Who Is the Best Wide Receiver in the 2020 NFL Draft Class?
Wide receiver might be the most polarizing position in the 2020 NFL draft class. There’s a ton of elite talent at the top of the group, but no one seems to agree on the best receiver of the bunch. We know Joe Burrow will go first to the Bengals and Chase Young will be the first defensive player off the board, but it’s anyone’s guess as to which wideout gets selected first. So, who are the top receivers in the draft and who should be picked first?
There will be at least 4 receivers taken in the first round of the NFL draft
Although almost every mock draft has a different wide receiver going first in the NFL draft, they all seem to agree that at least four will hear their name called Thursday night.
The top four consensus wideouts seem to be CeeDee Lamb from Oklahoma, Henry Ruggs III from Alabama, Jerry Jeudy also from Alabama, and Justin Jefferson from LSU. Most mock drafts have Lamb, Ruggs III, and Jeudy taken inside the top 20, with Jefferson sliding in somewhere in the back half of the first round.
There could be a fifth or even sixth receiver taken on Thursday, but it’s not clear who it would be. Clemson’s Tee Higgins could easily sneak into the first round. He’s even ranked ahead of Jefferson on some draft boards. If Higgins isn’t taken in the first round, he will be an early selection on day two.
Arizona State’s Brandon Aiyuk is another name some teams could fall in love with. Aiyuk made a huge jump last year for the Sun Devils, but he’s only 5-foot-11.
TCU’s Jalen Reagor, as well as Notre Dame’s Chase Claypool, could also jump into the first round, but it’s unlikely.
The 2020 NFL draft class has a clear top 3 at WR
Despite all the debate, almost anyone you ask has the top three receivers in the class graded in another league than the rest. Lamb, Ruggs III, and Jeudy are the three best WRs in the draft and will most likely be the first three off the board Thursday.
Lamb had 62 catches for 1,327 yards and 14 touchdowns last season at Oklahoma. He had a slower 40-yard dash (4.50) than the Alabama standouts, but his sure hands and crisp route running should vault him to a top-15 pick.
For Ruggs III, there’s one number you need to know: 4.27. The seventh-fastest 40 time in NFL combine history. Take another look. 4.27. That’s blazing fast. Like, almost Usain Bolt fast. Bolt ran a 4.22 last year, and Ruggs just missed that by a few tenths of a second.
Although Ruggs III has better speed, Jeudy is the better all-around prospect out of Alabama. Jeudy is still lightning-fast, and he might be an even more dangerous threat after the catch than Ruggs III. His quickness and elusiveness in the open field make him a game-breaker poised to go in the top 15.
Who is the best wide receiver in the 2020 NFL draft?
You can’t really go wrong with any of the top three receiver prospects, but everyone wants to know who the true No. 1 wideout is in 2020.
If you want take-it-to-the-house speed, Ruggs III is your guy. If you’re more into sharp route running and elusiveness in the open field, Jeudy is the man for you. However, if you want the best combination of size, great hands, quickness, and star potential, CeeDee Lamb has it all.
Lamb is a polished receiver prospect who can contribute heavily in year one. Scouts at WalterFootball.com are comparing Lamb to NFL studs such as DeAndre Hopkins and Davante Adams. He has the potential to become a top receiver in the NFL down the road, and he should be the first wide receiver selected Thursday.
