2022 NFL draft scouting report: Ohio State WR Garrett Wilson

Ohio State WR Garrett Wilson

6-foot
183 pounds

Yahoo Sports' 2022 NFL draft grade

6.51 — certain first-round pick; immediate-impact prospect

TL;DR scouting report

Slimmer-framed outside receiver who can threaten all three levels of a defense and possesses excellent YAC ability and body control

The skinny

A 4-star Rivals recruit (No. 32 nationally) in 2019, Wilson picked the Buckeyes over several big programs, including Texas. He played in all 14 games as a true freshman, ranking fourth on the team in receptions (30) and yards (432), with five TDs. Wilson earned first-team all-Big Ten honors in 2020 and 2021, catching a combined 113 passes for 1,781 yards and 18 TDs (plus one rushing TD) in 19 games. Wilson opted out of the Buckeyes' bowl game and declared early for the 2022 NFL draft.

Upside

• Good testing speed (4.38 40) — and plays fast, too

• Aggressive, competitive attitude — operates with "my ball" mentality

• Accelerates into his breaks, sinks hips; creates natural separation, including in condensed spaces

• Able to take the top off a defense when asked

• Outstanding work along the sideline with rare body control, concentration

• Already experienced at getting two feet inbounds

• Will be best friend of back-shoulder-throwing QBs

• Excellent hands — only one drop in final 10 college games

• Ball security — zero fumbles on 183 career touches

• Consistently productive — three-plus catches in 19 of final 20 games, averaged nearly six catches, 90 yards per game over final 22 contests

• Works outside his frame to snag off-target passes

• Underrated strength to break tackles and power through contact despite smaller frame

• Slippery and elusive, giving defenders small target zone

• Times up leaps and can get vertical to bring in 50-50 balls

• Plus run-after-catch vision — operates like a running back through traffic

• Flashes a stiff arm vs. would-be tacklers

• Run threat — six career rushes for 143 yards, TD

• Punt-return potential

Downside

• Smallish frame for outside duty — lacks bulk to combat more physical corners

• Merely ample length

• Needs better release package vs. press coverage

• Will freelance and dance, veering off landmarks and disrupting route timing

• Takes false steps on slower-developing routes

• Can make routes more fluid and compact — some stopping/starting on double moves

• Will get thrown off his track when bumped downfield

• Concentration drops cropped up early in 2021 season

• Occasional double catches and body catches on tape

• Limited blocking effectiveness and inconsistent effort in that department

• Risky approach on punt returns — can lead to all-or-nothing results

Best-suited destination

Wilson might never be a true WR1 option, but he possesses high-end WR2 potential, which still holds a lot of value in today's game. Whether he's primarily a slot or an outside receiver will be a club-by-club debate, but it's highly possible he ends up doing both, as well as returning punts. Wilson should be an instant contributor for whatever team he lands on.

Did you know

Wilson's father, Kenny, played college basketball at Davidson, scoring 1,573 career points, which ranks seventh on the school’s all-time list. Garrett also attracted D-I basketball recruiting attention after starring as a guard at Lake Travis (Tex.) High School.

Player comp

Wilson bears some resemblance to Emmanuel Sanders and Robert Woods.

Expected draft range

First-round pick