With just a week until the NFL Draft, it appears the Raiders are setting their sights on a wide receiver in the first round. Whether that be at pick No. 12 or No. 19, it feels unlikely that they will leave the first round of the draft without a receiver.
Today, we are taking a look at five of the top receivers in this draft class and their pro comparisons. While finding pro comps for receivers can be tough, it does give us an idea of the play style and potential ceiling for a prospect. So without further ado, let’s take a look at the comps!
1. CeeDee Lamb – DeAndre Hopkins
If you were to watch even just one game of CeeDee Lamb at Oklahoma, it’s hard not to see the DeAndre Hopkins similarities. Both are tall, skinny receivers that play with a tenacity that you have to admire. Neither player is going to run away from cornerbacks, but they have enough speed to be dynamic after the catch.
What makes Lamb and Hopkins so unique is their relentless nature. Both players run routes with attitude and play like their hair is on fire. Their aggressive mindsets and playstyles are infectious to their teammates, and both have alpha dog traits that allow them to play with supreme confidence.
Lamb doesn’t get enough credit for his route running, but he can create quick separation with ease. He should be able to become a high-end No. 1 receiver within a few years, and if he is in the right offense, he could easily eclipse 1,200 yards by his second season in the NFL. Lamb is the best wide receiver prospect to enter the NFL since Amari Cooper in 2015.
2. Jerry Jeudy – Santonio Holmes
Arguably the best route runner in the class, Jerry Jeudy is one of the most pro-ready receivers to enter the NFL in seasons. But what makes Jeudy’s game unique is how he can fit into just about any offense.
During his 2019 season at Alabama, Jeudy mostly played in the slot and dominated. He totaled 1,163 yards and 10 touchdowns in only 13 games. In 2018, he played on the outside, racking up 1,315 yards and 14 touchdowns in 15 contests.
Jeudy can play all three receiver positions, can down the field and can create instant separation. For that reason, it’s not hard to see some Santonio Holmes in his game.
Holmes never played on elite passing offenses, but his ability to win with speed, quickness and route-running made him one of the most difficult receivers in the league to defend. Like Holmes, Jeudy should have success early in his career given how complete of a player he is.
3. Henry Ruggs III – DeSean Jackson
The most common comparison for Henry Ruggs during this draft cycle has been Tyreek Hill. But Ruggs doesn’t attack the ball in the air or play with the same aggressiveness as Hill. Instead, the better comparison here is DeSean Jackson in his early days in Philadelphia.
At his peak, Jackson was one of the most feared receivers in the NFL. During the 2013 season, he caught 82 passes for 1,332 yards and nine touchdowns. Like Jackson, Ruggs is more than just a speed receiver who wins down the field. But that is why he will be a first-round pick.
In order for Ruggs to reach his ceiling as a player, he will likely need to go a team with a good quarterback and another receiver who can win underneath consistently. But Ruggs’ elite speed and quickness will keep defensive coordinators up at night.
4. Jalen Reagor – Stefon Diggs
One of my favorite comparisons for the entire draft class is Stefon Diggs for Jalen Reagor. Both are undersized receivers who certainly don’t play like as small as their size suggests. Like Diggs, Reagor has the ability to win on the outside and in the slot. They both have the speed to make plays down the field, but they will mostly win after the catch.
Like Diggs, Reagor is probably best suited to be a high-end No. 2 receiver. But both have the ceiling to be WR1s in the right situation. Look for Reagor to be drafted somewhere in the top-50 selections and likely outproduce his draft position.
5. Denzel Mims – Devante Parker
No receiver has improved their draft stock more this offseason than Denzel Mims from Baylor. After destroying the Senior Bowl, Mims tested like an elite athlete that the NFL Combine.
Mims shares a lot of traits with former first-round pick DeVante Parker. Both are 6’3 receivers who ran excellent times given their size. Each can make spectacular catches mid-air but can have some mind-numbing drops from time to time.
Like Parker, Mims may need some time to become a more consistent player in the NFL. He’s not as pro-ready as a few of the names mentioned above, but that doesn’t mean he can’t become a quality NFL starter. Look for Mims to start off slower than Lamb and Jeudy, but to eventually develop into a playmaker like Parker has in Miami.
