2009 NFL Draft Top WR Prospects

1. Michael Crabtree, Texas Tech (6'1", 215 lbs.)
Was unbelievably productive in his two years at Texas Tech. The two time Bednarik award winner runs perfect routes, has great hands, and has all the smarts and intangibles it takes to succeed as a receiver in the NFL. Is able to separate from coverage and is a threat with the ball in his hands. Is very clutch. Can adjust to any ball. Lacks elite speed though. His numbers may have been inflated from the spread offense he played in, but is still considered very special and one of the safest picks in the draft.

2. Jeremy Maclin, Missouri (6'0", 200 lbs.)
Also had unbelievable production in only two years. Possesses great speed and is a threat with the ball in his hands. Has decent hands but needs to work on running pro routes and will need to get more physical with jamming corners. Considered a somewhat raw prospect but should be able to adjust to the NFL game due to good football smarts. Could be drafted ahead of Crabtree.

3. Kenny Britt, Rutgers (6'3", 220 lbs.)
One of the most underrated players in the entire draft. Is the all time leading receiver in the Big East with only 3 years under his belt. Has prototypical height and has exceptional 4.45 speed for his size. Runs crisps routes. Is physical at the line and is not afraid to go over the middle. Is a decent physical runner with the ball in his hands. Has mixed reviews on his hands. Has a very questionable character and is considered a diva.

4. Percy Harvin, Florida (5'11", 195 lbs.)
The most explosive and dangerous player in the draft. Was considered the top player in high school football after his senior year. Has elite YAC ability. Receiving skills are underrated, has exceptional hands and can pluck balls out of the air. Will need to learn how to run pro routes which is very concerning. Has a very questionable character. Lives in "Percy Land" and is not very coach-able. Boom or bust type player. Compares to Reggie Bush in that he had great production and has elite athleticism but lacks in his technical ability at his position. Most scouts believe he will be able to adapt to the pro game and learn to become a better route runner.

5. Darrius Heyward-Bey, Maryland (6'0", 210 lbs.)
The fastest player in the entire draft. Possesses unbelievable explosiveness off the line and has a second and a third gear in the open field. Has a 40+ inch vertical and can snatch the ball at its highest point. Not afraid to go over the middle. Is a raw route runner who will need to improve his technique. Has small hands and is not a consistent pass catcher. Had only average production in college which labels him as the ultimate boom or bust type player.

6. Hakeem Nicks, North Carolina (6'0", 215 lbs.)
UNC's all time leading receiver. An Anquan Boldin type player who runs sharp routes, has strong and consistent hands, and is a threat with the ball in his hands. Very physical. Should adjust to the NFL game very quickly due to his physicality and smarts. Was considered a very safe pick until his post-combine massive weight gain. However is now back to his playing weight. Lacks elite speed and height.

7. Mohammed Massaquoi, Georgia (6'2", 210 lbs.)
A very underrated prospect in the draft. The All-SEC receiver had good production in his time at Georgia and showed above average athleticism. Has above average speed and explosiveness for his size. Has a great attitude and is very competitive. Runs elite routes. Can adjust to the ball in the air. Is physical and can make plays with the ball in his hands. Won't wow you in one specficic area but does just about everything adequately and should transition into the pro game very quickly due to his football smarts and attitude.

8. Brian Robiskie, Ohio State (6'3", 210 lbs.)
Another underrated prospect who had good production, but was somewhat dissapointing his senior year which was partly due to inconsistent quarterback play. As the son of the former all-pro Brian Robiskie, he (not surprisingly) has great football smarts and runs elite routes. Has great hands and will snatch the ball out of the air at any point. Has good body control and can make adjustments in the air. Will make any catch over the middle. Very clutch. Lacks elite speed and is not really a threat with the ball. Is considered a very safe pick.

9. Brandon Tate, North Carolina (6'0", 185 lbs.)
As one of the most explosive players in college football, he broke the record for all time combined kickoff return yards early in 2008 before tearing his ACL. Never had great production as a receiver but was just coming into his own in 2008 before the injury. Could be the steal of the draft. Has elite YAC ability and can separate from coverage wtih great straight-line speed. Has decent hands and good body control when adjusting to poor throws. Will need to refine his route running.

10. Derrick Williams, Penn State (5'11", 195 lbs.)
The former #1 high school recruit has great vertical speed and is a serious threat with the balls in his hands. Never had elite production in college due to inconsistent quarterback play, but was a solid receiver and was also effective as a running back and returner. Not afraid to go over the middle. Possibly the best blocking receiver in the draft. Could improve with his lateral cutback ability. Runs decent routes and has decent hands but can still improve in both of these areas.

11. Deon Butler, Penn State (5'10, 185 lbs.)
The former walk-on ended up becoming PSU's all time reception. While usually serving as just a possession receiver, he blazed a sub 4.4 40 at the combine showing that he has the potential to become a deep threat too. His production speaks for itself yet he still has lots of upside to improve. Runs excellent routes, has a great vertical leap, and has solid hands. Could be more physical and could have trouble getting jammed at the line in the NFL.

12. Juaquin Iglesias, Oklahoma (6'1, 210 lbs.)
A true slot receiver, Iglesias is a very safe pick and should adjust very quickly to the NFL game. Coming from the Wes Welker mold, he is more quick than fast, but is very explosive and very hard to cover. Has sure, solid hands and can make things happen with the ball. Will never be a deep threat, but is not afraid to be physical and go over the middle.

13. Ramses Barden, Cal Poly Tech (6'6, 230 lbs.)
Barden is a physical specimen who had elite production (over 4,000 yard for his career), but in a noncompetitive conference. Built with a massive frame and blessed great 4.45 40 speed considering how large he is, he certainly has all the physical tools to scare opposing DBs in the NFL. He actually has great body control, which is extremely impressive for his size, and can snatch the ball out of the air at its highest point. Will make the tough catch in the middle of the field and run over players with the ball. The lack of elite competition is concerning but his production indicates that he would most likely have been effective in the FBS too. A poor man's Calvin Johnson.

14. Demetrius Byrd, LSU (6'0', 200 lbs.)
This speedster is a true deep threat but needs to tweak his route running, hands, and YAC ability. Relies too much on his speed. He runs great deep routes but needs to work on his shorter routes, and can make catches in traffic but will often lose focus on easier passes and commit drops. Is not afraid to go over the middle. Had adequate production due to inconsistent quarterback play in 2008.

15. Mike Wallace, Mississippi (6'0", 200 lbs.)
Has blazing speed and is very dangerous with his YAC ability. Had good production in college and still has lots of upside to improve his game. Has very good body control when adjusting for the deep ball. Has average hands but could improve his consistency when catching the ball. Is not very physical and could have trouble when getting pressed. Is a decent route runner.

16. Patrick Turner, USC (6'5", 225 lbs.)
Has a massive frame and had great production at USC considering how much talent was there that he was competing with. Has above average speed for his size, runs polished routes, and is very physical. Will not have any isues when getting pressed in the NFL. Has decent YAC ability for his size. Could improve his consistency when catching the ball. Could also slightly improve his body control on the deep ball. One of the most underrated players in the entire draft.

17. Brooks Foster, North Carolina (6'1", 210 lbs.)
Physical receiver who will make catches over the middle and run over defenders. Runs decent routes and uses his body to shield DBs from making plays on the ball. Has great leaping ability and hands and will make the deep catch. Could improve on his explosiveness and speed but makes up for it with his physicality and size. Very well rounded receiver but lacks upside. Could have been more productive in college but played along side other solid receivers.

18. Louis Murphy, Florida (6'2", 205 lbs.)
Another well rounded receiver who has above average speed and can adjust his body well to passes. Also known for being physical and catching balls over the middle of the field. Runs decent routes. Could be a little more consistent with his hands and could improve his YAC ability. Uses his body well to shield defenders from the ball when making catches.

19. Pat White, West Virginia (6'0", 200 lbs.)
The former WVU quarterback had elite production in their spread offense and is one of the most dynamic college quarterbacks of all time. The athleticism he displayed on his rushes should translate to effective YAC ability. Should be able to pick up NFL routes fairly quickly and has potential to be an elite route runner considering most converted quarterbacks know how receivers should run routes, i.e. Michael Crabtree. Projected to be a slot receiver. Has great straight line speed. Offers an additional dimension in that he should be a very effective "wildcat" quarterback for an NFL team.

20. Jarett Dillard, Rice (5'10", 190 lbs.)
The most prolific receiver in the history of college football. Has records in receptions and receiving yards. Has outstanding hands. Has an elite 40+ inch vertical leap. Runs above average routes. Willing to make the tough catch and get physical. Unfortunately is undersized though. Has below average speed.

21. Brandon Gibson, Washington State (6'0", 210 lbs.)
Had great production in 2007 but dropped off in 2008. Has above average speed. Possesses decent hands, route running ability, and physicality. Is effective in adjusting to any ball. Is elusive with the ball but not very physical. Has good upside.

22. Kevin Ogletree, Virginia (6'1", 195 lbs.)
Has very good hands and body control when adjusting to balls. Has decent speed and route running ability. Possesses a nice vertical leap. Will make the tough catch over the middle. Had decent production in college. Needs to work on being more physical when running with the ball, and at the line getting jammed.

23. D.J. Boldin, Wake Forest (5'11", 220 lbs.)
A mold of his older brother Anquan Boldin. Very productive possession receiver who is very physical and can run with the ball. Led the ACC in receptions in 2008. Runs great routes and has solid hands. Does not have great speed. Does not have much upside and, like his older brother, is very underrated.