Add one other membership to the rising checklist of groups on the lookout for a large receiver within the 2024 NFL Draft following Wednesday morning’s blockbuster commerce that despatched star receiver Stefon Diggs from the Buffalo Payments to the Houston Texans.
The Payments are left with Curtis Samuel as their high WR possibility, doubtless signaling they’ll both take a wideout with the No. 28 general decide or package deal that decide with just a few others to maneuver up and seize a WR they’ve rated greater than the late 20s.
As many as eight to 10 receivers might come off the board within the first spherical, so right here’s a mini WR mock of which gamers might land the place. (Be aware: this train was achieved with all groups holding their present draft picks with no trades for rostered gamers like Tee Higgins or Brandon Aiyuk)
No. 4 general | Marvin Harrison Jr., Arizona Cardinals
Receiver is Arizona’s greatest space of want, and if the Cardinals need quarterback Kyler Murray to not should run for his life on each drop again, they should give him a official weapon. Harrison Jr. could be the Cardinals’ WR1 from Day 1, and he has the proper mixture of pace, dimension, power and pedigree to shortly develop right into a top-flight receiver and kind a robust 1-2 punch with Murray.
He was tied for third within the nation in touchdowns (14) and ranked tenth in receiving yards (1,211). He led all receivers with 65 or extra catches with an 18.1 yards-per-reception common. Harrison Jr. has been considered the highest WR prospect of the final decade, and taking him is the simplest alternative the Cardinals could make (if this decide isn’t traded to a group transferring up for a QB).
No. 5 general | Malik Nabers, Los Angeles Chargers
With no Keenan Allen or Mike Williams, Chargers QB Justin Herbert goes to want somebody to throw the ball to. Some scouts have not too long ago stated Nabers is a greater prospect than Harrison Jr., and if that’s true, he may very well be a steal for L.A. at fifth general.
The Chargers’ high receivers proper now are Joshua Palmer (38 receptions,, 581 yards, two touchdowns) and Quentin Johnston (38 receptions, 431 yards, two touchdowns). Whereas each are advantageous gamers, neither is on Nabers stage proper now, they usually’re each higher suited to No. 2 or 3 roles. Including Nabers provides Herbert a bona-fide No. 1 possibility and a pleasant constructing block for Jim Harbaugh’s new offense.
No. 6 general | Rome Odunze, New York Giants
If a QB falls previous No. 3, the Giants might simply transfer up and get him. However for this train, they keep put and fill a obvious space of want. Regardless of main the NCAA in yards (1,640) and tying for sixth in touchdowns (13), Odunze nonetheless feels underrated because the No. 3 receiver within the 2024 class. In some other 12 months, he’d doubtless be the primary wideout off the board.
Daniel Jones doubtless isn’t in New York’s long-term plans, however whether or not it’s him or Drew Lock underneath heart in 2024, one of the best factor the Giants can do is give him a legit weapon to throw to.
No. 9 general | Brian Thomas Jr., Chicago Bears
Odunze can be a picture-perfect slot in Chicago to pair with presumed No. 1 general decide Caleb Williams and present huge receivers D.J. Moore and Keenan Allen, however since he doubtless shall be passed by then, Thomas Jr. is the next-best possibility.
At 6-foot-4 and 205 kilos, Thomas Jr. could be the jump-ball specialist within the slot with Moore and Allen serving as the highest choices out huge. He led the nation with 17 landing catches, and his dimension and skill to create and use leverage could be a superb software for Chicago within the crimson zone.
No. 18 general | Adonai Mitchell, Cincinnati Bengals
Cincy has at the least another 12 months to make a run with Joe Burrow, Ja’Marr Chase and Higgins, who’s set to play on the franchise tag in 2024, however after that, the Bengals want to organize for all times after Higgins. And that begins with discovering his substitute this 12 months on a less expensive, way more reasonably priced contract (they’ll should pay Chase a monster extension after subsequent season).
Mitchell can do the entire identical issues Higgins does with way more pace (he ran a 4.34 within the 40-yard sprint on the mix). Mitchell runs nice routes with glorious timing and fluidity, he catches seemingly every thing that’s thrown his approach and he has nice ball-tracking abilities. The Bengals couldn’t hand-pick a greater Higgins substitute.
No. 20 general | Ladd McConkey, Pittsburgh Steelers
After buying and selling Diontae Johnson to the Carolina Panthers, the Steelers want to seek out one other playmaker to pair with George Pickens. McConkey has arguably one of the best palms of any WR within the draft, he has a superb route tree, he fares nicely in man protection and he could be a safety-net for both Russell Wilson or Justin Fields, whoever the starter finally ends up being.
Giving new offensive coordinator Arthur Smith one other weapon to work with will solely make Pittsburgh’s offense extra harmful in the long term.
No. 28 general | Keon Coleman, Buffalo Payments
With Diggs out, Josh Allen wants a brand new weapon to throw to. Curtis Samuel was a advantageous free-agent addition, however he’s not a No. 1 wideout. Coleman is 6-foot-4 and 216 kilos, and he has arguably one of the best playmaking potential of any WR on this draft.
Coleman thrives making the robust catches that nobody else can. He doesn’t shrink back from physicality and he performs above-the-rim greater than most receivers. He’s agile, aggressive, can work the center of the sector simply in addition to he can down low and his dimension makes him robust to sort out within the open subject. Coleman can have a Deebo Samuel-like impression in offensive coordinator Joe Brady’s offense catching passes from Allen.
No. 30 general | Xavier Worthy, Baltimore Ravens
Odell Beckham Jr. was a little bit of a disappointment final season, which is why he wasn’t provided one other contract. Zay Flowers, however, had a breakout rookie 12 months and shortly grew to become Lamar Jackson’s favourite weapon. Drafting a speedy undersized receiver labored nicely final 12 months, why not return to the nicely once more this 12 months?
Worthy set an NFL Scouting Mix file along with his 4.21 40-yard sprint time, and he has the pace and explosiveness to take the highest off any protection. He excels at creating and discovering area and he’s a nightmare to attempt to single cowl due to his pace. Pairing Worthy with Jackson, Flowers and tight finish Mark Andrews in Todd Monken’s offense could be downright unfair.
No. 32 general | Xavier Legette, Kansas Metropolis Chiefs
With Rashee Rice’s current authorized troubles, including one other receiver simply grew to become much more necessary for Kansas Metropolis. Legette has 4.3 pace, and at 6-foot-3, 227 kilos, he’s a receiver no person desires to sort out within the open subject. Not solely can he outrun most defenses, however Legette has the scale and physicality to punish opposing defenses and rack up yards after the catch.
Patrick Mahomes proved this 12 months that he doesn’t want a star WR to win a Tremendous Bowl, however simply because he can do it doesn’t imply the Chiefs ought to make him do it. Travis Kelce will get his numbers, however exterior of him (and Rice when he’s not allegedly leaving the scene of motorcar accidents) the Ok.C. offense doesn’t have any true playmakers. Drafting Legette solves that downside.
