
Top 10 WR prospectsCal speedster Jackson sits atop draft board at receiverPosted: Monday February 18, 2008 2:06PM; Updated: Tuesday February 19, 2008 11:12AM
Here is a list of the top wide receiver prospects. This list was compiled through a series of conversations with scouts and game tape evaluations. 1. DeSean Jackson, Cal: Jackson is a sensational playmaker with outstanding speed and burst. The two-time All-America is regarded as the best dual-threat player in the draft, both as an explosive vertical receiver and as a dynamic returner who has a penchant for producing game-changing plays whenever he touches the ball. He should make an immediate impact as a punt returner and develop into a solid complementary receiver on the next level. 2. Mario Manningham, Michigan: The Wolverines' savvy playmaker is a sneaky vertical receiver with outstanding athleticism and hands. He surprises defenders with his ability to achieve separatation once the ball is in the air. Moreover, his ability to come down with errant throws makes him an attractive option to teams in need of a playmaker. Scouts love his balanced set of skills, and feel that he is ideally suited to be a No. 1 receiver on the next level. If Manningham runs a better-than-expected time at the combine, he will be one of the top receivers taken in the draft. 3. Malcolm Kelly, Oklahoma: The Sooners' top target is a big, physical receiver with excellent hands. Kelly, who scored 19 touchdowns and averaged over 16 yards per catch during the past two seasons, is a polished route runner who excels at using his size to create space from defenders at the top of routes. As an excellent runner after the catch and courageous receiver over the middle, Kelly is a perfect fit in a West Coast offense. Even with his checkered injury history he'll probably be selected in the first round. 4. Limas Sweed, Texas: Sweed has all the physical tools to be a top target on the next level. He overpowers smaller defenders with his strength and has a knack for making acrobatic grabs in traffic. Although he isn't a polished route runner, Sweed's outstanding athleticism allows him to consistently create space from defenders out of breaks. With Sweed possessing all of the attributes of a No. 1 receiver, look for a team to ignore his injury-plagued senior season and select him in the middle of the first round. 5. James Hardy, Indiana: The former basketball player brings a rare combination of size and athleticism to the position. At 6-foot-6, 220 pounds, Hardy is a natural matchup nightmare in the red zone, and his ability to score touchdowns (36 career scores) is unmatched by any other receiver in the draft. Though Hardy is raw and unpolished as a route runner, his freakish athleticism and outstanding hands make him an enticing addition to any offense. Expect a team to grab the Plaxico Burress-like talent in the late stages of the first round.
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