NFL
Receivers going deep in draft
Bucs are among those who say this could be best receiving class in history.
By ROGER MILLS, Times Staff Writer
Published April 23, 2004
TAMPA - Even before a U.S. District court temporarily opened the door for Southern Cal receiver and Tampa native Mike Williams to take part in Saturday's draft, teams across the NFL were crooning about the depth of talent at the position.
Now that Williams is out of the picture, no one's reaching for the Tylenol.
In fact, after Pittsburgh's Larry Fitzgerald, there likely will still be two receivers named Williams (Texas' Roy and Washington's Reggie) drafted in the first round and there still will be a Tampa receiver (Ohio State's Michael Jenkins) drafted on the first day.
Add to the mix a tight end with legendary pedigree (Miami's Kellen Winslow Jr.), and two others with top-notch credentials (Florida's Ben Troupe and Georgia's Ben Watson), and the teams looking for help in the passing game can rest easy.
"It's very, very deep," said Ruston Webster, Bucs director of college scouting. "The deepest I've seen since I've been doing this. ... I've never seen anything like it. And the thing I've never seen is so many big guys. That's the thing that's amazing. The 15th receiver on the board could be a third- or fourth-round pick and will be a player."
If in fact the 2004 crop of receivers goes 15 deep in terms of immediate impact players, it well could represent the best class of receivers in NFL history.
The competition is stiff. The 1996 class featured Keyshawn Johnson, Marvin Harrison, Terry Glenn, Eric Moulds, Joe Horn, Terrell Owens, Mushin Muhammad and Amani Toomer. The class of 1988 boasted notable first-round picks Tim Brown, Sterling Sharpe and Michael Irvin.
But the crop awaiting selection this weekend could have as many as five first-round picks, and another 7-10 could be gone by the end of the second round.
"Well, I think this is a great class of wide receivers with Fitzgerald and Reggie Williams and (LSU's Michael) Clayton and the list goes on, so we're all in this big pot," Roy Williams said. "So we all want to do the best we can to impress the teams."
Added Clayton: "I think a lot of coaches would be happy and a lot of teams would be happy. It's a talented corps this year."
Fitzgerald, with 18.2 yards per catch in 2003, is considered the cream of the crop. At 6 feet 3, 225 pounds, Fitzgerald is a dynamic playmaker who led the nation in 2003 in receiving yards (1,672) as a sophomore. He had 92 catches and 22 touchdowns, including an NCAA record 18 straight games with a TD.
Fitzgerald was a ball boy for the Minnesota Vikings and father Larry Fitzgerald Sr. is a close friend of Cardinals coach Denny Green. Fitzgerald is said to be a lock to go to the Cardinals at the No. 3 spot.
Roy Williams, the senior in the bunch, would have been a first-round pick last year but further improved his stock with another solid season and an impressive workout for pro scouts. In 13 games in 2003, he had 70 catches for 1,079 yards and nine touchdowns.
"There are a lot of guys out there who can make plays and catch the ball," Reggie Williams said. "I feel I'm one of the best receivers in the draft. ... I feel I bring the most to the table. I'm big, strong, fast, I can break tackles, I can take the ball any way you want me to take it. I can block, I can play slot, X, Z, running back. Whatever you want me to play, I can play."
How stiff is the competition between the receivers? The initial inclusion of Mike Williams created a bit of a stir among some of the other receivers, Jenkins said.
"Some of the (other) receivers were kind of like, "Oh, there's another one out there, it might kind of bump me down a spot,"' he said. "But guys still have to get out there and compete and run and get on a team and help that team out."
And even in the absence of the 6-5, 230-pound Trojan, what makes this year's group so imposing is size. Fitzgerald (6-3, 225), Roy Williams (6-2, 212), Reggie Williams (6-4, 229), Jenkins (6-4, 218), Clayton (6-2, 210) and Oklahoma State's Rashaun Woods (6-2, 202) look more like strong safeties than speed receivers.
"What they are saying is that that is probably going to be the prototype of the future," Bucs receivers coach Richard Mann said. "It's not just (Mike Williams). Look at the draft, there's a bunch of big receivers in there and they all can play."
It might be a slightly smaller receiver the Bucs have a chance to grab in the third round.
Wisconsin's Lee Evans, a fifth-year senior who missed 2002 after tearing his left ACL, is considered the burner of the group. The 5-foot-10, 197-pounder ranks No. 2 all-time in the Big Ten with 3,417 yards. He holds school records for catches (171) and touchdown catches (26).
"Obviously, I'm not 6-2 or 6-3," Evans said. "But in the end, I possess some of the things (the bigger receivers) possess. I think I'm one of the fastest receivers in this group, so that provides a totally different aspect to my game."
And then, there's the issue of Winslow. Considered a lock to go in the top 10, Winslow is drawing comparisons with his Hall of Fame dad.
"I'm going to come into the league and just play ball," the younger Winslow said. "Whatever I do, I do. I'm not going to try and change the tight end position. I'm going to play ball and do what I do."
Now, that's depth.
[Last modified April 23, 2004, 01:20:38]
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