Up for grabs: Which receiver will go first in the NFL Draft?

There could be an embarrassment of riches at the wide receiver position in the 2020 NFL Draft class. 

But which receiver will be selected first? 

Three frontrunners have emerged, and the gap between those is tightening, as we approach the first round April 23.

Jerry Jeudy of Alabama is still the favorite to be the first receiver off the board. CeeDee Lamb out of Oklahoma is still very much in that conversation, and Henry Ruggs III, another Crimson Tide product and an absolute speedster, has gone from relative longshot to sudden contender.   

Jerry Jeudy (Alabama)

Known as an exceptional route runner, Jeudy will have the lowest odds to be the first wide receiver taken. 

And there are teams in the middle of the selection order that need help at receiver. 

The New York Jets, who have the 11th pick, just lost receiver Robby Anderson to free agency, and could look to the Draft to find a younger replacement, someone they can pair with Sam Darnold to rebuild their passing game. 

The Las Vegas Raiders, who have the 12th pick, also desperately need help at receiver as they continue their rebuild. And the San Francisco 49ers are dealing with the loss of Emmanuel Sanders, which puts them in the market for a younger receiver.

Jeudy recorded 145 catches, 2,478 yards receiving, and 24 touchdowns in his final two seasons with Alabama. He has the tools, and he was highly productive during his sophomore and junior campaigns. 

Jeudy could hear his name called in the top 10, and that would almost certainly guarantee he’s the first receiver off the board. 

CeeDee Lamb (Oklahoma)

CBS's NFL Draft rankings have Lamb as the No. 1 receiver. 

That’s right. Lamb is the top-ranked receiver just more than two weeks out from the draft, while Jeudy is expected to be the first receiver selected.

Projections and mock drafts have Lamb going somewhere in the middle of the first round, likely in the 10-14 range, where there are at least three teams with a need at receiver.  

Lamb enjoyed three standout seasons with the Sooners, capped with a junior year that saw him record 62 catches, 1,327 yards receiving, and 14 receiving touchdowns. 

In terms of production at the college level the last two years, there is only slight separation between Lamb and Jeudy. 

This one has the feeling of a coin toss — it could go either way. But oh, to be a fly on the wall when scouts and general managers break down which of these receivers they prefer. 

Henry Ruggs III (Alabama)

Ruggs can flat-out fly. 

For that reason alone, it’s possible a team could favor him over Jeudy or Lamb. 

Ruggs didn’t post the lofty numbers at Alabama that Jeudy did. Ruggs never posted 1,000 yards receiving in any of the three years he spent with the Crimson Tide. He recorded a career-best 746 yards receiving as a junior in 2019, and a career-best 11 touchdowns as a sophomore. 

Ruggs also had two rushes for 75 yards and a touchdown, and he used as a punt and kickoff returner. 

When you run the 40-yard dash in 4.27 seconds at the NFL Combine, that tends to grab the attention of scouts and general managers. 

The possibility of Ruggs being the first receiver selected has gained a little bit of traction among NFL insiders and analysts. 

Of the three players, Ruggs will remain an outside contender, but the Draft is always full of surprises, and this is one we should start to consider. 

Prediction

Based on recent reports, there could be as many as six wide receivers taken in the first round.  

That top tier, however, consists of Jeudy, Lamb, and Ruggs. 

What Ruggs showed at the Combine may be too tempting to pass on, even with Jeudy and Lamb still available.