Wide Receiver Rankings 2021 NFL Draft

WIDE RECEIVER RANKING 2021 NFL DRAFT

The 2021 NFL Draft class is crowded with quality NFL wide receiver prospects and on par with recent exceptional classes, with five players worthy of first-round grades on our draft board. The main debate is at the top, where Alabama’s DeVonta Smith and LSU’s Ja’Marr Chase are battling to be the best and thus first receiver taken.

 

Smith became the first non-quarterback to win the Heisman Trophy since 2015 and helped lead Alabama to another college national championship - most consider his 2020 performance the best by any college player this season. Despite this, he is ranked #2 on our board, with the more freakish athlete Chase slightly ahead.

 

It would be a major surprise if at least three weren't taken in the first half of the draft. The group is rounded out with several other blue-chip prospects, Jaylen Waddle, Rondale Moore, and Rashod Bateman, all worthy of eventual NFL starting roles.

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LAST UPDATED: 03/25/2023

Player Rankings - Wide Receiver

# Player Pos H/W/S Team Weight Height 40YD AVG POS RANK AVG OVR RANK Rating Summary
83

WR
Renard
Bell

5-8 165lbs 4.52
WR
Washington State   Mascot
Washington State Mascot
165lbs 5-8 4.52 179
53.0
Balanced, savvy route runner with top field awareness, setting up and selling routes beautifully. Often used on deep routes, getting...
101

WR
K.D.
Nixon

5-8 190lbs 4.46
WR
USC   Mascot
USC Mascot
190lbs 5-8 4.46 71 511
48.0
Balanced, savvy route runner with top field awareness, setting up and selling routes beautifully.Does not have exceptional straight-line...
64

WR
DeAngelo
Wilson

5-9 175lbs 4.58
WR
Western Kentucky   Mascot
Western Kentucky Mascot
175lbs 5-9 4.58 169
56.0
Does not have exceptional straight-line speed but takes advantage of open seams when his quarterback is on target. Balanced, savvy route...
28

WR
Jaelon
Darden

5-9 174lbs 4.48
WR
TB   Mascot
TB Mascot
174lbs 5-9 4.48 34 206.2
65.0
Often used on deep routes, getting separation down the sideline or over the middle on crossing routes by extending his arms rather than...
102

WR
JD
Spielman

5-9 173lbs 4.45
WR
TCU   Mascot
TCU Mascot
173lbs 5-9 4.45 86 701
41.0
Often used on deep routes, getting separation down the sideline or over the middle on crossing routes by extending his arms rather than...
8

WR
Tutu
Atwell

5-9 165lbs 4.42
WR
LAR   Mascot
LAR Mascot
165lbs 5-9 4.42 12 81.6
86.0
A tiny receiver (just 5'9") Tutu joins a large and talented crop of WR prospects in this year's draft. After a breakout year in 2019 he had...
6

WR
Elijah
Moore

5-9 185lbs 4.35
WR
NYJ   Mascot
NYJ Mascot
185lbs 5-9 4.35 13 82.4
88.0
Moore has blossomed at Ole Miss in 2020 following the arrival of coach Lane Kiffin and he will carry that positive momentum into the draft...
10

WR
Rondale
Moore

5-9 180lbs 4.28
WR
ARI   Mascot
ARI Mascot
180lbs 5-9 4.28 5 30.1
82.0
Small but electric Moore can do a bit of everything and do it very well. He is solidly built and hard to bring down. Has been compared to...
46

WR
Austin
Trammell

5-10 185lbs 4.63
WR
ATL   Mascot
ATL Mascot
185lbs 5-10 4.63 142
60.0
Does a nice job locating and tracking deep passes and is a legitimate vertical threat. Willing to go up and attack the ball. Has a knack...
72

WR
Cade
Johnson

5-10 184lbs 4.48
WR
SEA   Mascot
SEA Mascot
184lbs 5-10 4.48 59 297.7
54.0
Often used on deep routes, getting separation down the sideline or over the middle on crossing routes by extending his arms rather than...
94

WR
Shi
Smith

5-10 190lbs 4.46
WR
CAR   Mascot
CAR Mascot
190lbs 5-10 4.46 35 210
36.0
Has the strong hands any NFL wide receiver coach and quarterback would covet. Tracks the deep ball over either shoulder and brings in...
54

WR
Taye
Barber

5-10 190lbs 4.45
WR
TCU   Mascot
TCU Mascot
190lbs 5-10 4.45 59 343
74.0
His competitiveness and knack for high-pointing the ball allows him to play bigger than his size. Tracks the ball well downfield and shows...

2021 NFL Draft Athleticism Chart - Wide Receiver

We've compared players post combine 40 times and weight and charted them on the scatter chart below. You'll find the 40 time on the Y-axis and on the X-axis the weight in pounds.
The exceptional athletic freaks (determined by the combination of speed vs weight) will be found at the top right of the chart while the less impressive athletes will be sitting towards the bottom left.

For a much improved viewing experience (with more players) please view on a larger screen.

2021 NFL Draft Athleticism Chart - Wide Receiver

We've compared players 40 times and weight and charted them on the scatter chart below. You'll find the 40 time on the Y-axis and on the X-axis the weight in pounds.
The exceptional athletic freaks (determined by the combination of speed vs weight) will be found at the top right of the chart while the less impressive athletes will be sitting towards the bottom left.