1. Limas Sweed, Texas: Sweed battled back from a wrist injury that ended his senior season and sent him home from the Senior Bowl to have strong performances at the combine and at UT’s Pro Day.

He answered questions about speed by running in the 4.4s both at the combine and at the Pro Day, which keeps him in the running to be the first wideout off the board.

2. Devin Thomas, Michigan St.: Thomas has been soaring up the draft boards after an excellent combine performance. He only started for one season at Michigan St., but the numbers that he produced show just how much potential that he has. With a mix of size, blazing speed, and athleticism, Thomas could be the pick for the Bills at #11.

3. DeSean Jackson, Cal: Jackson’s size (5′10, 169) might raise a red flag for some teams, but with his blazing speed and playmaking ability both in the passing game and as a kick returner, Jackson is still a top-20 pick, and shouldn’t last past Tampa Bay at #20.

4. Malcolm Kelly, Oklahoma: For a while, Kelly was considered to be the Bills’ likeliest choice at #11 and to be the first receiver taken, but nagging injuries prevented him from participating at the combine and at Oklahoma’s Pro Day. Then, in his long-awaited workout on Wednesday, Kelly ran a 4.68 40, which he blamed on the artificial turf that he ran on, when he was supposed to be running on Astroturf.

Considering that it was the surface that the scouts wanted him to run on, according to OU’s strength coach, and they’re the ones that will help decide where he goes on April 26, openly complaining might not have been the greatest idea, even though he was rightfully frustrated.

Either way, he shouldn’t slip out of the first round, though it may not be as the first receiver taken.

5. James Hardy, Indiana: There are some questions about Hardy, both on and off of the field, but his size and athleticism, combined with good showings at both the combine and Indiana’s Pro Day have him penciled in as a probable first-round choice.

6. Donnie Avery, Houston: After running a ’slow’ 4.4 at the combine, Avery ran a 4.34 at Houston’s Pro Day. What may have been more impressive was the time of 6.30 seconds that he ran in the 3-cone drill, which showed that there’s more than just straight-ahead speed in those legs. Avery could slip to the third.

7. Early Doucet, LSU: After not participating at the combine due to a hamstring injury, Doucet didn’t have the Pro Day workout that anyone expected, running in the 4.6 range in his 40 and running unimpressive times of 4.55 and 7.34 in the 20-yard shuttle and 3-cone drill.

But, with his great hands and quick feet, Doucet is still a solid prospect, and though he may not have the assured first-round status he once had, he shouldn’t last past the middle of the second round.

8. Jordy Nelson, Kansas St.: Nelson doesn’t get a lot of hype, but he could wind up having one of the best careers of this bunch. He’s the total package - size (6′3, 217), hands, athleticism, big-play ability, smarts, and he does have more than enough speed, as shown by the highlight video on the front page, and by his high 4.4/low 4.5 times in the 40 at the combine.

Nelson could sneak ahead of a few guys and land in the second round with a team like the Bills or Falcons, who are in need of an athletic receiver.

9. Andre Caldwell, Florida: Caldwell had an excellent combine showing, but at UF’s Pro Day, the speedy receiver had issues with drops. But, don’t expect him to drop past the second round.

10. Mario Manningham, Michigan: It’s been a topsy-turvy several weeks for Manningham. First, there was a forgettable combine, where he ran a 4.59 40. Then, he redeemed himself by running in the high 4.3s/low 4.4s at Michigan’s Pro Day, showing off the speed that terrorized Big Ten defenses over the last few seasons.

Now, there’s the revelation that Manningham lied in team interviews at the combine, denying that he had tested positive for marijuana use, when he had in fact tested positive twice, which he admitted in a letter of apology that he sent to NFL team officials.

What’s relevant to me is not the marijuana use by both he and Aqib Talib, because that’s another story entirely, but it’s the fact that he wasn’t up front about it hurts him more than admitting it up front would have. Lying is lying, whether it’s about getting caught with some weed in your system or if it’s about cheating on a test in your history class.

If it’s behind him, then it wouldn’t be a surprise if Manningham still goes in the first round. But, he could very well drop to the second round, not because of this particular issue, but because there are issues in the past with him, which can also be said for Talib.

Where does these pass-catchers stand in my updated mock draft? Check it out here.

Go to NFL Draft HQ

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