The draft can be a blind dart throw. That’s why good teams try to get as many bites of the draft apple as possible. Even in the best draft rooms, picks are often extremely educated guesses. It’s why we have busts in the NFL. That’s the way it is. The 2016 NFL wide receiver class is an example that even the best draft rooms can miss on a prospect. The Saints Michael Thomas — he of the giant new contract — was one of those dart throws for New Orleans in 2016. The thing is, every other wide receiver dart that was thrown before the Thomas pick basically missed the board.
The following five wide receivers were chosen before Thomas in 2016.
Corey Coleman, New York Giants
Corey Coleman is on the New York Giants now, but that’s not the team that drafted him. That honor goes to the Cleveland Browns. Last year, Coleman went from the Browns to the Bills. He couldn’t stick there even though they didn’t have much depth at the wideout position. He then went to the Patriots and was cut when New England landed Josh Gordon. Coleman finally ended up on the Giants where he was going to be part of their attack this year . . . and tore his ACL in training camp. He has 789 yards receiving and five touchdowns in his career. That’s half a season for Thomas.
Will Fuller V, Houston Texans
Fuller V hasn’t played in 16 games in a single season since he was drafted. He is a great second option — behind the amazing DeAndre Hopkins — and Fuller V and Deshaun Watson have a great connection on the field. At one point last year, Fuller had scored a touchdown in all six games they played together. He can stretch the field with his speed and has averaged 14.6 yards per reception in his career. He’s coming off an ACL tear from last year, but that injury was in October which hopefully means he comes back full strength as the Texans make a push for another AFC South division title. The good news for Fuller V is that the Texans already picked up his fifth-year option.
Josh Doctson, Washington Redskins
Doctson’s career numbers are worse than a standard season from Thomas. He has 1100 yards, 81 receptions, and eight touchdowns in 33 games. He’s been a disappointment to many Redskins fans. The former TCU player has what seems to be all the physical tools, but he hasn’t put it together. Maybe Dwayne Haskins — or Case Keenum if he wins the kob — can help him produce. Washington did not pick up Docton’s fifth-year option, so he needs a big year if he’s hoping for any type of multi-year contract.
Laquon Treadwell, Minnesota Vikings
Treadwell is in the running with Coleman for the worst of the bunch from the early rounds in 2016. Some of his lack of production might not be all his fault since he’s been stuck behind Adam Thielen and Stefon Diggs since he landed in Minnesota. Treadwell has 56 catches for 517 yards and one touchdown in his career. There were some warning signs for the Ole Miss product in the combine. He ran a 4.6 forty-yard dash, but the Vikings felt his tape was good enough to pick him in the first round. Currently, it has not played out as a good pick for Minnesota.
Sterling Shepard, New York Giants
Shepard has probably been the second-best wide receiver in the 2016 class. He’s been better than Fuller based on availability alone. Sometimes the best ability is availability and Shepard has been durable for New York. He has had a very good three-year career with 190 catches for 2,286 yards receiving, and 14 TDs. Shepard has earned the job of the Giants No. 1 receiver. Shepard signed a four-year $41 million extension this offseason. He’s still no Thomas, but not many wide receivers are.
