The 2024 NFL WR Class

We’re now one week closer to the NFL Draft, and in this week’s article we’ll explore perhaps the deepest position group in this year’s class, wide receiver.

The class is led by three projected top-10 picks: Ohio State’s Marvin Harrison Jr., LSU’s Malik Nabers, and Washington’s Rome Odunze. I’ll break down what each of these guys will look to bring to the table upon entering the league, as well as some of the lesser-known prospects who’ll be taken a bit later on.

The Sleepers

Before we break down the big three, I’ll briefly walk through some of the guys who are projected to be taken later in the draft, whether it still be the first round, early in the second, or any time beyond that.

Some of these guys are not necessarily "sleepers,” as they’re still well respected, but they’re not your immediate household names like some of these other prospects.

Without further ado, and in order of who I think will pan out best in the league, we’ll start with…

Brian Thomas Jr., LSU

Brian Thomas Jr. comes in at a towering 6’5” with blazing speed. He was a touchdown machine at LSU, catching 17 this past year. His ability to track the ball and beat defenders 1 on 1 is probably his best strength but don’t count out how effective he is as a runner after the catch. He has as much upside as any other wide receiver in this class but will be tested against much tougher competition at the cornerback position.

Adonai Mitchell, Texas

The 6’4” Texas product is a great combo of size and fluidity. He tested extremely well at the NFL combine, running a 4.34-second 40-yard dash as well as a 39.5” vertical jump. His athletic ability alone will take him far, but he needs to polish out his route tree and beat defenders to the ball in the air. I see his game potentially resembling that of Bengals wide receiver Tee Higgins.

Ladd McConkey, Georgia

Ladd McConkey, by no means, is looking to outsize any of his opponents but shouldn’t need to, as he’s one of this class’s best separators. His footwork flashes when he’s running routes and consistently leaves defenders in the dust without needing to out pace them. His size could run him into trouble at times, but in a proper scheme, a player like him can truly be unlocked. He’s also sneaky athletic—a real gritty lunch pail kind of guy.

Xavier Worthy, Texas

Adonai Mitchell’s teammate comes in next on the list and is an athletic freak. The 5’11” receiver broke the NFL record for 40-yard dash time, running a 4.21 and casually recording a 41” vertical alongside that, earning him a 97.9 Raw Athletic Score. He’s averaged more separation than anyone else in his class and is almost as good after the catch. He’ll be an immediate weapon once he enters the league, but he still has a fair amount of kinks to work out in order to be a long-term starter.

Troy Franklin, Oregon

I haven’t watched too much of Troy Franklin, but from what I’ve seen, he is an exceptional straight-line runner. He’ll be a great deep threat wherever he goes but his versatility worries me. He was one of college football’s most productive receivers last year, so his numbers are great, but I have doubts about whether his production will translate to the NFL. He reminds me of Giants wide receiver Jalin Hyatt, who was incredible in college but is still adjusting to the NFL.

Here are a few other names to keep an eye out for later in the draft:

• Xavier Legette, South Carolina

• Roman Wilson, Michigan

• Ja’Lynn Polk, Washington

• Ricky Pearsall, Florida (Makes some ridiculously good catches.)

• Brendan Rice, USC (Son of legendary Jerry Rice)

• Malik Washington, Virginia (My favorite late-round sleeper.)

The Big 3

As I mentioned before, this years class is led by three guys who have truly separated themselves from the rest of the pack. And while Rome Odunze is rightfully a part of that big three, Malik Nabers and Marvin Harrison Jr. might just be in a league of their own.

Both Harrison and Nabers could be the best wide receiver prospects in any draft class over the past 5 years. In my opinion, the only player who gives them a run for their money out of college is Ja’Marr Chase, who was drafted fifth overall in 2021 and has since become one of the league’s best at the position.

Rome Odunze, Washington

Height: 6’3”

40-Yard Dash Time: 4.45 Seconds

Vertical Jump: 39”

Rome Odunze, despite being just a tier below Nabers and Harrison Jr., is an exceptionally polished wide receiver prospect.

Rome’s release off the line of scrimmage is something to behold. He consistently shakes defenders as soon as the play starts, leading to separation on most of his routes.

He spent this season on the receiving end of one one of the most productive quarterbacks this season, Michael Penix Jr. As a result, Odunze totaled over 1600 yards through the air in just 15 games. It just so happened that one of the quarterback class’s best deep ball passers was paired with the class’s best deep ball receiver.

Rome Odunze excels deep down the field. He has an uncanny ability to track the ball in the air and beat defenders when its time to make the catch. He’s earned an unbelievable 99.9 PFF grade on receptions of 20+ yards! His biggest strength is shown in this graph, which charts both the contested catch rate and drop grade of wide receivers from recent draft classes. (Odunze in the top/middle right)

He has easily the most reliable hands of any receiver in this class, which will make him a quarterback’s best friend. With little to no glaring weaknesses, the only real question is: how productive will he be at the next level?

Projected Draft Position: 8-10

Projected Team: Atlanta Falcons, Chicago Bears

NFL Comparison: Davante Adams / Jaxon Smith-Njigba (but taller)

Malik Nabers, LSU

Height: 6’0”

40-Yard Dash Time: 4.35 Seconds

Vertical Jump: 42”

In almost any other draft class, Malik Nabers would be far and away the best prospect available.

Nabers had a prolific season alongside quarterback and projected top-3 pick Jayden Daniels. He finished 30 yards short of the 1600-yard mark and found himself in the end zone 14 times.

What stands out about Malik Nabers is his acceleration. He is able to get to top gear in a split second. His running ability after the catch is second to none, and yet he just so happened to also earn a 99.9 PFF grade on receptions of 20+ yards, and this year is PFF’s highest-graded receiver prospect overall.

The graph below charts both the yards after catch per reception and the forced missed tackles among some notable wide receiver prospects. Malik Nabers can be found on an island on the right of the chart.

Malik Nabers forced an unbelievable 30 missed tackles this year, touching the ball just 90 times. For reference, that is the same amount as Michigan running back Blake Corum, who had 274 touches this year.

Nabers doesn’t have a single glaring weakness. He is among the best in all categories at the position and will only improve upon entering the league. He is flat out one of the best athletes in the entire class and will be an immediate difference-maker wherever he goes.

Projected Draft Position: 5-7

Projected Team: Chargers, Giants

NFL Comparison: DJ Moore / Deebo Samuel (but way faster)

Marvin Harrison Jr.

Height: 6’3”

40-Yard Dash Time: N/a

Vertical Jump: N/a

Marvin Harrison Jr. is regarded as arguably the best wide receiver prospect of all time and is the son of, you guessed it, Colts legend Marvin Harrison.

He opted out of most of the physical tests at the NFL Combine and his pro day for good reason; the proof of his play is already on tape.

Marvin Harrison Jr. is about as perfect a prospect as they come. He possesses the ideal frame to outsize his opponents, and he consistently wins at the point of attack.

MHJ has one of the most impressive catch radiuses you’ll ever see. He pairs that with beautifully technical route running that’ll only improve as a pro. Every step he takes on a route is calculated and you’d think he’d be already be an established veteran with how he plays the game.

The graph below shows PFF’s route running grade and yards per route run. Marvin Harrison can be found towards the top right.

I know this chart is supposed to highlight Marvin Harrison Jr. but Malik Nabers is really just a freak and charts better than anyone in his class.

MHJ is a perfect prospect before and at the moment at the catch. He isn’t the most dynamic runner after the catch but has gotten along just fine with his style of play thus far. It’s also important to note that he reportedly reached a top speed of 22.2 mph in a Week 3 matchup this year, which would’ve been the fastest in the NFL this past season.

His combination of speed, size, hands, and route running will lead him to a long and potentially hall of fame career in the NFL.

Projected Draft Position: 4th Overall

Projected Team: Arizona Cardinals

NFL Comparison: Ja’Marr Chase / Dez Bryant

Now you’re a bit more familiar with just a few potential future NFL stars! This year’s wide receiver class has a chance to produce some of the next great pass catchers for years to come.

Next week, we’ll break down even more prospects to keep an eye on as we grow closer and closer to the NFL Draft on April 25th!

Thanks for navigating the NFL’s Darkest Timeline with me. If you enjoyed this read, share it with a human being who you think would appreciate it too.

Until next time,

Michael

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