It's mostly quiet on the NFL draft front right now, but that's all going to change in a little more than a week.The draft combine is set to begin Feb. 17. Some view it as an important event in evaluating the athleticism of prospects, while others question the legitimacy of something that alters the draft stock of a prospect just because he ran 40 yards fractions of a second slower than expected.No matter how you feel, though, it will certainly shake up the outlook. So, before that happens, let's take a gander at the current first-round forecast.Several positions in this year's draft class are noticeably weak. After Marcus Mariota and Jameis Winston, the talent level at quarterback falls off a cliff. Landon Collins may be the only safety among the top 50 prospects. The importance of offensive linemen means there will still be a bevy of them selected in the first round, but it doesn't feel as though there is a can't-miss stud like in years past.At other positions, though, the depth is astounding.That is especially true when it comes to edge-rushers and wide receivers, who could easily make up more than a third of the opening round. The latter group is particularly intriguing, with a trio of pass-catchers owning a solid argument to hear their name called first.Top Wide ReceiversAmari Cooper, AlabamaCollegiate production only means so much when it comes to evaluating NFL prospects, but Amari Cooper's numbers deserve recognition. Playing for a physical team that ran the ball 55.29 percent of the time, per TeamRankings.com, he still led the nation in catches (124) and was second in both receiving yards (1,727) and touchdowns (16).As Bleacher Report's Darren Page pointed out, he was also dominant as a true freshman (before an injury-plagued sophomore year):Some will argue that Cooper's upside is limited because of his size (6'1", 210 lbs), but that's a lazy claim. Because of the success of guys like Calvin Johnson, A.J. Green and Julio Jones, NFL fans like their No. 1 receivers to be big, imposing forces on the outside. However, arguably the two most successful wide receivers in 2014 were Antonio Brown and Odell Beckham Jr., neither of which tops 6'0".Cooper is lightning quick and runs beautiful, pinpoint routes. It doesn't matter that he isn't 6'5" when he is able to create instant separation and get open anywhere on the field.If there is a concern about the Miami native, it's not his size but his hands, as he has shown the propensity to drop the ball or catch it with his body at times. While the top five might be a reach, the Oakland Raiders need a playmaker, and Cooper is an explosive one.Kevin White, West VirginiaCooper is far from the consensus No. 1, though. According to Bleacher Report's Matt Miller, there are NFL teams that have West Virginia's Kevin White atop their wide receiver rankings:While size isn't the be-all, end-all attribute in defining a successful NFL wide receiver, it certainly doesn't hurt to have it. And Kevin White, at 6'3" and 210 pounds, has it.Most enticing, he combines that big frame with tremendous athleticism. He's a versatile threat, possessing the downfield speed to stretch defenses, the leaping ability to high-point the ball and the explosiveness to make plays in space.NFL.com's Daniel Jeremiah drew a lofty comparison:If the Cleveland Browns, who recently suspendedJosh Gordon for at least a year and are thus in desperate need of size and speed on the outside, luck into White, they'll be ecstatic. But it's beginning to look like he won't be available at that spot.DeVante Parker, LouisvilleIf Cooper's stats deserve mention, then so do DeVante Parker's. Playing in just six games because of a foot injury, the Louisville star still managed to rack up 43 catches, 855 yards and five touchdowns.On a per-game basis, that's more yards than Cooper and not far behind in receptions and touchdowns. As FieldGulls.com's Jared Stranger noted, he made big plays more often as well:Parker, much like White, is an impressive combination of size (6'3", 211 lbs) and athleticism. He may not be as much of a burner, but he's a natural wide receiver with the quickness, catch radius, reliable hands and body control to make plays in all three levels of the passing game.Should Parker get teamed up with former quarterback Teddy Bridgewater in Minnesota, it will certainly help his transition to the NFL. But he's a future star no matter where he lands on draft night.
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