Wide receivers have been a hot ticket in recent drafts, mostly because they took the league by storm in 2014. Last year, that wasn’t exactly the case with most first-round WRs dealing with injuries and only really Amari Cooper being a factor for his team the entire season.
At this point, only three or four wide receivers are expected to go in the first round of the NFL Draft with none of them projecting to go in the top 20 and that’s partly due to last season’s duds and this year’s crop.
And at the head of this year’s class is a guy that doesn’t jump off the sheet as he lacks explosiveness.
Laquon Treadwell, Houston Texans
The Texans brought in Brock Osweiler, so now they need the pieces to help him live up to the investment. Houston already got a running back in Lamar Miller and have a stud in DeAndre Hopkins, but they need one more piece. Sure, they could go tight end, but throw in two beasts on the edges and no team will have corners that can match up.
In addition, Houston can use Cecil Shorts and second-year receiver Jaelen Strong in the slot. If Strong comes through for the Texans this year, they could end up having one of the best corps in the league. With most of the attention going to Hopkins, Treadwell could step in and be a serviceable WR, as long as they let Osweiler loose.
A lot of people are assuming the Texans will go with speed over size here, but I wouldn’t be so sure.
Josh Doctson, Minnesota Vikings
Mike Zimmer is a defensive coach, but with how bad the Vikings passing game has looked and what little options they have for Teddy Bridgewater to throw to, there’s almost no chance they don’t grab a wide receiver at some point in this draft. So why not grab one that can be a difference maker?
Stefon Diggs built his role on the team last year, but other than him, Bridgewater’s options include Jairis Wright and Charles Johnson. And he doesn’t use Kyle Rudolph nearly enough. With Adrian Peterson aging, they’ll become more reliant on the passing game at some point. Doctson doesn’t have the speed – Diggs has – but he has the size and athleticism to make any number of outlandish catches from Bridgewater’s high passes.
Will Fuller, Cincinnati Bengals
The Bengals lost two starting wide receivers so they have to be looking to add another guy that can start immediately, right? With most attention already going to A.J. Green outside and Tyler Eifert in the seams, Fuller could easily burn past any single coverage he gets with his 4.35-second 40-yard dash speed.
Similar to what Marvin Jones and Mohamed Sanu did at times for the Bengals, Fuller could find a role as a serviceable WR3 in this offense.
Michael Thomas, Cleveland Browns
I already talked about the Browns needing a running back, but they need new players at almost every position these days. No matter whom they have at quarterback, the combination of Taylor Gabriel, Brian Hartline and Andrew Hawkins simply won’t cut it at wide receiver. Gary Barnidge can only do so much and he’ll still be 31 years old at the end of September.
In steps Michael Thomas, who could possibly be the No. 1 WR out of the gate. I would’ve put Corey Coleman here, but Hue Jackson already said their receivers are short and notably complained about it. He wants “bigger, faster guys,” but those types will all be gone unless Browns go wide receiver with an earlier pick.
Thomas brings the size and showed his speed on the field, even though his 4.57 40-yard time wasn’t the best. He has the tools to become a factor immediately. The problem for his fantasy value – and anyone’s on this team – is the quarterback position. Will it be Robert Griffin III or someone else?
Corey Coleman Tennessee Titans
If Coleman is available to the Titans with the 33rd pick, it’s hard to see them passing him up. The Titans added DeMarco Murray to help the run game and they’d be smart to give Marcus Mariota an option that can grow with him. Dorial Green-Beckham and Delanie Walker give him big targets, while Coleman will provide the speed.
Kendall Wright hasn’t lived up to the billing, and while Harry Douglas, Rishard Matthews and Justin Hunter are there, none of them would have the potential that Coleman has.
Coleman has a bit of a dropping issue that wouldn’t fit with Green-Beckham, but his quickness and route running would mesh with Mariota and he could quickly become the quarterback’s favorite target outside of Walker.
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