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The B1G only had one first-round receiver in the last 10 drafts; looking back on the five who got away
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I knew it was bad. I didn’t know it was that bad.
In the last 10 drafts, the B1G had just one receiver drafted in the first round. That’s not quite as stunning as the first-round quarterback drought, but it’s especially alarming.
It’s even more alarming to think that the lone B1G first-round receiver in that stretch was former Illinois star A.J. Jenkins, who turned out to be one of the conference’s biggest busts of the 21st century.
Meanwhile, plenty of B1G receivers were drafted in the later rounds and embarked on successful careers. Let’s take a look back on those B1G receivers who should’ve been first-round picks in the last 10 drafts (2008-17):
1. Michael Thomas, Ohio State
Pick — Second round, No. 47 overall (2016)
Why wasn’t he a first-rounder? — I’ve been asking this question for the last two years. I thought Thomas was the best receiver in the 2016 class, and couldn’t believe why he wasn’t billed as such. He could make plays all over the field, he had size and he had the right attitude. Instead, Thomas was the sixth receiver drafted in 2016. These guys somehow went before him:
- Corey Coleman, Baylor
- Will Fuller, Notre Dame
- Josh Doctson, TCU
- Laquon Treadwell, Ole Miss
- Sterling Shepard, Oklahoma
Clearly, that was a big motivator for Thomas, who silenced a lot of the unwarranted pre-draft skepticism that he never had a 1,000-yard season at Ohio State and that he wasn’t a “burner.” All Thomas has done is burn those trash takes with consecutive 1,100-yard seasons to start his NFL career. The Pro Bowler already has 196 catches (the most in league history through two seasons) for 2,382 yards. The four-first rounders in that class have less NFL receptions than Thomas. Combined.
2. Chris Godwin, Penn State
Pick — Third round, No. 84 overall (2017)
Why wasn’t he a first-rounder? — OK, so some might not be ready to say Godwin should’ve been a first-round pick. After all, he has just one season under his belt. But given his role in Tampa Bay’s offense, Godwin’s 34 catches (on 55 targets) for 525 yards was a steal. Godwin already out-produced all but two of the 10 receivers taken ahead of him, despite the fact that he played in a loaded group of pass-catchers with a mediocre quarterback in Jameis Winston.
But as for why Godwin wasn’t a first-rounder, that might’ve been because he might not have been viewed as versatile as others ahead of him. His breakout junior season at Penn State was largely the product of him winning one-on-one matchups. His route-running was knocked, and even though he tore up the combine with a 4.42-second 40-yard dash at 6-1, 209 pounds, Godwin fell all the way to the third round.
A year later, Tampa Bay general manager Jason Licht said that Godwin deserves a larger role in the offense (he only started two games) after racking up 277 yards in the three games that either Mike Evans or DeSean Jackson was out. Godwin is an obvious candidate to break out in 2018.
3. Stefon Diggs, Maryland
Pick — Fifth round, No. 146 overall (2015)
Why wasn’t he a first-rounder? — The former 5-star recruit might not have become the All-American receiver at Maryland that many hoped he’d be — injuries played a part in that — but he still should’ve gotten much more love in the 2015 draft.
The tape showed Diggs’ potential as the team’s leading receiver despite inconsistent quarterback play. It’s interesting that fellow Terp D.J. Moore is now being compared to Diggs, and it’s Moore who’s being projected as an early Day-2 pick. Teams would probably be happy to draft Moore in the first round if they knew they were getting Diggs’ production.
After finishing second in receiving yards among rookies (he was inactive the first three games), Diggs took a step up with 84 catches for 903 yards in 2016, and he delivered again with 64 catches for 849 yards in 2017. Oh, and he also caught the most memorable pass in Minnesota Vikings history:
Diggs is only 24 and he’s already one of the top 15-20 receivers in the NFL. And go figure, he was the No. 20 receiver selected in 2015.
4. Allen Robinson, Penn State
Pick — Second round, No. 61 overall (2014)
Why wasn’t he a first-rounder? — Robinson was considered a borderline first-round prospect after leaving Penn State his junior season. He probably didn’t help himself with a 4.6-second 40-yard dash, but Robinson’s fall into the second round had a lot to do with the talent above him in the class. Look at all the receivers who went ahead of him:
- Sammy Watkins, Clemson
- Mike Evans, Texas A&M
- Odell Beckham, Jr., LSU
- Brandin Cooks, Oregon State
- Kelvin Benjamin, Florida State
- Marquise Lee, USC
- Jordan Matthews, Vanderbilt
- Paul Richardson, Colorado
- Devante Adams, Fresno State
- Cody Latimer, Indiana
It’s telling that Robinson was the 11th receiver off that loaded board and he was still selected in the second round (that list didn’t even include Jarvis Landry). Robinson might not be on the level of Evans or Beckham, but he’s been as productive as the rest.
Robinson’s monster 2015 campaign saw him haul in 80 catches for 1,400 yards and a franchise record 14 receiving touchdowns. His 2016 season was viewed as a bit of a letdown after he raised the bar so high for himself, but Robinson still had 883 receiving yards and 6 touchdowns in a down year. After tearing his ACL in the 2017 season opener, Robinson became an unrestricted free agent and inked a 3-year deal for $42 million to become the Chicago Bears’ No. 1 wideout.
Despite a frustrating last two years in Jacksonville, there’s still plenty of reason to believe the 24-year-old is one of the league’s best 20 wideouts.
5. Eric Decker, Minnesota
Pick — Third round, No. 87 overall (2010)
Why wasn’t he a first-rounder? — No, stereotypes didn’t prevent Decker from being a first-round pick. Injuries did. He tore ligaments in his foot in his senior season, which prevented him from working out at both the combine and Minnesota’s pro day. That dropped Decker to the No. 9 receiver in the 2010 class.
In a draft that had the likes of future teammate Demaryius Thomas, Dez Bryant, Golden Tate, Emmanuel Sanders and even the sixth-round steal of a lifetime in Antonio Brown, it’s hard to say that Decker should’ve undoubtedly been a first-round pick, especially with those injury concerns. But his career numbers would probably surprise plenty of people.
The 31-year-old wideout has 439 catches for 5,816 receiving yards and 53 touchdowns. That’s only six less touchdowns than Brown and four less than Thomas. From 2012-15, Decker averaged 1,085 receiving yards and 10 touchdowns. He might not have earned a Pro Bowl honor — somehow that didn’t happen after he led the AFC in receiving touchdowns in 2012 — but Decker’s career production was better than the vast majority of first-round receivers selected the last 10 years.
Connor O'Gara is the senior national columnist for Saturday Tradition. He's a member of the Football Writers Association of America. After spending his entire life living in B1G country, he moved to the South in 2015.