Rating the top receivers in the 2016 NFL Draft
Included in measurables are height, weight, age they turn this year (if available) and 40-yard-dash time.
1. LAQUON TREADWELL, Mississippi
Measurables: 6-2, 221, 21, 4.63
Bio: Three-year starter who caught 82 passes for 1,153 yards and 11 touchdowns in 2015. Declared after junior season.
Consensus: Is young for a prospect. Bounced back after a broken leg suffered during his sophomore season. Has a big body, great length (33 3/8 -inch arms) and natural hands. Timed speed isn’t great; didn’t run at the combine, but his play speed is better than his timed speed. Is not an elite athlete but has a natural feel for the position. Has a great feel for getting open. Can win contested balls. Has a knack for going up and getting it and is courageous working over the middle. Is strong and physically tough to press at the line of scrimmage. Willing, competitive blocker who flashes some nastiness and gives great effort. Shows some burst off the line of scrimmage; solid route runner.
Grade: 6.9
2. JOSH DOCTSON, TCU
Measurables: 6-2, 202, 24, 4.50
Bio: Three-year starter who caught 79 passes for 1,327 yards and 14 touchdowns in 2015. Transferred from Wyoming in 2012.
Consensus: Productive receiver who satisfied questions about his speed with a solid 40-yard dash at the combine but is not a burner and lacks some shake. Still has lots of upside as a possession receiver. Has large hands (9 7/8 inches) and showed extreme comfort hauling in passes during combine drills. Has a large catch radius and consistently won 50-50 balls in college. Showed good athleticism at the combine; performed well in the vertical jump (41 inches), broad jump (131 inches), 20-yard shuttle (4.08) and 60-yard shuttle (11.06). Knows how to track and locate the football. Soid route runner.
Grade: 6.9
3. COREY COLEMAN, Baylor
Measurables: 5-11, 194, 22, 4.37
Bio: Three-year starter who caught 74 passes for 1,363 yards and 20 touchdowns in 2015, when he won the Biletnikoff Award as the nation’s top receiver. Is coming off hernia surgery.
Consensus: Did not run at the combine but posted good marks in the bench (17 reps), vertical (40 1/2 inches) and broad jump (129 inches). Has outstanding deep speed with a natural ability to take the top off the defense. Big-play receiver with excellent production. Can track and locate the deep ball. Elusive with the ball in his hands; agile with good vision and some shake. Not terribly interested in blocking, but Baylor coaches its receivers that way.
Grade: 6.9
4. WILL FULLER, Notre Dame
Measurables: 6-0, 186, 22, 4.32
Bio: Two-year starter who caught 62 passes for 1,258 yards and 14 touchdowns in 2015. Declared after junior season.
Consensus: Outstanding production with electric, home-run deep speed; ran a blistering 40-yard dash at the combine. Can take the top off a defense; defenses will have to account for him. Possesses very good athleticism; has great burst off the line of scrimmage. Has some shake to him. Has small hands (8 1/4 inches) and a small catch radius. Isn’t an elite route runner but runs the deep route tree well and would be best served by going to a team with a quarterback that can uncork the deep ball. Lacks the bulk and strength to be a great blocker or consistently work the short middle. Has some focus drops.
Grade: 6.8
5. MICHAEL THOMAS, Ohio State
Measurables: 6-3, 212, 23, 4.57
Bio: Two-year starter who caught 56 passes for 781 yards and nine touchdowns in 2015. Is the nephew of former Jets and Bucs star receiver Keshawn Johnson. Declared after true junior season.
Consensus: Had a formal interview with the Chiefs at the NFL combine. Big body with big hands (10 1/2 inches). Posted 18 reps on the bench press. Nice combination of size, strength and overall athleticism. Not an elite athlete but finds a way to create separation. Flashes the ability to be a good route runner. Flashes the ability to make the tough catch over the middle and win 50/50 balls. Could give more consistent effort as a blocker.
Grade: 6.8
Others to watch: Tyler Boyd, Pittsburgh; Leonte Carroo, Rutgers; Pharoh Cooper, South Carolina; Braxton Miller, Ohio State; Sterling Shepard, Oklahoma.
GRADING SCALE
7.5-7.1: Top 10 pick
7.0: 11-20
6.9: 21-32
6.8: Top half of the second
6.7: Bottom half of the second
6.6: Top half of the third
6.5: Bottom half of the third
6.4: Fourth round pick
6.3: Fifth-round pick
6.2: Sixth-round pick
6.1: Seventh-round pick
6.0: Priority free agent
5.9: Non-prospect
NOTE: All rankings are based on a combination of extensive personal film study, interviews conducted with draft analysts and information gleaned from NFL Network draft broadcasts. Evaluations are cross-checked with multiple draft resources. Measurements and testing results are from the combine and pro days, according to NFL.com. Grades are assigned based on where each player could be drafted.
This story was originally published April 25, 2016 at 8:40 PM with the headline "Rating the top receivers in the 2016 NFL Draft."