The 2024 NFL Draft may be stacked for the quarterback class, but the current wide receiver group is just as star studded.
2024 NFL Draft Potential Pick: Malik Nabers
Out of Louisiana State University, we have Malik Nabers, who ended the year with 1,569 yards on 89 catches, along with 14 touchdowns. He is a very explosive receiver, with tremendous jumping ability. At six feet tall, and around 200lbs, Malik is someone who a quarterback can trust to go up and get a jump ball.
He may not end up as a day one starter, but expect him to be a starter this coming season. While he may need some work on tracking deep routes, he possesses a great stop and go speed, as well as changing speed on inside routes. This will translate well and will give him great yards after catch numbers. Defenses will make sure they know when he is on the field, and this will be great for a team with an already established receiver room.
Top Pick in the 2024 NFL Draft: Marvin Harrison Jr
The most talented wide receiver in the 2024 class is, without a doubt, Marvin Harrison Jr. With a 6’ 3”(just a hair under 6’ 4”), 210lbs frame, Marvin possesses the type of game that could make him WR1 for almost every team in the League. Harrison ended his final season of college football with 1,211 yards, 67 catches, and 14 touchdowns. Had Ryan Day been able to give Marv a solid quarterback, he could have easily walked away with the Heisman.
He was able to put up that stat line in a very balanced offense, with a quarterback that will be playing this season at Syracuse. Marvin had an effect on every snap he was on the field for, whether he got the target or not. You just have to know where he is at all times. It started to get hard watching him play in this final season. He was just ready to play NFL ball. Not the fastest wide out, but he can still run, he can still get separation, partly due to how well he can sell his routes.
Harrison is a very high IQ receiver with a big body and soft hands. This and his bloodline, have him prepared to be one of the most valuable picks in the 2024 draft. Marvin Harrison Jr. is a day one starter, and could walk into many NFL teams and be their WR1.
Immediate Impact Receiver: Rome Odunze
Next up, we’ve got Rome Odunze, from the University of Washington. Rome and the huskies were able to push their season all the way to the College Football Playoff National Championship game. That game may not have been a success, but you can’t say that about his season as a whole. 1,640 yards and a big 92 receptions, and 13 touchdowns.
His experience at the 2024 NFL Draft will be just as successful. Odunze is a large frame, 6’ 3”, 215 lbs receiver that can get up and fiercely fight for the football. He may not be exceptionally fast, but has a skill for getting good separation, and finding the ball early in the play.
He may lack a touch in speed, but this guy is a very strong, playmaker of a wide out, don’t be surprised when he’s taken earlier than projected. Rome Odunze could be a Day 1 starter for almost any team in the League.
Right scheme, right pick: Roman Wilson
The National Championship University of Michigan Football program has produced a lot of talent for this years draft. This includes wide receiver Roman Wilson. Roman is 5’ 11” and 185 lbs, on the small side, but he makes up for that with his 4.39 40 speed and high football IQ.
He’s as athletic as you could ask for, which will translate to yards after catch as he uses his skills to extend plays. He seems to struggle on selling his routes, almost as he is in a hurry. He’s fast, but we really need to see Wilson hitting a second gear way more often. Roman could end up making an impact similar to what Amon-Ra St. Brown provides for the lions.
Stock should be much higher: Keon Coleman
A sort of dark horse in this years wide receiver class is Keon Coleman, out of Florida State university. 6’ 3” and 213lbs, athletic and tough. With great size and strength, we could see him returning kicks right out of the gate. Keon becomes tough to bring down on the sideline, and even tougher to tackle in open field.
He can struggle to find the separation he need, and his stop and go acceleration could be better, but eventually Coleman should end up being a good, high production starter.