NFL Draft Preview: Wide Receivers
Posted: Tue Apr 19, 2005 6:17 pm
NFL Draft Preview: Wide Receivers
By Jason Powell, Associate Editor
April 19, 2005 5:00 PM ET
Seven wide receivers were selected in the first round of the 2004 draft. This year, at least five wideouts are will be selected in round one. After watching rookie receivers such as Michael Clayton, Roy Williams, and Lee Evans post big numbers last year, fantasy owners would be wise to pay close attention to this year's rookie crop, which might even feature the first overall pick in the draft.
Braylon Edwards, Michigan
Height: 6-3
Weight: 211
Likely Draft Position: Top Five Pick
Possible Destinations: 49ers, Dolphins, Browns, Bears
NFL Comparison: Terrell Owens
Widely regarded as the top wideout in the Class of 2005, Edwards appears to be the total package. He has the size, speed, and hands that scouts are drooling over. He wore the coveted No. 1 at Michigan, which traditionally is awarded to the Wolverine who shows the most promise and fits the description of team leader. Braylon hauled in 39 touchdown passes during his last three seasons in college, and topped the 1,000-yard mark in each of those campaigns. He bettered his reception numbers from year-to-year, capping off his college days with 97 grabs in 2004.
The downside on Edwards is that he has been known to take plays off. Like Randy Moss, he has a reputation for becoming easily distracted and even withdrawn from the game if his number isn't called early and often. That being said, those issues were bigger factors earlier in Edwards' career, and he did his best to shed that image during his senior season.
Braylon's father Stanley also played at Michigan and spent time in the NFL with the Oilers and Lions. Although we have Braylon going to the Bears with the No. 4 overall pick in our latest mock draft, it wouldn't shock us if he was the first overall pick this weekend. He's still in the mix of candidates the 49ers are considering with that pick, and there is always a chance that another team will trade with the Niners so that they can acquire Braylon.
Mike Williams, USC
Height: 6-5
Weight: 229
Likely Draft Position: Top 10 Pick
Possible Destinations: Bears, Buccaneers, Titans, Vikings
NFL Comparison: Jimmy Smith, Plaxico Burress
Although former Ohio State running back Maurice Clarett will be best remembered for his failed attempt to enter the 2004 draft, Williams was another player who was declared ineligible after the league won a lawsuit that prevented underclassmen from being included. Unlike Clarett, Williams didn't sour his reputation by wining about his predicament. Instead, he returned to school in hopes that the NCAA would give him another year of eligibility. When his case was turned down, Mike still didn't make a fuss, he simply enrolled at Cris Carter's training center in Boca Raton, Florida, where he worked on his speed and route running.
The time Williams spent with Carter didn't exactly help his cause at the scouting combine, where he ran a 4.6-second 40-yard dash. He cut his time to a 4.59 during his pro day workout, but that still wasn't enough to fend off fears that he lacks the speed to gain separation from NFL cornerbacks. The lack of speed wasn't an issue at the collegiate level where Mike hauled in 176 receptions for 2,570 yards and 30 touchdowns in just two seasons. However, the biggest concern some scouts have with Williams is that he'll eat his way out of the wide receiver position and into a role as a tight end. The former Trojan has gone out of his way to shoot down those concerns by assuring everyone that he is a wide receiver, but the same size that intrigues some coaches might keep Williams out of the top five on draft day.
Troy Williamson, South Carolina
Height: 6-1
Weight: 203
Likely Draft Position: Mid First Round
Possible Destinations: Chargers, Texans, Panthers
NFL Comparison: Lee Evans
The stock of this former Gamecock is rising faster than any wideout. He was originally projected as a top-20 pick before speculation began that the Panthers would take the speedy wideout with the No. 14 pick. It hasn't stopped there for Williamson, who is now rumored to be heading to the Chargers with the No. 12 overall pick. Troy has the best speed of any receiver at the draft, as his 4.38-second time in the 40-yard dash shows. He's also developed a reputation for making circus catches throughout his college career. At the very least, Troy should contribute on special teams during his rookie season, as he held a 24.7-yard kickoff return average last year.
One knock against Williamson is that he lacks the discipline to run the shorter routes properly. Some scouts feel that he is an "all or nothing" type receiver. He's not the type of player who will take plays off, but he does need to improve his route running to be more than a deep ball threat at the pro level. Then again, scouts had the same concerns when Randy Moss was a rookie, and it didn't take long for the Raiders' wideout to fine-tune his short game. Our biggest concern is that Troy won't be strong enough to break away from physical defenders who look to jam him at the line of scrimmage. Williamson finished his college career with 91 receptions for 1,754 yards and 13 touchdowns, which are well below the numbers produced by Edwards and Williams in college.
Mark Clayton, Oklahoma
Height: 5-10
Weight: 193
Likely Draft Position: Late First Round
Possible Destinations: Vikings, Cowboys, Broncos
NFL Comparison: Derrick Mason, Santana Moss
It's hard not to like Clayton, who started 36 games for the Sooners and set school records with 221 receptions, 3,241 yards, and 31 touchdown receptions during his collegiate career. However, the numbers are only part of the reason we have a soft spot for Mark, who was nominated for the Football Writers Association's Most Courageous Award for joining teammate Lynn McGruder in pulling victims of a serious car accident to safety last summer. Big numbers and a selfless act to boot? That's almost unheard of in this era of selfish wide receivers who take plays off or complain about their contracts even though they are only one year removed from signing a seven-year deal.
The former Sooner runs a 4.41 in the 40-yard dash. That's not Moss fast like Williamson, but it's still an excellent time. The concern of scouts is that Clayton isn't big enough to be a legitimate threat in the red zone, which should raise red flags for fantasy owners. The perceived lack of size and strength could also prevent him from getting off the line of scrimmage when he faces physical receivers. Nevertheless, his weaknesses were not exposed at the Senior Bowl back in January. Although he was held to just two receptions for 25 yards during the game, Clayton turned heads throughout the practice week and secured his standing as a first-round selection.
Roddy White, UAB
Height: 6-1
Weight: 201
Likely Draft Position: Late First Round
Possible Destinations: Vikings, Cowboys, Broncos
NFL Comparison: Ashley Lelie, Nate Burleson
No, he didn't grow up in Scotland. Roddy is short for Sharod. Now that we have that out of the way, let's talk about the Rowdy One. White turned in three ordinary seasons for the Blazers before exploding for 71 receptions for 1,452 yards and 14 touchdowns during his senior season. He also produced a 20-yard per reception average throughout his final two seasons at UAB. Although Roddy is a deep threat with 4.45 speed, he maintained that 20-yard average with his elusiveness after the catch, which is where the comparison to Burleson stems from. On the other hand, he is more promising than polished at this stage in his career, which is why we also liken him to Lelie who was a project coming out of college.
The Hot Rod has to improve his blocking to be successful at the pro level. He suffered with this element of his game to the extent that he was often pulled from the field during running plays. Some scouts believe White's blocking struggles were the product of laziness rather than lack of talent, which could move him down some draft boards. The question now is whether White is enough of a project that a team will pass on him in favor of the ultimate project Matt Jones, the former Arkansas quarterback who is converting to wideout.
Other wide receivers to watch: Matt Jones (Arkansas), Roscoe Parrish (Miami-FLA), Reggie Brown (Georgia), Jerome Mathis (Hampton), Chris Henry (West Virginia).