Need a wide receiver in a bad way? Your prayers have been answered! Only one problem, there are only two available.
Sure there are many more that will be selected, but Julio Jones and A.J. Green are far about the rest. How far you ask? The Southeastern Conference dynamic duo are both deserving of top 10 selections in tomorrow’s opening round. As for the others, there really is no telling how far into the draft before they are chosen.
Jones and Green were both elite high school prospects that excelled in the SEC. Both added to their aura with outstanding performances at the NFL combine. Most analysts have Green rated as the higher of the two, but Jones’ off the charts performance at the NFL combine leaves some doubt.
Both players statistics were tampered in the run happy SEC. Green brings more leaping ability and straight line speed, while Jones is as physical a wide receiver as I have seen. Either player can turn a position of weakness into an area of strength for any NFL club. Both have had off the field incidents and injury concerns, but not enough to affect draft position.
The next wide receiver off the board will likely be Maryland’s Torrey Smith. Smith. Smith has decent size, 6’1″ 204, but its his 4.4 speed that has dazzled scouts. Smith brings big play skills and LSU cornerback Patrick Peterson is his only rival as a kick returner. St. Louis, Cincinnati and Baltimore have held private workouts for Smith, who figures to go late tomorrow night, or at top of second round on Friday. I feel he would be a perfect fit with the Ravens. Baltimore has aging receivers and lacked a big play threat on offense in 2010.
Jonathan Baldwin fits the prototype with measurables rivaling Green and Jones. Baldwin never took it to the next level of Pittsburgh, but that was more an indictment of the talent around him and the Panthers offense than his own shortcomings. Baldwin turning in a sub 4.5 at the combine even with size approaching that of a tight end. Baldwin made an impact as a freshman, which drew the obvious comparisons to his predecessor Larry Fitzgerald. It wouldn’t surprise if he ends up the best of the 2011 receivers, when it’s all said and done.
If looking for a tight end in this draft, two catch my attention. Notre Dame’s Kyle Rudoph and Arkansas’ D.J.Williams appear very capable of performing in a big way at the next level. Rudolph is getting first round attention despite missing most of the 2010 season with a serious hamstring injury. Rudolph is an every down tight end, while huge, 6’6″ 260 pounds, he also can move with a 4.8 forty. While Rudolph arrived in South Bend as a blue chipper, Williams climb has been a long one. After serious domestic problems at home, Williams and his mother randomly chose Fayetteville as his destination from his home state of Texas. DJ appears to be a perfect fit for those needing a combo athlete that can contribute at H-Back/Fullback and tight end.
Tomorrow, FantasySP projects the first round with our very own NFL mock draft!
