The wide receiver class for the 2020 NFL draft is packed with good players, and they come in all shapes and sizes. Fast and big. Quick and small. Route technicians on Day 3. High-upside slot guys. You get the picture. There's a reason Todd McShay had 12 wideouts in his two-round Mock Draft 4.0 earlier this week. This could be one of the best drafts for receivers ever.
So after doing a deep dive on the class, I wanted to find ideal receiver-team fits for the best prospects, picking prime landing spots for these rookies based on scheme and team needs.
Sixteen prospects jumped out on film with the traits to fit in today's NFL passing game as draft picks on Day 1 or Day 2. Let's run through the first three rounds of the draft, and I'll show you where each receiver should want to play:
Jerry Jeudy, New York Jets
Height: 6-foot-1 | Weight: 193 pounds | School: Alabama
Where the Jets could get him: Round 1 (No. 11)
Why he fits: In the Jets' rhythm-based passing game, Jeudy is an ideal fit as a dynamic route runner with pro-ready traits. That's the separation speed, loose hips and setup ability to shake man-to-man coverage.
Plus, with 4.45 40 speed to challenge on third-level concepts, and the sudden, stop-start quickness to scoot past defenders after the catch, Jeudy could develop into a volume target for Sam Darnold, who lacks a true No. 1 option. That would allow the Jets to feature Jeudy with the field-stretching ability of free-agent signing Breshad Perriman and slot target Jamison Crowder. Adding Jeudy would give Darnold four solid options -- don't forget Le'Veon Bell's ability as a pass-catcher -- as he enters a critical Year 3.
CeeDee Lamb, Las Vegas Raiders
Height: 6-2 | Weight: 198 | School: Oklahoma
Where the Raiders could get him: Round 1 (No. 12 or 19)
Why he fits: The Raiders have two first-round picks to fill their hole at wide receiver, and Lamb would be a great get at either spot. With size and 4.50 40 speed, he can be featured as a boundary target on isolation matchups or as a big slot receiver inside of the numbers.
I like him in Jon Gruden's West Coast offense because of the underneath throws from Derek Carr, who completed 70.4% of his passes last season. Feed Lamb the ball on crossers and shallows. He's an explosive big-play threat when he gets into space, and the Raiders need a receiver with catch-and-run ability to complement the big frames of Tyrell Williams and Darren Waller, along with free-agent signing Nelson Agholor.