NFL Draft: Studs, Duds, and Sleepers-Wide Receivers

NFL Draft: Studs, Duds, and Sleepers-Wide Receivers

The 2019 NFL Draft is just around the corner, and with many teams looking for help at wide receiver lets take a look at a stud, dud, and sleeper at the position.

Here is our next installment in our Studs, Duds, and Sleepers series for the 2019 NFL Draft. If your favorite team needs help at wide receiver, here are some names to know.

Stud: J.J. Arcega-Whiteside, Stanford

J.J. Arcega-Whiteside almost made this list as the sleeper solely based on how little attention he has received. Arcega-Whiteside has played in 32 games for Standford and hauled in 28 touchdowns while averaging 16.1 yards per reception.

Arcega-Whiteside is a highly productive college receiver with some borderline elite traits and prototypical size. Has exceptionally quick feet and works his way through zones with ease. Very physical at the point of attack and can win jump balls in the end zone. J.J. Arcega-Whiteside is listed at 6’3 and 222 pounds, and every bit of that size shows up on tape.

Arcega-Whiteside can shorten his snap at the top of routes and may need to refine his technique when breaking on routes. There are some questions about his straight-line speed but Arcega-Whiteside flashes elite burst in his route running that should offset any deficiency. There does appear to be moments when Arcega-Whiteside loses concentration, but those are few and far between.

J.J. Arcega-Whiteside has been a valuable weapon for the Stanford Cardinal offense and should be able to match up on the perimeter in an NFL offense. Arcega-Whiteside’s combination of size, route running, and contested catch ability could translate into superstardom in the NFL.

There are a lot of options in the 2019 NFL Draft at wide receiver and it appears that Arcega-Whiteside may be lost in the shuffle. The Stanford wideout will likely hear his name called on day 2, but make no mistake that Arcega-Whiteside is a 1st round talent.