By this point in the fantasy “off-season”, we have been inundated with how good the top of this draft class is. It happens every year. This year is no different, we have the “generational” guys like Caleb Williams and Marvin Harrison Jr. Then we have the elite talents like Brock Bowers and Malik Nabers. The list is long, and every analyst has a take that they think is slightly different from everyone else. I am not that guy. If you are in a position to draft any of those top guys, it is likely that you will be very happy with your selection. Today I’m here to talk about a few guys at the WR position that you should keep your eyes on at next weekend’s NFL Draft Combine. These are some guys that I think have a skillset that could help NFL teams, but not only that, could potentially help our dynasty teams. A couple of these guys might be instant producers, but it is probably more likely that they will need a little time to get settled into the NFL game. Let’s jump right into it.

Roman Wilson, Senior, Michigan

Wilson entered college as a 4 star prospect, and during his time at Michigan he developed into a good all around WR. He was primarily considered a speed threat early on in his career, but while at Michigan he transformed his body, added muscle(without sacrificing explosion), and developed into a very good run blocker. One of Wilson’s biggest strengths is his ability to simply catch the ball. In 2023 he posted a drop rate of only 2% which was 19th best among qualifying pass catchers. Due to the scheme employed by Michigan during his time there, it is hard to really gauge the true ceiling for Wilson. Watching him play, I think he is an incredibly versatile receiver that should be able to work his way onto the field simply with his blocking ability and speed. And, his low drop rate could earn him some favor with his quarterback. I think his best scheme fits would be with a team like Baltimore, San Francisco, or Kansas City. I think an ideal player comparison for Wilson would be a guy like Tyler Lockett.

Wilson has the opportunity to potentially improve his draft stock by showing out at the Combine. The biggest things I will be looking for when I watch him will be his ability to run the full route tree, and his agility drills. I expect his speed and explosion drills will be very good, as well as his strength tests.

Keon Coleman, Junior, Florida State University

Coleman is an intriguing prospect that possesses a unique blend of size and elusiveness.  At 6 ‘4”, 215 pounds, he measures at the top end of the spectrum for the position this year, and size is one thing that many teams could be looking for in a wide receiver prospect this year. He is also unique in that he operated as a very effective punt returner at his size. This special teams ability is one thing that could help him stick on a roster even though he may not be as polished as a receiver. That being said, as I watch him, I see a guy who does a great job attacking the ball at the point of attack and making contested catches. Some of this is due to his inability to create much separation. One thing to note is that some of his best performances came in his teams biggest games, against the opponents top corners. This can be seen as both a good thing and a bad thing, as he wasn’t always as dominant or consistent against lesser competition. This could be viewed as a lack of focus. I think an ideal scheme fit for him would be with a team like Dallas or Buffalo. As I watch him, the player comp I see the most is Allen Robinson.

I think the biggest thing for Coleman at the Combine will be something that isn’t televised. He needs to have a good week of interviews as much as anything. While his on field testing can help his stock, especially his explosion and agility drills. It will be nice for him to show off the ability to run a full route tree as well. But, he will need to convince teams that he will be able to show consistent work ethic and focus.

Javon Baker, Senior, UCF

There are a lot of things to like about Baker as a prospect. He has good size for the position, and has shown an ability to operate in all three levels of the offense. I think he looks the best when he is operating in the intermediate level of the field. Baker shows great physicality for the position, and does a great job making contested catches. He also shows nice RAC ability. While this is all great, on tape it appears that he lacks the top end speed that will potentially limit his total role. Much like Coleman, it also appears that he lacks an ability to consistently create separation. I think an ideal scheme fit for him would be to land with a team like Kansas City or Denver. While not a perfect player comp for him, I do think he has some Deebo Samuel in his game.

Baker will need to test well at the Combine to improve his stock. I am interested to see both his speed and explosion drills, and his agility drills. I think he will show a good ability during the route tree drills, and make some fans of the coaches in the stands during that portion.

Jacob Cowing, Senior, Arizona

The last guy I want to discuss today is a receiver that I think is an incredibly interesting prospect. First, let’s talk about the obvious weakness of Cowing, his size. He measures at only 5’8” and 165 pounds which makes him rather undersized as an NFL receiver. I think his frame is one that could allow him to add a few pounds of extra muscle, and I don’t think it would take much away from his explosion. Outside of his size, there is a lot to like about his game. He is an incredibly crisp route runner, and does a great job of creating separation. Especially over the middle of the field. While not an outstanding punt returner, he has shown some ability in that area. His football IQ appears to be off the charts. I say this because he has shown an incredible ability to learn new concepts quickly, and an ability to produce in any role that he has been given. He is a guy that I think could potentially produce in any system (as long as he can overcome the size limitations), but I think an ideal landing spot for him would be Arizona or Atlanta. While watching him, the player comparison I see the most is a guy like Jakeem Grant.

While at the Combine, Cowing will be best served by showing well in the drills and staying healthy. His trip to the Senior Bowl was cut short by injury, and he needs to do well at the Combine to give decision makers a better final image of him.