2015 NFL Draft: Wide Receivers

Playmaking wide receivers are as coveted as they have ever been in today's NFL. Whether it be a size mismatch or a burner, teams are searching for someone to open up their offense in the passing attack. There are a number of talented receivers this year, but one stands out above the pack at this time.

At this point, Alabama's Amari Cooper is a cut above the rest. He may not be the biggest or fastest, but he does have good size and very good speed. He is a smooth route runner that can create separation with ease. Whether it's getting down the field vertically or out of a break, Cooper knows how to get open for his quarterback. He has excellent quickness with the ability to make the first defender miss, and accelerates quickly back upfield to pull away from defenders. He is a willing threat over the middle although he is the type of guy you want outside and in space. Cooper's best trait is his body control and the ability to adjust to the football while it's in the air. He can adjust to a poorly thrown pass or he can go up and take it away from the defender. Cooper has the talent to be an all around number one target at the next level, and is the safest bet to be the first receiver selected in 2015.

WR RANKINGS Amari Cooper, Alabama Kevin White, West Virginia DeVante Parker, Louisville Breshad Perriman, Central Florida Jaelen Strong, Arizona St. Phillip Dorsett, Miami Dorial Green-Beckham, Oklahoma Nelson Agholor, USC Devin Smith, Ohio St. Devin Funchess, Michigan

Stanford's Ty Montgomery is one of college football's most versatile playmakers. In addition to catching passes, he also lines up as a QB, RB, and returns punts and kicks. Montgomery has a very strong build, which makes him difficult to tackle. He is a solid 6'2 220lbs and runs with authority whenever he has the ball in his hands. That strength is unique in a wide receiver and returner, but he still has excellent feet and quickness. He changes direction well and has very good straight line speed. Once he hits an opening, he is very difficult to catch. His size/athleticism/speed/strength combination is special and gives him a set of tools that should make him a playmaker in the NFL as a receiver and return man. The biggest weakness in his game is that he lacks some refinement as a receiver. He needs more work as a vertical threat and isn't asked to use his size in jump ball situations much. He's also had a propensity to drop catchable balls on occasion. Montgomery is not a finished product but he is a talented playmaker that will be a coveted on draft day.

Jaelen Strong of Arizona State lives up to his name. His size and strength make him a tough match up for corners. He stands 6'3 215, but is a very good athlete that can go up and use his strength to shield defenders, and his length to go get the football at its highest point. Strong has excellent body control, routinely adjusting to balls in the air and making difficult grabs look easy. He will cross the middle of the field and take hits, while holding on to the football. Strong is the prototypical possession receiver and will be a force in the red zone. He has solid straight line speed, but struggles to get separation through his routes and out of his breaks, which is a concern. His ability to use his body to keep himself between the defender and football alleviates some of that concern however, and his one on one ability will allow him to make a lot of plays at the next level. Strong isn't the kind of guy you expect to pick up a lot of yards after the catch, but for teams needing a bigger, physical receiver, he is a great candidate.

Auburn's Sammie Coates may be one of the most gifted receivers in this draft class. He has good size, tremendous athleticism, and blazing speed. He may test out as one of the true freaks at the combine: Hes that gifted. Coates shows the ability to blow by defenders vertically, but also the ability to change direction and accelerate. He is very strong, and has tremendous leaping ability. He can go up and get the football with anyone. The question around Coates is his lack of refinement based on the offense Auburn runs. He's asked to block a lot, which is a positive as far as blocking goes, but it leaves his route running experience and development behind. Coates is extremely gifted, and a guy who could really surprise as the draft approaches. If he can show some polished traits that are not always evident on tape, he could be at the top of this list.

Dorial Green-Beckham of Oklahoma is another player that could turn heads in the post season. He's another physical specimen. He's the massive wide out that causes match up problems whenever he lines up on the field. Green-Beckham has a fantastic blend of size and athleticism, and also has very good straight line speed. The skills are there to be a top ten pick and go to receiver at the next level. The issues with him go beyond the field, however. He is currently sitting out the year at Oklahoma after being dismissed from Missouri for numerous rules violations. Green-Beckham had multiple marijuana issues as well as a physical altercation with a woman, that eventually led to his dismissal. He is a junior that could remain in school and earn more experience while he matures, but he's also a player that could leave without ever wearing a Sooner uniform on game day. Those off the field questions will ultimately determine his draft stock and NFL success.

Louisville's DeVante Parker was Teddy Bridgewater's top target last year that flirted with leaving for the NFL before deciding to return to school. The return to the field has been put on hold due to a broken foot, but he is slated to return in early October. When healthy, Parker is one of the more gifted receivers available for the draft. He blends very good size at 6'3 210, with good speed and athleticism. Despite having size that looks more like a possession receiver, Parker is a playmaker. He can pick up yards after the catch that you don't see from bigger bodied receivers very often. He's at his best down the field though, where his height and leaping ability stand out. He has tremendous body control and can really go up and get the football. Teams are going to love his ability to make plays while the ball is in the air, and he could be a big touchdown maker at the next level. His health and timed speed will dictate exactly where he goes, but someone is going to have an immediate impact performer in Parker in 2015.

USC's Nelson Agholor is the latest Trojan receiver to be a coveted draft prospect. While he is talented and is following in the foot steps of Marqise Lee and Robert Woods, he may not be quite the prospect either of them were. He's an excellent athlete capable of making plays as a receiver and return man at the next level. Agholor is on the lean side, but does have good length. He'll need to get stronger to handle the physical demands of the position, but he won't ever likely be a threat over the middle of the field. He does have good quickness and shiftiness, and has the speed to take it the distance if he gets a crease. He is the type of receiver that will spend most of his time outside the hashes. He can make big plays off screens, or can get behind the defense and stretch the field. Agholor does have some issues catching the football consistently that much be corrected. He will drop some easy balls, but will also bobble some catches that he does actually come down with. He will need to learn to snatch the ball and put it away to live up to his potential in the NFL. Agholor may not profile as a go to receiver, but he has the skills to be a starter at the position as well as make an impact as a return man.

Keep an eye on: Rashad Greene(Florida St), Deontay Greenberry(Houston), Kevin White(West Virginia), and Stefon Diggs(Maryland)

The tight end position has emerged as a playmaking position in recent years. While teams still covet all around tight ends, receiving tight ends have made big impacts for their teams in recent years. This year's crop may be a bit thin at the top, but there is a possible first rounder available, should be opt to enter the draft.

Michigan's Devin Funchess is only a junior, but he's also the only tight end that projects as a possible first rounder at this point. He's been used mostly as a receiver at this point, lining up out wide most of the time. He is lean and will have to get stronger at the next level. The glaring weakness in his game is the lack of bulk and the lack of experience in line as a blocker. Those are two areas he must improve on to see more snaps. As a receiver though, he has special traits. He stands 6'5 and is an excellent athlete. That experience out wide gives him an edge to see the field early as a receiver, because that's where he lives. Funchess will cause mismatches with his quickness and speed out wide as a receiver, and is a likely first round pick as a result. There is definite work needed to be done to develop as a tight end, but the potential definitely makes him the top prospect at the position for the 2015 draft.

Florida State's Nick O'Leary is the draft's top two way tight end. It sounds like a cliché, but he's a throwback at the position. He's physical, tough, and loves to hit people. He plays with a nastiness on the field and relishes the physical nature of the game. That aids him as a blocker, because he will do whatever it takes to keep his man from making the play. O'Leary is a bit light in the pants so he is not a devastating blocker at the point of attack, but he has the quickness and toughness to sustain blocks to get the job done. As a receiver, he shows good quickness and speed to run a variety of routes and make plays all over the field. O'Leary isn't a physical specimen, but he does have decent size, good quickness and speed, but it's his mentality that makes him standout. The toughness and passion he plays with makes him the type of player you want to go to battle with.

Junior Tyler Kroft of Rutgers is another underclassmen to watch. With the lack of talent at the top, he might declare this year, because his potential pushes him near the top. Kroft is a complete tight end, despite lining up in a variety of spots. He's lined up a lot in the back field, in the slot, as well as a traditional tight end. That type of versatility enhances his value and will aid him in making an early impact in the NFL. He has a great frame at 6'5 245. He combines that size with solid athleticism and speed for the position. Kroft has enough speed to get down the field vertically and the ball skills to go get the football. Despite being lined up off the line a lot, he is a surprisingly solid blocker. He will have to bulk up and get stronger to play in line more often, but he has the toughness and athleticism to battle and finish his assignment. Kroft has a lot of potential but needs a bit more work bulking up and playing in line. Depending on Funchess and how the other senior players play at the position, Kroft could be looking at a day two selection on draft day should he declare.

Keep an eye on Jeff Heuerman(Ohio St), Wes Saxton(South Alabama), Mike McFarland(South Florida), Busta Anderson(South Carolina)

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