is rugged, deceptively athletic, and rising up draft boards. He had an excellent North-South game and combine, and should be a nice 2nd day pick in a deep WR class. His punt return ability should ensure that he hears his name called in New York.

NFL Comparison: Average Sized Brandon Marshall

Taylor's low ranking should show how deep this WR class is. There's nothing wrong with Taylor, it's just that he has no outstanding tools or areas of his game. He's the type of WR that will hang around on a roster and contribute in 4 WR sets, and maybe even look decent filling in for an injured starter, but he's simply average. Not a wasted pick, but very unlikely to outperform his draft position. He might go in the top 12-15 WR at the draft, because he's a safe investment, but I prefer upside.

NFL Comparison: A Disappointing Spurrier WR (Travis Taylor, Taylor Jacobs)

Clowney can fly (4.36 40 at the combine), and he's at least adequate when it comes to being a natural receiver, but his slight build will doom him to slot WR duties because press coverage will completely nullify him.

NFL Comparison: Todd Pinkston

If you want a jumpball, Baker is your man. The long-limbed WR also flashed very good quickness numbers (4.19 short shuttle, 6.69 3 cone) at the combine. So why so low? He only looks natural in the air and struggled with body catching on bread and butter routes, he's not strong enough to defeat physical coverage, and he'll almost be 25 when the season starts, meaning that unlike most of these guys, his body has already matured.

NFL Comparison: Justin McCareins if he was built like a Mantis

Worth Mentioning:

Mike Mason, Tennessee State, 6'0" 190 - Mason's combine numbers (4.4 40, 10'9" broad jump, 39.5" vertical, 4.08 short shuttle) showed that the electric WR/KR's knee is healthy, and just might get the former UNC WR (due to a driving with fake license charge) drafted.

Chansi Stuckey, Clemson, 5'11 197 - Stuckey has a waterbug WR game, but he's hasn't tested out with the waterbug quickness and speed that you look for.

Ryne Robinson, Miami-Ohio, 5'9 179 - Ryne should get drafted as a return specialist, and he also has the potential to contribute as a slot receiver.

Syvelle Newton, South Carolina, 6'1 218 - This former QB's strength, quickness and willingness to work hard should mean an NFL career in some capacity, even if the conversion to WR doesn't take.

Listen to the talk with Syvelle at the Shrine Game.

Ryan Moore, Miami-Florida, 6'2 217 - Moore has starters upside with his long frame and excellent body control, but his character problems (including numerous suspensions and an incident where he grabbed a woman by the throat) and inconsistency are huge questions. Insert Bengals joke here.

Chris Davis, Florida State, 5'11 181 - Davis should make a nice end of the roster PR/KR/slot receiver, but there's nothing special about him. He did improve his stock greatly at the postseason all star games and combine.

Jeff Samardzija, Notre Dame, 6'5" 216 - Possibly worth a Drew Henson style late pick to own his rights if his baseball career goes bust.

Matt Trannon, Michigan State, 6'6" 216 - Trannon has a L-O-N-G frame and the hands you would expect from a former standout on the Spartan basketball team, but his game is still very raw.

Jarrett Hicks, Texas Tech, 6'3" 210 - Hicks draft stock has entered a tailspin since peaking in 2004. He has looked sluggish and out of it mentally compared to other prospects in the pre-draft practices and workouts.

Joel Filani, Texas Tech, 6'2" 211 - Filani has outperformed his Red Raider teammate and posted terrific quickness numbers for a long framed WR at his pro day.

Yamon Figurs, Kansas State, 5'11" 174 - Figurs earns a mention for his combine best 4.3 40, but he'll likely be only a return specialist on Sundays.

Chandler Williams, Florida International, 5'11" 184 - Williams is a dynamic athlete, but his game needs a lot of work.

Paul Thompson, Oklahoma, 6'2" 216 - Rhett Bomar's dismissal put Thompson at QB in 2006, but the combine saw him back at WR, showing good quickness.

Legedu Naanee, Boise State, 6'2" 225 - Naanee's speed (4.40 41) and explosion (40" vertical) may get him a look as a 2nd day pick or priority UDFA.

Roy Hall, Ohio State, 6'2" 229 - Hall's speed (4.41 40) and quickness (4.15 short shuttle, 6.63 3 cone) at Ohio State's pro day were outstanding for a big man , but his future might be at TE, if he has a future in the NFL.

Jordan Kent, Oregon, 6'4" 217 - This basketball convert is tall and swift and a rare athlete, but his game is embryonic.

Derek Stanley, Wisconsin-Whitewater, 5'10" 175 - Stanley is slight, but he can burn (reported in the 4.3s) and reportedly runs terrific routes. He was unable to open up the throttle at his recent pro day because of a hamstring injury, so it'll be interesting to see if anyone spends a draft pick on the speed merchant.