NFL Draft: Top five WRs/TEs heading into the Combine

The NFL Scouting Combine is right around the corner. Here is a pre-combine breakdown of our top five wide receivers and tight ends heading into Indianapolis.

MORE PRE-COMBINE RANKINGS: Quarterbacks | Running Backs

Recruiting: Ridley committed to Alabama in the spring before his senior season. Florida State received a visit and other schools were involved, but he stuck with the Crimson Tide.

Career stats: In three years at Alabama, Ridley finished with 224 catches for 2,781 yards and 19 receiving touchdowns. He averaged more than 15 yards per reception this season.

Buzz: In a down wide receiver class, there is some talk that Ridley will be the only receiver drafted in the first round, although others could move into that range as well.

Farrell’s take: Ridley set freshman records at Alabama as a receiver, the same place where Julio Jones and Amari Cooper dominated, so that's heady stuff and he’s considered by most to be the top wide receiver in the draft. Ridley was always an elite prospect in high school and a no-brainer five-star from the start. He was an accomplished route runner, had solid size and amazing hands, and just needed to fill out and find his way into the Alabama offense. Now he has shown similar ability to Jones and Cooper and could land in the first round like they did.

Recruiting: A three-star safety in high school, Sutton had BYU, Colorado and Fresno State as his three favorites a few weeks before National Signing Day. A late visit to SMU switched up his recruitment and he signed with the Mustangs.

Career stats: Sutton finished his SMU career with 195 receptions for 3,220 yards and 31 touchdowns including 12 scores this year. He averaged 16.5 yard per catch.

Buzz: There could be some concern about his speed and he didn’t dominate as much as some expected in 2017.

Farrell’s take: Sutton was very good as expected and opened opportunities for other SMU wideouts with all the attention he got this past season and he’s one of the few wide receivers at the top of the draft with size. We had Sutton projected as a defensive back, with his tall frame and good range. He also played some linebacker as well, but he has developed into an elite wide receiver. He was a big-play threat at wide receiver in high school, although not nearly as polished as he is now. Most wanted him as a defensive back, but his ball skills have transitioned well and his size, speed and hands make him one to watch in the first round of the draft.

Recruiting: Hardly recruited out of high school, Washington picked Oklahoma State in the summer prior to his senior season. His only other reported offer was from Texas State.

Career stats: In four seasons at Oklahoma State, Washington totaled 226 catches for 4,472 yards and 39 touchdowns. He averaged more than 20 yards per reception in his final three seasons.

Buzz: Washington is built more like a running back and although he might have exceptional speed, his frame could be a concern.

Farrell’s take: His yards-per-catch average is off the charts and his ability as a deep threat has NFL teams very interested. Washington was a very fast, straight-line receiver from a small school who can be billed as a “diamond in the rough” recruiting find for Oklahoma State. We liked his speed enough to make him a low three-star, but he has turned into something fun to watch at the next level and beyond. Not only is he fast, but he’s elusive and sneaky strong. He had another great season, is probably the best 50-50 ball receiver in the draft and is a true deep threat. If he was a little longer he’d probably be the top receiver in the draft.

Recruiting: Kirk committed to Texas A&M over Arizona State, UCLA and others in December of his senior season. It was the second year in a row the top prospect from Arizona committed to the Aggies after QB Kyle Allen, who then transferred to Houston.

Career stats: In three seasons, Kirk totaled 229 receptions for 2,796 yards and 26 touchdowns. His only 1,000-yard campaign came in his freshman season.

Buzz: Kirk’s stats tailed off this season but was that because Texas A&M quarterback play was average at best. Can NFL executives get past his numbers decline?

Farrell’s take: Size will always be a question and his numbers being down, poor quarterback play or not, doesn’t help. Kirk’s size was always the only question mark, but we pushed beyond that and made him the rare 5-foot-10 five-star wide receiver and he lived up to that billing despite the down year. We expected him to hit the ground running with his route-running and ability to separate, but he was way ahead of schedule with two great seasons before a down season this year. His performance at our Rivals100 Five-Star Challenge in Chicago is what sealed the deal for us as he was simply unstoppable.

Recruiting: In the summer before his senior season, Chark committed to LSU while on a visit to Baton Rouge. Texas A&M was also getting more involved. Memphis, Oklahoma State, Southern Miss and some other local schools had offered.

Career stats: In his first two seasons at LSU, Chark did not have one catch. Then in the last two years, the former three-star prospect tallied 66 receptions for 1,340 yards and six touchdowns.

Buzz: Chark was solid at the Senior Bowl but questions remain about his consistency and ability to dominate on the outside.

Farrell’s take: Chark was a high three-star who had to earn his offer from LSU at camp. He was tall enough but needed to fill out and get stronger and add a little more speed for college. However, he had a great frame to build on and showed excellent hands in the rare opportunities we had to scout him. He was always excellent with the ball in his hands so yards after catch and special teams impact aren’t a surprise here. He turns the corner very well and his last two seasons have scouts very enamored in a weak passing offense.

Recruiting: Andrews committed to Oklahoma during a trip to Norman in the summer before his senior season. A bunch of Pac-12 schools along with Alabama, Ohio State and others were involved.

Career stats: In three seasons at Oklahoma, Andrews totaled 112 catches for 1,765 yards and 22 touchdowns. Rated as a four-star receiver, he averaged nearly 16 yards per reception over his career.

Buzz: Andrews’ athleticism and former success playing receiver are bonuses but now at more than 250 pounds, speed might be something to watch at the combine.

Farrell’s take: Andrews is a massive target and showed more athleticism this past season and better footwork. A tight end with size but wide receiver skills, he was always right up there when it comes to athleticism at the position and he took his game to the next level this year and is my No. 1 tight end. He slid in the final rankings because he was a bit underwhelming at the U.S. Army Bowl week and didn’t use his size properly, but he has clearly learned to do that as he transitioned from wide receiver to tight end in college. He’s a big target and can get downfield, so he could land in round two.

Recruiting: Gesicki took official visits to both Penn State and Ohio State and he decided to pick the Nittany Lions. Duke and many others were also involved in his recruitment.

Career stats: Over four seasons, Gesicki finished with 118 receptions for 1,384 yards and 13 touchdowns. He averaged more than 14 yards per catch in his junior season.

Buzz: Gesicki is an athletic specimen but he struggles mightily as a blocker which could limit which NFL teams want to draft him, especially early.

Farrell’s take: Gesicki is a freaky athlete and had a solid season but hasn’t scored as much as expected or been as dominant in the red zone. We liked Gesicki, especially his athleticism, out of high school enough to make him a four-star, but we had questions about how physical he was willing to be and how he would fare as a blocker. We underestimated his athleticism and he’s obviously done well in other aspects of the game as well. He started off in our database as a wide receiver and he played a lot from the flex position and even outside. The NFL loves tight ends that can stretch the field and he can do that as well as anyone.

Recruiting: A standout in football and baseball in high school, Hurst was drafted in the 17th round and signed with the Pittsburgh Pirates, turning down a baseball scholarship from Florida State. He played for two seasons and then walked onto the South Carolina football team.

Career stats: In three seasons with the Gamecocks, Hurst finished with 100 catches for 1,281 yards and three touchdowns.

Buzz: Hurst’s birthday is in late August so he will be a 25-year-old rookie after playing baseball for a couple years.

Farrell’s take: Hurst was a pitcher out of high school and signed for baseball, so he was never ranked or really evaluated for football by Rivals.com. He had zero football offers, so this is one that was way off the radar. I don’t even remember him as a football prospect and he played at a big football high school. But he’s emerged as one of the top tight ends in the draft and could be a third rounder.

Others to watch: Anthony Miller, Memphis; DJ Moore, Maryland; Deon Cain, Clemson; Dante Pettis, Washington; Dallas Goedert, South Dakota State; Ryan Izzo, Florida State; Jaylen Samuels, NC State.