It’s almost here. With just a couple weeks until the NFL Draft, it’s time to take a deeper look at the top wide receivers in this class. With the Jets having a glaring need at the position, it would be a fairly large surprise if the Jets did not come away with a WR with one of the first four picks.
While film always tells a large part of the story, this breakdown primarily focuses on how these prospects stack up analytically, and more importantly, how those numbers translate when compared against
each other.
As always, context matters, so none of these metrics should be treated as gospel. But let’s take a look:
Height & Weight:
1. Chris Bell — 6’2”, 222
2. Denzel Boston — 6’4”, 212
3. Jordyn Tyson — 6’2”, 203
4. Omar Cooper — 6’0”, 199
5. Carnell Tate — 6’2”, 192
6. KC Concepcion — 6’0”, 196
7. Chris Brazzell — 6’4”, 198
8. Makai Lemon — 5’11”, 192
When you look strictly at size, Bell jumps off the page immediately. At over 220 pounds, he’s built like a fullback and arguably the most physically imposing receiver in the class amongst the top-end prospects. He’s built like a true possession X so it’s easy to fall in love. Denzel Boston and Jordyn Tyson fall right behind him with prototypical outside frames that translate cleanly to the next level. Tate’s weight will raise some red flags, but he doesn’t play or look like someone who needs to put on a few pounds.
Brazzell is an interesting case: the height is elite, but the weight doesn’t quite match, and it shows up when you compare him to someone like Boston. On the other end, Lemon is clearly the smallest of the group, which aligns with how he’s been used primarily out of the slot.
40-Yard Dash:
1. Chris Brazzell — 4.37
2. Omar Cooper — 4.42
3. Chris Bell — ~4.42 (Projected)
4. KC Concepcion — 4.43
5. Makai Lemon — 4.48
6. Jordyn Tyson — ~4.48 (Projected)
7. Denzel Boston — ~4.52 (Projected)
8. Carnell Tate — 4.53
Brazzell separating himself here isn’t surprising, but it is important. Running a 4.37 at 6’4” gives him a ceiling that very few players in this class can match. The straight-line speed isn’t the issue with him, it’s the lateral change-of-direction and more of the agility that is a concern. Cooper and Bell both profile as strong athletes as well, especially considering Bell’s size if that projection holds.
Tate being at the bottom is notable, but also expected. His game has never been about pure speed and if he was faster he’d probably be considered a lock to go top 5. When you look at the rest of his profile, it’s clear he wins in other ways.
Lemon’s speed is also worth discussing. It’s not a disqualifier by any means ( Jaxon Smith-Njigba reportedly ran the exact same 40) but paired with his size, it’s not going to wow anyone either.
What’s more notable is that Lemon didn’t run the shuttle or 3-cone at the combine, which were the exact drills where Smith-Njigba separated himself as a prospect. It is definitely notable that Lemon didn’t partake in those drills as exceptional change of direction times would have alleviated any concerns about his lack of top-end speed.
Drop %
1. Carnell Tate — 0.0%
2. Jordyn Tyson — 1.6%
3. Makai Lemon — 2.5%
4. Denzel Boston — 3.1%
5. Chris Brazzell — 3.2%
6. Chris Bell — 4.0%
7. Omar Cooper — 4.2%
8. KC Concepcion — 10.3%
This is one of the stronger position groups you’ll see from a hands perspective. Tate posting a 0.0% drop rate is absurd, and it shows up consistently on film with how comfortable he is catching away from his body. It’s a huge reason why he’s garnered such a reputation for being a safe target for his quarterbacks.
Tyson and Lemon also grade out as elite here. Tyson in particular is notable because he had previously struggled with drops early in his career at Arizona State. Lemon, much like Tate, hardly ever catches the ball with his body which is a huge plus in his profile. The others in the middle tier are have more or less the same solid metrics. The one clear concern is Concepcion. In a class where almost everyone is reliable, his drop rate stands out in a negative way. Pairing that with shorter arms and average hand-size, this is definitely something that could cause issues at the next level.
Yards Per Route Run
1. Makai Lemon — 3.13
2. Carnell Tate — 3.02
3. Chris Brazzell — 2.57
4. Omar Cooper — 2.55
5. Chris Bell — 2.53
6. KC Concepcion — 2.46
7. Denzel Boston — 2.44
8. Jordyn Tyson — 2.37
Probably my favorite metric to use as it is fairly predictive when looking at NFL success. This is the metric that really separates the class.
Lemon’s 3.13 YPRR is elite, and when you factor in the competition level, it becomes even more impressive. Tate being right behind him reinforces just how strong that top tier is. Although the two did it in entirely different ways – Lemon was the focal point of his offense and a volume threat while Tate had one of the lower target shares in recent memory for a top flight NFL wide receiver prospect.
After those two, there’s a pretty clear drop-off into a tightly packed middle group. Again, none of these guys have glaring issues with the production, but they all represent a clear step back from the top two. Tyson stands out here for the wrong reasons. His 2.37 Yards Per Route run was extremely disappointing considering he was over 3.0 the year prior. Now Tyson did battle injuries, but it’s easy to see why a once clear top 10 pick has been falling down draft boards. It’s a notable regression.
Contested Catch %
1. Carnell Tate — 85.4%
2. Denzel Boston — 76.9%
3. Makai Lemon — 71.4%
4. KC Concepcion — 66.7%
5. Omar Cooper — 50% (tied)
5. Chris Bell — 50% (tied)
7. Jordyn Tyson — 43.8%
8. Chris Brazzell — 41.2%
This is where Tate really separates himself. 85% on contested targets is ridiculous, and it speaks to his body control, timing, and hands. When watching him, I really find myself drawn to a Reggie Wayne or Adam Thielen comparison for him. Two guys that weren’t insane athletes but possessed tremendous body control and concentration that allowed them to kill zone-coverage throughout their careers.
Boston showing up at #2 is important for his projection as it helps validate his role as a true outside target. With no top end speed, if Boston is going to win at the NFL level he’s going to need to be able to use his body and physical attributes to win in tight-quarters. Lemon continues to check every box analytically as his toughness and strong hands stand out again, while Brazzell’s ranking here is one of the bigger red flags in his profile given his size.
Passer Rating When Targeted (QB Efficiency)
1. Carnell Tate — 151.8
2. Omar Cooper — 143.2
3. Chris Brazzell — 135.1
4. Makai Lemon — 126.2
5. Denzel Boston — 116.2
6. KC Concepcion — 111.8
7. Chris Bell — 109.7
8. Jordyn Tyson — 108.2
There’s definitely quarterback context baked into this, but trends still matter.
Tate and Cooper both stand out as extremely QB-friendly receivers. They consistently create clean throwing windows and maximize opportunities. Lemon and Brazzell fall into a strong second tier, while Tyson and Bell lag behind a bit although both had shaky quarterback play this season.
Mendoza’s play certainly helped, but Omar Cooper Jr. was one of the more efficient WRs in the country. And once he became more of the focal point, Mendoza shined even more.
Alignment
1. Chris Brazzell — 94.3% Wide (5.7% Slot)
2. Carnell Tate — 88.9% Wide (10.1% Slot)
3. Chris Bell — 85.3% Wide (14.7% Slot)
4. Denzel Boston — 81.3% Wide (17.6% Slot)
5. Jordyn Tyson — 74.7% Wide (25.0% Slot)
6. KC Concepcion — 65.3% Wide (34.4% Slot)
7. Makai Lemon — 27.9% Wide (70.6% Slot)
8. Omar Cooper — 15.7% Wide (83.3% Slot)
Usage tells you a lot about how teams view these players, and in this group, the divide is pretty clear.
At the top, you have the true outside receivers. Brazzell, Tate, Bell, and Boston were all lined up out wide on over 80% of their snaps. With the Jets lacking size at the position, these names could very well interest them.
Then you get into the middle tier with Tyson and Concepcion, who offer a bit more versatility. Tyson especially has shown the ability to move around the formation throughout his career, and that flexibility adds value even if his 2025 production didn’t fully match prior seasons. This is a guy who has shown on tape he’s got the ability to win on the outside and inside. It’s clear why some view him as the top of this class from a potential standpoint.
At the bottom are the heavy slot players — Lemon and Cooper — both of whom spent the majority of their time inside. That doesn’t necessarily limit them, but it does shape how they project. Lemon has shown flashes of playing outside and I do think if needed he can play a bit at the next level, but Cooper in particular feels more like someone who benefits from manufactured touches and space.
Additional Thoughts
There isn’t a ton to call out with the age of these guys. Tate and Lemon are the youngest as they will be 21 for the majority of their rookie years while Brazell, Cooper, and Boston will be 23 for much of their rookie campaign. If I were to rank each and give positive pro-comparisons for all in no order I’d probably go something like:
1. Carnell Tate — Reggie Wayne / Adam Thielen
2. Makai Lemon — Amon-Ra St. Brown
3. Jordyn Tyson — Jakobi Meyers
4. Denzel Boston — Michael Pittman Jr.
5. Omar Cooper — Golden Tate
6. Chris Bell — Michael Floyd
7. KC Concepcion — Santonio Holmes
8. Chris Brazzell — Robbie Anderson
Final Thought
I’ll give my final rankings sometime closer to the draft. I think it’s very difficult to not love Carnell Tate though at first glance. I get the concerns about whether he can be a volume threat at the next level and understand the argument that he benefitted being the #2 to Jeremiah Smith, but he just seems super safe to me.
We’ll see if one of these guys ends up on the Jets in two weeks.
