Who are the best wide receivers in this year's draft class?
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> READ: TOP 5 WIDE RECEIVERSLeading the pack: West Virginia's Kevin White and Alabama's Amari Cooper are a step above what analysts believe to be a very talented wide receiver class. White, who NFL.com favors as the top player at the position, has a small sample size for scouts to look at after transfering to West Virginia from Lackawanna Junior College. He had a breakout senior season, catching 109 passes for 1,447 yards and 10 touchdowns. But as a junior, White was relatively quiet, hauling in just 35 passes for 507 yards. In 2014, Cooper won the Biletnikoff Award, which is given to the nation's top receiver. He led the nation with 124 receptions and was second in receiving yards with 1,727. Both players are expected to be drafted early in the first round.
The second tier: This year's wide receiver class is so deep that the "second tier" players are still projected to be first-round picks. Louisville's DeVante Parker, most analysts agree, is the next-best receiver behind Cooper and White. "He has consistently posted eye-popping yards-per-catch numbers during his time at Louisville and showed off solid athleticism at the combine," NFL.com wrote in their scouting report. "Parker has the potential to be a legitimate lead receiver for a West Coast offense." Despite playing in just seven games in 2014, Parker caught 855 passes and averaged 19.9 yards per catch. Arizona State's Jaelen Strong, Ohio State's Devin Smith and Oklahoma's Dorial Green-Beckham might also be off the board before the start of the second round.
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Mid-round picks:** Georgia's Chris Conley proved at the NFL Scouting Combine that he was a tremendous athlete, posting a 45-inch vertical jump and 129-inch long jump. But he's more than just impressive test numbers. "Conley displays a natural feel for the position and has hand strength and body control to make tough, contested catches," NFL.com wrote. Also keep an eye on UNLV's Devante Davis, Central Arkansas' Dezmin Lewis, Maryland's Stefon Diggs and Duke's Jamison Crowder.Sleepers: Dres Anderson finished his career with 2,077 receiving yards, the fifth-most in Utah history. But after suffering a season-ending knee injury in October, he's projected to be a seventh-round pick. As a junior in 2013, he caught 53 passes for 1,002 yards and seven touchdowns. Also keep an eye on Georgia Tech's Darren Waller and Nebraska's Kenny Bell.
> READ: TIGHT END PREVIEW
