Ideal NFL Roles for 2016 Draft's Top Wide Receivers
The 2016 NFL draft class does not have nearly the offensive talent we've seen in recent years.
In fact, Bleacher Report's Mike Freeman recently called it "the worst offensive draft class in years."
It's safe to say this class won't produce another instant-impact receiver like New York Giants star Odell Beckham Jr. or Oakland Raiders wideout Amari Cooper. However, there are plenty of receivers in this class who can fill valuable roles early in their career.
Rather than evaluating the receivers in this year's class based on their long-term potential, let's analyze them based on how they'll fit into an offense in 2016.
If your NFL team selects one of these seven wide receivers, here are the roles you can expect them to play as rookies.
Corey Coleman, Baylor
1 of 7
Immediate role: deep threat
Baylor Bears wide receiver Corey Coleman can do a little bit of everything and certainly has the tools to be a true No. 1 receiver in the NFL.
ESPN's Kevin Weidl has compared Coleman to Pittsburgh Steelers receiver Antonio Brown, who is obviously much more than just a deep threat.
However, there are some flaws in Coleman's game that may limit his immediate role while he develops.
Making the transition from Baylor's simplistic offense will be the most challenging adjustment for Coleman in the pros.
At Baylor, Coleman was rarely ask to run complex routes, relying heavily on screens and go routes.
There will be an adjustment period as Coleman learns how to create separation in the NFL, but his speed will translate to the pro game immediately.
Much like former Baylor receiver and current Tennessee Titan slot man Kendall Wright, Coleman will likely struggle to adjust to certain aspects of the game but will be valuable down the field immediately.
Laquon Treadwell, Ole Miss
2 of 7
Immediate role: possession receiver
Ole Miss Rebels wide receiver Laquon Treadwell's lack of speed will continue to be a storyline throughout the draft process. But there's no shortage of quality receivers in the NFL who struggle to create separation down the field.
What you see is what you get with Treadwell, which can be considered both a positive and a negative.
Treadwell has the skills to make an immediate impact, but it's also difficult to see where he can improve to elevate his game in the future.
In terms of his immediate role, Treadwell should be a valuable possession receiver and is capable of playing both in the slot and on the outside.
In terms of a pro comparison, Treadwell could play a role similar to the one Marques Colston filled in New Orleans late in his career.
According to Pro Football Focus, Colston had nearly a 50-50 split between the slot and out wide in 2011, while hauling in 80 catches for over 1,000 yards. A similar workload could be possible for Treadwell depending on the supporting cast he's working with as a rookie.
Michael Thomas, Ohio State
3 of 7
Immediate role: possession receiver
Ohio State Buckeyes wideout Michael Thomas is less physical than Laquon Treadwell, and he may be a ranked a notch lower on draft boards as a result. But the two receivers fall into the same general category as prospects.
Like Treadwell, Thomas struggles to create separation down the field but his excellent route technique allows him to consistently create throwing windows for his quarterback on short and intermediate routes.
Thomas worked almost exclusively on the outside at Ohio State and could play that role as a No. 2 option early in his career.
Expectations for Thomas in the NFL should be set based off Michael Crabtree's career.
While Crabtree had a far more prolific college career, he and Thomas win in similar ways and rely more on their routes to create space than raw athletic ability.
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Braxton Miller, Ohio State
4 of 7
Immediate role: slot receiver and deep threat
It's tough to pin down one role for Ohio State Buckeyes receiver Braxton Miller, and it's likely his future team will deploy him in a variety of ways.
His playmaking ability after the catch is obvious, and it makes him a strong candidate to work in the slot and be fed a heavy does of quick slants and screens.
At Ohio State, however, Miller was actually used on a high percentage of deep routes.
According to CFB Film Room, nearly half of Miller's targets in 2015 were 20 or more yards downfield.
This stat is somewhat surprising given his limited experience running routes, but the Buckeyes obviously felt his raw speed created mismatches they could take advantage of last year.
Miller will hold a speed advantage over fewer cornerbacks in the NFL, but this is still an area where he can be a threat.
Will Fuller, Notre Dame
5 of 7
Immediate role: deep threat
From the moment Notre Dame Fighting Irish star Will Fuller sets foot on an NFL field, defenses will be focused on preventing him from getting free over the top.
Fuller is one of the few receivers in this class with the pure speed to simply run away from coverage, and many cornerbacks at the next level will require the help of a safety over the top to contain him.
The rest of Fuller's game is unrefined—his intermediate routes can be sloppy and his hands are a significant weakness—but the threat of his speed will change the way defenses align.
Fuller's game compares to Ted Ginn Jr., which can be seen as both a positive and a negative.
On the bright side, Ginn's speed has allowed him to hang around the league for a decade. However, he never developed into a reliable starter due to the same issues that plague Fuller as he enters the NFL.
Josh Doctson, TCU
6 of 7
Immediate role: outside receiver
TCU Horned Frogs wideout Josh Doctson may not have the most eye-popping physical tools, but he is arguably the most NFL-ready receiver in the 2016 class.
Doctson is elite in few areas, but his well-rounded game should make him a quality starter on the outside from the time he sets foot in an NFL training camp.
The one area where Doctson excels most consistently is battling for contested catches.
His ability to track the ball and pluck it from the air above defensive backs is a skill that typically translates well from college to the NFL, especially for a 6'2'', 202-pound receiver.
Other receivers such as Coleman and Miller have the skills to eventually surpass Doctson if they reach their ceilings, but Doctson is a candidate to have the most immediate impact of the receivers in this year's class.
Tyler Boyd, Pittsburgh
7 of 7
Immediate role: slot receiver
Pittsburgh Panthers star Tyler Boyd flew under the radar in college, working with different coaches and quarterbacks seemingly every year. But when his career was all said and done, he put his name in the record books next to Arizona Cardinals wide receiver and future Hall of Famer Larry Fitzgerald in nearly every meaningful category at Pitt.
Boyd is not a physical specimen—he ran just 4.58 in the 40-yard dash at the combine—but he has reliable hands and turns into a running back with the ball in his hands.
These traits allow him to win in many of the same ways that Jarvis Landry does for the Miami Dolphins.
While the ceiling for prospects like Landry and Boyd is limited, there is value in having a threat in the slot in an era where teams are consistently putting three and four wide receivers on the field.
Boyd should be able to carve out a long career in that role in the pros, and may even make a Landry-like immediate impact if he lands in the right situation.
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