2020 NFL Draft Big Board: Ranking top 10 wide receivers in historic class
By Samuel Teets
2. Jerry Jeudy, Alabama
Depending on who you talk to, Jerry Jeudy will hear his name called before all other receivers on draft night. In the open field, Jeudy is shifty and challenging to bring down. His 4.45 40-time isn’t home-run speed, especially for someone with his slight frame, but that doesn’t inhibit his ability to gain yards after the catch and terrorize defenses.
ESPN’s Jeff Legwold recently listed Jeudy as the sixth-best prospect in the entire 2020 NFL Draft. The receiver’s mix of elite route running, surprising speed, and incredible footwork set him apart from the receivers who previously appeared in this article. The Draft Network compared Jeudy to fellow Alabama alumnus Amari Cooper.
At Alabama, Jeudy started in both his sophomore and junior seasons. In those two years, he tallied 145 receptions, 2,478 yards, and 24 touchdowns. That means he caught a touchdown pass roughly once every six receptions. His touchdown totals might not translate to the NFL level, but I expect him to flourish as a reception machine.
Jeudy did suffer some surprising lapses in concentration at times, dropping passes. That’s usually an issue that gets resolved quickly in the pros, but former first-round receiver Nelson Agholor showed that some players can never overcome drop balls. However, I don’t anticipate Jeudy following the Agholor route.