Questions about size are popular with this year's wide receiver draft class. Four wide receivers selected in the first three rounds measure 5-foot-9 or shorter; two more at 5-foot-10. All shorter wideouts aren't created equal (there's 20-30 pounds of separation between some of these players), but fair to wonder if you're getting a true No. 1.
I pulled together the below table, of wide receivers selected in the first three rounds the last dozen years who measured 5-foot-10 or shorter, like Jaylen Waddle (pictured). There were 21 prior to this year's draft.
A third of those wideouts (7) have had at least one top-20 fantasy season. Four of those guys have had at least one top-10 finish. Some flops in there, to be sure, but no one should say a shorter wideout can't put up a No. 1 type season or two. (Top-20 guys in bold.)
| WRS 5-FOOT-10 AND UNDER, 2010-PRESENT (1ST 3 ROUNDS) | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year | Rd | Pk | Player | Ht | Wt | Best FF |
| 2021 | 2 | 49 | Rondale Moore, Ari. | 5.07 | 180 | ?? |
| 2013 | 1 | 8 | Tavon Austin, St.L. | 5.08 | 176 | 27th |
| 2019 | 1 | 25 | Marquise Brown, Balt. | 5.09 | 166 | 36th |
| 2020 | 2 | 46 | KJ Hamler, Den. | 5.09 | 178 | 88th |
| 2012 | 3 | 92 | T.Y. Hilton, Ind. | 5.09 | 178 | 5th |
| 2013 | 3 | 78 | Marquise Goodwin, Buff. | 5.09 | 179 | 31st |
| 2011 | 3 | 83 | Jerrel Jernigan, NYG | 5.09 | 181 | 87th |
| 2019 | 2 | 62 | Andy Isabella, Ariz. | 5.09 | 188 | 114th |
| 2021 | 2 | 56 | D'Wayne Eskridge, Sea. | 5.09 | 190 | ?? |
| 2021 | 2 | 57 | Tutu Atwell, LAR | 5.09 | 165 | ?? |
| 2021 | 3 | 85 | Amari Rodgers, G.B. | 5.09 | 212 | ?? |
| 2014 | 3 | 91 | John Brown, Ariz. | 5.10 | 179 | 20th |
| 2015 | 3 | 69 | Tyler Lockett, Sea. | 5.10 | 182 | 8th |
| 2019 | 3 | 66 | Diontae Johnson, Pitt. | 5.10 | 183 | 21st |
| 2015 | 1 | 29 | Phillip Dorsett, Ind. | 5.10 | 185 | 71st |
| 2019 | 2 | 56 | Mecole Hardman, K.C. | 5.10 | 187 | 59th |
| 2014 | 1 | 20 | Brandin Cooks, N.O. | 5.10 | 189 | 10th |
| 2012 | 1 | 20 | Kendall Wright, Tenn. | 5.10 | 191 | 20th |
| 2012 | 2 | 54 | Ryan Broyles, Det. | 5.10 | 192 | 94th |
| 2011 | 2 | 64 | Randall Cobb, G.B. | 5.10 | 192 | 7th |
| 2016 | 2 | 40 | Sterling Shepard, NYG | 5.10 | 194 | 32nd |
| 2013 | 3 | 92 | Stedman Bailey, St.L. | 5.10 | 194 | 87th |
| 2010 | 2 | 60 | Golden Tate, Sea. | 5.10 | 199 | 11th |
| 2020 | 3 | 92 | Devin Duvernay, Balt. | 5.10 | 200 | 117th |
| 2018 | 2 | 47 | Christian Kirk, Ariz. | 5.10 | 201 | 38th |
| 2021 | 1 | 6 | Jaylen Waddle, Mia. | 5.10 | 182 | ?? |
| 2021 | 2 | 34 | Elijah Moore, NYJ | 5.10 | 178 | ?? |
I suppose you could look at it and say the 5-foot-9 or under guys haven't fared too well. There's T.Y. Hilton, and then a lot of disappointments. But too soon to call a couple of these players, and most of this year's guys were selected a full round earlier than the likes of Jernigan and Goodwin.
Waddle, D'Wayne Eskridge, Tutu Atwell, Amari Rodgers and the two Moores, Elijah and Rondale. Some of those guys will likely turn out to be very good fantasy options.
--Andy Richardson