By Harvey Hoffman
This NFL draft will be the most robust receiver class in recent history.
Even Captain Obvious, ESPN’s Mel Kiper is predicting that as many as 30 wideouts will be take in the first three rounds:
Mel Kiper Jr. Says there will be 25-30 receivers going off the board in the first three rounds, with as many as five in the first and eight in the second rounds, doubling down on this being a historically deep WR #NFLDraft class.
The prospect of this many receivers going so early in the draft may seem a bit far-fetched, however, it is indicative of just how historically deep this class is projected to be.
The 2004 class is thought of as perhaps one of the most defining drafts for wide receivers. They had a whopping seven wideouts that were taken in the first round, which is more than any draft over the last 50 years. this group had been headlined by none other than Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald. There has also been six other draft classes that had six receivers taken in the first round during that span.
Kiper’s projection indicates that the 2020 class could find itself in the same territory or even eclipse the mark left by their predecessors. Of course, players like Alabama’s Jerry Jeudy and Oklahoma’s CeeDee Lamb have already managed to establish themselves as a cut above the rest. Fortunately, it seems there will certainly be no shortage of playmakers to pick from for teams in desperate need of some more firepower on offense.