NFL Daily with Gregg Rosenthal - NFL Daily 32: Ranking Wide Receivers

Episode Date: June 22, 2026

Gregg Rosenthal and Nate Tice rank the top 32 wide receivers heading into the 2026 NFL season. Find out who comes in at number one, where players like Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Ja'Marr Chase, Puka Nacua, and Justin Jefferson end up ranked, who falls just short of making the top 32, and which teams fail to have a pass catcher make the list. NFL Daily YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/nflpodcastsSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This is an I-Heart podcast. Guaranteed Human. Welcome to NFL Daily, where we're great against off coverage and press coverage. Don't come near me at the line of scrimmage. That's right. It's a wide receiver show. I'm Greg Rosenthal. It's the NFL Daily 32 series continuing where we rank where the league stands right now.

And no one I would rather talk football with than my friend Nate Tice from Yahoo Sports. Football 301 is his podcast. does some work here at the NFL as well with NextGen. And he does a great job. He's not just a quarterback guy today. You're a wide receiver guy. Oh, I appreciate it. I do always try to be an all purpose kind of guy.

You know, and I would say an NFL budsman, but just maybe just, I at least have a little chatter, just like I could do like a lot of things for pop culture. I might not be the most in-depth person. I always could talk about each position. So it'll be great. But wide receiver is tough too because this is, this is. This is one that I could definitely tell a lot of personal flavors kind of influences this. Absolutely. That's what it is.

It's what types of receivers you like. It's the receivers we want. And it's specifically for 2026. So we're not talking long term. This wasn't the best wide receiver class in the draft. It wasn't the worst either. It was a good one. But we'll see if how we value rookies.

They are eligible. If a rookie sneaks into the end of this draft, we'll have to find out. But yeah, if you've been listening, you know, that I've, you know, been giving the first pick to our guest in general, or Ali, obviously, when he's on as a regular. And so I will give you the first pick. And we'll see which different types of flavors, you know, he's not just a Drake May enthusiast. He also knows ball at the receiver position. You're up first. Oh, and really, it's two former teammates that I'm deciding between.

And that's Jamar Chase and Justin Jefferson. Just the cards on the table for me. Yeah. Yeah, they're pretty obvious tough too. Yeah, and apologies to Pooka Nakua, and I'd even say JSN. Wow, I'm just really giving away my top four. But I would say, this is Hart versus Head. And I know statistically who probably will come out ahead, and I get that,

and maybe just even team offensive success. I'm going number one, Justin Jefferson. And this is just for this year as well. And I would even say long term, but I'm very bullish on what the Vikings offense can be this year. I know it's quote unquote quarterback competition, but I'm comfortable saying Kyler Murray will win it. And when Kyle Murray, I think will be a great, we'll have great synergy with Justin Jefferson and the auxiliary targets there too. I think COC is kind of downfield attack will match Kyler.

And I think actually some of the under center stuff, Kyle actually has more experience than I think people have realized everyone. I think that's the big thing right now. It's like, KOC's going to put him under center more than he has. Well, yeah, but he also was doing that. He drew petting. So I'm not, we did our quarterback draft. I think I took Kyle 16 or 17, something like that. but I'm pretty optimistic about him this year having a pretty good season and why I say that

as Justin Jefferson performs with just about anybody. But I think if it's Kyler, he's going to get back to where people go, oh, yeah, you. Oh, yeah, one of the best non-quarterbacks in the entire league. So Justin Jefferson, number 18, one of my favorite players in the league, my number one pick in the receiver selection draft. Yeah, it might be like the number one player at any position. You could make an argument some years. The thing about last year that was interesting, obviously the production wasn't there.

I don't care about the production. He averaged, literally average, 1,600 yards a season with Kirk Cousins when Kirk was healthy. So it's like, okay, there we go. But the thing that I think spells out how great he is as a player, you know, the one throw J.J. McCarthy could make really consistently and well was just like a post.

And next gen has the numbers. Who led the league last year in post-rout yardage? It was Justin Jefferson. By far the most of his career. Like the big plays weren't really. there, but it was like, well, that's what JJ can do. I'll just do that well because I can do literally everything. And there were still amazing games.

There was a Seahawks game. There was a great stat where he was the only receiver and he dominated the Seahawks where he's the only player all year that had two catches on Job, two catches on Reek, two catches on Witherspoon. Like they kept, you know, moving them around. It doesn't really matter. He beat the best defense in the league. So I don't think it's controversial.

I think it was an easy top two. And that was also my tops for what it's worth. Yeah, okay. Yeah, I just kind of like I feel like, and again, this is just my anecdotal public consumption. And I just feel like he's kind of just kind of getting waved away. And I get the NFL. It's always kind of what you did last, how much you are in the, you know, the forefront of everyone's minds. And I think he's kind of gone away.

Even last year, he was still like underlying numbers wise was still pretty dang productive. You know, more like top 20 numbers than top five like he usually is as far as like yards per run, explosives, success rate per route. That's another thing I look at or successful target per route. And all those are more like top 18, top 20. But I would say this year is more what he gets to. And like you mentioned, he's been successful with Kirk Cousins. I think Kyler can do a kind of a Kirk Cousins impression with some more dynamic ability.

But I could just see that production jumping back with Jefferson. Yeah, the fluidity is awesome. I got to see him inside out back to back weeks last year because I was in Dublin and London for their two games. and he is just receiver. A lot of it's the eyeball test too because they're so dependent on what's around them. But that said, Jabar Chase, to me, wasn't easy too.

I had them at the top two. The strength is just so crazy for his size for running back, like his hand fighting. Everyone knows he can run like a running back, but the routes are just so fluid. That's the word that stands out to me with both of these receivers. I think about how, like when Jake Browning is in,

for instance. Like last year, Jake Browning wasn't good last year. The first Jake Browning game, Chase goes 11 for 149 yards in an overtime win. And it was the same thing last year. It was also against the Jaguars,

I think the Lions. I'm forgetting which year was which. But when Browning came in, like, he still can dominate. They use them more in the slot. And it was like that Thanksgiving game against the Ravens.

Like, if you just go single coverage, if you finally give him a little space, like he's just going to cook you. So the consistency, you know exactly what you're getting to me. He was an easy number two. Yeah, force of nature. I mean, that's really what he is. And a guy that just, I mean, it's astounding what he can kind of come down with

because his ball skills are just so good on the outside. And they keep trying to figure out ways to move him around the formation and maybe diversify how they use him. So they're not just as static. And that's been pretty cool to see them at layers, where at first it was moving to the slot. And then they started moving into what they call the number three. position, which is usually where a tight end aligns.

And they've kind of gotten, they've kind of shifted that around, but he's just so dominant on the outside. Gets also one of the best players I've ever seen, getting away with push-ups. And I really do think that's, that's a part of his craft, like a part of his skill set and just how strong he is. Just unbelievable, the physical presence of him, like as far as just contact balance with the ball in his hands, but also when the ball's in the air. And yeah, just an just an explosive player and just so much fun to watch.

So, yeah, I think these two are, I mean, really to me, it's kind of like a top three, but like these two kind of feel like the top two, at least to me. Interesting. Then I don't know who your top three is. And I like that, like, he can do anything. There was a game against the Steelers last year, Chase, they threw him the ball 23 times and just like short stuff because that was like there, that was all they could do. And so they just did it.

All right. So if you think at the top three, who is your third? Yeah. And that would be Pooka Nakua. I think Nakua, I get, he gets a lot of help, you know, with the McVeigh offense and just dialing up a lot of plays. He plays with Matthew Stafford, but the thing is, you know, Jamar Chase plays with Joe Burrow.

But you mentioned the Jake Brown and stuff as well. But I think Pooka and Kua, I mean, running the ball, you see his kind of athletic ability. I think you just see he's better just creating explosives, I think. It's really funny, but people just know he's productive, you know, whether it's fantasy or highlights. But ask a general fan, like, why is Pooka Nakua good? Like, these other guys, I can get you kind of describe picture big plays. Tell us. Well, to me, Puka is just like he is so, you mentioned flu.

it's kind of like more of like he's the build up speed guy he's the runway guy so like he gets he never kind of he knows how to he knows how to maybe he doesn't have that top max speed which you saw on his 40 time but he knows how to just get in and out of stuff without ever throttling down like he can just break off of it and you can hit full speed as you're running it and breaking route and then his contact balance and strength also just like chase show up whether he has the ball in his hands or on the outside and I think his ball skills have really improved as far as contest the catch situations and people seeing, you know, the live or the video version of this right now can see that. Like his, that's what's been really a standout ability. Like even when he was

at BYU, they're using him on jet sweeps because that contact balance was so good. And then if you just even look at underlying production, like he's truly had the greatest start of an NFL career maybe ever. If you look at stuff like yards per route run and all explosives and success rate, you look at just even just raw totals and box score. holes he's up there. But it's just a player that has been absolutely tremendous since he's joined the league as a day three pick. And I think he just keeps getting a little bit better.

McVeigh puts him in great spots, but he also makes McVeigh and Stafford very right that he would translate into any offense right now. So I think just strength, fluidness, just that's just the power of Nakua is just, it's tremendous to wash him. Right. And he obviously fits in in this NFL where receivers are blocking. There's no one, I think, got the.

top of our list that we would want more doing that. The knucklehead factor, I played into, playing into it for me. So for whatever it's worth, I did have JSN in front of them just because, just because these guys are all so great. And he just seems like an immature guy. And he's probably going to have, it hasn't affected his play on the field at all. But I did just play that in that, like, these other guys are all so professional that that was just like the smallest thing.

But yes, statistically, he's probably number one. I mean, he has the, last year he had the most yards after contact for anyone since 2018. In the NFC championship, it's all downfield throws. Like, in all three of those Seahawks games, it was all him. Remember the idea it's like, oh, 1A, 1B with Devante Adams? No, he had 12 for 225 in that overtime game. The first game that they won, that they struggled, he was the only receiver that had any production at all. And then in the NFC championship, like he's nine for 165,

and you mentioned the yards per route run. He's the greatest of all time for yards per route run, if that's just what you wanted to look at. And it's not just, okay, he's only had a few seasons. The only two other players that have ever had the two seasons that he have are, I went and luck was Julio Jones and Tyree Kill. And that's it.

And they only had two of them. And even his are above. So he's just outrageous. So it was just a little bit of the knucklehead factor that I wanted to punish him for. I know. He's making a heel turn. And it just came out.

I think it came out nowhere. I wasn't ready for it. That's true. It's true. Yeah. It's an unexpected heel turn. I interviewed him after his rookie year and he was tremendous. He was just like so positive and everything.

And so yeah, I know, I know. I think they love him. And honestly, long term. And even this year, like the year after being such a knucklehead,

I have a feeling like, maybe it's just learning things about life and being a professional. It all came out of a fast here. And it is a great year. They're not going to be able to me there before this year. So that's, that's, well,

and even if I just look, I can, on true media, I can look back to 2013. and every stat, Nakuo is on top. He's actually even on top of target rate. No one has been targeted more to start their career ever. 133% right now.

The league average over that time period is 20%. First and first downs per route run. First and success rate, 3.2 yards per route run, which anything over three in one season, you mentioned this, is excellent, elite, and he averages that. First and explosives, you know,

10th in yards per target, just all that stuff. I mean, top 30 since 2013 runs designed for him. You know, just he's second since 2013. How many times he's been asked to pass block? Just speaking of his versatility among receivers. So it's just,

you know, and the only guy above him actually, technically is Thai Montgomery who played running back. So he's been asked to block more from any receiver ever on record that I can look back. The number, number two makes sense is Cooper Cup because he was asked to do the same things in this offense. So it's just,

yeah, just the do it allness, the triple threat of Nukuah. But you mentioned JSN. Yes. That's my guy. So I'm going to take him forth. And some of his stats are obviously insane last year.

But the thing that stands out to me is, I think it's easy to forget. He came in as a primary slot. You know, according to next gen, he's actually their first person they've ever measured that has led the league in slot yardage one season and then led the league in yardage out wide, the next. And like he was the best downfield threat in the NFL last year by a good margin in terms of production per throw, all of that. And he's a guy who ran, what, a four, or five or something.

It just shows you it's about getting open and fitting into the offense. And one thing that really stands out to me, very much in the chase, JJ Mold, where, you know, he's a do-it-all guy. It's not just, you know, physically wowing you. When he was on the field last year, Nate, in the regular season, they averaged 6.6 yards per play. When he wasn't, they average three point six yards per play. I mean, that's just outrageous.

They're like the best offense in NFL history when he's on the field and they stink when he's not. So Jeff Fisher Rams when he's not on the field. Yeah. Oh, no, Jason has been such a, I really liked him as a college prospect. I just thought he'd be like a high end two, maybe low end one good player. But man, this he's just been, I mean, every, every year he just adds something. Like you mentioned, now he's going to the outside. The verticalness has been the most pleasant surprise because. Because he had the game, this game lived in everybody's memory in college was the Rose Bowl when he played Utah. And he had a running back for Utah playing DB guarding him. And he shredded him. And in that game, there's some verticalness. But really how JSM won early or the one full year he played in college because then he kind of got banged up his last year was that it was just a lot of underneath stuff, a lot of out routes like sail routes, a lot of overroutes, some craftiness in there. And I was like, okay, he's really smooth.

But then really seeing him in the NFL, especially on the outside, especially. against press, especially how vertical Seattle asked him to operate on play action is he's like as, I think others compare him. I think actually in Sam Darnels to this, but he's like a skier where he doesn't, his height never changes. It's just always, and I've talked about this with like, you know, pitch tunneling and baseball, you know, route tunneling. Everything looks the same to DBEs and then just see him never kind of like change speeds and

just create all this room because the corners are just going like, is he going vertical? Is he breaking? Is he going out? Is he going in? So his like it's not crafting. It's just as smoothness as a route runner. I think is exceptional. Like I would have him as maybe the most dynamic route runner in the league right now.

And I'm trying to think of another. But I mean, obviously it's easy to say after he went to offense player to year. But I do think that it's just the technique of how he plays as even I liked it coming out of college. I thought it was a strength. But now it's more like, oh, you're elite. Like not just like very good. And just the explosiveness that comes with that. But I talked to Matt Harmon,

permanent network employee, I believe, and also work with them at Yahoo, does awesome stuff on the receivers. And I was talking about, like, I think a lot of people think good route running is how those little quick feet, you know, the TikTok routes,

Jerry Judy, it's probably the biggest culprit of that. Hunter Renfro. Amari Cooper was, you know, culprit of this a little bit. But really good route running is like with JSN where he makes so much look the same.

And the more breaks you put on the route as far as the stem and then the fake, you know, maybe a fake, post into a corner, that's where you get to see his route running. So it's like the more breaks there are in the route, that's where you get to see a good route runner kind of get highlighted. And that's, I mean, just even those clips you guys were showing right now, the JSN clips is just how many times he breaks on those routes, count them. It's like two, three times. And you see

the corners going, going every which way, like, oh, shoot, which way is he leaning? So yeah, I would say I really like JSA and now I love JISN. And so I'm very happy that you have my four. I think that's a very fair pick. Four or five, five are the worst. It's subtle. Like, look, guys get better in the NFL. Not everyone, especially at the receiver position, but you get to the NFL and just the professionalism. And it's not like he fell that far.

He fell to 20th. We have some other guys coming up who fell way too far despite being physically dominated. I'm curious who's number five on your list. Well, now this is not fun because no matter what, it's going to be kind of a, it feels to me, it's like I really have to make a case here. I feel like those first four are pretty easy. and just kind of, again, cards on the table. I have a lot of different ideas here.

Kind of one is, I wish his offense wasn't an offense. I would have Drake in London a lot higher if his offense wasn't his offense. Don't worry about the often. We're taking him out of these offense. It's not a fantasy draft. We're just saying who's the best. But yeah. I understand that.

And, you know, I'm going, this is kind of crazy to me because there's some other guys in here that I really, really would have high up here. But I'm going to go with Nico Collins at five. Okay. And I think I love Nico. I love Nico. And another guy that's been more of a pleasant surprise for me coming from Michigan to what he is as a pro. And maybe he was just with Stroud, what he added to this game?

But for such a big guy, another guy that can really get in and out of his breaks and really one of the true Xs that we have in the league right now, he can do a lot. Like it's not like he's just like a Mike Williams type or it's like X only. I mean, right here, the first play you guys are showing is from the slot running an overout. But that actually is what has been such a nice surprise is how explosive he's been. What he can create after the catch, what he can adjust for on the catch. The route running, I think is very good, especially for a guy, how big he is. But I just think how explosive he's been has just been so like, wow, I didn't know you had that in you. But even last year where he was banged up, all that stuff, 14th and first downs per route run,

ninth and yards per route run, fourth in explosive receptions per route run. So like legitimately explosive as a true X. And if you look at it through the past couple seasons, he's, uh, this is through the last two years, three years, two years, three years, two years, three years, last three years,

last three years, he's fifth in first downs per route run. Um, only behind Pukukukukuk, um, only behind Pukukukh. Um, and then second in yards per route run and second explosives per route run. So I, I think he's awesome.

It's more about health. But if I were starting a team, I think Nico is a true blue elite elite elite elite elite, elite elite guy and one of the elite skill players of the week. Same. I, I love Nico. He is someone early, before he even signed that long-term contract with Houston.

I'm like, are people seeing this? Yeah. Because this guy can do anything. There is no one at this size who can run through tackles. He's so good on the end breakers that moves like this. And I'm just like, are people seeing this? So I love that we're giving him the love to put him in the top. Good.

Okay, because two years ago, I would say he got hurt about four or five, six weeks into the season. But before he got hurt, I was making a lot. the case from I was like he's offensive player the year so far like it was and so it would in 2024 I was like this he's doing things that are I mean just stat wise and just eye test wise like this is a dominant ex receiver that we just don't we don't see that type anymore they're like Andre Johnson type which I know Texans that's kind of a lazy comparison but like a true X that runs like the true vertical route tree and like does it well yep and that's why Nate Tice he's an he's an old school football guy he likes old school football players I do think

Nico would fit in great in any era. Any error. The stat I like with him last year was like when opponents blitz, he had the highest target percentage in the NFL. He's just like, he's the guy. He's the answer. If they're sending pressure, then where CJ Stroud goes, I love him.

I debated between him and CD Lamb at five or six. Those were my five and six. And so you took Nico. I hadn't really made a choice. I'd put them next to each other on my list. I was like, we'll see how I feel in the moment. So I take CD, which I guess if I was like, drafting guys, just if you're building a receiver in a lab of like what they should look

like and kind of move like on the field, like C.D. Lane would have an argument to be the number one overall player on this list just for that of just like. Just for wearing number 88 for the Cowboys. Well, that too. But just like his movement, his strength. Like just everything. It's like, well, yeah, like when receivers come out, to me, that's like a prototype. He, prototype, especially today where, you know, his slot percentage as a pro has been all over. Sometimes they've, you know, majored in that. Last year was a career low, but he's still quite a bit. It's still about a third of the time. You know, you're, you had that phrase, the power slot. I mean, he is that. He's the epitome of a power slot. Yeah. And so, you know, he, but he had more deep targets

than ever last year, because that's kind of what they needed out of him. And he can do it all. And so he, to me just, yeah, that's just, that's just sort of what I imagine when I think wide receiver, Like Nico Collins is that. Yeah, no, CD is. I mean CD Lamb is that. Yeah, is that. No, no. But CD too, like you mentioned, it could go inside, outside.

He's a willing blocker. He doesn't, not so much now because he knows what he will, though, when they ask him, which is always something I like. And that's actually something I like about all the Cowboys receivers with Florinaw in there. And the Pickens, they all can block. That's what's actually really cool. And I would even say the Cowboys have the best receiver trio. You can, you know, Bengals with the receiver.

duo with the top two guys. But if you go down to three guys, I think the Cowboys have the best trio because I'm super high in Ryan Flournoy, um, 11th, the first downs per outrun, by the way. Uh, but it just, he's also like 27. Uh, but I, I do think that Lamb has always just been one of my favorites. So like, even when he was coming out of college, Oklahoma, I just love like what he could do. He was gritty. He's good with the ball in his hands.

He's not the fastest guy, but he just maximizes it. Um, like he just, it's always the body control of him. the body the contact bounds as well can have some frustrating drops at times but then just have true the tough i don't know the toughness stands out more than anything which is so funny with those cowboy number 88 guys like des bright tough as hell michael irvin tough as hell and cd's just kind of the newer version like kind of a slimmer sleeker version of what those guys were who were just true bullies um yeah he's kind of like a new how he felt the 17 like i can get i never understood that one Jigba fell to 20 just like his profile like yeah like he's overshot that by a million miles but

even at the time it was crazy that that CD felt and everyone said he loved ball and it was all about football and I was like okay so he's not my he's not a diva or anything I'm like I don't know I never understood that his was weird to me that because he was the type of guy that just felt like he would have been a top five like if if you're looking for a top five type receiver that's it look he made it to number six on our list number seven is so that was a I mean, there's different tiers in this. To me, that was a pretty, for me, that was a clear top six. And then this next group of like five, six guys,

I don't know where you're going to go with this. You might have tipped your hand a little bit. Well, yeah, it's kind of the arguables. It's kind of like who I want to argue for and whatnot. And this is what's real tough because, again, we're getting into exactly what I would like, but also want to play into how they're going to play this year. But what I think they how they can perform, man, because I actually, I think the guy I really

wants going to be there for my next turn, so I'll be okay. So I'm going to just go, I think is more or less the safe pick. I'm going to draft the offensive guard of receivers. That's Amon Raus St. Brown. Yes, the high floor guy. And it's maybe the guy that is kind of like the intercontinental champ of receivers. Like I, and I, and I know that sounds so mean. And it's just like, it's just like quarterback talk sometimes.

It's kind of like with DAC or something, whereas I think he's like the upper tier two guy as opposed to one of the like dudes. And you mentioned the cut off at top five. And I think that's kind of I agree with that. Um, in this next grouping like Drake one of the other names I was thinking about here too because I just love Drake London. But St. Brown is just highly productive. Bolly ball. Another epitome of a power slot in the modern game, um, has been playing more outside and actually been very productive as that there on the outside.

You can't maybe do some of the other things that the guys above them could. but the things he's amazing out, and again, you guys are showing the best clips, those in breakers, the overrouts, the crossers, he is probably the best at that

because of that as he runs an hour out. Oh no, that was a digger out. Yay. But no, I do think that all those is just, that's where you see his power

and his body control. Doesn't have elite speed, but he makes it work because, like, he's so strong. And also I just, like,

think he's another guy that gives corners fit. So, like, which way is he breaking? Which was he breaking? Because he never kind of changed his height. when he's running.

So just a very, very, very good player. And also, again, another guy that's a willing blocker. I got I love to have on my football team. Like that I, he just is one of those players. Like he's going to give his all and play a certain way. He's always going to help you win a football game, even if he doesn't go for 100 yards and two touchdowns. Maybe that's the best way I could describe Almond Rall St. Brown.

It was down a bit last year. Although he didn't have as many drops as I thought. It was just he had a couple high leverage drops. You had a disaster thing. never having any. That's what, that's what it's like, but he's,

he's who you think he is. You're right when I looked at the stats deeper. He had more production from the outside than I realized. Yeah. But he also is the, like one of the highest always and third down conversion rate

and third down target percentage and first down. And, you know, for his size, like he's the number one red zone target in the league in terms of percent.

Like, and so that's why I struggle with him because I had him next to and like in theory he doesn't do as much about as the other guys. But in reality, they build a lot of the plane out of him. Yeah. He is in motion every other,

like every play. And the offense has kind of built around him more than anyone else. So you have to give him credit for that. That's it. It's one of those where I've always, I would say I'm down. I've actually, it's funny with St.

Brown. I was one of the highest people on him. And then I was like, all right, everybody chill out. And I kind of was like, hey, hey,

and now I'm like high on him again. because everyone else kind of dropped on them. Like kind of like one of those weird things as I stayed the same on them. It's like, yeah, Daniel Jones. I've always said, yeah,

Daniel Jones with the right surroundings is going to be, uh, perfectly, uh, acceptable, maybe even better than average starting quarterback. And just his career, it's like,

yeah, as the surroundings change and just like he's going to be fun. Well, that, yeah, I'm there on. I'm on. actually it's kind of like Jared golf for me too.

That's, that's my version of that. Even as a prospect, I've just always like, oh, he's this. And I've just like never really changed and it's just everything around him changes MVP candidate. Oh, he sucks. Oh, we got to train him. Oh, he's great again. But even just stat wise. And and this is just one thing again, like you mentioned, receivers are very, you know, they're very sensitive to their situations and surroundings. But fourth and first downs per route run just last year on a down year. Third success rate per route run. And still fifth and explosives like in fourth and yards per route run. And if you look at the last three years, he's top three and first downs per route run. And, second and success rate per route run.

So it's super productive and just very good at what he does. I think if he listened to this podcast, he would think you're saying you're higher than most people on him. I think he would think we're too low on him. I think so too. He's a man with a lot of confidence, as he should. I will take Drake London off the board of eight. That's where I had him.

And not as much yak as the other guys. To me, it's similar to the NICO argument where when I watch it, like I know what I'm seeing. He is that guy. And I'm not as worried about the numbers. he's great on contested catches, although not as good last year. There was an article by an Atlanta Falcons.com writer, Tori McElhaney, this week, that I thought was great, where he talked about his skill set that he really works on

is how to work with new quarterbacks. Now, he's had to practice that a lot. And I really rate that highly out of him. He's been in such tricky situations and had to adapt to so many different offenses and different quarterbacks. that's what you want out of your number one wide receivers like all right let's work on this relationship what do you do well what do I do well let's make it work and I'm just going to produce so I don't care that the numbers aren't there I know anyone with eyes know that if he

was on a different team the numbers would be way better so that's that I'm not going to punish him for that he's number eight for me yeah I I love Drake London also one of one of those guys I not that this matters no one cares it's like people talk about their fantasy teams no one cares. I had to fight a lot of online battles for when he was a prospect. And so it's, I was very happy to see his, how his career has gone. But another power slot, very, very good. Both these guys were teammates actually at USC, St. Brown and London. And Michael Pittman, who's another great power slot. So they, they, they had a type. Um, but London's just, I mean, it's just a, a unique player. Um, because he's just so like big and fluid, but he had, but he attacks

underneath an intermediate. Like, that's what he's best. that and that's over the middle like as opposed to maybe just an outside ball winner he though he can do that um i think it's a guy you always want to design plays for which is uh which is the best thing you can say about somebody where it's like i want every third down to go him to go to him on the outside i want every third down to go to him okay we'll put him in the slot on this play um a willing blocker just does all the dirty work stuff i you mentioned all the quarterback situation he's gone through the offense of systems he's gone through but just still producing yeah he's kind of still a little underrated, I think nationally.

And I get, we're saying this too as we draft him number eight. But man, he's just, he's a locked in top 10 guy. Yeah, it's locked in. And you saw, I had my doubts about him coming out. I remember scouting that class pretty closely at receiver. And I always try to pat myself on the back that I had George Pickens second because like, look, but it's like, actually no, there are, you know, I had like a lave and Jameson Williams. And I loved a lavee too. And Pickin's ahead of him.

And ultimately, London is the best player of that group, although we'll probably hear from some of those guys soon enough. All right, you're up with number nine. Oh, man, now we're continuing to be in kind of like what argument I want to make here. All right. I'm just, I said that the guy I want is going to be there. And I think he still might be on my next pick. So I'm going to go change here.

And this is just going to be a bullishness on what I think this pairing is going to be. And that's, that's AJ Brown. Okay. Yes, and I understand the arguments right now is, oh, he has slowed down. Oh, he's got. Your guy Harmon has me a little worried, you know, the article he wrote after the trade. Very pessimistic. He did the reception, Matt's enjoying a great vacation overseas right now.

He can't defend himself. But, you know, he was like the decline is here, just how bad it will be. And it hurt my feelings. And there's, I think there, that is some, some of that is real. But I don't think it's as extreme. I do think that is some situational stuff as far as with the offense get frustration with the offense

I mean he was never public with it so who knew how frustrated he was but I do think that I think he's going to have a little just for this year I'm saying that I do think that he's going to have like his head on straight relatively and just also the quarterback that he's going to play with

is going to give him a lot of chances at the football and not just on go balls and vertical balls which I think was just such a cool element that AJ Brown's game in Philly that he didn't show in Tennessee. In Tennessee, he was the yak god. It was Inbreaker, Inbreaker, Inbreaker, Inbreaker, over and over, some outroutes. And then when he gets to Philly, just how Jaylon Hertz wants to throw, a lot of stuff, vertical

stop routes to the outside. And you got to see that former baseball player background. You got to see his hand-eye coordination and his ball skills. And why I'm bringing that all up is there's Drake May who throws all of that. He's willing to rip dig routes. he's willing to rip rip in breakers. And even if he is 90% or 85% of what he was, Diet Coke, AJ Brown, that's still to me a very dynamic player.

Last year and what is this is like down, most down year in years, like in Philly at the very least, still was top 15 in every underlying metric that I look at. You know, first downs, all that stuff, explosives, yards per route, so still a top 15 player and people are saying, oh, yeah, it's already down. So say it's not his 100%, say last year, is 80% and I think this year will be something in the middle. To me, that's a top 10 receiver and I think maybe potentially more because I think May is just going to pepper the hell out of them.

I had him 10th. I had Devante Smith, his old teammate, 9th. And so I will take him at 10 and we can talk about them a little bit together. Yeah, AJ Brown was like versus man coverage according to next gen like was the best in the league as recently as 2024 or that was according to Matt Harmon in terms of winning the route. So it's like that's very recent. I am betting. I inch Devante Smith just a little ahead of him

that it's time. He's been a great, great pro, and it's time to explode. And even if the numbers, if Jalen Hurts struggles or whatever, isn't all there, I don't care. I think he can do it all. Like, his slot percentage has gone up

every year of his career. And yet, last year, yards per route run of anyone on the outside in the NFL, the only two guys ahead of Devante Smith were JSN and Puka. So that's the company he's, keeping. People just don't realize how strong he is and how good he is on the sideline. His receptions over-expected on sideline routes, which is a great weird stat.

You can picture the Devonte Smith catches in your mind. He is who you think he is, is the best in the NFL since he entered the league. Next Gen has, like, he is the best that making tough catches on the sidelines. And I'm not really finding him lacking in the rest of his game. So he's a top 10. receiver to me right now. He, uh, I again, I feel like I keep saying about these players, but it's maybe because these are the touts that were correct for me. But like, I mean, obviously he was the former Heisman winner, all that stuff. I love Devante because he's, you know me. I big on size and weight thresholds. And I kept calling him the outlier. It's like, I don't care how much he weighs.

I don't care what he's built like because this guy's just a football player. And really, he's teach tape as a receiver. As far as his timing on routes, as far as, How he creates a separation. Like he never goes rogue. You can argue a lot of some of the other top receivers, maybe at times cheat on a route. And not all of them. Actually,

all these guys I'm talking about are pretty good on it. But the details that Smith plays with are so good. And he's so fluid. The ball skills. His arms are like Gumby. And he could just reach out and snack stuff. I'm glad you brought up the outside vertical parts because I totally agree.

Everyone goes, Langey Brown's got, they're not going to do it. It's like, no, they had both guys. That's why it was so dangerous. Jaylon could just pick this matchup and just go with one of them. him. Full Routary available for him, even though we don't always get to see it. Hopefully we

get to see more of that this year. And this is my mean comment is I think if Devante Smith played in a different passing environment, people would appreciate what he is because I agree with this ranking. He was next for me. That was the guy I was referring to that I thought I could get next. So yeah, that was, yeah. So I was almost took him there over Brown. So I had, I think we're kind of all in the same kind of tier lists here. So far it's been a lot of. of agreement that that's not great but but no we're going to go i think we're going to get weird soon uh but no i i i think davy's awesome so this was great downfield stuff he's actually a willing blocker as well too um maybe not the most dynamic yak guy but he's a good splitter i would call it like you know a catch

and just get north and all that he kind of knows what he is uh and also just awesome seems like an awesome team age, just awesome guy as well. Yep. Like if Nate Tice likes a wide receiver who's listed at 170, you know he's got to be a bad ass. Let's take a quick break. We're going to come back. That was our top 10 receivers. We will draft the rest after this.

You end up how with weekend gold tickets to Lassau Montreal. Thomas Red. Mumford and Sons. Well, here's my pride and here's my shame. John Party. Old Dominion. Carly Pierce. And more.

gets even sweeter. With flights from Porter Airlines, three nights at Residence Inn downtown Montreal, and $1,000 cash. Download the free IHeart Radio app, listen to Pure Country for 10 minutes, and enter to win. Lasso, Montreal.

Every day you listen is another chance to win. Back on NFL Daily, we've drafted. The 10 best receiver is unquestioned. No one can doubt our rankings, because we agreed with them pretty much, these top 10 guys. Yeah. I have a tier of about nine or 10.

more guys. And then actually I feel like it's a big drop-off. But I don't know where I'm going to go here. I'm curious where Nate Tice goes at Pick 11. I am maybe going to go my first kind of like, I want to say I'm totally veering to the right, but maybe just like a little, little, little, little turn here. I'm going to Teterello and McMillan. Yeah. Yeah. He's the real deal. And I think another one of those, again, the quarterback situation kind of defeats or doesn't let you see it all the time. But I think we saw it enough last year and obviously offensive record of the year, which was a football 301 tout. No, but oh, a top 10 receiver. Oh, top 10 pick. Oh, I really went on the limb there. But even just underlying stats, 15th and first downs per outrun right behind

Nico Collins. Actually tied with Nico Collins. Also more explosive. And these are the guys I'm always going to be high on prospect wise and why I kind of wave away maybe some of the like separation concerns, how they with the ball in their hands. He is. He's an unbelievable athlete. He gets a ball in his hands, Teterea, and how fluid he is getting upfield, how he can turn and change direction. Like, watch him catch like a stop route on the outside or a hitch,

and how he can, like, pivot around a defender and create those yards. Like, he's a very good yak guy for such a big athlete. And also, I just think the competitiveness he has, he had a couple frustrating drops. But, man, his ball skills got shined, I think, throughout the year. I'm also really high on his teammate, Jalen Coker. And I'm also really high in a tight end.

They have Mitchell Evans. Yeah. The list of receivers that are awesome that might not get drafted here is pretty long. And who knows? Jalen Coker could be in the mix here at the end for 30. He made my big board. I'm not going to tell you how long my big board went, but he made it. He's on my big board as well.

That's wild. I had T-MAC lower, but I kept inching them up. And maybe I shouldn't punish him too much that I just want to see it like again. Because sometimes, you know, they've just been through it year after year. And yet I do love an intermediate slash downfield king. And that's that is what he is. And he could work with with any offense. And he wasn't in the slot much.

But when he did, when he was, he often killed people. So they started moving him there and third down. They started designing routes for him on third down. And then Coker, and this is why Coker went up in my head as well. Coker started lining up on the outside and staff of his power slot. And the fact that both can do both. Yeah, that's super interesting. That's where offenses start cooking is when both receivers, so then you can get to 12 personnel and you can put those guys inside outside.

You can do a lot of cool things when both guys can do both. I struggled. I'm struggling now because I struggled with Garrett Wilson as a prospect. And yet, I feel like he deserves to be drafted around here. I think I'm just going to take him. I don't know what to do with him. Okay. Same here, actually.

I'm not going to take him. I'm changing my mind. I got to go to my gut. Dang, I should just count him off the board for me. He was next on my board. And if you don't take him with your next pick, I'm going to take him next time around. But I got to go with my gut, which is I still do want to put George Pickens here. I know he's next for me.

George Pickens was next. Swear to God for me. He's a little wild. You know, you do kind of like McMillan, you'd like to see. Obviously, Pickens has been in the league longer. Yeah. But you'd like to see him back up that explosion that he had last year. but man, if you're just talking about last year,

the efficiency with which he got to those numbers, it was just outrageous. And the thing that stands out to me with him was he killed some great cornerbacks, or very good cornerbacks. And look, he benefited when CD Lamb is next to him, but he also was incredibly productive when CD wasn't. There were two performances, I think of specifically,

where he just destroyed Jalen Watson, who just got a nice contract on things, just killed Jalen Watson. And it was even worse against Mike Jackson, who had like a great playoffs, had a great season. If you, according to PFF was one of the best. And it's like when George Pickens was against those two guys who are not the biggest guys, he destroyed them. It's a little bit of a high wire act for him, but it also was the most consistent playing football was. It used to be slant to AJ Brown was the most consistent.

And now it's slanted George Pickin. So I don't want him to fall any further because he's just a freak. I would take him if you didn't know on my next pick. So I had him at 12 on my board and he goes 12. So that was actually kind of nice. No, he, that's kind of like the in between, like this, because if you look stat wise, he was a top five guy last year. And then how I rank him in my head is maybe like 15. So here we are at 12. Just another guy that's a true X. And again, that's not a, that's a pretty rare skill set. And always had had excellent ball skills and just just, I mean, just the body control that he can have. So true pirouettes on the outside. But it was just always just consistency and keeping his head on straight. Now I think being around CD and DAC, way. different kind of mentality, but we're seeing a little old George kind of creep back in, maybe with this contract talks, maybe not publicly.

We'll see. That's, yeah, that probably would knock them down just like the slightest. And yet, like, he's too good of a player. And I, the, like, yeah, you can pick on some like run blocking reps or whatever, but the effort level is through the roof on like the other rep. So it's not, it's not something where I think he's going half speed too often. All right. You're up with 13.

All right. This is I have like five candidates. I'm okay here. So this is this is tough. I'm gonna just stick with my board the top of that kind of group was Chris Olaave for the Saints. I think finally get to see some health with him finally get to see maybe now he just a competent quarterback competent situation around him and that's not even with a real deep receiving room around him. He was kind of on his own outside some some random touches from other guys. But Olave is kind of show like. year exactly why I was high on him even as rookie year. I thought you should have been offensive rookie the year. It's just wonderful route runner. I've mentioned that with JASN. Alave is up there too. And Alave has plays bigger than at times as far as he's comfortable. I mean,

he takes a lot of hits now. So it's probably going to go away because he's a skinnier guy. You know, not the strongest guy, but he's tough and willing to get those stuff, get those things. But I do think that the route running is just exquisite. I think now with health and with a better offense,

you're actually seeing the production match what he is able to do as a route runner. But yeah, I really like Olaube just overall. And I think this is kind of a fair spot. And I just think this year, like Jordan Tyson might not have like an outstanding rookie year. But no matter what he's going to do is make Olave's life easier. And I just think another year marinating in this offense will make his life easier. So yeah, Chris Olavee, I think is going to have a real nice year this year. Yeah, I had him 14 and he probably would have been a few spots higher if it just wasn't for.

he's had those concussions and the injuries. But the one thing that I don't think people get about O'Lavi, like the numbers support what I think people that are really into the game would know, which is like, look, it's a zone league and he is a zone killer. The part that it was maybe a little surprise to me is his average one second burst according to next gen stats. Like moving for one second, who's moving the fastest in the league? And this has been consistent the last two seasons.

It's him and it's Alec Piers. and it's Marquez Velda scantling. Like his burst is like a lot of them is running down. It's a long speed once they pick up. Yeah, yeah. And he can do that too, obviously.

But for him it's more just like the one second burst is there. And I can see that. And that's why like a stop route to him is is hard to stop. And even if he's not the biggest. It's just the threat of it. It's just like, oh my. And he comes out of the break and it's like,

whoa. It's just over. Yeah. That's why I loved him. I had him one in the class coming out because I was just like this has to like this there's no way this wouldn't work. And it has worked. That's what I said.

It just felt extremely safe. And you know what? Chuck is throwing some like in breakers to him. I think Chuck will help open up his game a little bit more than the other quarterback. He looked like a pro receiver playing college his last year. Like he was just so good. It was for me, another guy. And this is the thing.

If I like a receiver under 190, 195 and I really like them, it's like, all right, there's got to be something to him. Alave and Devante Smith are my two like real big exceptions to that. And it's like if I hate a quarterback that's big and. then they must really suck. You know, it's like the opposite of that. But no, Alave,

I've just, safe is a good way to put it, but I just think he's just, that class I had London won in Olavet right after him. I went one two. Wilson was the guy I struggled with the most. Let's talk about him. Let's get right to him.

Yeah, so I'm going to take him. I just, I just don't want him to go any further. And yet, it's okay, we're in Ohio State Corner. We're picking the ones that we want.

I'm not sure why I struggled with him as a prospect. like Daniel Jeremiah absolutely loved him and he's been right. Dan Bruegler. And they've been right. Like considering the situation he has been in, he does get open. He's been productive. He's gotten over 1,000 yards with bad quarterbacks. Now, the target share has been huge.

Yeah. But I give him mostly credit for that. Not as good, you know, in terms of like contested catches and yards for route run, some of those things. I want to see it again. He does create separation. So I'm, he's not like Stevie Johnson or something where it's, but there is, there is a part of him where it's like, I'm not sure how you do this, but you are doing it. And, and he, and he is like an upper tier receiver. I don't think, I don't think he, you know, he has the quite the ceiling as the guys in our top 12, let's say. But I think he deserves to be in here where, yeah, you're, you're a number one receiver because you're in the top, you know, 15 in the NFL, Garrett Wilson. Yeah. And that kind of feels, yeah.

Yeah, we're getting into the range of him, like where he's that kind of mid, low one, however you want to define these things. You know, you, I think Wilson, it's, all right, I put it this way. The other guys, like a Puka, even JSA and all these guys, they can just be the true one and they don't need a real number two. They just need auxiliary parts around them. Fair. Where I think Garrett Wilson, ideally would need another guy.

Like, he needs another kind of guy that kind of bounce him out. That's the tier we're getting into, I think, with all these receivers. Yep. But again, I think this is a tier that he goes in. and he's explosive, quick as all get out. Like, he's a creator at receiver. I think as my former coach sometimes, like, knocks him because he's not the most detailed guy.

And I think that's where Aaron Rogers soured on him at times, is that he can just be, those guys that are quicker, that, you know, with really quick feet, they just don't understand sometimes the depth that they have to get to on a route. And I can, I could script all the timing. OBJ was a guy that was. I was just going to say, like, in a perfect.

He's the biggest culprit. In the best world, he's like, OBJ, Malik neighbors maybe a little bit. Yes, yes, yep. Judy is probably the bad example. Like that is more where it can go sour. And Judy is probably the worst example that. Amari Cooper is another one.

And I think that's where I can never just get too high on him because of that. It's like I understand why in his head and why in his feel like he's like, I'm open. I get open. I separate here. I'm separating. The timing of my head makes sense. But maybe not understanding the context of the play. And I think that you have to be so dynamic.

like a neighbors or an OBJ or Wilson at times to kind of overcome that a little bit. So but I'm not having said all that. We should have taken him later. We're being too negative about our 14. I know. Garrett. I know. He's a good player.

I, a guy that I like a lot. I like a lot. I don't like the loose jersey when you try to copy Aaron, but I do like him a lot. All right. You're up with 15. Yeah.

You could stay in Ohio State. Just keep going Ohio State here. Just saying you wanted to create a theme. But I have. Don't. Again, like 40 wide receivers I could I could pick through here. I was doing all that talk about about about your pick without even just even

marinating on who I'm going to go with. All right. Can I just merge all the Jaguars receivers into one? No. That would be really nice. And just, you know, Brian Myers, Washington, Washington going 15th overall would be bold. No, no, no, no.

I'm not. But I was just saying, can I merge them all into one because I can't even separate them on my list. All right. we're kind of talking like a guy that's essentially a low end one and really but in his role though he's a high end two I'm gonna go with T. Higgins

and this might be a little rich compared to some other guys that are maybe ones in their offense you know I can make like a DK. McCaff there may be a couple of guys that might be productive this year but T. Higgins and a lot of other offenses would just be the true blue one getting a heap load of targets

and a guy that we consider it even better than he is I think production-wise, he kind of always ends up getting knocked a little bit because it's just where the, when it's per route to run, he's running around knocking the ball. Mike had knocked a little bit. But even if you just look like he still is a very productive receiver that really can take over games at time. Like there's times that Higgins is unguardable, depending on who they're playing against. And again, like I said, would be considered a true X, a true guy that everyone's like, oh, yeah, this is the number one guy. But just because of the offense is not considered that. But yeah, T. Higgins, another guy that verticalness, more health than anything with him.

But he's in the prime of his career. And yeah, I think this is kind of, kind of the range. It's a little rich. There's some other guys I like, but this is more going with my heart here. I have a very solid top 20, and he was firmly in it. We have similar taste. Like, contested catches is a hard skill to replicate year after year, but it's in the numbers. He is a volume contested catch guy.

And he, so he, he is like a three-point shooter who not only is, you know, shooting 40% or whatever. Yeah. But that he, they're throwing him. He's also shooting more than everyone else. And he does it year after year. There's actually only a couple of those guys in the NFL. And the numbers always say, like his on-off splits are crazy with the Bengals. Like, they are just not the same without him.

When Jamar Chase is not there and he's there, for what it's worth, like, it's tended to go, almost better for him than when it's vice versa. I don't think obviously he's a better player, but I think that just speaks to how valuable he could be if he just got the ball more. So yeah, there's some, I think there was a game against the bills last year where he was just dunking on Hirston and Tradavius White.

When sometimes he gets those matchups, that's to your point about like he can just take over an entire thing. Yeah, he's the high end number two. It's like how many teams have a guy that can match up with him and the ones that don't, they just punish it. Okay. Like in, yeah. So my 16th overall pick, and this might be higher than you had him,

because I think people are thinking he's getting older. As great as T. Higgins is uncontested catches. The contested catch God for his generation quietly is Terry McLaren. It's Terry McLaren. I mean, and I don't want to over punish him. He's turning 31 this year. Yes. And he missed games for the first time, but he's always been so durable.

When he actually played last year, he had the highest yards per route run of his career, and they needed him to go deep a lot, and so he went deep a lot, and my eyes told me he's still got the juice. He is probably the only player in the NFL that caught a touchdown and a deep pass off Patrick Sertan last year. That impressed me just in that game. He got, I mean, Sertan won his share of that battle, but the fact that it was a battle. And he's someone, I checked some like old notes occasionally for this exercise, and they didn't move him around at all with Cliff. But he is the type of guy that for whatever reason in my notes, I just write, Terry McLaren is so good. Like, Terry McLaren is the man. He's so good. And so I just, if it's my team, I didn't want him to

slip any further than this. And just also like perfect for Jane Daniels because Jane Daniels likes to pepper those throws on the outside and it was just perfect for him. No, but it's like you said, you mentioned some of these guys that contestant catches are sticky and can do it. And he is a guy. It doesn't matter who's throwing it. Doesn't matter who's whipping the ball over it at his way. statistically he might be the guy of his generation not quite as much volume as some of the other bigger dudes but in terms of like efficiency and making it happen when they throw it to him uh he makes it happen yep he does and also because i have to mention it fantastic blocker okay one of the better one of the better ones actually um yeah i know i know it there's something to it not much have you noticed a lot of these

guys are really good receivers are also some of the best blockers too there's something to that i i don't know there's something to it um i wonder how many are left-handed have i ever told you that theory no more past catchers are left-handed than like when you compare it maybe to that average population whatever that is one and five um i i'm convinced that there's more more past catchers are left-handed Drake london's left-handed and there's definitely more Ohio state products that's four right that we've yeah we still got five potentially go abuca could still go now that's four but we still get maybe two more. Wow.

Okay. And again, we're picking this season. This season only. I have a very solid top 20. We have not gone outside it yet. T-Mack was the most off of my board, but I still had him like 18th.

It wasn't that crazy. I would say T-Mack was probably the one, but it wasn't that much. Yeah, I was like, when I remember I said a big group of the next that he was in it. So, yeah, again.

I would say my next group went from like 14, to like 22, I would say is this next tier. Let's go. You're up with 17. I know, and I'm stalling as I look through a few. All right. You know what? I do think he's going to have a big year.

And again, we're getting into this range where it's maybe low end one, high and two range. And maybe that's just me limiting myself because there's some others I want to throw in here. But I'm going to go with Jam and Waddle. I'm going to go with, yeah, it's super productive, always wins on the field. It's always health because he's not the biggest guy. I think he's in line for a big year. I love that trade. I mean, that was, I don't love trading for receivers for everybody.

But for the Broncos and this year and what they're trying to be in a wide open AFC, yeah, go for it. And what they need, creating explosive plays. They've tried designer plays to Marvin Mims. Let's get a guy that just doesn't need it all to be designer. And it can turn literally any play and take it to the house. And a team that loves running screens, whether because Sean Payton likes them or Bow Nicks prefers to throw a lot of screens.

Well, okay, what's weaponize it? And has guys, and also for an undersized guy, has beef around him. Pat Bryant, Cortland Sutton. And that's also what I think is going to help too. Now he's got Sutton, who, again, is more of a high, high end two to me than a true one, like in a perfect world. That's why you pair these two together.

But I think he's in line for a big season. Again, it's just always staying on the field for him. But, man, Jaylon Wallow, he, now we're getting into the range of more good, great. he's one of the other guys that's truly game-breaking, like can actually take over a game. So if you kind of notice these guys I'm going towards, it's more like chasing the highs of these players that are more super, super, super, super, super role players, I guess.

They asked him this week, what are you going to bring to the Broncos? And he was just like speed, speed and speed. Like he knows, he knows his game. He's great on verticals. He's great on yak. He's probably the best player in this draft that you could call a jitterbug, you know? Yeah. A little bit of a jitterbrook.

And look, the production hasn't been crazy, four of his five years. It's been either right at 1,000 or lower. And yet I am very confident he is what they need. And it's going to be a nice mix. And first ounce per route run over the last three years, just behind Devante Adams, just above Justin Jefferson and JSN.

And no surprise that when Tyreek Hill got hurt last year, like after that, he had, I think, one of the highest percentages of air yards of any. you know, he can carry, carry an offense if he needs to. All right. I'm going to go to D.K. I would say all my picks,

that's the one that surprised me the most of my own. Like, your own pick surprised you. Yeah, I'm surprised I kind of went with, I ended up going with Waddle, but I think this is the proper range for him. Yeah,

though my next two players were D.K. McCaff and Jalen Waddle. I had Mek-F ahead of him. The complete opposite. The other guy I was taking up to. Yeah, the complete opposite. And at a certain point in the DK.

Mechaf development, we probably over. overrated his development. Like, hey, he's not just this. Like, he's started to develop more than he was as a prospect. And maybe that's true, but what he does, dunking on people, as you would say, and if he's not a totally complete guy, that's fine. He was stuck with Aaron Rogers.

He still is. Like, you want him as a deep threat, and it doesn't work as well, but that's not his fault. And if you actually look at what the Steelers numbers last year, I know on-off splits can be a little noisy, but when he wasn't on the field, he just missed him. Right. It was over. So his gravity is really important in this ranking.

You know, your boy Arthur Smith really didn't help him out. And so I feel good. Like, again, yeah, he's not one of the, I think people who are hoping maybe he would become a top five to 10 receiver. And he's not that guy. It doesn't matter. He's extremely valuable for what he does. No, I think this is I've never I've never been the highest guy in D.K.

Because I think people misconstrue how he plays. You know, I think you see him and George Pickens are like yeah, yeah, two dunk artists. And it's like, well, he's more catching run and then a slant guy. You know, D.K is. And it's funny because you mentioned the on-off splits, which is I during the season, I looked that up. It was atrocious when he wasn't on the field. And the same thing was in that offense or in that ecosystem, I should say the year

before with Pickens when he was still a Steelers. Like when he was on the field, it was like, oh yeah, pretty good offense. Off the field, the worst offense in the league that they couldn't do, can't do a single thing. So it kind of finally carried over for two years. No, I think that's, I think this is a proper spot for him. Like I said, he was right. He was the guy I was debating was Waddle or D.K.

McCough for those two. So you kind of ended up going exactly where I know. I wish, I wish he had a different quarterback this year. But I do have some hopes for the Mike McCarthy, either's offense. And I do feel like I'm a little higher on. the Steelers in general than consensus. All right, you're up. You're up on 19.

I'm going to put a pin on that Steelers conversation. I'm still, it's the quarterback, man. It's the quarterback. Yeah, that's it. But I actually think the defense could be pretty good. Which is funny because I think most people don't think that's the thing that's limiting it. It's like, no, at least for me.

No, I do. I agree. I think defense's pretty good. I think the old line's going to be good. I think the run game will be good. and like the weapons are actually solid like you know i'm right there with you um man again have a little tear break here and there's two teammates i'm actually deciding between um because one it's more am i betting the disco stew stock up or one i'm just saying i'm betting the respect

of what he is do you know there's teammates are they play in the mcissom uh no oh all right maybe i'm gonna go with a mecca abuka here okay those weren't the teammates okay Chris Godwin Junior was the teammate. Oh, okay. Interesting. It was a little rich for Godwin Jr. But I do feel like he has to be, he has to be talked about somewhere soon.

Okay. No, I'm going to know with a mecca abuka. And there's a lot of guys I'm considering here, like even like a Rishi Rice, I actually think even with all his crap is kind of getting. This is where we're going to start differing. Yeah,

yeah. And this was going to be fun. But Emekaabuka and this is betting on the flashes they showed last year, which was like contender for offensive rookie the year, every fancy guy saying, wow, you guys were all wrong.

Look how right I am. Look at my dynasty team. I can't believe I have a mecca, Buka, look at these stat analysis about how wrong you guys are. Then he got banged up and hurt like everybody else with the bucks. But I think he's going to be a locked in top 20 receiver

for the rest of his career. I think extremely high floor player, but showed last year he has more ceiling, much like his teammate, Chris Godwin, did when he entered the league and became pro. I think just does it all. Combined in the slot. line on the outside.

Every route's available to him. Like I mentioned before, it's just, I think him having a little bit, the Seattle game is maybe doing a lot in my head. But it's one of those where he showed that he can do more than I think maybe he even showed at college.

You know, underlying stats were more kind of middle of the pack, but he did have a lot of explosives, which again is kind of what I'm speaking to as well. But I do think as he even becomes more professional, or as his pro career goes along, the rest of the buck's offense stays healthy on top of his health.

And whatever happens with, or beyond, I still think he can be a productive guy. So I'm going to just throwing him atko Abuki here. Maybe it's just I want to make an argument for him more than other guys, even if I do like a couple of the other guys that we can talk about soon. Yeah, Mina Kimes, our friend, who you just did the show with last week in terms of the best offenses. She talked about Abuka at length, and so I'm going to steal some of her notes because I was

just like, well, that makes sense. Well, that he was just great, you know, versus zone coverage. When he had off coverage, the numbers are great. But team started pressing him. He didn't handle that as well. I had him lower. I had him 25th. But they talked about moving him around as a Z.

It's not that much different here to me. I guess I want to see the ceiling. There were some drops. You know, he struggled a little bit in the contested catches. So I did have two more guys in my. I thought for me I had a tier top 20, which was pretty clear. And I had two more guys in it. And I'm just going to go with my gut.

right here and go for the high ceiling. And that is a man you mentioned earlier. Man, this is hard. It is hard. I know there's a lot of flavors I can go with. Screw it. It's my team. I'm taking Brian Thomas Jr.

Like, it's always been about the eye test for me with him. There's only so many humans. Because he moves different. He moves different. He moves different. I get it. He got in his head last year.

He can get out of his head. He was got in his head. And now he can get out of his head. He played more. lot when Jacoby Myers arrived, which was surprising. And he just, it was, he just, he did not pick up that offense, period. I think it was pretty obvious. It was a mental thing. Yep. Yep. I think he can get over that. And then we get back to where, closer to where he was as a rookie, where he had more deep receiving yards than any rookie in a long time other than Jamar Chase.

And the way that he moves. I know the yak was down last year, but to me, if I'm, at this point in the draft. I want a guy that has a, is there anyone left that could be a top like eight receiver? And Brian Thomas Jr. to me is maybe that guy possibly. Like he's got to refine some things. Maybe like there's a, there's a, there's a timeline I could argue. But you know, it depends what you're going for. That's where that's what I'm going for. If it was my team, I would just take him. We did on the, our football three o one last year, we did, we all drafted or we just ranked our top 10 receivers. I think I had BTJ at 10 just because I was like, hey, disco, to graph going up forever.

Let's do this. And what you said, the eye test, he moves different. Like I, you don't see six, four guys with that, that,

those type of feet. Like, and the guy that can run. It's just more his hands. It's a good feet. The hands are a little inconsistent, but I agree. He was swimming last year.

And that's where the Jacobi Myers trade wasn't just roll stuff. It was Jacobi, I think, calmed him down mentally. Okay, now we can just have BTJ run nothing but outbreakers as opposed to any, any aim breakers.

Like that, that was what, this bugway or we'll just have Jacoby run the end breakers now. So if you are betting on just like, hey, how he's shored up in the, you know, maybe after week 10 after Jacobi Myers got there, then yeah, I can bet that because the talent's there. It's just, right. Yeah, like you said, getting the head on straight because, but if you touch his talent,

that's a top 10 guy. It's, it's very self-selecting in terms of what off-season storylines you will believe in. Yeah, yeah, yeah. But since it's confirming my priors, John Shipley does a great job covering the Jaguars. I do exactly what you're going to talk about. And Schip said he's been dominant. right?

Yeah. And he said last off season that Brian Thomas Jr. was struggling in the off season. And so that's why you have reporters on the ground. And so I'm willing to buy this Brian Thomas Jr.

is dominant here in year two of Liam Cohen. Let's take a break where you will wrap up with our final 12 receivers in a minute. Experience. You end up hell with weekend gold tickets

to Laso Montreal. Thomas Rett. Mumford and Sons. Here's my pride. Here's my share. John Party. Old Dominion, Carly Pierce, and more. And the prize gets even sweeter.

With flights from Porter Airlines, three nights at Residence Inn downtown Montreal, and $1,000 cash. Download the free IHeart Radio app, listen to Pure Country for 10 minutes, and enter to win. Lassau, Montreal. Every day you listen is another chance to win. We love Ball here at NFL Daily. Our guests love Ball, our co-hosts love Ball. I don't know if anyone loves Ball more than Nate Tice.

I mean, even during the break of this show, we're talking about how complex the Jaguars' offensive. He just can't stop talking ball. He knows ball. And I've got a two-part question here, because you're up with 21. It doesn't have to be your pick. I felt like I had a solid top 20 before it just got really messy. There's only one player left on my board that's in that top tier. Doesn't have to be your pick.

Can you guess who that player is? is and is it your pick we'll see maybe i don't know if even that would be a different answer how you've been going i i don't think it would be the one that came to mine at first is it i have two that come to mind okay all right it's not DJ is it DJ more no no the bills okay is it devante adams no okay okay okay you just make your pick and and i'll review all right mine's devonte ams okay um and this is a sheer just this year production designated hitter washam score 15 touchdowns. He might not break 1,000 yards,

but he's going to be highly productive on his touches. But still, highly productive on his touches. He is 34 this year, 33, 34. This is my scariest pick. This is a red flag here. And this is my honorary. I just, if it does hit,

if he does play 14 games, and averages a touchdown a game, yeah, we're great. But even if he does deflate a little bit when those stats and it's just a little less productive, I still think that he could be, a top 20 as far as just production wise. Last year, fifth and first downs per route run, top 20 and everything else.

And on top of it just had touchdown after touchdown. Even was a, at least for the first month, was trying to block a little bit and make Sean McVeigh happy. And then he was like, I have my hamstring hurts. Never mind. We're not doing that again. But no, this is some honorary selection here. But I do think he'll be productive when he is on the field, even if they lean towards

more tight ends and Pukukukukukua and all that good stuff. The highest average up the target of his career, despite being that. Red Zone merchant, which is a weird, one-yard wonder. A weird combo. A little bit of a red flag to me. They sounded like okay with possibly trading him this year. There was also a stat on NextGen. Yeah, it sounded like, you know, if they were going to try to bring an A.J. Brown,

Devante Adams was going to go somewhere else. They had to like to talk. And granted, you're replacing him with A.J. Brown, still. You know, sometimes he saw pretty favorable coverage. He didn't always make it count. there was a stat from next gen that the only the only game or maybe it was the most snaps one cornerback played against one wide receiver

where every single snap of the game was one cornerback against one receiver all season was Nate Wiggins against Devante Adams and he didn't make him pay at all. It was just all Nate Wiggins all the time and he caught like one pass for five yards or something had a long PI but there were some drops. I mean look I have Devante Adams on my list

he was a little bit lower but just some red flags But he's either going to be a great pick or a bad pick. Like, he might be much better than this. That's why he's smack dab in the middle for me, you know, 21 or is, middle-ish. The other guy that I thought really deserved to be in my tier was Ladd-McConkie. Okay. I get the injury stuff or else he would be higher. That's, like, that's the concern is he didn't hold up through games.

Because when I talked about Brian Thomas Jr., is there a route to him being a top-10 receiver? I think that's true of Ladd-McConkey, too. He would do it in a different way. his rookie season was so good. Like he can play outside and inside. He's better inside. I mean, he was one of the highest percentages in the league, although I do think Keenan Allen kind of messed him up.

They were a little too duplicative. But he also didn't play as well last year, whether it was the contested catches. Herbert and him weren't always on the same page. It wasn't a great year. But he showed me what his highest level can be. And he's just got to be able to finish games without limping to the sideline more.

often because he does finish games and start games. It's just a size thing. But man, he can be a great player. I think you agree with that. Like, there is a world where he gets a little stronger and more durable, Nate, where he is just unstoppable. I think there is a world that we could live in where that's the case for McConkey. I've told you ever my comparison for him for Ladd as a prospect.

It was Emmanuel Sanders. Okay. And Emmanuel had some injury stuff early in his career. And then he started rattling off 16 games, 16 game, 60 game. And I will say some of the last stuff, and sometimes this is what we forget, how this guy going to the second round, how this guy going the third round? He had injury concerns in college too. Yep.

And that's the scary part, that it's already a thing with him. And then he hits the NFL and it's like continuing to be a thing. So that that is the only thing that knocks him for me because it's not ability. Because he has inside outside abilities, a great route runner. He's got great hands. Also, I think one of the coolest things. and this is where I started. I liked Lad coming out of Georgia.

I had him as a top 40 guy. But what really stood out to me was his rookie year was they played the Panthers. And Herber had to break container bunch and into scramble drills a bunch. And he kept finding Ladd. Yep. And how lad's kind of, he just has that feel. Like a lot of these top guys we talk about, they have that feel. That spatial awareness to go, oh, I should throttle right here and stay safe to the quarterback or stay nice to the quarterback.

Oh, I got sprung up here and get vertical on this. Like he just has that kind of innate feel for playing the position. But man, quick is all get out. Really good route runner. Good hands. It's just health. Really, that's it. Not exactly your type.

You like the big guys. I like him. No, but also, yeah, I like him. I just think he's. What do you have made your top 32? Oh, yeah,

yeah, yeah. No, he was, I mean, well within the next like five picks, you know, for way, or I guess it would be three picks for me. I guess it would be the best way to put it.

The thing is I'm actually also optimistic, one about the run game. in L.A. But I also am optimistic that McDaniel can actually make Johnson work more consistently, Quentin, because of the yak ability as far as like those runway routes that he's actually good at. He's not great at a lot of things. But when he can pick up steam and go, that's what that offense is all about on those play actions, creating those opportunities.

So like it's not to knock Lad, I think Ladd's going to cook, but I think Quinn Johnson's actually going to kind of really rise this here. Even if he's not a top 32 guy, but just be better this year more consistent. I think Lad's their best receiver and is their most important, but I probably like them even slightly more in reality than I do in fantasy because I agree with Gadsden and they're going to spread it around, they're going to run. I don't know if his numbers will go crazy, but that's fine.

I think he's going to be great. You are up with pick 23. We're into our final 10. Yeah, I know. Again, we're getting into the funny pages area because now it's just who I want to argue for. All right, I'm going to go with one because I know this is kind of a hot topic, at least this receiving room is. And I know everybody has a new favorite crush in this receiving room,

but I'm going to go with the original crush everyone had. And that's Roman Dunesay for the Bears. Nice. Yes, I know it's a little high. And but I do think that this year he finally puts it together as far as he's battled some health stuff too. Weird and contested catches as well for a guy that was so good at him and so physical as a player.

He's another great blocker type. But still has been really productive, like even with inconsistencies. And also weird chemistry with Caleb, even though they're like buddies. Yeah, like they said they haven't ironed it out yet and usually buddies firing it out a little quicker than that. So, but no, Rome, I think this year is like we actually like puts it all together. I think this is the classic year three leap is it year three year four leap now. Your four leap, I guess for him. Where you got to see it parts last year like everybody in that bears offense. And I know the excitement about Luther burden and I agree with a lot of that excitement. But Luther still has a little ways to go with some of the route running polish where I think O'Dunzee, they won him as the. the X and I think they started to realize, oh, we can kick you inside, be a power guy. We can kick you on the outside and be an under, or as a Z and being an underneath guy as well. So I think they're just kind of figuring out exactly how to use him best.

But I mean, last year he was 24th of first downst per route run right behind Chris Olive, right above, Alec Pierce, right above Justin Jefferson, Devante Smith. Like he was still productive in what people are considering kind of a lost year, really. But I still, I'm betting on the town coming through this year. And really, I do think when I watched. that offense, even if he wasn't getting the ball, there's a lot more positive snaps with him. So really just finishing some plays. But I'm still very high on a dude's day. He's, uh, he was lower on my list. I don't know if he, he would have gotten taken in the end, but that's, I have a little

Garrett Wilson with him to me. They're, they're not similar, but just I've never quite gotten there. And yet the numbers are good. The, you know, Bat Harmon's numbers are good for him getting open. Like he is a pretty complete receiver. It's only year three, by the way. So, You know, going to year three, right? Yeah, his third year. I'm going to go with someone. Same drafts as Caleb. That's right.

This is the most flag plant I've had so far. And this, maybe you'll laugh at this. But if it was my team, and I hope it's not a small sample size that I'm falling for Michael Wilson. But I don't know, man, I just love Michael Wilson. Oh, no, that was mine. Okay. That was no. All right.

So he was 27 for me and I was going to take him whenever that pick came around. Okay. know, it's a little bit of what I talked about with Nico. And I was like, is everyone watching this? Because it did take a little bit to get going, obviously. But watch it. And obviously fantasy football, I'm not breaking any news to them. He carried some teams to a title last year because his numbers were, you know,

top five in the NFL down the stretch last year, especially when Marvin Harrison was hurt. He led the NFL in yards and yards per catch over expectation. And I just, the more I watch him, like, what can he do exactly? Because he can take a short one long. He can run long. He's physical.

They use him in motion a lot. I saw what I saw. It matters more than his college tape. It matters more than what happened before. He's in the pro doing it. His contested catch numbers are bananas the last two years. We'll see how sticky it goes. But it's a two-year sample size.

He's 33 for 52, according to PFF over the last years. That's literally the best in the NFL. I just feel like I've seen. seen enough. He's freaking awesome. And he can be a one. It's weird because he's with Marvin Harrison and they can just be a tandem. But if he's the best receiver on your team, I think you can build in a group around him. I also think it's a great bet.

He fits so perfect in that offense. If I think LeFar is what he's going to run. He is built just like Pucca. He literally said in a press conference, Mike LaFleur, yeah, he's going to be like in the Pucca role. And it's because he can play inside and outside. He's a power slot. So I love Michael Wilson.

So I'm all about this pick. No matter what he was going to get taken for me somewhere. It was just me justifying it. So I'm glad you threw it out here. And I actually even still relatively bullish on MH, Marvin Harrison Jr. I think relative to the public. But I do think to, and also disclaimer,

I'm probably not going to draft neighbors just because I have no idea what to do with him with the injury stuff. I even though I trust the town. It's just more him availability. But with Wilson, it's inside, outside ability, willing blocker, green, the intermediate stuff because he's got that power and just that fluidness that we talk about with a lot of these guys. And why he's getting mentioned the Pooka Nakuro, quote unquote,

is because he's pretty good with the ball in his hands because of his contact balance. And so maybe some jet sweep stuff. But he's just a great blocker that can play on the inside. It's kind of like that de facto tight end, the Cooper Cup, which became the Pook and the Cooner Roll, which now it could be Michael Wilson. So I love this pick. I think he's a hell of a player. And yeah,

more this one was for us. And I like that. Yes. I love that for us. I sniped them from you. It's also for me. But really, the list that Eric puts out,

it's not, you know, we're owning this together. So we wanted to, we wanted to look good at the end of the season. You're up with 25. Oh, boy.

This might be my, my kind of, like, it's not really. He just got paid. That's Christian Watson. I'm just going to go with him. Yeah.

I was going to he was I had like a list of guys I don't know if they all will get drafted But he was right at the bottom of my I want him to make this list like use in my top 32 But I just know you'll take some other guy I was just like yeah he deserves I want him at the end of this list if if possible You want to talk about him at some point. Yeah it's Watson is not a guy I was high on coming out of college He's a guy that's grown on me and I think that's because his game's grown He even drops he's cut that down and whether that stays sticky we'll see but he just looks more confident as a player.

He battle injuries and even last year, but when he was on the field, he's just so highly productive. Leading into last year and last year. Last year, 117 receivers, 200 more routes, Watson ranked 10th and first downs per route, fourth and yards per out, fourth and yards per out and third explosive for out.

And doing it in more of a real way, not just straight go balls. He's added a lot of branches to his route tree, incredibly explosive, but there's a great athlete. now that he's more confident in his hands, the production is kind of, you know, exploding off of that on top of this stuff that he's already kind of shown that he can do. So more about health with him. But he's a guy. I know he got paid. I was surprised. And sometimes it's my own

fault. I don't look at just true box score numbers enough. Like I look at the true media rate stats so much that I forget how many total yards they go for. It was like when Romeo Dobbs got signed. I'm like, oh my God. He had such a breakout year. And he had like, what, 800 yards? and I'm acting like he went for 1,400. Same with Watson. I forget that. But I was surprised when he got signed, how many people were just like, oh, my God, look at that.

It's like, no, he's really, he was truly one of the most improved players in the entire NFL last year when he was on the field and really become one of my more favorites because he's so explosive and stuff. So you can throw him out here. Yeah, I love it. He has some crazy, again,

giving me some credit on her, like, X Factor show. The on-off splits for Watson in his entire career with LaFere or the last four years are crazy. Crazy. He, similar, obviously, similar to D.K. Metcalf, but obviously very different as a player, but I think the gravity that Watson brings and just, he's a problem that you have to have a plan for helps out everyone else. And then, yeah, last year, he just felt like he became more of a complete receiver. And you're getting him, like a real receiver. And you're getting him another year healthy. He was that good coming off of a torn ACL. So that's strong. I'm going to go Zayflowers. Okay, Zayflowers. Okay.

You know, Watson was just one of those where it's like, I can't believe how high I've gotten on him. And now, again, it's one of those guys, I wouldn't say I've stayed level on him. I've really risen how my, how I estimate him, how I rate him. And it's really been, it's cool. I love when, same with Dobbs, same with his teammate. We're a former teammate. It's just guy, I love when that happens.

When I'm like, yeah, okay, I see the athleticism. But when it works, and it's like, oh, sweet. Like all that work, you. guys put into him, it's actually coming out and coming to fruition. So I think he's, I think he's going to surprise some people, maybe just the raw stats this year and just it's going to be more real for everybody. Yeah, you have a great perspective as someone who's so deep into the draft, but it is great when you see these speed guys, size guys that, well, if they can develop by year three by year four, they could be this. Watson to me is a great example of that where he is doing that development.

Flowers is a guy who I think similar to Garrett Wilson before is maybe not either of our perfect flavors. And yet, I just, the numbers are so undeniable. I just feel like he should be on this list somewhere and he was next on mine. So I'm just going to take him. He's so unique. Like, yes, he's been playing with a Hall of Fame quarterback, which has helped a lot. Does he need to have a great quarterback? Like, he's been helped by that.

But he does get open. And similar a little bit to Amman Rae St. Brown, like they build a lot of. of them. Like, he is used in motion more than any wide receiver in the NFL, period. Full stop. Like, he is always moving and he's someone that you have to account from. The separations are numbers are there. The yards per route run are straight up elite. When they use them in the slot, like, it is extremely efficient. By the numbers, also throughout his career, not just raw numbers, which are also very consistent, but just by the advanced numbers, he looks like he's the exact same guy every single year. He doesn't feel that way because

he's certainly not on a route to route basis. But basically the Zayflowers you get is, you get them back every year. And it's extremely productive. And so at a certain point, I just feel like we have to take us some Zayflowers. Yeah. So put it this way. He was in my like draftable range. Yeah. I was never going to take him. Yeah. I had a feeling, which is why I know I know. I I insist. No, I insist. I understand where the talent is. Yeah, he's just not my kind of flavor. There's some frustrations I have sometimes where he always works backwards with the ball in his hands. But I understand his ability. I think he's a very good number two.

They've been desperately needing another one. I don't think Elijah Stratt's going to be that as much as I like him. But I did like that flavor kind of change. But no, flowers for what he is is good and actually plays more like a real receiver than I think he gets credit for. because of what he looks like, how small he is and everything. But he's always been, even at BC, just a guy that runs a full route tree and everything. And I like how you put it. He's always moving. It's a good way.

It's kind of a good way to put it. Yeah, he's kind of a, not a jitterbug, a sugar bug. He's just jock full of sugar on this stuff. So I like that. As much as his stats have maybe gotten inflated because he's clearly the best guy, they also would be a little bit of a mess without him, you know, as a receiver group. Like who else? I'll give him a little credit.

there. Pride is like love. You feel it in your heart. IR. Radio, Canada's number one streaming app for radio and podcasts, including IHart Pride Canada, your favorite hits and must have party bangers, plus personalized and curated playlists like back in the day pride. Come together, celebrate love. Take pride with you anytime, anywhere. Just ask your smart speaker to play IHartPride Canada. Stream us on your phone or listen now at IHartRadio.com. All right, you are up with 27. Man, there's some fun ones I just really want to talk about. So I'm making my little kind of like short list for our next picks.

So hopefully we can talk about all these guys. All right, I took the one teammate. No. Do I? Do I want to? All these guys have a teammate drafted, I think, except for one. All right. I'm just going to go with him because I just trust the quarterback.

I'm going to go with DJ Moore at 27. not a guy that has kind of disappointed me the last couple years some of his attitude stuff some of the effort stuff i've seen i won't some of the attention to detail as well i don't think him and kailaub just really bonded i have no idea i know nothing about that i'm just guessing off what i watched on film um and i just one of these guys that going to buffalo though even if they overpaid a little bit for him i do think that he's going to eat in that offense because they've needed someone that can win vertically down the sideline. I also think he's always just been a good, like,

yak guy on screens and handoffs and everything. And I think that offense, I mean, it's built out of bubbles. You know, as much as I love Khalil Shakir, you only can do that so much. But him and Dalton Kincaid run those bubbles. Now you got DJ Moore, who's another dynamic player. But I think Josh Allen has now, he never attacks the sideline anymore because he just never had a player.

They try to do with Keon Coleman. DJ Moore, even if he's not built like it, he can run an X route tree, meaning he can run vertical, he can run stop routes and win isolated. So I'm going to throw him out here. I actually was thinking maybe the guy I was kind of like, you know,

peppering out there just thinking about was his old teammate Luther Burden as a breakout year. I know, I know. And another guy that's kind of like I like more as a pro than even as a prospect. But I think more though, I think in this offense, this year only is going to be very productive and be quite easily a top

27 receiver, I think. I like him way better in fantasy than in reality. I don't think I would have taken him. He was a little bit like Zay Flowers for you because there's just too much inconsistency where it feels like you can't trust he's going to do what you want him to do. And I even look back at the Panthers trade

and wonder like, hmm, were they a little tired of DJ more? Some of the effort stuff I think was real. And so I think he'll be really productive. I actually think he'll get a great year out of. of them and that is what this is about 2026. So it totally makes sense as a pick. And yet I didn't want them on my team. I feel like I'm really a super team.

That's a good way to put it. That's the thing is real, real football, if I were like drafting guys, he'd kind of be off my board. You know, here betting just production, betting what it could be, okay, this is a, this is my head, not my heart kind of a selection here. It's kind of just what he is going to be. And I think he's going to be that Buffalo offense. So very similar to Christian Watson, I believe Jameson Williams development.

gets him a spot on this list. And I had him just a little bit higher. They were both quite draftable on my list to Watson, but similar in that you've seen him get better at the things you were hoping early in his career where now he's doing much more of the route tree. When Amman Ra got hurt against the Packers, Jameson Williams steps up.

I don't think you'd want him to be your one, but he could have a bigger load than he really does. his yards per target on in-breakers, and this is because he just takes these things to the house, is higher than, like, anyone ever over the last two years. It's just like because every, like, 12 of those, he just runs for 75 yards. So I don't know if that's misleading or not,

but he stretches the field. They're using him on short throws a little more, but obviously he's great with the yak. He's great with the deep ball. My style of receiver would just really help out any receiver room, Jameson Williams, getting better and better. Yep. We did our skill player draft and so many guys this time of year. I know and we kind of, I know I wanted to change it up and we kind of had a, I did it with some rules where it's like you're basically building the skill player room. So it's like you had to take a tight end. You had to take a running back. You had two receivers. And then you had like a flex. And even Charles McDonald, he took Jameson as a top, you know, 15 guy. But he was doing it from a team building perspective because he goes, well, my other guys, no one can create space like Jameson Williams. He's like this. He's like, this. guy he's not going to catch many balls but he's going to help everybody else out. I was like,

you're right. Like he's who maybe a guy, Deshawn Jackson was like that, you know, when we were younger. I wouldn't say to the extent like they're different, different flavors, but kind of what those guys, the boost that those guys provide for everybody else. Like it's, it's as worth as much the yards that they put up as well. So I had him as my next, he was on that next little chunk of guy. So I was hopefully going to take him this either this next pick or the pick after that. So I know this. I'm going to, all right, I'm going to go with the guy. This. one this one's just for me keep keep in mind you only got two more picks left so if you only have two players you feel like need can i just tell you can i just tell you my short list and then

maybe just no that's giving it away that's given it away i want to i want to gauge your reaction i'll play poker like show my my hand and just see what your reaction was um this one's for me this one's for me and i understand he's hurt right now and i understand that we don't even know what his timeline is i'm going with alec pierce because i just want to plant this flag and not He's next on mind. He's actually fallen further than I had. I only had two players left. I was like,

I'm going to draft those two players. Alec Pierce is one of those two. I mean, we got it. It's only the injury that's even not. That's really, yeah. I'm even regretting to having them

below DJ Moore. No, Pierce is, I just talked about vertical guys like Jameson Williams and Deshawn Jackson. Pierce says that in spades. That's why he got paid money.

And then last year you got to see him, he's not going to be the pristine route runner. That's not going to be how he wins. But the fact that he has the 103 mile an hour fastball, now his off speed pitches are just enough. Like just enough you have to worry about the curveball, just enough you have to worry about the slider, that the fastball is so much more dangerous

because he can throw that at any time, as to Houston Texans. But also now he is threatening defenses with his breaking routes, a little bit more outrouts, a little bit more comebacks. Again, he's a little stiff-hipped, and that's why he just even physically, he's always going to be limited as a route runner, but ball skills and speed

maybe the best in the league just like you're talking about Jameson Jameson's a little different flavor as a yak guy but I think there's very few that are even in the same tier as Alec Pierce so I think he's on top that's why he got paid and just become more of a complete player than even just kind of

those big plays that obviously grab the highlights no one like them in the NFL not just leading the league in yards per reception by far back to back seasons 22 and 21, just like outrageous 1970s on the Chargers type numbers, which is fun to see. But his average like ADOT is over 20,

which is crazy. There's no one else around him or like him. One thing I think that showed how good he is is when Philip Rivers came in, the rest of the passing game kind of fell apart. But Alec Pierce was still getting his buckets. Like he still made it happen with Philip Rivers down the field. So I don't like the vibes with the content.

track on the injury it's a lot of pressure but but he had to be taken i actually had a kind of glad that he resigned with indy because i i i said this during free agency period i go he's going to get overpaid by another team and no matter what he'll never live up to that contract no matter how good he is on a per route production base you know efficiency rate the stats fans are going to go thousand yards we just paid you 28 million a year you know like i and so i'm actually kind of glad he went back to indie. Like as far as just expectations and just, you know, just hometown hero, that kind of stuff

and everything. But I know, I actually almost forget not having them above more. Yeah, that kind of makes me. Yeah, I want kind of recant and flopped those two. Okay. I am, I'm going to take Mike Evans. You took the guys I, Pierce was the last of my guys that I felt like had to be on this list.

I was wondering if you take Mike Evans. Okay. Yeah. I didn't know what to do with them on this. Pierce was the last one that had to be on my list and you did it for me. Evans is next up for me. I know last year, it was trying to say, well, he still looked like Mike Evans completely when he was out there.

And, you know, he's still great versus man. But he never gets a lot of yak, but it really was like a next level of not getting it. Like, it's like zero yak. So he's a very specific flavor. He's 33 years old now. But I think it's a skill set that will work. And look, if you ask me to choose between Mike Evans and Devante Adams, for instance,

if one of them happened to really fall off, I actually would say Adams would be more likely than Evans. I think Evans is going to be a valuable role player plus for the 49ers, and they're really excited to have him. I think he matches up pretty well, actually, with how Brock Purdy is precise in the red zone. But also, Brock Purdy throws a nice touch deep ball, like Drew Breeze. style and that's what Mike Evans does great is it's a lot of contested catches 30 yards down the field and so I think Evans will be good for the 49er. My, my, you just maybe think of a new Purdy take is that Brock Purdy is if Johnny Mansell worked out in the NFL like that as far as arm strength, even athleticism like because

Purdy's a better athlete and people realize and he's a good scrambler. Yeah, even size-wise are kind of similar size, but that's who had Texas A&M. Watch Mike Evans rumble on Alabama. It's some of the most impressive stuff you'll ever see. No, love it. I was curious, I didn't know what to do with Mike Evans. And I really didn't, for this exercise, I mean, love it in a real football sense. And actually, I had Ricky Piersall is one of the names as a draftable name for me.

Okay, well, we're going to have a just missed list because we only have two picks. Yeah, I know, but I'm stalling because I don't, I know we have to get out of here and I'm stalling. And I'm just really debating a lot of players here. You can list a bunch of them now because it's your last pick. And you're going to have to do. Luther Burden. Yeah. Rishie Rice.

Because I'm higher on Risholice than everybody. I understand all the stuff. Marvin Harrison, because again, I'm higher than everybody. Corwin Sutton as kind of a respect pick because he actually is kind of like the quietest top 30-ish receiver in the league. He's officially next on my board.

I don't know if I'm going to take him. But I'm with me. I just felt like I had to give him the respect. He was inside my top 30. Ricky Pearsall. I actually am pretty optimistic about this year. It's just health. And actually,

my one Ricky non was Carnell Tate, just because I do think he's going to get, he's going to eat and just get a lot of touches this year. And I like Carnell Tate. You know, and then other guys, it was like, I don't know it to do with these guys.

Chris Gowan Jr. is one. Malik Neighbors was one. I mentioned Mike Evans is one. It's like, I don't know what to kind of really rank you guys. So that was hard. And I had Jelen Koker for fun.

So 31, though. I'm just the guy that's on my list, Luther Bird. Why not? He was top of my list. Just go with that. I wanted you to take Sutton just so that the Broncos fans won't be mad at us. Oh,

they're going to roast us. Well, maybe I'll take them 32. I don't know. There you go. They love being angry. You can just, yeah,

but Luther Burden, I liked as a prospect. I had him as a late first, early second guy, you know, I think like 28 on my big board, something like that. I saw the talent,

but I, these guys are always huge. Red, big, big, big, giant, deep, deep red alarm bells or red flags is gadget guys, their only slot, they get a lot of plays designed for them. Whether that's scarring from Troy Williamson, whether that's just, I knew that would get you, whether that was just a lot of guys that have come out over the years. I was in the green room with Troy Williamson during his draft. The only draft I spent in the green room.

I don't know why I was there for NFL.com. 50 minutes. Bigger guy than you would expect Troy Williams. Yeah, you know. Yeah. He's pretty well-built. Yeah, just couldn't catch and couldn't run a route. Other than that, though, you know, he could run.

And, and, God, that was a bad draft class to have two first-round picks, too. That was, because the other receivers were like Braylon Edwards, Michael Clayton was another one in that class. We drafted, Vikings draft a Erasmus James, too. That was just, just awesome, five-star draft. No, but who did I draft? Oh, yeah. Luther Bird.

That, well, one, another guy that's bigger than I think people realize. A great athlete, very fluid. Still a little raw. He caused an interception last year by throwing a hand up and going rogue on a route, which is a big no-no in the NFL, unless you're Randy Moss. And also, though, more of a dirty, work, gritty player than I gave him credit for and has more outside ability that I maybe give him credit for. And already has shown that.

And I think already has shown Ben Johnson that. And I think Ben Johnson's very giddy about him. and I mean I wish I could draft Colson Love one in this but of this group but I think burden is just shows more of a real receiver on top of the I mean truly exceptional body control and contact balance and what he can do with the ball in his hands and he already shown that you can be an averageish route runner so even if he just gets to above average the blocking the completeness of him that's a very exciting very dangerous player so yeah Luther Byrne I want to give a little shout to if I feel like Luther Burden becoming as good as I think

he's going to be is is is almost going to prove my cadarius hony uh tony tony hype right you know years later that's a great we're good for cadarius tony um let us down a little bit though he had a moment in the super bowl um he did the burden will make it happen and no no i agree with you lutherburden is so much stronger and it's complete and he landed in a perfect situation and that matters yep it does i know i'm now i'm curious who you end with other than courtland sotting honorary pick so if you're listening Broncos fans. Cortland Sutton is next on my list and would have officially been like 27th on my list. 15 explosive plays on late down. I'm not taking him. The most explosive plays on late downs of

anyone in the NFL. Very similar. He got boxed out here by Mike Evans who is a similar style of player. Sutton has been a volume contested catch guy over the years. He kind of reminds me of a lesser T. Higgins if T. Higgins had his own team. Like this is what it would look like for T. Higgins. I think a little bit. And yet I just want to take someone I'm more excited to just see on that graphic. I feel wrong about not having Malik neighbors

on the graphic. So I know he's injured and that's like what are we even doing with this? But I don't care. I want to just slide him in at 32 because he's Malik freaking neighbors and he's a unique style. But I mean his rookie season.

Like even before he got hurt last year, his percentage of air yards was the highest in the NFL. You know, as a rookie, like, he's top five in targets per area, you know, area, all this. Like, you can build a lot of the offense around him. And I do think he's another level. Like, he's not a Zay Flowers. Like, he is.

No, no, no, no. He is at a much higher, like, I don't know if it's OBJ level, but it's just, it's so exciting that even if he's not ready and this injury is really concerning. I just want to slide him in here at the end. Just have him represented. As a prospect even in his rookie year, he's one of those guys where it's like, the coach in me was like, oh, he doesn't do this, right, doesn't do this, right? And then the personnel evaluator in me, it was like, but he does this. But he creates an explosive play every time he touches it. But he catches it one-handed behind his back as he's falling out of bounds.

Like, I can't teach that. If he were healthy and everything is hunky-dory, he's low teens for me. Like, you know, that's probably the range. the Lave range you know we're Garrett Wilson yeah that's about right volatile guys um and i because the talent's there like he has top five talent it's just you know it's now it's just that health stuff and again the that draft class was so cool with him and harrison junior and and even a dunezay was it was so hard it was so many parts of my brain screaming at each other about what i valued the most so far no one's really been right uh i guess if you're the neighbors guy you can

say you're right there but yeah man he's just so talented i totally get this pick but again i told you i i had no idea what to do with him with the health stuff but yeah i mean i feel a little weird about because either like we're saying he's going to be healthy and then he would be higher or he's not and then he wouldn't even be on it yeah yeah like sudden i mentioned was next on my list the other names probably the other guy would have taken just because i wanted to give him a shout out is jordan addison who i think is really an underrated player um just so good on the outside side like the outbreaking routes are just outrageous for him as a rookie he was so good and so Addison Sutton I thought a little Jacobi Meyer certainly Marvin Harrison Jr. Josh Downs if we were

really going deep. Those are some of the names I thought I thought about but yeah he can only choose one I just let's get neighbors on this list. I apologize to Jordan Addison I believe in you a little bit of a a little bit of a can you trust this guy factor to him but a hell of a player of a player the Vikings Vikings have a weird shape every player seems like they have a weirdly shaped chip on their shoulder this year that's why that's why I'm by betting on them I'm betting it all works out okay KOC's ticked off I think Kyler's ticked off I think Justin Jefferson's ticked off I even think Joanne Jennings has ticked off how the 40 irs run ended like so I don't know I I'm that's that's a very much a like uh narrative

scouting I'm that's why I'm kind of bullish on the Vikings so I like that I like Jordan Edison I he's I had him as receiver one in that class I I had him and JSA, I had kind of the same grade. I just didn't know what to do with both of them. I was like, I really like you guys, but I wouldn't take you top 20. And they've both been good players. Jacoby Myers also just, I feel bad. Still not getting taken was right on the borderline.

Teams that could have a chip on their shoulder didn't get drafted. Any receivers here are Dolphins. I mean, Dolphins fans know. I'm sorry. It wasn't going to happen. The Browns, no one was particularly close. Carnal Tate, you mentioned with the Titans, but, you know, they got Wondale. They don't have a top 32 receiver net.

right now. Neither does the Raiders, but they have Brock Bowers. And then, yeah, Rishi Rice did not make it. So the chiefs and Patrick Mahomes, I think those were the only teams that didn't have anyone taken. And Marvin Harrison, Jr., prove us wrong. Rishie Rice didn't have this last month. I would, you know, that's just hard for me to plop out of my brain. But I, I've always been higher in Rishie Rice than I think a lot of people are. This is just on-field stuff only, because I do think he's one of the best yak guys in the league and has shown a little bit more

but it's just consistency and whether you trust him yada yada yada but i think he is truly I think he's a top 20 talent if I'm being honest but it's dang just consistent i love that i know i know every time i talk about rice i know matt harman's always like

it's like it's always being nice the entire time i'm talking about him but yeah and then the raiders what about my guy tray tucker you know i mean yeah that would be a stretch 20 about an hour one. Denzel Boston for the Browns. Someday. Supposedly having a good.

Supposedly having a good spring. Yeah. All right. We did it. You know, Nate Tice does not have a chip on his shoulder. He is feeling the love because I feel like everyone's asking him to be their guest. Barnwell,

you'll, you know, hear him with Mina last week. We got him here. He's taking a break, but he is cranking out great shows at football 301. Everyone check out Nate Tice. And then,

In this feed, coming up this week, I'm taking off a little bit. I'm going to go see the in-laws. And we're going to have Patrick, Claibon, and Nick Shook helping me out. But we have some great content this week. We have some fun stuff over Fourth of July. We've got our quarterback show, which I'll be a part of. So I'm not going anywhere too far. We are at the summer.

Thank you, Nate Tice. And thank you all for listening. Let's get out of here. I've been waiting for that music, Eric. I've got to go catch a bird. That was fun, ranking all the wide receivers. NFL Daily 32. Like I said, we will have quarterbacks coming up later in the summer.

But next time you'll be hearing from Patrick Claibon. We'll see you again. This is an I-Heart podcast. Guaranteed human.