ESPN NFL experts debate which wide receiver will have best rookie season

The 2022 NFL Draft officially got underway on Thursday night in Las Vegas, with the top-32 prospects being selected. From Georgia defensive end Travon Walker going No. 1 overall to the Jacksonville Jaguars and another Bulldogs’ defender – safety Lewis Cine – landing at No. 32 overall to the Minnesota Vikings, there were plenty of college football stars taken off the board on Thursday.

Looking specifically at the wide receiver position, six were chosen in the first round: USC‘s Drake London (No. 8), Ohio State‘s Garrett Wilson (No. 10) and Chris Olave (No. 11), Alabama‘s Jameson Williams (No. 12), Penn State‘s Jahan Dotson (No. 16) and Arkansas‘ Treylon Burks (No. 18). Following Thursday’s draft action, ESPN’s NFL experts debated which wideout will have the best rookie season in the NFL.

Starting from the top of the draft order, Matt Miller said that London will be able to put together the best rookie season – stating that he can make an immediate impact.

“Drake London has a great situation in Atlanta with defenses focusing so much on tight end Kyle Pitts,” Miller said. “His ability to dominate in the red zone while posting up smaller defensive backs makes him a huge Day 1 impact player. And with quarterback Marcus Mariota looking to remind folks why he was the No. 2 pick in the 2015 draft, he will be looking London’s way often.”

While Miller selected London from USC, Todd McShay made a case for Olave – who jumps to the NFL level after excelling at Ohio State.

“It has to be Chris Olave with the New Orleans Saints,” McShay said. “He’s a smooth route runner who can take the top off the defense, and considering the Saints lacked a single 700-plus-yard receiver last season, he’s likely in line for a big role right out of the gate.”

The third and final ESPN NFL Draft analyst, Jordan Reid, selected Burks with his pick, saying that the receiver has no choice but to step right into the mix with the Tennessee Titans after the team traded away A.J. Brown.

“Treylon Burks would be my pick, considering the volume of touches now available with A.J. Brown off to Philly,” Reid said. “Burks steps into a situation where he will be forced to be the top option right away. Brown was seen as a comp for Burks, and now the rookie will be responsible for replacing the 2019 second-rounder’s production.”