NFL Draft — Wide Receivers

Athlon Sports’ 2008 NFL Mock Draft and Top 100 prospect database will be unveiled on Friday, Feb. 15. Until then, we will be taking a look back at the past five NFL Drafts — with a position-by-position breakdown of the players taken in the Top 100 and first round, along with a sneak preview of the 2008 NFL Draft class.

Wide Open

The modern wide receiver is always open. Even if he’s at the Pro Bowl being covered man-to-man by Champ Bailey and being guarded against over the top by Ed Reed, his quarterback better throw the ball. If not, there could be trouble when he gets back to the huddle, or on the sideline, or in the locker room, or in front of a microphone.

Of all the positions in the NFL these days, wide receivers are almost expected to be outspoken and borderline cocky — along with fast, sure-handed and ridiculously athletic.

Granted, out of this world confidence is needed to catch a jump ball in the end zone, tippy-toe dot-the-i on the sideline or one-hand a bullet pass from a laser-rocket-arm professional quarterback. But the personas of wide-outs have added a dimension to the position itself.

Unlike the hard-working and humble “G.O.A.T.” (Greatest of All-Time), Jerry Rice — who recorded 1,559 catches for 22,895 yards and 197 receiving touchdowns in 21 years after being a never-heard-of from Mississippi Valley State — today’s rags to riches success stories have become tireless self-promoters.

UT-Chattanooga country boy Terrell Owens went from a third round pick in 1996 — the 12th receiver drafted that year — to the household initials “T.O.” Santa Monica JUCO and Oregon State route-runner Chad Johnson went from the eighth receiver off the board in 2001 to the gold-grilled, bleached mohawk, bi-lingual sensation “Ocho Cinco.”

T.O. and Ocho do spice up the “No Fun League” with touchdown celebrations and television soundbites. And maybe it says something about the mentality of the receiver position that many of the best in the game had to scrap their way to the top. Even the better quiet receivers — Alcorn State’s Donald Driver (No. 213 by Packers in 1999) or Texas Tech utility man Wes Welker (undrafted in 2004) — have a chip on their shoulder.

On the other hand, many receivers at the head of the receiver draft class go on to have a career that essentially peaks with the signing of their rookie contract — like Colorado’s Michael Westbrook (No. 4 by Redskins in 1995), Florida’s Ike Hilliard (No. 7 by Giants in 1997), FSU’s Peter Warrick (No. 4 by Bengals in 2000), Michigan’s David Terrell (No. 8 by Bears in 2001) and Michigan State’s Charles Rogers (No. 2 by Lions in 2003).

So, maybe swagger and attitude are more than just marketing ploys for receivers. Wanting the ball on the field and wanting attention off of it are the yin and yang. Quarterbacks and running backs are guaranteed touches, on direct snaps and handoffs. But a receiver has to run full speed on every play as if it is a scoring opportunity. And in the mind of a great receiver, he is a threat to go the distance on every play and he’s always wide open. Just throw him the ball.

The 2008 NFL Draft wide receiver class is headlined by a receiver-return man, Cal’s DeSean Jackson, who was a highlight waiting to happen in Berkeley. Jackson’s place at the top is being closely pursued by Oklahoma’s Malcolm Kelly and Texas’ Limas Sweed. There are also several other potential first rounders and a few sleepers lurking in a class that lacks obvious No. 1 targets but has quite a few No. 2 and No. 3 options.

	2007	2006	2005	2004	2003
1st Round	6	1	6	7	3
Top 100	17	9	14	14	11

Over the past five years, an average of 13 wide receivers have been selected in the Top 100 picks — which is roughly the first three rounds — of the NFL Draft. Of those, an average of five receivers per year have been first-round choices.

No discussion of the past five wide receiver classes is complete without mention of Detroit Lions CEO and President Matt Millen. In one of the strangest twists in all-time draft history (regardless of sport), Millen has spent four of the Lions' past five first-round picks on wide receivers.

It all started with local Michigan State product Charles Rogers, who was selected No. 2 overall in 2003 — ahead of future Pro Bowl pass-catchers Andre Johnson and Anquan Boldin. A few broken collar bones and failed drug tests later, Rogers is out of the NFL altogether.

Next up, Texas' Roy Williams went No. 7 overall in 2004. The most successful of the Motown quartet, there are no regrets surrounding the physical Williams, but there have been recent trade rumors due to an upcoming contract renegotiation.

Hoping the third time was a charm, Millen drafted USC giant Mike Williams with the No. 10 overall pick in 2005. In between his brief college career and the NFL, Williams was forced to sit out a season (as punishment for signing with an agent) after the "Maurice Clarett" ruling was overturned. He was never the same. After being traded to and subsequently cut by the Raiders, Williams signed with the Titans but is not expected to be back with the team following the firing of Tennessee (and USC) offensive coordinator Norm Chow.

In 2006, Millen went wild and drafted Florida State linebacker Ernie Sims. But the executive who has inspired a "Millen Man March" was back at it last year, selecting Georgia Tech's Calvin Johnson with the No. 2 overall pick. In fact, the two highest drafted receivers of the past five years (Johnson and Rogers) have both gone to Detroit.

2007	Player, School	Team (Pick)
1st Round	Calvin Johnson, Georgia Tech Ted Ginn Jr., Ohio State Dwayne Bowe, LSU Robert Meachem, Tennessee Craig Davis, LSU Anthony Gonzalez, Ohio State	Lions (2) Dolphins (9) Chiefs (23) Saints (27) Chargers (30) Colts (32)
Top 100	Sidney Rice, South Carolina Dwayne Jarrett, USC Steve Smith, USC Jacoby Jones, Lane Yamon Figurs, Kansas State Laurent Robinson, Illinois State Jason Hill, Washington State James Jones, San Jose State Mike Walker, Central Florida Paul Williams, Fresno State Johnny Lee Higgins, UTEP	Vikings (44) Panthers (45) Giants (51) Texans (73) Ravens (74) Falcons (75) 49ers (76) Packers (78) Jaguars (79) Titans (80) Raiders (99)

Labeled a nearly flawless prospect, the 6'4", 239-pound Johnson was so praised it led many to wonder whether or not he would be a Hall of Famer if he retired before even being drafted. Reality sets in fast in the NFL, however, and Johnson was not even the best rookie receiver in the league in 2007. But he did haul in a respectable 48 catches for 756 yards and five total touchdowns (four receiving, one rushing) while playing through a back injury.

The best first-year wide-out was Bowe, who had 70 receptions for 995 yards and five touchdowns for the Chiefs. After putting up numbers like that while learning the ropes on a team that was lacking a quarterback and an offensive line for most of the season, who knows what kind of numbers the physical 6'2", 221-pound Bowe will put up down the road.

Arguably the most criticized pick of the entire 2007 draft, the selection of Ginn was booed by Dolphins fans who wanted Notre Dame golden boy quarterback Brady Quinn. Primarily a return specialist, Ginn had 63 kickoff returns for 1,433 yards (22.7 per) and 24 punt returns for 230 yards (9.6 per) and an 87-yard touchdown. He did develope into a receiver as the season wore on, catching 34 passes for 420 yards and two scores.

2006	Player, School	Team (Pick)
1st Round	Santonio Holmes, Ohio State	Steelers (25)
Top 100	Chad Jackson, Florida Sinorice Moss, Miami Greg Jennings, Western Michigan Travis Wilson, Oklahoma Derek Hagan, Arizona State Brandon Williams, Wisconsin Maurice Stovall, Notre Dame Willie Reid, Florida State	Patriots (36) Giants (44) Packers (52) Browns (78) Dolphins (82) 49ers (84) Bucs (90) Steelers (95)

The shallowest receiver class of the past five years. Holmes has been the deep threat Pittsburgh was looking for out of the only first-round receiver of 2006. Meanwhile, Jennings has been the best all-around threat, emerging as Brett Favre's new big-play threat — highlighted by an 82-yard first play of overtime game-winner on Monday Night Football in Denver this year.

Jackson and Moss (the younger brother of former Hurricane and Pro Bowl Redskin speedster Santana Moss) have been largely disappointing, with neither receiving any field time to speak of for the Super Bowl XLII participant Patriots and Giants.

2005	Player, School	Team (Pick)
1st Round	Braylon Edwards, Michigan Troy Williamson, South Carolina Mike Williams, USC Matt Jones, Arkansas Mark Clayton, Oklahoma Roddy White, UAB	Browns (3) Vikings (7) Lions (10) Jaguars (21) Ravens (22) Falcons (27)
Top 100	Reggie Brown, Georgia Mark Bradley, Oklahoma Roscoe Parrish, Miami Terrence Murphy, Texas A&M Vincent Jackson, Northern Colorado Courtney Roby, Indiana Chris Henry, West Virginia Brandon Jones, Oklahoma	Eagles (35) Bears (39) Bills (55) Packers (58) Chargers (61) Titans (68) Bengals (83) Titans (96)

Edwards has developed into one of the most complete young receivers in football. The Michigan man has the size (6'3", 215) to go over the middle and the speed to take any pass to the house. Aside from the physical gifts everyone already knew he had, Edwards has shown the hands, body control and concentration of an elite receiver.

The only problem arises when he doesn't get the ball enough. Edwards will let his quarterback know. Sharing the ball with tight end Kellen Winslow II is fine, just so long as Edwards gets his fantasy numbers too.

Williamson and Williams have been flat out busts, while former Arkansas quarterback Jones is still learning the nuances of the position and Clayton is struggling to produce consistently in a conservative offense without a quarterback.

Jackson has shown flashes of greatness in San Diego but is not a week-in, week-out contributor yet. And then there's Henry, who is one of the best red zone targets (17 TDs on 88 career catches) along with one of the best No. 3 receivers in the league. But Henry has not been able to stay out of trouble and the former West Virginia teammate of NFL problem child poster boy Pacman Jones was suspended for the first eight games of the 2007 season.

2004	Player, School	Team (Pick)
1st Round	Larry Fitzgerald, Pittsburgh Roy Williams, Texas Reggie Williams, Washington Lee Evans, Wisconsin Michael Clayton, LSU Michael Jenkins, Ohio State Rashaun Woods, Oklahoma State	Cardinals (3) Lions (7) Jaguars (9) Bills (13) Bucs (15) Falcons (29) 49ers (31)
Top 100	Devery Henderson, LSU Darius Watts, Marshall Keary Colbert, USC Derrick Hamilton, Clemson Bernard Berrian, Fresno State Devard Darling, Washington State Carlos Francis, Texas Tech	Saints (50) Broncos (54) Panthers (62) 49ers (77) Bears (78) Ravens (82) Raiders (99)

Fitzgerald was a ball boy for the Minnesota Vikings during the Cris Carter and Randy Moss era. Fittingly, he was drafted by the former Vikes and Cards coach Dennis Green. A consummate professional who started training like an NFL player early on, Fitzgerald is advanced for his (or any) age.

At 6'3", 226 pounds, he has all of the physical tools, but it his mental makeup, footwork and sticky hands that make him one of the best. Last year, Fitzgerald recorded his second 100-catch, 1,400-yard and 10-TD season. In four years, he has 330 catches for 4,544 yards and 34 touchdowns.

Roy Williams may be the receiver that the Lions' Matt Millen has selected over the past five years. But that bar isn't very high. Banged up off-and-on, Williams has overachieved every-other season. As a rookie in 2004, he had 54 catches for 817 yards and eight scores. Then, he stepped back with a 687-yard, eight-TD campaign. In his third year, he played all 16 games for the only time in his career, with 82 receptions for 1,310 yards and seven touchdowns. But last year, he played only 12 games and dipped down to numbers (64 catches for 838 yards and 5 TDs) that were arguably worse than his rookie year.

After suffering a tragic knee injury in the Wisconsin spring game of 2002, Evans bounced back to become the first round pick he was slated to be before requiring two surgeries. Amazingly, Evans regained all of his speed and is one of the top deep threats in the NFL.

2003	Player, School	Team (Pick)
1st Round	Charles Rogers, Michigan State Andre Johnson, Miami Bryant Johnson, Penn State	Lions (2) Texans (3) Cardinals (17)
Top 100	Taylor Jacobs, Florida Bethel Johnson, Texas A&M Anquan Boldin, Florida State Tyrone Calico, Middle Tennessee Kelley Washington, Tennessee Nate Burleson, Nevada Kevin Curtis, Utah State Billy McMullen, Virginia	Redskins (44) Patriots (45) Cardinals (54) Titans (60) Bengals (65) Vikings (71) Rams (74) Eagles (95)

The first NFL game of Rogers career was also his best pro performance ever, with four catches for 38 yards and two touchdowns. Sadley (or maybe appropriately), Rogers wasn't even the best rookie receiver on the field in Detroit that day (Sept. 7, 2003). That distinction belongs to Boldin, who exploded onto the national scene with 10 catches for 217 yards and two touchdown runs, including a 71-yard trip to paydirt.

Now out of football, Rogers ended his short stay in the NFL with 36 receptions for 440 yards and four scores. Meanwhile, Boldin has produced five solid years and has a career line of 413 catches for 5,458 yards and 29 touchdowns. Fitzgerald, Boldin and Bryant are one of the top receiving trios in the NFL, although money may break up the band sooner rather than later.

Boldin was the Offensive Rookie of the Year in 2003 and has better career numbers, but Johnson is the most gifted of the class. "Andre the Giant" is 6'3" and 222 pounds with run after the catch ability as dangerous as Boldin or anyone else this side of T.O.

Most impressive, the quietest Hurricane star in history has a demeanor rarely found in receivers so talented. Then again, a No. 3 overall draft choice with Pro Bowl production doesn't have to go out of his way to prove anything to anyone. He may not say as much, but Johnson is always open. Just throw him the ball.

Keep checking AthlonSports.com for ongoing NFL Draft coverage:

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