2020 NFL Draft: Wide Receiver Rankings

Editor's Note: These rankings were originally published before the combine. We will be updating our position rankings throughout draft season.

Over the past 50 years, there have been seven drafts with at least six wide receivers selected in the first round. The 2004 draft had seven first-rounders, although that draft class was relatively mediocre outside of Arizona's Larry Fitzgerald.

The 2020 group may turn out to be the best receiver draft class ever and has a chance to challenge—or tie—that 2004 group for the most first-rounders. Regardless of how many are selected in the first round, the class is strong at the top with impressive depth throughout the draft.

Here are my post-combine wide receiver prospect rankings:

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1. Jerry Jeudy, Alabama (JR, 6'1", 193 pounds)

Jeudy is a polished route-runner that sets up opposing cornerbacks well and has tremendous acceleration out of his breaks. Both quick and fast, the former Biletnikoff award recipient excels after the catch with his stop-start ability and elusiveness. Jeudy has impressive body control and natural hands, but he has had some concentration drops. The alpha in a receiving corps loaded with four potential first-rounders (counting Devonta Smith and Jaylen Waddle next year), Jeudy is a high-floor receiver that should emerge as his future team's No. 1 receiver early in his career.

2. CeeDee Lamb, Oklahoma (JR, 6'2", 198 pounds)

Like Jeudy, Lamb profiles as a No. 1 receiver at the next level and is a top-10 overall talent. Lamb ended 2019 with 62 catches for 1,327 yards and 14 touchdowns (21.4 Y/R) and scored 26 touchdowns in 27 games the past two seasons. Experienced lining up both inside and outside, Lamb has exceptional ball skills with a special ability to contort his body and adjust to the ball in the air. While he doesn't have elite speed (he's fast enough, though), Lamb is dangerous after the catch with his vision in the open field and ability to make would-be tacklers miss.

3. Henry Ruggs III, Alabama (JR, 5'11", 188 pounds)

As expected, Ruggs ran the fastest 40-yard dash (4.27) at the 2020 NFL Scouting Combine to go along with explosive jumps. Given his rare acceleration and run-after-catch ability, Ruggs is a threat to take any slant to the house. Through his three seasons at Alabama, Ruggs averaged 17.91 yards and scored on one-quarter of his 100 career touches. While speed is his most deadly weapon, he has improved as a route-runner and adjusts well to the football.

4. Justin Jefferson, LSU (JR, 6'1", 202 pounds)

One of the biggest winners at the NFL Scouting Combine, Jefferson ran a faster-than-expected 40-yard dash (4.43) and likely solidified himself as a first-round pick in April. A nuanced route-runner with outstanding ball skills, Jefferson finished top-three in the country in receptions (111), yards (1,540) and touchdowns (18). The 20-year-old junior has the versatility to win both outside and from the slot.

5. Laviska Shenault, Colorado (JR, 6'1", 227 pounds)

Shenault remains an unrefined route-runner, but he provides a creative offensive mind and is a versatile weapon that has lined up all over for Colorado. Built more like a running back than a wide receiver, he turns into a running back with the ball in his hands. With his ability to break tackles, Shenault flourishes in the open field due to his strength, size, burst, vision and elusiveness. Shenault has strong hands and tracks the deep ball well.

Here are the next 25 wide receivers:

6. Tee Higgins, Clemson (JR, 6'4", 216 pounds)

7. Brandon Aiyuk, Arizona State (SR, 6'0", 205 pounds)

8. Denzel Mims, Baylor (SR, 6'3", 207 pounds)

9. Michael Pittman Jr., USC (SR, 6'4", 223 pounds)

10. Jalen Reagor, TCU (JR, 5'11", 206 pounds)

11. K.J. Hamler, Penn State (rSO, 5'9", 178 pounds)

12. Chase Claypool, Notre Dame (SR, 6'4", 238 pounds)

13. Donovan Peoples-Jones, Michigan (JR, 6'2", 212 pounds)

14. Tyler Johnson, Minnesota (SR, 6'1", 206 pounds)

15. Bryan Edwards, South Carolina (SR, 6'3", 212 pounds)

16. Van Jefferson, Florida (rSR, 6' 2", 200 pounds)

17. K.J. Hill, Ohio State (rSR, 6'0", 196 pounds)

18. Quartney Davis, Texas A&M (rJR, 6'1", 201 pounds)

19. Devin Duvernay, Texas (SR, 5'11", 200 pounds)

20. Jauan Jennings, Tennessee (rSR, 6'3", 215 pounds)

21. Antonio Gandy-Golden, Liberty (SR, 6'4", 223 pounds)

22. John Hightower, Boise State (SR, 6'2", 189 pounds)

23. Isaiah Hodgins, Oregon State (JR, 6'4", 210 pounds)

24. Collin Johnson, Texas (SR, 6'6", 222 pounds)

25. Gabriel Davis, UCF (JR, 6'2", 216 pounds)

26. Lynn Bowden Jr., Kentucky (JR, 5'11", 204 pounds)

27. James Proche, SMU (rSR, 5'11", 201 pounds)

28. Quez Watkins, Southern Miss (rJR, 6'0", 185 pounds)

29. Aaron Fuller, Washington (SR, 5'11", 188 pounds)

30. Kalija Lipscomb, Vanderbilt (SR, 6' 0", 202 pounds)

Kevin Hanson joins SI for the 2020 NFL Draft season. His NFL Mock Drafts have graded as the most accurate over the past five years, per The Huddle Report. His 2015 NFL mock draft graded as the most accurate and his 2019 NFL mock draft was the second-most accurate out of 101 draft analysts.