The 5 Best Wide Receivers In 2021 NFL Draft

The 2021 NFL Draft is getting to the point where it is just a few weeks away. The NFL is becoming more of a pass-first game, as shown by the Buffalo Bills’ heavy reliance on the pass in the AFC playoffs. The idea that a team can win a Super Bowl by relying on the run is becoming less and less central over time. The need for an elite quarterback trumps other needs, and elite quarterbacks need prime-time wide receivers in order to maximize their potential. Let’s look at the kinds of wide receivers who can make their quarterbacks exponentially more effective in professional football.

DeVonta Smith, Alabama

The one concern with Smith is his weight, which is well under 200 pounds. Some teams are going to look at this thin and rangy body and worry that Smith is going to be an injury magnet in his NFL career. That might be a valid thing to worry about, but if Smith doesn’t get severely injured in his NFL journey, he is going to be an elite receiver. He has a devastating first step. He sheds cornerbacks at the line of scrimmage. He has breakaway speed and has shown at Alabama that even when defenses are gearing up to stop him, he can still make plays. Smith is also an excellent downfield blocker and a player who can improvise if his quarterback is flushed out of the pocket and needs help. Smith has a very high football IQ – probably the highest of any receiver in this draft class – and will be a godsend for a young quarterback in need of help. If a team with a veteran quarterback gets him, Smith is going to find professional football to be very fun. He would flourish from the start if he is paired with a veteran QB.

Ja’Marr Chase, LSU

The reason many people have Chase as a higher-ranked NFL prospect than DeVonta Smith is the weight difference mentioned above. Chase is very close to 200 pounds. He is more muscular than Smith and will therefore be more physically durable. Smith runs better routes than Chase, but Chase has an NFL body and will be more likely than Smith to win a 50-50 ball in the air. Smith gets separation from defenders on a more consistent basis, but Chase is the receiver who is built to win physical one-on-one battles for a jump ball. That is something evaluators and general managers will pay attention to.

Jaylen Waddle, Alabama

The receiver who teamed with DeVonta Smith will be highly coveted, but an injury suffered in the 2020 season might make Waddle slip a few spots down the draft board. If healthy, however, Waddle will be a top-tier receiver. He has ridiculous speed. He was the best deep-ball threat on Alabama before his injury. Smith wore out opponents on crossing and intermediate routes, but Waddle was often the guy who smoked opposing cornerbacks on go routes. He made a huge catch against Georgia in one of the biggest games of the 2020 college football season. He is almost certain to be a star in the NFL, along with Chase and Smith.

Kadarius Toney, Florida

The speed of Kadarius Toney will make him hard to contain. The NFL comparison with Tony is Mecole Hardman of the Kansas City Chiefs. Hardman is sometimes used as a ballcarrier on end-arounds or reverses. He often isn’t asked to catch the deep downfield pass, but he can make life hell for linebackers on short routes and get open in third-down situations with great consistency. That is the kind of role Toney can fill in the NFL, and he is likely to fill it well.

Terrace Marshall, LSU

The other LSU receiver at the top of the draft class, Marshall was able to operate on one side of the field while Chase worked on the other side. It will be important for Marshall to land on a team which already has an established receiver. He doesn’t want to enter a team in which he is the unquestioned No. 1 target.