Nearly three dozen wideouts have gone in the first round of the NFL Draft in the 2010s. There have been elite receivers such as Julio Jones and A.J. Green and total flameouts among the group. A look at how they grade out.
2010: Demaryius Thomas
Demariyus Thomas was the No. 1 WR in Denver for many years. He’s bounced around since the 2018 trade deadline, but that should not take away from his accomplishments with the Broncos. Grade; B-plus
Dez Bryant
Dez Bryant wore his emotions on his 88 jersey. He had peak seasons from 2012-14. However, there were enough distractions and complaints to take away from his overall production. Grade: B-minus
2011: A.J. Green
The only unfortunate thing about A.J. Green’s career is he has been saddled as a Bengal throughout. One of the elite WRs of this or any class. Injuries have derailed his production as he has played in 10 or less games in three of the last four years, including 2019. Grade: A
Julio Jones
Another fantastic wideout is Julio Jones, who the Falcons wisely traded up to draft in the sixth slot. He’s been Matt Ryan’s go-to guy from the git-go. Jones is pretty much unstoppable and always draws the toughest DB or double coverage. A great one. Grade: A-plus
Jonathan Baldwin
Drafted out of Pitt, Baldwin never delivered the way the 26th overall pick was expected to perform. He played two seasons in KC and a slice of one in SF. Grade: F
2012: Justin Blackmon
An utter disaster as the fifth overall pick out of Oklahoma State. One day someone will catch up with Justin Blackmon and do a longform on his life and crumbled career. Abuse issues, suspensions. A pick the Jags will rue for years. Grade: F
Michael Floyd
When you are chosen as the 13th overall pick out of Notre Dame, the hopes are for a long career with the team that chose you. Arizona did not get that in Michael Floyd, who has been troubled throughout. He’s on his sixth team and is basically a journeyman. Grade: C-minus
Kendall Wright
Kendall Wright made 84 of his 280 catches in his second year as a Titan. The 20th overall pick out of Baylor saw his numbers drop in Tennessee until he turned up in Chicago in 2017, when he finished his career with a 59-catch season. Grade: C
A.J. Jenkins
A.J. Jenkins was the 30th overall pick out of Illinois. He had 0 catches as a Niner and 17 in his entire career. A bust of busts. Grade: F
2013: Tavon Austin
Tavon Austin had 194 catches with the Rams in five seasons. He has had far more impact as a returner. Currently with the Cowboys, where his receiving production is negligible. Grade: C
Deandre Hopkins
The Texans got a great one when they chose Deandre Hopkins out of Clemson with the 27th selection. One of the top wideouts and arguably the person with the best hands at the position in the NFL, Hopkins is in the elite class. Grade: A-plus
Cordarrelle Patterson
Drafted out of Tennessee, Cordarrelle Patterson has done decent work receiving but most of his stellar performance has been as a kickoff returner. He remains a threat to take kicks back all the way in every game. Grade: C-plus
2014: Sammy Watkins
Sammy Watkins came to the Bills from Clemson with the fourth overall pick. He was dinged up and has battle injuries throughout his career. The Bills moved him to the Rams after a few years and after one with the Rams he has landed in a good spot in Kansas City. Still, not what one would expect out of a pick that high. Grade: C
Mike Evans
Mike Evans came to the Bucs from Texas A&M. He’s got size and strength and is difficult to cover. The biggest obstacle to a great career has been the quarterbacks throwing for Evans, who was a seventh overall pick. He has gone over 1,000 yards in every pro season. Grade: B-plus
Odell Beckham Jr.
The talent would be on the high-scale of grades. Factor in the moods, distraction and antics and you have to knock the former LSU WR down a grade. He’s having similar issues in Cleveland that led to his exodus from the Giants. Grade: B
Brandin Cooks
The fact Brandin Cooks is on his third team is truly one of the more bizarre stories in the NFL. The 20th pick by the Saints out of Oregon State, he has consistently produced in New Orleans, New England and now with the Rams. He has four consecutive 1,000-yard seasons heading into this year. That run could end as he is battling concussion issues. Grade: B-plus
Kelvin Benjamin
Kelvin Benjamin had his best year as a rookie in Carolina when he made 73 catches for 1,008 yards. Drafted 26th overall out of Florida State, he simply has not lived up to hopes. Grade: D
2015:Amari Cooper
Amari Cooper has benefited greatly from the trade from Oakland to Dallas. He had a couple great years with the Raiders, saw his numbers tumble as the team did. Upon arrival in Dallas, Cooper has become the great wideout expected when drafted fourth overall out of Alabama. Grade: B-plus
Kevin White
Often injured and never able to get his career in gear, Kevin White turned out to be a colossal bust after being chosen by the Bears out of West Virginia seventh overall. He had 25 catches in his NFL career. Grade: F
DeVante Parker
DeVante Parker has yet to play a full season with the Dolphins, who drafted him out of Louisville. His top production was 57 catches in 2017. Not having a strong QB has hurt and Miami has been rancid, but you can only blame other things so much. Grade: C-minus
Nelson Agholor
Nelson Agholor got plenty of publicity in 2019 for being name-dropped by the hero who saved children from a fire in Philadelphia. The former USC star has been consistent, but not great with the Eagles. He had a career-high of 64 catches last season. More of a role player in the passing attack than a star. Grade: C
Breshad Perriman
Breshad Perriman has blazing speed but it has not transitioned to success at the NFL level. The lost his rookie season to injury and wound up with 43 catches overall as a Raven. He’s floated from team to team since. Grade: D-minus
Phillip Dorsett
The Colts loved the speed Phillip Dorsett brought from Miami. It didn’t translate in Indy, where he had 51 catches in two seasons before being sent to New England. He’s a spoke in the offensive wheel with the Patriots, not a primary target for Tom Brady. Grade: C
2016: Corey Coleman
A bust of all busts out of Baylor. Corey Coleman washed out in Cleveland, which chose him 15th overall. He has since moved on to the Bills, Patriots and Giants. Coleman tore his ACL in training camp and was lost to Big Blue for the entire season. Grade: F
Will Fuller
Will Fuller’s biggest problem has been staying healthy. He has yet to play a full season with the Texans. That said, Fuller, who played college ball at Notre Dame does average better than 14 yards per catch. Grade: B-minus
Josh Doctson
Josh Doctson was drafted 22nd overall by Washington and did not deliver up to its expectations. He had 81 catches over three seasons and 33 games. Washington gave up on him this season and he wound up in Minnesota, which has put him on IR. Grade: D-minus
Laquon Treadwell
Laquon Treadwell came to the Vikings from Ole Miss. Unfortunately, he has yet to make a dent in the receiving corps. He has been released by Minnesota and re-signed with the team in 2019. Grade: D-minus
2017: Corey Davis
Corey Davis showed promise in 2018, catching 65 passes for 891 yards and a quartet of TDs. The fifth overall pick from Western Michigan has not, however, lived up to being the fifth overall pick. Grade: C
Mike Williams
Mike Williams overcame a neck fracture to be a first-round pick of the Chargers. Injuries have slowed his career as he had 11 catches as rookie. Williams, who played college ball at Clemson, had 43 catches in his second year and is trending a bit ahead of that in 2019. Grade: C
John Ross
After two disappointing seasons, John Ross seemingly found his way through the first four games of the 2019 season. However, he was placed on IR with a shoulder injury. Some things feel as if they are not meant to be. Grade: D
2018: D.J. Moore
The Carolina Panthers used the 24th overall pick to grab D.J. Moore, a wideout from Maryland. He is off to a solid start in the NFL, having made 55 catches as a rookie and continuing to play well in 2019. Grade: B
Calvin Ridley
The Falcons dipped back into Alabama to grab a first-round selection at 26. Calvin Ridley has done a nice job in his time with Atlanta. He’s provided a solid tandem with Julio Jones, a fellow Crimson Tide WR. Grade: B
2019: Marquise Brown
Marquise Brown was drafted 25th overall by the Baltimore Ravens out of Oklahoma. He has recovered from injury and had a solid start to his NFL career. Grade: B-plus
N’Keal Harry
Drafted 32nd overall by the New England Patriots out of Arizona State, Harry has been on IR and has not appeared in a game. Grade: Incomplete
