2020 NFL Draft: The year of the wide receiver

DeVonta Smith, Alabama

As if Jeudy and Ruggs weren’t enough, the aforementioned DeVonta Smith is a super smooth athlete who has shown the ability to affect a variety of levels on the football field, with the intermediate route tree being his sweet spot. Seeming to check every box, Smith is effortless in and out of breaks, showing nuance in his route running to set up defenders with a deeper understanding of leverage.

And, of course, the kid can also run. We have seen that several times over his career, repeatedly eliminating defensive back cushion and establishing a vertical threat to his route concepts. Once he is able to get on the defensive backs toes, it is almost over for defenders. Smoothly transitioning to both inside and outside breaking routes, defenders are tasked with making a decision: bail to assure no vertical threat or sink and pray.

Currently sitting at 6-1 but only 175 pounds, there is some physical development that Smith will have to go through to establish himself on the same tier as players like his fellow teammate Henry Ruggs. Still, there is a whole lot to like out of Smith.

Speed, quickness, route running, ball skills, intelligence — this Alabama trio presents all the makings of one of the premier wide receiver corps in recent memory.