2019 NFL Draft: Wide receiver rankings
By Bryan Perez
Ranking the top wide receiver prospects in the 2019 NFL draft
The 2019 NFL Draft is strong at wide receiver and could have several come off the board in the first round, including one (D.K. Metcalf) who has a chance to be a top-10 pick.
Below are With The First Pick’s post-combine 2019 wide receiver rankings. More receivers will be added to this list over the next month or so. Rankings are fluid and will be updated as the NFL draft approaches.
1.
D.K. Metcalf WR
Calling Metcalf a physical freak is short-selling his size-speed combination. Forget the production and box-score scouting here; Metcalf’s best football is ahead of him, especially with a clean bill of health. His astonishing 4.33 40-yard dash at a rocked-up 6-3, 228 pounds was jaw-dropping. But Metcalf’s upside extends well beyond his physical traits. He’s a better route-runner than given credit for, gets off the line of scrimmage insanely fast for a guy his size, and will give NFL cornerbacks all they can handle in jump-ball situations. Metcalf is a top-10 player in the class and if everything clicks moving forward, he has Julio Jones upside.
2.
Hakeem Butler WR
In an ordinary draft year, Butler’s performance at the NFL combine would’ve been all the rage. He checked in at 6-5, 228 pounds and ran a 4.48 40-yard dash with a 36-inch vertical jump. If you’re looking for a receiver in this draft class who presents a physical mismatch, Butler’s your guy. And he’s not just a big body, either. He’s a schooled route-runner who’s flexible enough to get into and out of his breaks at a high level. His hands aren’t always the most reliable, but Butler is every bit a go-to-guy in the making.
3.
Deebo Samuel WR
Samuel is a grossly underrated prospect who isn’t discussed nearly enough as a potential first-round pick. He’s the best route-runner in the class and turns into a dangerous playmaker with the ball in his hands. Samuel is quick and fast, a combination that isn’t always a given. He ran a 4.48 40-yard dash and had a 39-inch vertical jump at the NFL combine, confirming his speed and explosive traits that jump on tape. He registered 62 catches for 882 yards and 11 touchdowns.
4.
N'Keal Harry WR
Harry’s NFL draft stock was helped immensely at the NFL combine when his speed concerns were answered with a 4.53 40-yard dash, which is plenty fast enough for a guy standing 6-2, 228 pounds. He proved to be super strong, too, with 27 reps of 225. Harry was one of the best playmakers in college football in 2018 whose after-the-catch ability is one of his most appealing traits. Harry won’t create a ton of separation in his routes on the next level, but he doesn’t need to. He’s big; he’s strong; he’s physical and he can flat-out play. He finished his time at ASU with back-to-back 1,000-yard seasons and 17 touchdowns over the last two years.
5.
Marquise Brown WR
Brown is the small — really small — speedster of the bunch. He weighed in at 5-9, 166 pounds at the NFL combine and wasn’t able to run the 40-yard dash because of a foot injury suffered in December. Still, we all know he’s fast. The game film is evidence of that and a stopwatch isn’t needed to verify it. Brown is a nuanced route-runner, too, who has a lot of similar traits to Eagles WR DeSean Jackson. Jackson’s enjoyed a productive career taking the top off of defenses for many years; Brown will have a similar impact.