Best WR from the 2009 Draft

[strahanfan92]

http://proxy.espn.go.com/nfl/hot?id=6700453

By John Clayton
ESPN.com
Archive
The 2009 wide receiver class has been an unappreciated delight.

Percy Harvin, Hakeem Nicks and Jeremy Maclin each have caught 126 passes or more in just two seasons. Despite a rookie holdout, Michael Crabtree has 103 receptions. Mike Wallace of the Steelers, a third-round pick, has a 20.3-yard average per catch.

From this group of winners, it's hard to pick the best of the lot, but I'm going to go with Maclin. I concede the gap isn't much. There is just something consistent and smooth about Maclin's style of pass-catching.

There is no question Maclin works in the shadow of DeSean Jackson, who is the main receiver in Andy Reid's West Coast offense. Jackson clearly isn't Jerry Rice as a talent, but Maclin, as a No. 2 target, reminds you a little of John Taylor, the former 49ers stud who played opposite Rice.

Maclin is 6-foot, one inch shorter than Taylor, but his 198-pound frame is 13 pounds heavier than the former 49er. He caught 70 passes last season making the adjustment from Donovan McNabb to Michael Vick, but he clearly has the look of a receiver who will catch 90 to 100 in a season.

Talk about consistency: Maclin averaged 13.8 yards a catch as a rookie and kept the same number his second season. As good as Maclin is now, averaging 63 catches a season, you can see plenty of room for improvement.

His yards-after-contact average is low at 1.4 yards a catch, but that number can improve. It's not as though he can be classified as a player ready to make a breakout season, but it seems inevitable that he will go over 1,000 yards in receiving this year after getting 773 as a rookie and 964 last season.

It will be fun in the future to watch all of these receivers develop, because each has his own style. Maclin has nice size as a split end working alone against a cornerback on the weak side of the field. Harvin is quick and explosive out of the slot. Crabtree is a tall, dangerous target out of the slot. Nicks is a big-play receiver with big hands and a physical style. Wallace is an ideal deep threat.

For the moment, the nod goes to Maclin.

By Dan Graziano
ESPN.com
Archive
The 2009 NFL draft was a great one for receivers, but the one who'll have the best career was the fifth one off the board. Hakeem Nicks of the Giants is the complete package, and of all the promising young wideouts entering the third seasons of their careers, he's the one best set up for long-term success.

The biggest concern about Nicks coming out of North Carolina was whether he had the top-end speed a No. 1 NFL wideout needs to stretch the field. But his 14.6 yards-per-catch average in his first two seasons answered that. Of the receivers in this group, only Pittsburgh's Mike Wallace (at an incredible 20.3) has a higher average.

But while Wallace has functioned only as a deep threat, and Philadelphia's Jeremy Maclin may have more speed, Nicks has much more to his game. He's a devoted film-study nut (since high school, he claims). He's been a great-hands red zone target for Eli Manning. He has the size to outmuscle defenders in the end zone. He locates the ball in traffic better than any other receiver in this group and, more importantly, better than the defensive backs who are covering him. The latter skill is critical, because it makes him a risky guy to defend even with double-teams.

Nicks is, in short, the best all-around receiver in this exciting third-year group. He's shown the ability to do more things on the field than has Percy Harvin, and he's proved more to this point than has Michael Crabtree. He also finds himself in far more secure and potentially beneficial surroundings than either of those two.

Nicks' quarterback situation is stable -- Manning is signed long term in New York and already has developed a rock-solid trust in him. He also has complementary receivers, Steve Smith and Mario Manningham, who have excelled in specific roles. Having Smith as the possession guy and Manningham as the deep threat prevents teams from focusing all of their coverage on him the way, say, 49ers opponents can on Crabtree. The Giants build depth well at certain positions, and that helps players develop at their own pace. They're in luck with Nicks, whose pace has been swift.

Nicks wasn't the first receiver taken in the 2009 draft. But given what he's already shown and where he finds himself, he's the one in line for the best career.

Fuck someone add a poll...

Crabtree
Harvin
Nicks
Maclin
Wallace
Britt lol
Other


edit: I even fucking clicked 7 choices, I forgot to hit the poll checkbox.

 

[Bmore]

:shifty:



For real though, I'd take Harvin.

 

[jms493]

If Harvin would stay healthy he has been pretty damn good. Most of these guys have some sort of issue.

I think overall performance on the field over the last 2 seasons and most games played....Nicks and Wallace. I would take either of these guys.

 

[CrimsonGhost56]

THE DREAM

 

[LiquidLarry2GhostWF]

If Britt had anything that looked like a QB, he'd be considered the best by now...however, for the sake of this discussssh, I like Hakeem Nicks, barely, over Harvin. Harvin is a little more versatile, but Nicks the more polished wide out.

Crabs is tough to even judge, he's had the worst QB situation of them all. I think if he had a good QB he might be a nice possession wide out.

 

[Champ]

Hakeem Nicks is the best out of that group. Maclin plays the 2 spot and goes against number 2 CBs. Screw that. Wallace is only a deep threat. Britt is a complete dumbass and is basically a new version of TO/mix in with thug.

 

[strahanfan92]

Hakeem has the body and the potential skills of being a top 5 wideout in the league. Watch him just break tackles so easy, especially on screen passes. He needs to work on his hands and needs to be more like Amani when it comes to the sidelines.

However, I think Maclin is a very impressive wideout. Great hands and crushed the giants on many routes just by his ridiculous right off the snap speed.

 

[jms493]

IMO I think Wallace is more than just a deep threat.

 

[Aso]

I'd have to go with Mike Wallace but Percy Harvin is a close second.

 

[Nucking Futs]

Of course I'm biased but I love how Harvin is great weapon not only as a WR but also as a PR/KR and he can be a threat in backfield. So many things you can do with this guy. The migraines are setting him back of course. I've read recent reports the he thinks they are a thing of the past, I can only hope so.

Harvin is not a #1 reciever but yet is still an elite WR as that slot or #2 guy. It's going to be interesting to see what his role turns into if we lose S. Rice to FA.

 

[Shayn•Da•Pain]

Mike Wallace is DeSean Jackson's twin.

It's really hard to decide who's better on this list though, honestly. The gap is so close between most of them.

Crabtree - I feel that with a better QB and coach he would have been considered the best of the class hands down. As is, he's improved very little over what he was from the first day was a 49er, which is actually kind of amazing considering how good he is now. Good size, route running solid.

Harvin - We've seen a lot of highlights of the kid, but honestly he's just ok. He has a lot of return yardage, but he's not dominating this list in stats honestly. He has the tools, he makes plays, but he is obviously unpolished.

Nicks - More polished than Harvin and has improved more than Crabtree IMO. Good size(6'1 215) almost identical with Crabtree. He's a possession receiver. He isn't a deep threat honestly. Good hands. This WR is a professional, and gets it. He works hard.

Maclin - Everything about Maclin says average to me. Average size, average speed, average leaping ability, average route running, average average average. I think he's an overachiever, and it helps that he has DeSean Jackson opposite field of him, and Mike Vick running back there keeps teams from dropping 5 into coverage, so I think he has a lot of help. That said Maclin has good hands, decent route runner, and good work ethic.

Wallace - The fastest WR of the class, bar-none. He took the starting job of a future HOF WR. He has the most career receiving yards of this class. He's the most dynamic and has the most impact of all in this class. He has the best season of this class with 1,257 yds. Highest YPC average over 20. 9 catches, 89 yds and 1 TD in the super bowl, and none of these other cats have even been to the SB.
Britt lol - Forget his name. Forget him now.

In summery: It's mike wallace.

 

[NAHSTE]

Hard to say I like any of these guys over the other. All very good players but it's too early to tell. I'd probably take Harvin if the head injuries weren't there but you can make a case for Nicks, Maclin and Wallace too. I guess Nicks is the most complete WR out of that group, so he's my choice if Harvin is still hurt.

 

[Shayn•Da•Pain]

Of course I'm biased but I love how Harvin is great weapon not only as a WR but also as a PR/KR and he can be a threat in backfield. So many things you can do with this guy. The migraines are setting him back of course. I've read recent reports the he thinks they are a thing of the past, I can only hope so.

Harvin is not a #1 reciever but yet is still an elite WR as that slot or #2 guy. It's going to be interesting to see what his role turns into if we lose S. Rice to FA.

Yeah I like Harvin a lot. The dude makes plays that you just don't expect him to. He's got superior ability to change direction quickly and I really like guys who have no fear of taking hits for the catch. He's also built solid, like a WR in a RB's body (5'11 200 lbs).

 

[Rayman]

Gun to my head, I say Nicks.

He does seem to suffer from the TO-flaw in that he makes some ridiculous catches at times, but other times just doesn't concentrate and either drops passes when wide open or isn't aware of where his feet are on the sideline.

Still the most complete package of all these guys, though.

 

[G-men]

It's damn close between Nicks, Wallace, and Maclin and I honestly wouldn't argue against any of the three of them. But Nicks was putting up the stats of a top 5 receiver before he got hurt last year, so 8 would give him the nod at this point.

 

[FirstTimer]

 

[inthecards21]

Overall a great draft for wide outs but I'm going with Wallace, consistently makes catches and is super fast

 

[West]

i added a poll for you

 

[CaribbeanJoseph]

 

[Kuzzy Powers]