Gorman’s 2021 NFL Draft WR rankings: DeVonta Smith and beyond

We have a talented crop of 2021 NFL Draft wide receivers.

Take a look below as I begin my series of positional player rankings and top-ten lists for the 2021 NFL Draft. I will release updates as we get closer to the event, but this is where each prospect stands at this point in the evaluation process. Due to popular demand, we start with perhaps the most exciting group of all, and that is the wide receivers.

1. DeVonta Smith – Alabama

The top spot was a tough call, and there were many factors involved. However, I could not choose a player with only one year of major college production over someone with the talent and resume of Alabama’s DeVonta Smith. Known as the “Slim Reaper”, Smith is a silky-smooth route runner with top-notch speed and athleticism.

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As the owner of almost every major receiving record in Alabama history, Smith has been as consistent as any college football player over the last four years. Also, he always seemed to shine the brightest on the biggest stage and should be an All-Pro in the NFL for the next decade.

2. Ja’Marr Chase – LSU

In terms of a single season impact, LSU’s Ja’Marr Chase was dominant as Joe Burrow’s number one target in 2019. He scored 20 receiving touchdowns on his way to helping the Tigers win the College Football National Championship two seasons ago.

3. Jaylen Waddle – Alabama

There may not be a more electric offensive weapon in the 2021 NFL Draft than Alabama’s Jaylen Waddle. The Alabama junior receiver started out the 2020 season with a bang, racking up over 500 yards and four touchdowns in the first four games.

Waddle went on to miss the remainder of the regular season with an ankle injury before declaring for the 2021 NFL Draft in January. His agility and acceleration give him extreme versatility on offense and special teams. Waddle has tremendous upside and could very well end up as the best Crimson Tide receiver in this class.

4. Rashod Bateman – Minnesota

Bateman entered the 2021 season as a serious contender for the top spot on this list. While his 2020 season was cut short due to his opt-out decision, Bateman remains a very talented option in the first frame of the 2021 NFL Draft.

The 6-2, 210-pound junior has terrific hand-eye coordination, along with tremendous concentration that helps with tracking deep passes. Bateman is also very physical and will consistently fight for 50-50 balls in the passing game. The Golden Gopher is a sure-fire first-rounder that should start right away for an NFL team.

5. Kadarius Toney – Florida

The Florida Gators were a very explosive offensive football team in 2020, and wide receiver Kadarius Coney was a big reason for that success. Along with tight end Kyle Pitts and fellow prospect Trevon Grimes, Toney helped Florida finish with the most passing yards per game this past season.

Just like Waddle, Toney is lightning quick and extremely agile for the receiver position. He can be used in many ways and elicits favorable comparisons to Kansas City dynamo Tyreek Hill. He’s a slot receiver with outside potential and Pro Bowl return ability right out of the gate.

6. Rondale Moore – Purdue

Purdue’s Rondale Moore set the college football world on fire as a freshman in 2018, catching 114 passes for 1,258 yards and 12 touchdowns. He also added 2 scores on the ground. Moore showcased his versatility as a receiving weapon outside, inside, and from the backfield.

Although undersized at only 5-foot-9 and 180 pounds, Moore plays bigger than his listing and has a real chance at an outside receiver role in the NFL. He’s got sticky hands and plays angry between the hashes, suggesting a Steve Smith-type projection for the Boilermaker at the next level.

7. Terrace Marshall Jr. – LSU

The second half of LSU’s dynamic duo entering the season, Marshall Jr. got his chance to shine as the number one after Chase decided to opt out of 2020. While he may not be as physically dominant as Chase or as explosive downfield as fellow Tiger Justin Jefferson, Marshall Jr. is a terrific overall prospect in his own right.

Marshall Jr. is a smart, athletic technician with dependable hands that consistently finds open windows in the defense. He can win on short and intermediate routes while showing the ability to get behind the secondary from time to time. It would not be a surprise to see someone take a shot on the LSU star in the latter part of the first round.

"“Marshall is a versatile receiver that has proven himself both from the slot and out wide while attacking all levels of the field with consistency. He offers terrific size, physicality, hands, ball skills, run after catch ability, route-running skills, and overall technical-refinement. Marshall did miss three games in 2019 with a foot injury, had some minor drop issues creep up in 2020, and has some inconsistent moments as a blocker, but there isn’t much in the way of notable concerns as he enters the next level. Marshall has the potential to become a productive piece of an NFL offense that can produce in a variety of ways.”"

8. Tylan Wallace – Oklahoma State

OSU’s Tylan Wallace has been one of the better college receivers for the past three seasons. He has racked up 26 touchdowns in this explosive Cowboys offense since being named a full-time starter during the 2018 season. While he may not have the imposing size of former OSU greats like Justin Blackmon or Dez Bryant, Wallace is a legitimate outside receiver prospect.

9. Chatarius “Tutu” Atwell – Louisville

Possessing video game-type agility and movement skills, Atwell will be an exciting piece for some NFL offensive coordinator in 2021. Atwell is a similar player to former West Virginia great Tavon Austin and can be used as a third-down back and starting slot receiver right away.

10. Amon-Ra St. Brown – USC

As the brother of current Packers’ receiver Equanimeous St. Brown, Amon-Ra is a former top high school recruit with no shortage of talent as he enters the NFL. A big slot receiver at 6-foot-1, St. Brown has improved his touchdown production each year at USC. St. Brown has done so despite questionable play at the QB position for the Trojans.

He has number-one receiver ability, size, and work ethic but his body of work was limited by his college offenses and having to share targets with fellow prospect Tyler Vaughns in 2020 and current Indianapolis Colts’ receiver Michael Pittman in 2019. His skillset and concentration should earn him a starting spot sooner than later on an NFL team.