Welcome to draft week. The 2022 NFL Draft is right around the corner and the wide receiver class is one of the strongest position groups in this class. We're going to dive into the top-10 players at the position, what their strengths are, some of their questions marks as they transition to the NFL level, and the bottom line.

Let's dive into the list.

1. Chris Olave, Ohio State

HT: 6003 | WT: 187 lbs | 40YD: 4.39

Strengths:

There are no limitations to where Olave can line up in a formation. He has the experience and comfort to line up outside the numbers consistently, whether at "X" or "Z", or even in the slot. Olave, in my opinion, is the best route-runner in this class — he displays the ability to throttle speeds while working through route stems to set defensive backs up but also has the suddenness needed to put DB's in a bind. This is a high IQ player with the ability to "step" on a DB's toes at the top of his routes, helping create more separation when he performs his route break.

There are physical gifts, too. Olave has elite burst and acceleration off the line of scrimmage (LOS) when getting into route stems and his rocker step includes sudden and explosive movements, and hip and head shoulder fakes to sell his routes. He has the speed needed to easily eat up cushions and operates with as much play speed as he's displayed in testing. He is a three-level threat with the ability to take the top off the defense and is a smart player who displays high IQ by breaking off his routes and sitting between zones when necessary.

Biggest Question:

Is Olave simply a tremendous player before the ball is in his hands, or does he have the yards after the catch (YAC) ability that rivals some of the great receivers in the NFL today?

Bottom Line:

Olave is the safest projection to the NFL in this class. He should be an impact day one starter with elite route-running ability and possesses the talent to win on all three levels and in all kinds of offenses. It's hard to see a route where Olave doesn't immediately produce strong results in the NFL.

2. Jameson Williams, Alabama

HT: 6014 | WT: 179 lbs | 40YD: N/A

Strengths:

Williams is a snappy route runner who has maybe the best acceleration in this draft class. He's got a second gear that many players can only dream of having when working with a vertical route tree. Williams is the premier deep threat in this class as he can consistently eat up cushions in the blink of an eye but also has more to his game. The man they call "Jamo" is also a good route runner who possesses a dangerous rocker step and is a YAC threat by the way of game-breaking speed; angles don't exist against Williams. He can stack cornerbacks effortlessly and is good at breaking off routes between zones.

Biggest Question:

He's got experience going against press and off coverage but will need more reps to improve against long and physical cornerbacks at the LOS. Does he have any contested catch ability or is he simply a separate or don't target player?

Bottom Line:

Jamo has the highest ceiling of any player in this receiver class. His potent vertical ability should translate immediately barring his health (torn ACL), but there is some projection there when looking at his ability to win with contested catches. Bottom line is Williams offers exactly what NFL teams are looking for this day and age — winning downfield and making massive plays consistently.

3. Garrett Wilson, Ohio State

HT: 5116 | WT: 183 lbs | 40YD: 4.38

Strengths:

Wilson is the most sudden player at the position. He is a very good route runner who has otherworldly ability to stop on a dime (sudden) yet still remain very patient on the LOS. He has the positional flexibility to line up anywhere and has the God-given coordination that aligns between his hands, feet, and hips. Wilson has shown the ability to utilize multiple releases and gears to get off the LOS cleanly and appropriately. The play just starts when Wilson gets his hands on the ball — he is an elite-level YAC threat that routinely makes defenders miss in space. Wilson also understands how to work in a DB's blind spot and can utilize fakes, rocker steps, and good route stems to separate.

Biggest Question:

Could his contact balance be a slight issue at the next level?

Bottom Line:

Wilson is one of the best receivers in this class and is ultimately the most well-balanced receiver of the players I've watched. He can win in every facet and has the game-breaking YAC ability many coaches love to utilize. He's not as big as many of the other top options at this position, but that shouldn't limit him because he's able to win consistently, regardless of how he's used or where. He has some shades of Kadarius Toney to his game.

4. Drake London, USC

HT: 6037 | WT: 219 lbs | 40YD: N/A

Strengths:

London is one of the most criminally underrated players at this position; his size would indicate he's simply a contested-catch guy that can't separate, but he can do both at a good level. And, in fact, London also has the ability to consistently create YAC, too. He has ample experience working against press coverage and has the physicality and hand usage to keep his chest plate clean, helping create nice and clean releases. London understands how to work in a DB's blind spot to help set up the rest of his route stem and route breaks. He's able to create quick and instant separation on short in-breaking routes and is overall a solid route runner with very good hands.

Biggest Question:

Can he consistently stack cornerbacks when working vertical? Will his lack of shiftiness translate smoothly to the NFL?

Bottom Line:

London has a clear way to win and reminds me of a Mike Evans clone. He can win vertically, he's great at setting up his routes to break back inside in the short game, and is able to break tackles in the open field. He's going to be a productive NFL player and offers a lot for a team looking for a boundary receiver.

5. Treylon Burks, Arkansas

HT: 6020 | WT: 225 lbs | 40YD: 4.55

Strengths:

Burks is the best YAC threat of all of the players in this draft class. While Wilson comes close, nobody else really compares. He hits a different gear with the ball in his hands and has plenty of shake and suddenness for a guy of his stature. There isn't any limitation to where he can line up, but he also brings legitimate back shoulder and contested-catch ability. Burks understands how to use his hands, leverage, and body positioning to his advantage when getting off the LOS and when running his route stems. He is a smooth player through transition and has good vertical ability and build-up speed to win downfield.

Biggest Question:

Can he consistently win outside the numbers on the boundary and against press coverage?

Bottom Line:

Burks is best suited to be drafted by a creative offensive team with structure in place. That's not to say he cannot simply line up and play receiver snap after snap because he can, but Burks offers incredible YAC ability and has the uniqueness that can be utilized all over a formation and in different formats of "uncovering". This is the kind of player you want to get the ball to as often as possible; he reminds me of an A.J. Brown or Deebo Samuel-like player.

6. Skyy Moore, Western Michigan

HT: 5095 | WT: 195 lbs | 40YD: 4.41

Strengths:

Moore may not be huge in stature, but he has plenty of experience against press coverage at the LOS and has shown the ability to win cleanly with speed, varied releases, and/or active hands. He can create YAC with nimbleness and tackle-breaking ability and can win as a traditional receiver or be schemed touches. His route-running is solid and he utilizes head and shoulder fakes as well as tempo throughout in-breaking routes to create separation. Moore is a sudden and high-effort player who can win vertically and will be a middle of the field (MOF) weapon at the NFL level. Lastly, he does a really good job at getting outside releases vs. DB's, which he eventually uses to his advantage as he gets them to commit their hips open before breaking back in on in-breaking routes.

Biggest Question:

Will his size limit him to the slot or can he also play outside of the numbers? Can he consistently stack CB's and win vertically?

Bottom Line:

Moore reminds me of a Golden Tate clone. He can win on all three levels though his bread and butter will certainly be over the middle of the field, winning off the line of scrimmage, and working with the ball in his hands. He can also win contested catches and has the ability to work through traffic and defenders. He's a more specific scheme fit, but he can also provide a lot of production for a team looking for a player who can high point a football despite having a small frame.

7. Jahan Dotson, Penn State

HT: 5105 | WT: 178 lbs | 40YD: 4.43

Strengths:

Like Wilson, Dotson is one of the more well-rounded receivers of all the players I've watched. He doesn't really dominate in any area, but he's really productive and can do pretty much everything at a good-to-very good level. He can line up inside or out, is a hands catcher (great hands, too) who fully extends his arms to pluck the ball at it's highest point, and is a smooth route runner who can sink his hips to create sudden stops and explosion out of breaks with his plant foot. He's a snappy player who utilizes head and shoulder fakes, often creates separation on comeback routes, and has good acceleration and play speed that allows him to eat up cushions effectively.

Biggest Question:

Is his size going to be an issue at the next level? Can he create YAC consistently at the NFL level?

Bottom Line:

Dotson is a perfect fit for a team looking for a smooth route runner who can win in a variety of ways and can line up inside and outside effectively. He reminds me a ton of Emmanuel Sanders, who's had a great and lengthy career; both players are very similar in the way they move and win.

8. George Pickens, Georgia

HT: 6032 | WT: 195 lbs | 40YD: 4.47

Strengths:

Pickens is an alpha in every sense of the word; he's the best blocker and most powerful receiver in this draft class bar none. He brings a different level of physicality to the table whether it's in run blocking or in contested-catch situations. Pickens has some of the best hands in this class, is a smart player who understands how to work in a DB's blindspot, and offers great contested catch ability by climbing the ladder and attacking the ball at it's highest point. He also has good build-up speed when working vertical and can win in that way. He's fairly effective at getting off press coverage by using a varied release package and throttling speeds throughout his route stem/off the LOS.

Biggest Question:

Can Pickens consistently win at the next level with a lack of separation? Is he going to be able to separate more often in the NFL?

Bottom Line:

Pickens is a player who projects best as an "X" receiver at the next level. He is an alpha who can line up outside snap after snap but also win downfield by using his physicality. He's an underused and underrated MOF threat that was more sudden and snappy pre-injury in 2020. If Pickens can get back to that level of athleticism, there's no telling how high his ceiling is.

9. Christian Watson, North Dakota State

HT: 6041 | WT: 208 lbs | 40YD: 4.36

Strengths:

Every year there is a height-weight-speed freak, and this year it's Watson. He is a towering 6'4" and runs a legitimate 4.3-forty yard dash. As you can imagine, with that kind of speed, Watson can consistently win downfield and cushions aren't something to sweat with how easily he accelerates and erases them. His build-up speed is just as good, but he can also create YAC by utilizing his length, strength, and speed. There is no question about his ability to win vertically — he's going to be able to threat defenses over the drop from day one.

Biggest Question:

Can he develop more of a route tree at the next level? Will we see more in-breaking and out-breaking routes? Can he create separation on snappy routes while staying fairly upright and struggling to sink his hips?

Bottom Line:

Watson shouldn't be relied on as more than a deep threat right now. That's not to say he can't develop the rest of his game off the vertical route tree at some point but as of now he's a similar player to a Breshad Perriman or Will Fuller, where the majority of his production will come deep downfield. There are reasons to believe he can develop into more of a well-rounded threat, though sharp route running and snappy route breaks are probably not going to be his forte.

10. John Metchie III, Alabama

HT: 5111 | WT: 187 lbs | 40YD: N/A

Strengths:

Metchie is a nimble player on the LOS who can use pacing, acceleration, and positioning to create a clean release. He's effective at eating up cushions and at getting in a DB's "kitchen" by stepping on their toes, getting them flat-footed before performing his route break. There is no issue with his ability to stack CB's when working vertical and getting an outside release. Metchie has nice vertical route stems and is snappy enough to make a break with his plant foot and explode out of it. He's a solid route runner with enough speed to threaten defenses downfield, and the rest of his game can play off that.

Biggest Question:

Is he going to be able to handle the physicality at the next level? Will he too easily get re-routed? Can he break any tackles to create YAC?

Bottom Line:

Metchie is a vertical player who is best suited as a "Z" receiver at the next level. Giving him a yard of space on the LOS is ideal as he can struggle with physicality at times. He's got good hesitation and rocker step moves, has the acceleration to separate, and is smart enough to utilize his tool belt when trying to uncover throughout routes. He's a good player who probably has a lower ceiling than some of the guys on this list, but he also has a clear way to win in the NFL.