2020 NFL Draft: Wide receiver class has chance to be historic

Sep 21, 2019; Tuscaloosa, AL, USA; Alabama Crimson Tide wide receiver Jerry Jeudy (4) catches a pass during the first half of an NCAA college football game against Southern Mississippi at Bryant-Denny Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Butch Dill-USA TODAY Sports

The 2020 NFL Draft will give teams a great opportunity to stock their rosters with talent, as the traditional number of first-round prospects extends deep into the top 32. As a result, several players who would traditionally be first-round picks will fall deep into Round 2.

Wide receiver is especially strong this year; we could see a record number of wideouts drafted by the time the draft comes to a close.

Take the Scouting Combine invite list, for example. Of the 337 players headed to Indianapolis, 55 are wide receivers.

The complete breakdown by position is as follows:

  • 337 players
  • 101 different schools
  • LSU has the most participants with 16
  • 33 schools have only one participant
  • 17 quarterbacks
  • 30 running backs
  • 55 wide receivers
  • 20 tight ends
  • 53 offensive linemen
  • 46 defensive linemen
  • 44 linebackers
  • 61 defensive backs
  • 12 specialists

You can find the list of players who were invited by banging this link.

As many as seven wide receivers could hear their name called in the first round, including CeeDee Lamb (Oklahoma), Jerry Jeudy (Alabama), Henry Ruggs III (Alabama), Laviska Shenault, Jr. (Colorado), Jalen Reagor (TCU), K.J. Hamler (Penn State), and Justin Jefferson (LSU). Players like Tee Higgins (Clemson), Brandon Aiyuk (Arizona State) and Donovan Peoples-Jones (Michigan) could make a big jump up the board over the next couple of months, too.

Bryan Perez

Bryan is the founder of Pro Football Draft. His work has been featured on The Draft Network, NBC Sports and USA Today. Former CFL scout.

Follow him on Twitter: @BryanPerezNFL