Top 10 WR prospects of the past decade (1 Viewer)

[Phlash]

With Mike X. Williams making the comeback he did, it made me think: who were the top 10 WR prospects of the 2000s?

Of course, this is not the top 10 WRs of the decade. It's more of, who do you think had the most ability coming into the NFL.

My list:

1) Calvin Johnson

2) Andre Johnson

3) Charles Rogers

4) Mike X. Williams

5) Larry Fitzgerald

6) Michael Crabtree

7) Braylon Edwards

8) Jeremy Maclin

9) Dwayne Bowe

10) Lee Evans

 

[Postradamus]

I'd put Fitz somewhere top 3

 

[nysportsfan]

A couple of others:

Andre Johnson

Roy Williams (prob misses cut but would replace your Evans)

Troy Williamson (wouldnt make my list)

Plax (might make 9 or 10)

Bowe (started fast, but has slowed down; 2010 looking up for him now)

 

[flc735]

peter warrick. where does he fit in here?

 

[Neal Cassady]

In no particular order:

Plaxico Burress

Antonio Bryant

Andre Johnson

Larry Fitzgerald

Roy Williams

Braylon Edwards

Mike Williams

Calvin Johnson

Michael Crabtree

Dez Bryant

 

[Ever Present Lurker]

Gotta have Keyshawn Johnson HIGH up on that list.

Edit to add: no you don't, you said in the last decade. D'oh.

 

[njherdfan]

Gotta have Keyshawn Johnson HIGH up on that list.

I think he was drafted in the 90s though, right?

 

[Los Gigantes]

Koren Robinson? Ashley lelie?

 

[EBF]

Without the benefit of hindsight I would probably say something like:

1. Calvin Johnson

2. Charles Rogers

3. Dez Bryant

4. Larry Fitzgerald

5. Michael Crabtree

6. Reggie Williams

7. Lee Evans

8. Demaryius Thomas

9. Hakeem Nicks

10. Percy Harvin

I don't remember having much of an opinion on Andre Johnson, but he probably would've been somewhere in the 7-10 range. Braylon Edwards is right on the bubble as well. I never liked Mike Williams, Ted Ginn, Troy Williamson, or Roy Williams as much as the consensus. I wasn't following the draft very closely prior to 2003, so I never had a strong opinion on the likes of Terrell/Robinson/Lelie/Stallworth.

 

[BobbyLayne]

Surprised Ted Ginn hasn't been on more lists.Here are all the WR 1st rounders from 2000-2010:

20101 Demaryius Thomas Broncos Georgia Tech (TBD)1 Dez Bryant Oklahoma State (TBD) but man does he have some hype to live up to20091 Darrius Heyward-Bey Raiders Maryland (-) disappointment? really? only crazy Al thought he should be the 1st WR off the board1 Michael Crabtree 49ers Texas Tech (=) Starter but hasn't broken out yet1 Jeremy Maclin Eagles Missouri (+)1 Percy Harvin Vikings Florida ($)1 Hakeem Nicks Giants North Carolina ($)1 Kenny Britt Titans Rutgers (=) SSOG has him below Hester but they may change2008None20071 Calvin Johnson Lions Georgia Tech ($)1 Ted Ginn Jr. Dolphins Ohio State (-) 9th pick overall should be more than a one trick pony1 Dwayne Bowe Chiefs LSU (=)1 Robert Meachem Saints Tennessee (-) In the mix but not worth a 1st1 Craig Davis Chargers LSU (-) Getting opportunity now but overall...1 2007 Anthony Gonzalez Colts Ohio State (-) Looked solid before the injuries20061 Santonio Holmes Steelers Ohio State (+)20051 Braylon Edwards Browns Michigan (+)1 Troy Williamson Vikings South Carolina (-)1 Mike Williams Lions USC (- turnaround +)1 Matt Jones Jaguars Arkansas (-)1 Mark Clayton Ravens Oklahoma (+)1 Roddy White Falcons Alabama-Birmingham ($)20041 Larry Fitzgerald Cardinals Pittsburgh ($)1 Roy Williams Lions Texas (+)1 Reggie Williams Jaguars Washington (=) 1 Lee Evans Bills Wisconsin (+)1 Michael Clayton Buccaneers Louisiana State (=) good start then...1 Michael Jenkins Falcons Ohio State (-) at least he can block downfield1 Rashaun Woods 49ers Oklahoma State (-)20031 Charles Rogers Lions Michigan State (-)1 Andre Johnson Texans Miami (FL) (+)1 Bryant Johnson Cardinals Penn State (-) 20021 Donte Stallworth Saints Tennessee (=)1 Ashley Lelie Broncos Hawaii (-)1 Javon Walker Packers Florida State ($)20011 David Terrell Bears Michigan (-)1 Koren Robinson Seahawks North Carolina State (-) bust due to how highly he was taken1 Rod Gardner Redskins Clemson (-)1 Santana Moss Jets Miami (FL) (+)1 Freddie Mitchell Eagles UCLA (-)1 Reggie Wayne Colts Miami (FL) ($)20001 Peter Warrick Bengals Florida State (-)1 Plaxico Burress Steelers Michigan State ($)1 Travis Taylor Ravens Florida (-) 1 Sylvester Morris Chiefs Jackson State (-)1 R. Jay Soward Jaguars USC (-)

 

[cvnpoka]

where is steve johnson

 

[nysportsfan]

2008

 

[FUBAR]

It makes sense at least initially, that any WR who would be in the top 10 prospects for the decade to have been drafted in the first round, probably the "lottery pick" part of the draft, but is that necessarily so? Randy Moss fell (granted, still a 1st) not because of talent. Brandon Marshall and Vincent Jackson were "projects" but still probably potentially should make the list. So could Matt Jones?

That said, my gut list:

Crabtree

Calvin

Andre

Charles Rogers

Braylon

Fitz

Roy

Plaxico

Sidney Rice - I don't remember why he fell, but I do remember really liking the kid

Vincent Jackson

 

[solorca]

Surprised Ted Ginn hasn't been on more lists.

I don't remember Ted Ginn being considered a huge WR prospect. If I recall, he was expected to be a great returner, and was expected to go late in the first round...but the Dolphins jumped on him earlier than expected.I may be remembering incorrectly though, as I don't pay a ton of attention to the pre-draft rankings.

 

[Utter Chaos]

peter warrick. where does he fit in here?

That would be 11 years ago along with Plaxico. They don't qualify based on the OP requirement of "past decade".

 

[Phlash]

Surprised Ted Ginn hasn't been on more lists.

I don't remember Ted Ginn being considered a huge WR prospect. If I recall, he was expected to be a great returner, and was expected to go late in the first round...but the Dolphins jumped on him earlier than expected.I may be remembering incorrectly though, as I don't pay a ton of attention to the pre-draft rankings.

You are correct solorca. We all knew he was a speed demon but the jury was out if he could be a great full time starter at WR.

 

[Fat Nick]

2008

Unfortunately my Redskins didn't get the memo that the 2008 WR class sucked.

 

[Carolina Hustler]

Surprised Ted Ginn hasn't been on more lists.

I don't remember Ted Ginn being considered a huge WR prospect. If I recall, he was expected to be a great returner, and was expected to go late in the first round...but the Dolphins jumped on him earlier than expected.I may be remembering incorrectly though, as I don't pay a ton of attention to the pre-draft rankings.

Also, Kick returns were a large part of his resume...

 

[oso diablo]

for me, Fitzgerald is #1.

 

[GDogg]

1. Calvin Johnson

2. Charles Rogers

3. Larry Fitzgerald

4. Braylon Edwards

5. Andre Johnson

6. Dez Bryant

7. Roy Williams

8. Reggie Williams

9. Michael Crabtree

10. Percy Harvin

 

[flc735]

peter warrick. where does he fit in here?

That would be 11 years ago along with Plaxico. They don't qualify based on the OP requirement of "past decade".

ok well maybe you could help me out here. i've always wanted to find this out as i remember all hype in college but was too young to have an understanding of nfl potential.was he more like a ginn/dhb that cincy reached for, was he expected to become a top wr in the league by most, or somewhere in between?

 

[Utter Chaos]

peter warrick. where does he fit in here?

That would be 11 years ago along with Plaxico. They don't qualify based on the OP requirement of "past decade".

ok well maybe you could help me out here. i've always wanted to find this out as i remember all hype in college but was too young to have an understanding of nfl potential.was he more like a ginn/dhb that cincy reached for, was he expected to become a top wr in the league by most, or somewhere in between?

I believe he was expected to be a top wr. He did catch 207 balls in college but also returned 72 punts. I'm not sure how many receiving yards he had because his senior year has him with 71 catches for 93 yards. Definitely an error.http://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/player...-warrick-1.html

 

[by_the_sea_wannabe]

1. Fitz

2. Charles Rogers

3. Andre Johnson

4. Mike Williams

5. Plaxico Burress

6. Calvin Johnson

7. Percy Harvin

8. Roy Williams

9. Michael Crabtree

10. Dez Bryant

 

[by_the_sea_wannabe]

peter warrick. where does he fit in here?

That would be 11 years ago along with Plaxico. They don't qualify based on the OP requirement of "past decade".

who were the top 10 WR prospects of the 2000s?that was the question asked in the OP - they both fit quite well

 

[dharmapunk]

Calvin Johnson and Larry Fitz were the only college WRs seen as "can't miss" "perfect prospects." Everyone else had some question marks, but those two had the talent, the college success, and perfect character & temperament to succeed in the NFL.

Fitz grew up around the NFL, was the ball boy for the 98' Vikings team and his dad is a sports writer covering the Vikings. He established a record for consecutive games with a TD by a college WR and was just unstoppable at Pitt.

Calvin worked miracles with a crappy QB in GT. He was a great student (I believe honor roll GPA), a model citizen, and his dad is a professor.

Physically speaking, both are incredible, with Fitz possessing uncanny agility and adjustment skills while Calvin's speed was unreal for a 230lbs man.

Every other prospect had some question mark, however minor. They were true "can't miss" players.