The NFL Draft is the connection point between college football and the NFL. It is the metaphoric center of the Venn diagram where two worlds collide. College football fans tune in to see where their school’s playmakers will start their professional careers. NFL fans are looking for hope for the next season. Roster changes are not everything, but the addition of playmakers in key areas can change a team’s outlook.
Wide receiver is a position where rookies often excel. In fact, players like Ja’Marr Chase, Odell Beckham Jr., Randy Moss, and, most recently, Puka Nacua have impacted their respective teams immediately. For some rookie receivers, the system or the quarterback around them catapults them to rapid production. However, there are others who are simply built to play the position. We’ll take a look at the top receivers entering the 2024 NFL Draft and dive into why they are NFL-ready.
5 Receivers You Need to Know in the 2024 NFL Draft
Number 5: Troy Franklin
Troy Franklin is the lightest of the receivers at the top of the 2024 Draft class. The former Oregon Duck is a burner and will contribute early in a system that is in need of an outside threat. As Bo Nix’s favorite target in 2023, Franklin amassed 81 catches for 1483 yards and 14 touchdowns. Eight of those touchdowns were explosive plays (over 20 yards), which forced defenses to leave safety help over the top. At 187 pounds, Franklin can add some weight to improve durability at the next level, but scouts may question whether or not adding weight will impact his speed. He is a big play threat but has the opportunity to improve his route tree to become a more well-rounded NFL receiver. Franklin is taller but compares well to the skillset of Desean Jackson.
Franklin’s thin frame is noticeable on tape, but so is his speed–something that had NIL lawyers on notice. Oregon used his speed in a myriad of ways. Obviously, sending a true burner like Franklin on deep patterns is the first option. But the threat of his ability to blow past defenders also allows Franklin to run deep comebacks. He shows the ability to snap off his route and separate significantly coming back to the ball. The Ducks also threw him the ball on underneath crossing routes to free him in space and allow him to use his speed after the catch.
Number 4: Xavier Legette
The biggest receiver at the top of the NFL Draft class of 2024 is Xavier Legette. He broke out in his fifth year at South Carolina, which will be a knock on him in the scouting department. NFL teams would value more consistency. In the absence of Juice Wells, Legette was Spencer Rattler’s go-to guy in 2023. South Carolina listed Legette as 6’3” and 227 pounds. For comparison, that makes his body type comparable to Seattle Seahawks receiver DK Metcalf. Although he is a bigger-bodied receiver, Legette does not sacrifice speed. He displayed breakaway speed routinely in 2023. In Week 5, he topped Miami Dolphins receiver Tyreek Hill’s fastest speed of the season when he hit 22.3 MPH.
College Football’s Fastest Five of the Week:
1. @GamecockFB WR Xavier Legette (@XavierLegette) 22.3 mph #ReelSpeed 💨
🎥: @ESPNCFB
🔗 https://t.co/orrD059ykP pic.twitter.com/LWDAQuXD7U
— Reel Analytics (@RAanalytics) September 25, 2023
The South Carolina native and former four-star recruit struggled catching the ball early in his career, but has always displayed speed and athleticism that got him onto the field. In 2023, he developed hands that allowed him to take his game to the next level. He not only broke away from defenders on deep patterns and ran after the catch, but began to use his frame and strong hands to win battles in the air for 50/50 balls. Legette caught 71 passes for 1255 yards and seven touchdowns in 2023. His biggest weakness is that he relies too heavily on his strength and size. He can afford to refine his route tree and become a more fluid route runner as he moves to the next level. Legette is a physical freak who, even at the college level, won routinely with his physical ability.
Number 3: Malik Nabers
Heisman trophy winner Jayden Daniels owes 1569 yards of his passing yardage to Malik Nabers. The Bayou Bengal standout caught 89 balls and scored 14 touchdowns. Nabers is the shortest of the receivers in the top of the 2024 NFL Draft class at 6’, but he makes up for it with his fluidity and ability to get open. Nabers is the best route runner in this group. He is smooth in the way he operates on the field, allowing him to separate easily. Although he was a 1000-yard receiver as a sophomore in 2022, his junior season saw him rise in production, especially in terms of finding the end zone. Nabers also displays elite body control. Despite being “short” for a leading wide receiver, he glides through his breaks and adjusts to the ball in the air. He also possesses the ability to score from anywhere on the field.
Nabers often lofted into the air to catch the ball in contested situations over defenders. When the ball placement caused him to elevate, he appeared to float and maintain the ability to maneuver in the air. Nabers’ run-after-the-catch ability stands out against other receivers in this class. While all top receivers can make plays after the catch, Nabers is truly scary with the ball in his hands. In addition to catching the deep ball, Nabers was heavily utilized in intermediate routes that allowed him to make plays with his feet after securing the catch.
Number 2: Rome Odunze
Washington star Rome Odunze was the best receiver in college football in 2023. His 92 catches were good enough for second nationally, and 1640 was first among all receivers. He also scored 13 times. Odunze has great size at 6’3” and 216 pounds. He displayed great strength at the catch point and broke arm tackles regularly. Despite being taller than most defensive backs, Odunze looks compact on tape. His thick build allows him to run through contact and extend plays after the catch. NFL Scouts should love his ability to win any one-on-one matchup. Odunze is built like Davante Adams and has the potential to see similar production.
Washington made a living throwing the ball deep in 2023, and Odunze was the primary target. He is able to catch the ball in tight coverage and uses late hands to pluck the ball out of the air at the most opportune time. He separates well at the top of his routes while the ball is in the air. His strong hands also showed up in big matchups against teams like Oregon, where he needed to wrestle the ball away from defenders.
Number 1: Marvin Harrison Jr.
If there is a “best all-around” award for receiving skills in the 2024 NFL Draft class, Marvin Harrison Jr. wins it. He is a polished route runner, which is no surprise considering his father’s skill set. However, unlike Harrison Sr. the younger Harrison is 6’4” and 205 pounds. That makes him the tallest prospect in the top five. In 2023, Harrison Jr. caught 67 for 1211 yards and 14 touchdowns which landed him slightly below his totals in 2022. His body control is above the other receivers in this class. If there is a “can’t miss” playmaker in this class, it’s Harrison Jr. He compares well to A.J. Green in terms of size and ability.
In 2023, Ohio State used Harrison Jr. in a multitude of ways. He is a significant deep threat and possesses the size to go up and make contested catches. He also caught the ball around the line of the scrimmage and used his speed and athletic ability to make defenders miss. Harrison Jr. projects as the number one receiver on the board and is expected to be taken in the top five picks. Watching Harrison Jr. on film shows shows his consistency over the course of the season. Only the teams that used multiple defenders to blanket him were able to even slow him down.
A Deep Class
The 2024 NFL Draft class of wide receivers is deep. The top ten players will all have an impact as rookies. However, these top five have the ability to step in and lead the receiving group on several NFL teams. Look for more honest draft analysis from Last Word On Sports as the NFL season comes to a close and all teams shift to build rosters for 2024.
