2020 NFL Draft Preview: Wide receiver sleepers and Broncos fits

This is the greatest wide receiver draft class in NFL history. I’ve said that so many times this offseason on radio and TV that it should be on my business card. I say it because it’s true – I’ve never seen this deep and talented of a draft class in my time analyzing the draft professionally since 2003.

The Broncos need a lot of help at the wide receiver position. They have a rising star in Courtland Sutton who is entering his third year, but behind him, the cupboards are mostly bare.

The Broncos don’t need one top wide receiver in the draft, they need two. With five picks in the first three rounds of the draft, do not be surprised if the Broncos pick two receivers in that span. This class is good enough that they could get a starter in the first round then get a slot receiver-type in round three.

In this article, I will look at the market for the position. I’ll also write about sleepers at the wide receiver position and some players who could fit what the Broncos need in the 2020 NFL draft.

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Market Watch

We might see three wide receivers go in the top-15 picks of the draft. There are three top-tier receivers and then after that, more receivers with first-round talent but not quite at the same level as this trio. Picking between the three receivers really comes down to what you need and what you covet at the wide receiver position.

Jerry Jeudy (Alabama) is a great route runner. In fact, few college receivers come into the pros with the sharp route-running skill that Jeudy possesses. He can get open with guile and savvy, but Jeudy also has good speed and run-after-the-catch ability to eat up yards on chunk plays. Jeudy has the strength to beat press coverage at the line of scrimmage and he can use that strength to rip away contested passes. He’s my top receiver in this class because I have a great appreciation for the way he plays the game.

CeeDee Lamb (Oklahoma) is the second-best receiver in this amazing draft class. He reminds me of Caridnals wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins because of his amazing body control and ability to make crazy catches seem routine. Lamb can work the sidelines with ease and he’s a dangerous target at the back of the end zone. If a team needs a dynamic receiver instead of a technician like Jeudy, then perhaps Lamb would be the preferred choice.

Henry Ruggs III (Alabama) is considered to be the No. 3 receiver in this class by most draft experts. There is no doubt that his speed is rare and he can get by defenders in the blink of an eye. Ruggs can take the top off the defense and that makes him a great target for deep passes directed to flip the field in one fell swoop. Ruggs is not Tyreek Hill (Chiefs) in my opinion, although many compare the two. Instead, Ruggs does not attack the ball in the air the same way that Hill does. I’ve seen some compare him to Ted Ginn Jr. (Saints), but that’s not quite as accurate either.

In addition to those three, players like Tee Higgins (Clemson), Brandon Aiyuk (Arizona State) and Laviska Shenault (Colorado) could all be first-round selections as well. If not, any of the three make for fantastic value picks in the second round. I really like guys like Jalen Reagor (TCU), K.J. Hamler (Penn State), Justin Jefferson (LSU) and Denzel Mims (Baylor) as starting-caliber receivers who can start from day one and star in the league.

As you can see, this class is incredibly talented and deep. There are multiple types of receivers to choose from and any team in need should have no problem filling the wide receiver depth chart with talented rookies.

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Sleepers

This draft is so top heavy with talent that you have to dig pretty deep to find real “sleeper” prospects. In fact, I don’t really consider these players to be true sleepers because if you’re in the scouting community, then you certainly know about their ability.

Antonio Gandy-Golden proved at the Reese’s Senior Bowl that he could get open against some of the top defenders in the country. A small-school prospect from Liberty, Gandy-Golden has a fine size/speed combination. Gandy-Golden can play “above the rim” and has a huge wingspan which gives him a catch radius that few can match. He attacks the ball in the air, but needs to work on his route-running. With pro coaching and his strong work ethic, that shouldn’t be a problem.

Aaron Parker from Rhode Island is one of my favorite sleepers in this draft class. He was a standout player on the first day of the East-West Shrine Bowl practices and he kept making more plays each day of the week. The Patriots have interest in him as a day-three pick and that’s likely where he should go. Parker has a basketball background and knows how to use his frame to box out smaller defenders. Like most small-school players, Parker needs to learn the nuances of the position. The raw talent is there for him to be a strong slot receiver with separation quickness.

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Broncos Fits

The Broncos need speed, speed and more speed on offense at the wide receiver position so most any player who fits will have to have that as part of his skill set. This is why a player like Ruggs at No. 15 overall in the first round would be a wise move for the Broncos.

If the Broncos go in a different direction in round one, then Mims in round two makes for a fine alternative. Like Ruggs, Mims has incredible speed to fly down the field. Unlike Ruggs, Mims seems to have better “my ball” mentality when attempting to make contested catches. Mims is not quite as fast as Ruggs, but he has great body control and can be a Pro Bowl-caliber player in the NFL. I see him as a second-round pick, but after a great Senior Bowl and great Scouting Combine, Mims might be a late first-round selection.

Later in the draft, likely in the middle rounds, Devin Duvernay from Texas should be on the board and fits what the Broncos need. Duvernay is a speedy slot receiver who has strength after the catch to break tackles and pick up extra yards. He’s rigid as a route runner, but Duvernay can fly by defenders if they don’t get their hands on him at the start of the route. Duvernay doesn’t possess great “my ball” mentality but doesn’t have a problem tracking passes over his shoulder.

K.J. Hill (Ohio State) is a player I hope the Broncos can pick up in the third round. He is the Buckeyes all-time leader receiver in terms of receptions and Hill can be described as incredibly reliable. Hill cannot be called fast, so why would the Broncos be interested? The answer is simple: Hill can be a favorite target of Drew Lock because of his consistency and reliability. On the first day of practice for the Senior Bowl earlier this year, the Broncos went to find Hill after practice so they could talk to him before he left the field. Clearly, the team is interested in Hill and we’ll see if they end up making him a Bronco.

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