Green Bay Packers 2015 NFL Draft: Breaking down the wide receiver prospects

Alabama Crimson Tide wide receiver Amari Cooper (9) runs the ball past Missouri Tigers defensive back Aarion Penton (11). Kevin Liles-USA TODAY Sports

Tier One

1. Amari Cooper, Alabama (6-1, 211)
2. Kevin White, West Virginia (6-3, 215)
3. DeVante Parker, Louisville (6-3, 209)
4. Dorial Green-Beckham, Missouri (6-5, 237)
5. Jaelen Strong, Arizona State (6-2, 217)
6. Breshad Perriman, UCF (6-2, 212)

The Skinny: There are a lot of big-time receivers in this first group–as many as six could go in the first round.

The top three prospects–Cooper, White, and Parker–all seem like legitimate go-to receivers and potential Pro Bowlers at the next level.

It’s splitting hairs between Cooper and White when deciding who’s the top receiver in this draft. White has better size, speed (4.35), and overall explosive ability, but I still slightly lean toward Cooper because he’s the more solid overall player who seems like as close to a sure-thing as there is in the draft.

Cooper is a highly productive receiver who led the nation last year in receptions (124) and receiving touchdowns (16), while finishing second in receiving yards (1,727), despite mediocre quarterback play in Alabama’s offense.

West Virginia Mountaineers wide receiver Kevin White (11). Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports

He’s a good mix of size and speed (4.42) and can do everything at the position well. He’s the most refined route runner in this draft, but he also has the explosive ability to be a dangerous weapon downfield and the shiftiness to make defenders miss after the catch.

Many wonder whether or not White is a one-year wonder after he came out of nowhere and burst onto the scene his senior season with 109 receptions for 1,447 yards and 10 touchdowns.

Many believe he’s the top receiver in this draft, and for good reason. He’s an incredibly explosive athlete who attacks the ball in the air. His aggressive playing style shows remnants of Dez Bryant or Julio Jones, and White has all of the ability to be a receiver of the same caliber.

His route running and overall game isn’t as polished as Cooper’s, which makes him more of a risk than the Alabama standout, but White has a higher ceiling and all of the potential to develop into an elite wide receiver in the NFL.

In any other draft, Parker would be discussed as the top player at the position. He’s long and lean and will win just about every jump ball. He averaged nearly 20 yards per reception as a senior and is the big-play receiver many NFL teams are missing on offense.

Parker has gotten a lot of comparisons to the Bengals A.J. Green, and when you see him on tape, the similarities are evident. Parker is easily a top-15 player in this draft.

Missouri Tigers wide receiver Dorial Green-Beckham (15). Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports

Green-Beckham is one of the toughest players to project in  this draft. The raw ability and physical tools are there to be an elite talent in the NFL; however, Green-Beckham has also been out of football for a year after being dismissed from Missouri’s program.

Off-field red flags could cause him to drop out of the first round; however, coaches at Oklahoma have noted how he’s turned things around this past year.

Strong is surprisingly underrated, despite being considered a first-rounder. He’s strong, smooth, and will battle for the ball. He may not nab headlines, but he has all of the tools to be a starter in the league for a long time.

Coming out of school, many viewed Perriman as a third-round prospect, but then he blew everyone away with a blazing 4.24 forty at his pro day. That’s some serious wheels, especially for a player his size.

Now, some believe the speedy UCF wide receiver will sneak into the first round. He’s an intriguing prospect from a physical standpoint, but on film, he’s underwhelming and his game shows a lot of inconsistency, which keeps him out of the top five. 

Next: Tier Two