The 15 Best Wide Receivers in the 2024 NFL Draft

I get into my Top 10 Wide Receivers for the 2024 #NFL #Draft
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Information:
GRADING SCALE (OVR)
8.0 Perfect Prospect
7.5 Day 1 Perennial All-Pro
7.3 Day 1 High End Starter And Likely All-Pro
7.0 Day 1 Quality Starter And Potential All-Pro
6.9 Day 1 Starter With All Pro Upside
6.8 Day 1 Starter With High End Starter Upside
6.6 Day 1 Starter - Unlikely High End Starter
6.5 Boom Or Bust
6.3-6.4 Likely Starter Within First Two Seasons
6.1-6.2 Day 1 Backup With Starter Upside
6.0 Day 1 Backup / Special Teamer - Developmental Traits Based Prospect 5.8-5.9 Day 1 Backup / Special Teamer - Limited Physical Upside 5.5-5.6 Day 1 Roster Bubble or Practice Squader
5.4 Priority Free Agent
5.0 Chance To Be In An NFL Camp
Under 5.0 Needs Time In A Developmental League
WR Traits
- Agility: Footspeed in release package, at the top of routes, and as a ball carrier.
- Speed: Top speed
- Change of Direction (COD): Ability to change directions without sacrificing speed
- Acceleration: Time to Top Speed
- Short Routes: Ability to separate on short routes: Slants, Sticks, Whips, Short Ins, Speed Outs, Etc.
- Intermediate Routes: Ability to separate on intermediate routes: Digs, Outs, Crossers, Hitches, Etc.
- Long Routes: Ability to separate on deeper developing routes: Posts, Go's, Corners, 15 Yard Comebacks, Double Moves, Etc.
- Release: Ability to separate from press-jam coverage
- Hands Consistency: Player's to avoid drops; players who are hands-catchers (not body-catchers) will receive higher grades
- Catch In Traffic: Ability to catch the ball through tight coverage and physical contact or to hold onto the ball in traffic after getting hit
- Catch Radius: Receiver's range to catch inaccurate passes, come down with low percentage catches, make spectacular catches along the sideline and/or high point the ball through leaping ability, reach, body control, and instincts.
- Run After Catch: Ability to quickly transition into a runner after the catch & to create difficult yardage after the catch
WR Role Fit
Alpha: Receiver with a chance, in a best case scenario, to be a scheme proof, true #1 Wide Receiver who can threaten to all three levels, running any route, from the the outside or from the slot. "Alpha Potential" will be noted when the player has a lot still to prove and work on in the league.
Ideal Architype: Justin Jefferson / Davante Adams
X: A big bodied, perimeter player who's #1 requirement is to work the sidelines and provide a large target for the Quarterback. The ability to play through physical coverage, win on stop routes, comebackers, backshoulders, and digs as well as to convert a high percentage of contested catches are requirements for players in this mold. The ability to stack corners vertically is a huge plus, but not a requirement.
Ideal Architype: Tee Higgins / Mike Evans
Route Runner: A receiver who's #1 quality is his ability to separate who coaches can rely on getting open early and often from various alignments and against any sort of coverage. Players in this mold must be able to separate from the slot, from the outside, short, intermediate, and deep... and against both press and off-coverage. Size, hands consistency, and perhaps run after catch are likely weaknesses in this players' games which keep him outside of the "Alpha" mold.
Ideal Architype: Jerry Jeudy / Tank Dell
Vertical: Traditional deep threat specialist on the outside, receiver who specializes in running Go's, Posts, and Stop routes.
Ideal Architype: Desean Jackson
Balanced: Effective receivers who lack true stand-out traits and ideal ways to utilize them but have good skill and, more importantly, a lack of true weaknesses in their game.
Ideal Architype: Keenan Allen
Slot: Receivers who will be best utilized from the slot who can become available for the Quarterback quickly by separating early or by finding soft spots in zones. Often smaller receivers who can be schemed out of having to face press coverage by playing from the slot, with motion, or from stacked alignments.
Ideal Architype: Julian Edelman / Amon-Ra St. Brown
Big Slot: Big bodied wide receivers who can play anywhere on the field but are at their best working the middle of the field with mismatch ability on Safeties and Linebackers as well as the toughness to attack balls in traffic in the intermediate middle and to create difficult yards after catch with a lower average depth of target.
Ideal Architype: Marques Colston / Cooper Kupp
Playmaker: Receivers who are excellent after the catch, but might need plays drawn up to scheme up touches due to a lack of route running or size to be consistent seperators.
Ideal Architype: Deebo Samuel