Draft Wish List: A wide receiver for each day of the draft

At the top of their depth chart, the Seahawks are sitting as comfortably as they ever have with wide receivers. Tyler Lockett has developed into a true wide receiver one, making the impossible look possible regularly and displaying superb chemistry with Russell Wilson. As a rookie, DK Metcalf set the league aflame and he may have the highest ceiling of any receiver Wilson has ever had. However, Lockett’s injury and the subsequent downturn in form in 2019 is cause for concern; Seattle needs to find a third complementary piece to add to their wide receiver corps.

Luckily for the Seahawks, 2020 is shaping up to be one of the best wide receiver classes of the 21st century. Seattle will be able to find a difference-maker in this month’s draft, and they’ll have options on all three days.

Day 1: Tee Higgins

A poor pre-draft process and a crowded class may see Clemson’s game-breaking talent drop out of the first round. However, for this exercise, he’ll be the Seahawks pick at the back end of round one. A long, well-built 6-foot-4 and 216 pounds, Higgins possesses the type of skill set that would fit into Seattle’s offense, and add something they’re currently missing.

Higgins has outstanding downfield ability, averaging 18.1 yards per catch with the Tigers on 135 career catches. He glides vertically and tracks the deep ball extremely well. In a Seahawks offense that loves to push the ball downfield, Higgins would fit right in. Aiding his potential fit in Seattle is his ability on contested catches and jump balls. Though he doesn’t have a superhuman physique like Metcalf, Higgins wins consistently above the rim, using his long frame and large catch radius to great success.

A wide receiver trio of Lockett, Metcalf, and Higgins would not only be a cohesive group of skill sets but perfectly suited to Wilson’s skill set.

Day 2: Denzel Mims

There are very players, across positions, who have had a better 2020 than Mims. The former Baylor Bear began the year by starring at the Senior Bowl, earning praise for his performance all week. Then, Mims went to the combine and excelled, testing in the 94th percentile at 6-foot-3 and 207 pounds. Mims’ three cone time of 6.66 seconds was nearly .3 seconds faster than the second-best mark in Indianapolis.

Mims shares many similarities with Higgins—fit in the Seahawks’ offense, body type, fluidity downfield, catch radius—however, he is considerably less reliable in contested catch situations. If Seattle wants to find a pure possession receiver on day two, they would be better suited looking elsewhere. If they wanted to inject further talent and provide Wilson with another reliable target, Mims would be a great fit on day two.

Day 3: Donovan Peoples-Jones

The 2020 draft is rich in big-bodied, explosive wideouts, especially towards the back end of the process. Among those prospects, Michigan’s Peoples-Jones is one of the more divisive. Many see a player who hit his ceiling with the Wolverines and will be limited to a reserve role in the pros. Others see a player who has ideal size (6-foot-2, 212 pounds) and tremendous explosiveness, testing in the 99th percentile in both the vertical and broad jump.

Even if you fall into the former category, the latter part of his profile makes him well worth a late-round flier. The Seahawks have proven to develop wide receivers well. Though Peoples-Jones doesn’t have the fluidity David Moore has, both are intriguing athletes with size and athleticism to align inside and out. Rolling the dice on Peoples-Jones and seeing what can be made of such tantalizing explosiveness would be well worth the day three pick for Seattle.

The Seahawks can head into the draft comfortable in the knowledge they don’t need to find an immediate difference-maker at wide receiver, with two already in place on the roster along with a small community of tight ends. However, receiver is a position to have complementary skill sets at. Currently, they lack the true possession threat—but they can find that player on any of the draft’s three days.