2007 NFL Draft WR Class
March 4, 2007
 

Each week the War Room Report staff will discuss important issues as we lead up to the draft. This week's topic is the 2007 NFL Draft Wide Receiver class. Be sure to visit the Hot Reads home page for more 2007 draft analysis.

Justin Davis, War Room Report College Football Writer:  Calvin Johnson is not only the #1 WR in this year's draft class, but the #1 player. In my mind, it is not even close. Adrian Peterson put up unbelievable numbers both throughout is college career and at the combine, but Johnson's combination of size, speed, and flat out ability have not been seen in some time. For someone that is 6'5, 240 to run a 4.33 40 is mind-boggling, but it does not stop there. For some reason the most overlooked part of Johnson's game are his HANDS. His highlight clip from college is as impressive as any you'll ever see. Yes he is huge, and can run. But the ability to do all of that and still catch everything in his zip code is remarkable. The best WR prospect......ever?

Matt MacCoy, War Room Report Offensive Scout: Calvin Johnson is the #1 prospect in this entire draft...PERIOD! He is head and shoulders above everyone else. Adrian Peterson and Joe Thomas are legit stud prospects at their respective positions, but Calvin Johnson is one of the better wide receiver prospects the NFL has EVER seen! A player of his size, 6'5 240 pounds should not be able to run a 4.33 40 time, but Calvin did just that at the combine in Indianapolis. Freakish athletic ability combined with an unbelievable work ethic, Calvin Johnson will go down as one of the top WR prospects ever to step foot in the National Football League. He ranks right up there with Randy Moss and Larry Fitzgerald in reference to his potential success.

Rob Tribbett, War Room Report Editor: The only question in regards to Calvin Johnson is where he ranks among the best WR prospects in NFL history. Johnson is easily the top player in this draft with his combination of speed and size. Johnson also have some of the best hands in the draft and is not hampered by any of the character concerns that many of the top NFL WR face. Historically, I would rate Johnson over top WR prospects like Larry Fitzgerald, Roy Williams, and Randy Moss. Johnson's production in college was exceptional, but it would have been historic if he had a better QB at Georgia Tech.

Chris Otwell, War Room Report NFL Writer:  Calvin Johnson has a tremendous lead as far as his rating in the overall class this year of WR. There is a little doubt over whom may be the second best WR in the 07 draft, but its a no brainer whom is the top WR in this draft by far. Johnson has the physical attributes that we have not ever seen in a prospect coming into the NFL draft. His 4.35 speed, 43 inch vertical, and 6'4" 225 lbs frame are superior to almost any WR ever seen. Historically, only a few match the hype going into the draft, and they would include Irving Fryar, Desmond Howard, Keyshawn Johnson, and Larry Fitzgerald. Physically, only Fitzgerald can come close, but some think that Johnson will stand second to none once its all said and done.

2. Who is the second best WR in the class?

Davis: The best WR in this year's draft not named Calvin Johnson is Sidney Rice from South Carolina. He reminds me of a young Torry Holt. He has the size and speed to be able to contribute early in his pro career, and like Johnson he adjusts to poorly thrown balls extremely well and seems to catch everything. While not as bad as some make it seem to be, his routes could stand to improve, but once he works more on running precise routes he will be the total package.
 

MacCoy: In my opinion, Dwayne Jarrett is the 2nd best WR in the 2007 Draft class. There are several excellent prospects in this draft that could be considered for the second position, but Jarrett gets the nod from me. Dwayne Jarrett put up startling numbers while at USC and played a high level of competition during his collegiate career. He is an excellent red zone target who excelled in getting in the end zone against Pac 10 competition. Some are going to point to the fact that he will not run a blazing 40 time and needs to be more physical at the next level, and much of this criticism is justified. The extra baggage that he is carrying because scouts want to compare him to former USC WR Mike Williams is not justified, and they are two completely different wide receivers. The sooner scouts recognize this to be a fact, the sooner they will fully recognize the talents of Jarrett. I believe that his overall skill set and potential at the next level alleviate much of these concerns.

Tribbett: The race for the second WR spot in the 2007 Draft is a topic of much debate at the War Room Report. We have supporters of many of the top prospects and the final ranking is still up in the air. I think once their NFL careers are over, the clear #2 will be Tennessee WR Robert Meacham. Meacham has the ideal size and speed combination and has perhaps the best athleticism among the WR prospects. Meacham may also have the advantage of going to a team with an established offense system that should utilize his skills.

Otwell: Second best to Calvin Johnson this year is a light year away. If I had to choose a second best WR currently, I would say Dwayne Jarrett, if we were speaking on stats alone. If I had to say overall physical ability and talent, I would have to say Robert Meacham. Meacham proved at the combine that his hands and speed are at the top of the classes. He flawlessly breezed through the workouts showing tremendous speed in the gauntlet drill, without breaking stride he caught every ball thrown in his direction.

3. Is too much emphasis placed on the 40 yard dash times of WR prospects?

Davis: There is definitely too much emphasis placed on the 40 yard dash. How often each game does a WR run in a straight line for 40 yards without changing directions or looking back to adjust to the ball? The more important, but less sexy indicators in my opinion are the shuttles and the 3 cone drill which measure short area quickness and change of direction. That is much more important when talking about a WR because of the separation that quickness will grant them much more often than straight-line speed will. Speed in and out of breaks trumps a track star any day.

MacCoy: Absolutely. The 40 yard dash is a good indicator of a prospects ability to do what? Run 40 yards, without pads, with no defense in front of you to obstruct your straight line running. The 40 time has some importance, but in today's media circus, the 40 time is being hyped more than EVER. The 40 time is just one piece of the puzzle. Many times a prospect is selected way too high due to his 40 time (i.e. Troy Williamson) and on too many occasions a prospect falls because his 40 time was not as quick as scouts would have liked (i.e. Anquan Boldin). There are many factors to consider prior to drafting a wide receiver, and several should be considered prior to his 40 time.

Tribbett: The 40 yard dash is one of the most overrated tools in evaluating a draft prospect, though it does have some usefulness, particularly when evaluating WRs. The agility of a player, as evidenced by the short shuttles and 3 cone drills, is more important than straight line speed. However, the most important aspect of judging a wide receiver prospect is how he gets away from the line of scrimmage and rather or not he can get separation from elite NFL corners. Tape study and analyzing the competition a player faced in college, are more important than the 40. This is not to totally dismiss the 40 yard dash, which is important when large gaps are involved, as part of the scouting process.

Otwell: No. Here is why. Raw speed can not be taught. The 40 yard dash, shows your acceleration in the first 10 yards, which is important when getting off the ball, and beating your man initially. Second it shows acceleration in open space, and how quickly you can reach 20, 30, and ultimately 40 yards. Speed really is simple, either you have it, or you do not. Those that have more of it, will go higher in the draft, than those that do not have it. So no, too much emphasis is not placed on the 40, because one one-hundredth of a second can be the difference between a first round and second round selection.