NFL Draft debate: Wide receiver

As the NFL Draft nears, there will be more debates about which player should be chosen first at a specific position. Wide receiver is definitely a hot topic and today Rivals.com National Recruiting Director Mike Farrell and Rivals.com National Recruiting Analyst Adam Gorney discuss who should be taken first at that position and why.

Why Treadwell is No. 1: Many question whether Treadwell can gain the separation needed to be an elite NFL wide receiver, but the intangibles he brings to the table make me willing to overlook that a bit.

While some of the quicker receivers in this draft might excel more at separation, they lack the complete package that Treadwell presents. He’s a big target, he’s physical and fights for the ball, he can be a short-yardage and red zone outlet for his quarterback, he’s hard to check at the line with his strength and array of get-off moves and he’s an accomplished downfield blocker, one of the best in recent draft memory at wide receiver.

I understand the speed questions and that does bother me a bit. and you have to wonder if Treadwell has gained back all the explosion he had prior to his gruesome leg injury as a sophomore. But in today’s NFL, having a big wide receiver who is tough to take down after the catch and can work the middle of the field is crucial, and Treadwell can be a mismatch for many smaller corners at the next level.

There are plenty of wide receivers in the NFL that don’t run a sub-4.5 40 and still dominate games, so his size and the other things he brings to the table makes him more valuable than the smaller, thinner guys behind him.

This is, however, a risky pick as his Pro Day is Monday and if he runs a slow 40 time, he will plummet down the board while guys like Josh Doctson, Corey Coleman and Will Fuller have already locked in elite times.

I have a feeling I could be in the minority here with Treadwell as we approach the draft. I can see why Gorney likes Corey Coleman -- he’s an explosive slot and a guy I liked midseason as a Heisman favorite, but right now I’ll take the size and power of Treadwell.

Farrell’s NFL comparison: Alshon Jeffery, Chicago Bears

1) Laquon Treadwell – Ole Miss

2) Josh Doctson – TCU

3) Corey Coleman – Baylor

4) Will Fuller – Notre Dame

5) Mike Thomas – Ohio State

Why Coleman is No. 1: First, let’s start with this past season. Coleman had 200-plus more receiving yards than Treadwell and nine more touchdowns even though he had eight fewer catches, which speaks to Coleman’s game-breaking ability and the concerns over Treadwell’s ability to stretch the field and to be a threat in the deep passing game.

Then let’s turn to the NFL Combine, where Coleman was better on the bench press (17 reps to 12), in the vertical jump, which shows explosiveness (40.5 inches to 33) and the broad jump (129 inches to 117). At Baylor’s Pro Day, Coleman ran the 40-yard dash in 4.37 seconds.

So everything in terms of testing numbers is leaning heavily toward Coleman and on the field, he is excellent, too.

Coleman's elite speed into his routes are a massive challenge for cornerbacks, who often have a tough time staying with him through his route progression because of his quick-twitch speed. Plus, on the deep ball, Coleman can be a game-changer.

Once the ball is in Coleman’s hands, he can make people miss and gain extra yards and he’s squirrely enough to be a constant threat to break a big gainer. He can also be an asset on special teams.

There are concerns since Coleman is 5-foot-11. He also played more on the outside at Baylor and will have to move to slot receiver in the NFL. But that transition might not be all that difficult, because Coleman is a natural athlete who made big differences for the Bears all over the field.

If Treadwell doesn’t run a great 40 at Ole Miss’ Pro Day on Monday then Coleman can shoot by him on draft boards. There’s no question there is a lot to like about Treadwell from his size, his arm length, his bigger hands and that he dominated in the SEC. It makes a whole lot of sense to take him before Coleman.

But in terms of speed and explosiveness, in terms of having that ability to break big plays, Coleman is the better option.

Gorney’s NFL comparison: Emmanuel Sanders, Denver Broncos

1. Corey Coleman – Baylor

2. Laquon Treadwell – Ole Miss

3. Josh Doctson – TCU

4. Will Fuller – Notre Dame

5. Michael Thomas – Ohio State