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2018 NFL Draft Prospects: Wide Receivers
By Charlie Ca
The top 2018 Wide Receiver prospects available for the 2018 NFL Draft. * - denotes 2019 prospect. ** - denotes 2020 prospect.
This page was last updated Dec. 2, 2017. Follow Walter @walterfootball for updates.
1. Calvin Ridley*, WR, Alabama
Height: 6-1. Weight: 188.
Projected 40 Time: 4.48.
Projected Round (2018): 1.
1/13/18: In surveying sources from five teams, the most common name that came up as the top receiver was Ridley. The talented junior gets a lot of praise for his route-running, quickness, and generally having good hands. Ridley had 55 catches for 967 yards with four touchdowns for 2017, but his production was held back by Alabama featuring its ground attack while using a running quarterback in Jalen Hurts, who has severe passing limitations.
Though Ridley is the top consensus wideout for the 2018 NFL Draft, he doesn't come without some concerns, as multiple sources say independently that his thin frame worries them for the NFL. He is listed at 190 pounds, but team sources say that he has weighed-in in the 180s. With that being one factor, some scouts have said they are grading Ridley as a late first-rounder. He could end up going high out of team need at his premium position, however.
7/17/17: In 2016, Ridley made 72 catches for 769 yards with seven touchdowns. He had a tremendous debut for Alabama and became the Crimson Tide's No. 1 receiver as a freshman. As a replacement for Amari Cooper, Ridley was very effective with 89 receptions for 1,045 yards with seven touchdowns. He finished the 2015 season with impressive performances against Florida and Michigan State to help push Alabama to the National Championship. Ridley has size, speed and a ton of upside for the NFL.
2. Courtland Sutton, WR, SMU
Height: 6-4. Weight: 216.
Projected 40 Time: 4.51.
Projected Round (2018): 1-2.
1/13/18: In 2017, Sutton totaled 68 catches for 1,085 yards with 12 touchdowns. He played well for SMU and continued to be a dynamic point-scoring threat. Sutton wisely decided to skip his final year of eligibility to enter the 2018 NFL Draft.
7/17/17: In 2016, Sutton totaled 76 receptions for 1,246 yards - 16.5 yard average per catch - with 10 touchdowns. He played well for SMU, showing his size, strength and quickness. He could have been a first-round pick in the 2017 NFL Draft, but the redshirt sophomore decided to return for his junior year.
In the preseason of 2016, sources say they have been really impressed with Sutton. One scouting director told WalterFootball.com that in studying up on players before hitting the road for college training camps, Sutton's tape really stood out. As a redshirt freshman, he totaled 862 yards - 17.6 yard average per catch - and nine touchdowns on 49 receptions. In the 2015 season opener, SMU was blown out by Baylor, but Sutton had 82 yards and two touchdowns on only three receptions. Sutton has size to him and has consistently displayed big-play ability.
3. Equanimeous St. Brown*, WR, Notre Dame
Height: 6-4. Weight: 205.
Projected 40 Time: 4.50.
Projected Round (2018): 1-3.
1/13/18: St. Brown had 33 receptions for 515 yards and four touchdowns in 2017. Throughout the season, St. Brown got open through his excellent route-running while also seeing a lot of double teams, but the immense struggles of Notre Dame's quarterback play and passing offense limited St. Brown.
7/17/17: Sources who have done advance work on the 2018 class are really impressed and intrigued with St. Brown. They say he is a super-polished route runner with tremendous speed, athletic ability, body control, and hands. They said they think St. Brown could be more gifted and talented than the three wideouts who went in the top 10 of the 2017 NFL Draft, but St. Brown gets fewer opportunities to show his skill. In 2016, he had 58 receptions for 961 yards with nine touchdowns.
4. Auden Tate*, WR, Florida State
Height: 6-5. Weight: 225.
Projected 40 Time: 4.56.
Projected Round (2018): 1-3.
1/13/18: Tate totaled 40 receptions for 548 yards and 10 touchdowns in 2017, but he was really impressive. The huge receiver is a mismatch weapon who gives defensive backs a lot of problems. He is very dangerous to win jump balls downfield and is a real red-zone weapon. Tate's numbers were held back in 2017 by playing with the backup quarterback, but Tate has huge potential and upside for the NFL. Some sources think that Tate should have returned to Florida State for 2018 and improved before going to the next level, but he decided to enter the 2018 NFL Draft.
5. Christian Kirk*, WR, Texas A&M
Height: 5-11. Weight: 200.
Projected 40 Time: 4.43.
Projected Round (2018): 1-3.
1/13/18: Kirk made 71 catches for 919 yards and 10 touchdowns in 2017. He also produced some big kick and punt returns. Versus Arkansas, Kirk carried Texas A&M to a win with five catches for 110 yards with two touchdowns and a kickoff returned for a touchdown.
Kirk saw a lot of double coverage his direction in 2017, plus quarterback Kelly Mond struggled to get Kirk the ball. As a result, some teams are down on Kirk. A few teams said they had him graded as a 2/3 - a second- to third-rounder. One team said they had him as late in the first round, but another said Round 3. Kirk is a fast play-maker who really competes and has special potential for the NFL.
7/17/17: Kirk played well in 2016 despite inconsistent quarterback play from the Aggies. He had 83 receptions for 928 yards with nine touchdowns while splitting targets with wideouts like Josh Reynolds and Ricky Seals-Jones.
Kirk had an outstanding freshman debut for Texas A&M and earned playing time over more veteran receivers who had previous produced for the Aggies. In 2015, Kirk caught 80 passes for 1,009 yards with seven touchdowns. He averaged only 19.3 yards per kick return, but averaged 24.4 yards per punt returns with two touchdowns. Kirk is a fast, explosive play-maker. Some scouting sources have said there nickname for Kirk is "Baby Beckham" in reference to Odell Beckham Jr.
6. Simmie Cobbs Jr.*, WR, Indiana
Height: 6-4. Weight: 220.
Projected 40 Time: 4.55.
Projected Round (2018): 1-3.
1/13/18: Cobbs totaled 72 receptions for 841 yards and eight touchdowns in 2017. In a thoroughly impressive performance, Cobbs had his way with the highly acclaimed Ohio State defense. He got the better of every corner the Buckeyes matched up against him as he totaled 149 yards and a touchdown on 11 receptions. Cobbs showed size, hands, quickness, route-running, body control, and the ability to win 50-50 passes. That was a phenomenal tape for him. Cobbs decided to skip his senior year and enter the 2018 NFL Draft.
7/17/17: Cobbs missed the 2016 season with an ankle injury, but he showed some big-play ability in 2015 when he caught 60 passes for 1,035 yards (17.3 average) and four touchdowns. He is a big receiver who has an intriguing skill set. Cobbs could feasibly return to Indiana if he was given a medical redshirt for the 2016 season.
By Charlie Ca
The top 2018 Wide Receiver prospects available for the 2018 NFL Draft. * - denotes 2019 prospect. ** - denotes 2020 prospect.
This page was last updated Dec. 2, 2017. Follow Walter @walterfootball for updates.
1. Calvin Ridley*, WR, Alabama
Height: 6-1. Weight: 188.
Projected 40 Time: 4.48.
Projected Round (2018): 1.
1/13/18: In surveying sources from five teams, the most common name that came up as the top receiver was Ridley. The talented junior gets a lot of praise for his route-running, quickness, and generally having good hands. Ridley had 55 catches for 967 yards with four touchdowns for 2017, but his production was held back by Alabama featuring its ground attack while using a running quarterback in Jalen Hurts, who has severe passing limitations.
Though Ridley is the top consensus wideout for the 2018 NFL Draft, he doesn't come without some concerns, as multiple sources say independently that his thin frame worries them for the NFL. He is listed at 190 pounds, but team sources say that he has weighed-in in the 180s. With that being one factor, some scouts have said they are grading Ridley as a late first-rounder. He could end up going high out of team need at his premium position, however.
7/17/17: In 2016, Ridley made 72 catches for 769 yards with seven touchdowns. He had a tremendous debut for Alabama and became the Crimson Tide's No. 1 receiver as a freshman. As a replacement for Amari Cooper, Ridley was very effective with 89 receptions for 1,045 yards with seven touchdowns. He finished the 2015 season with impressive performances against Florida and Michigan State to help push Alabama to the National Championship. Ridley has size, speed and a ton of upside for the NFL.
2. Courtland Sutton, WR, SMU
Height: 6-4. Weight: 216.
Projected 40 Time: 4.51.
Projected Round (2018): 1-2.
1/13/18: In 2017, Sutton totaled 68 catches for 1,085 yards with 12 touchdowns. He played well for SMU and continued to be a dynamic point-scoring threat. Sutton wisely decided to skip his final year of eligibility to enter the 2018 NFL Draft.
7/17/17: In 2016, Sutton totaled 76 receptions for 1,246 yards - 16.5 yard average per catch - with 10 touchdowns. He played well for SMU, showing his size, strength and quickness. He could have been a first-round pick in the 2017 NFL Draft, but the redshirt sophomore decided to return for his junior year.
In the preseason of 2016, sources say they have been really impressed with Sutton. One scouting director told WalterFootball.com that in studying up on players before hitting the road for college training camps, Sutton's tape really stood out. As a redshirt freshman, he totaled 862 yards - 17.6 yard average per catch - and nine touchdowns on 49 receptions. In the 2015 season opener, SMU was blown out by Baylor, but Sutton had 82 yards and two touchdowns on only three receptions. Sutton has size to him and has consistently displayed big-play ability.
3. Equanimeous St. Brown*, WR, Notre Dame
Height: 6-4. Weight: 205.
Projected 40 Time: 4.50.
Projected Round (2018): 1-3.
1/13/18: St. Brown had 33 receptions for 515 yards and four touchdowns in 2017. Throughout the season, St. Brown got open through his excellent route-running while also seeing a lot of double teams, but the immense struggles of Notre Dame's quarterback play and passing offense limited St. Brown.
7/17/17: Sources who have done advance work on the 2018 class are really impressed and intrigued with St. Brown. They say he is a super-polished route runner with tremendous speed, athletic ability, body control, and hands. They said they think St. Brown could be more gifted and talented than the three wideouts who went in the top 10 of the 2017 NFL Draft, but St. Brown gets fewer opportunities to show his skill. In 2016, he had 58 receptions for 961 yards with nine touchdowns.
4. Auden Tate*, WR, Florida State
Height: 6-5. Weight: 225.
Projected 40 Time: 4.56.
Projected Round (2018): 1-3.
1/13/18: Tate totaled 40 receptions for 548 yards and 10 touchdowns in 2017, but he was really impressive. The huge receiver is a mismatch weapon who gives defensive backs a lot of problems. He is very dangerous to win jump balls downfield and is a real red-zone weapon. Tate's numbers were held back in 2017 by playing with the backup quarterback, but Tate has huge potential and upside for the NFL. Some sources think that Tate should have returned to Florida State for 2018 and improved before going to the next level, but he decided to enter the 2018 NFL Draft.
5. Christian Kirk*, WR, Texas A&M
Height: 5-11. Weight: 200.
Projected 40 Time: 4.43.
Projected Round (2018): 1-3.
1/13/18: Kirk made 71 catches for 919 yards and 10 touchdowns in 2017. He also produced some big kick and punt returns. Versus Arkansas, Kirk carried Texas A&M to a win with five catches for 110 yards with two touchdowns and a kickoff returned for a touchdown.
Kirk saw a lot of double coverage his direction in 2017, plus quarterback Kelly Mond struggled to get Kirk the ball. As a result, some teams are down on Kirk. A few teams said they had him graded as a 2/3 - a second- to third-rounder. One team said they had him as late in the first round, but another said Round 3. Kirk is a fast play-maker who really competes and has special potential for the NFL.
7/17/17: Kirk played well in 2016 despite inconsistent quarterback play from the Aggies. He had 83 receptions for 928 yards with nine touchdowns while splitting targets with wideouts like Josh Reynolds and Ricky Seals-Jones.
Kirk had an outstanding freshman debut for Texas A&M and earned playing time over more veteran receivers who had previous produced for the Aggies. In 2015, Kirk caught 80 passes for 1,009 yards with seven touchdowns. He averaged only 19.3 yards per kick return, but averaged 24.4 yards per punt returns with two touchdowns. Kirk is a fast, explosive play-maker. Some scouting sources have said there nickname for Kirk is "Baby Beckham" in reference to Odell Beckham Jr.
6. Simmie Cobbs Jr.*, WR, Indiana
Height: 6-4. Weight: 220.
Projected 40 Time: 4.55.
Projected Round (2018): 1-3.
1/13/18: Cobbs totaled 72 receptions for 841 yards and eight touchdowns in 2017. In a thoroughly impressive performance, Cobbs had his way with the highly acclaimed Ohio State defense. He got the better of every corner the Buckeyes matched up against him as he totaled 149 yards and a touchdown on 11 receptions. Cobbs showed size, hands, quickness, route-running, body control, and the ability to win 50-50 passes. That was a phenomenal tape for him. Cobbs decided to skip his senior year and enter the 2018 NFL Draft.
7/17/17: Cobbs missed the 2016 season with an ankle injury, but he showed some big-play ability in 2015 when he caught 60 passes for 1,035 yards (17.3 average) and four touchdowns. He is a big receiver who has an intriguing skill set. Cobbs could feasibly return to Indiana if he was given a medical redshirt for the 2016 season.
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