Scout's view: The top receiver in the NFL Draft isn't who you think

This Gamecocks receiver conjures memories of how Pro Football Hall of Fame wide receiver Art Monk — the former Washington star — ran his routes. (Monk, by the way, finished his 16-year career with 12,721 yards receiving and 68 TD catches.)

Legette — who has an impressive, muscular frame — is an instinctual long strider who glides into secondaries. As South Carolina QB Spencer Rattler's No. 1 receiver, he produced a breakout 2023 season with 71 catches for 1,255 yards and seven touchdown catches.

Legette's sudden and spontaneous moves win initial route leverage against corners and then he wins again at route breakpoints. On film, he shows off aggressiveness and physicality and isn't hesitant to mix it up with defensive backs.

Legette is the best in this draft class at "Mossin'" defenders — that is acrobatically outjumping corners for passes and coming down with circus catches. Legette isn't the next Moss, but he is darn good. He can go deep or sell the deep route well before settling back underneath and making those vitally important chain-moving intermediate-level receptions (11-19 yards). 

This guy commands the respect of defenses. 

2. Adonai Mitchell, Texas, 6-foot-4, 196 pounds 

Mitchell is a clone of Dallas Cowboys receiver CeeDee Lamb. He's explosive and the most exciting receiver in this draft. 

In 2023, this Longhorn (55 catches, 845 yards, 11 TDs in 2023) showed the capability of masterfully setting up corners and consistently leaving them a step behind. He has the rare combination teams look for in size, dangerous speed and fluid hips, which allow him to make crisp changes of direction. 

Additionally, Mitchell shows that coveted short-area burst going into and coming out of breaks, which only further opens the throwing window for his QB. "Unpredictable" and "bendy" are apt descriptions for him, but his YAC — yards after the catch — is just decent, not great. 

The bottom line is corners must honor his deep game, which allows him to drive them off before coming back underneath at the intermediate route level and making catches.

Mitchell — who had big moments at Georgia before transferring to Texas — is a bit unpolished in his route running and so-so on contested catches. He must attack the ball the same way he drives into secondaries.

However, even "as is," Mitchell tends to draw pass-interference flags in his favor with his strong alpha demeanor. I'm confident an experienced NFL receivers coach will enhance his game.  

3. Malik Nabers, LSU, 6-foot, 200 pounds

Nabers is inconsistent on game film — his undisciplined route running and lack of stellar ability to secure 50-50 balls are correctable issues — but he has devastating speed and acceleration to blow you away. This dude explodes into secondaries. 

Nabers — who had 89 catches for 1,569 yards and 14 TDs last season — is an artist when it comes to making double moves that flat-out leave corners in the dust. Plus, he has a nasty change of direction on routes featuring breakpoints. He uses his frame nicely to box out defenders when it's time to make the catch. 

The biggest knock I have on Nabers is he occasionally loses focus and interest. However, the good far outweighs the bad. He is the perfect pick for a team looking to add an explosive, game-breaking receiver who's main zip code is the deep-route levels of the field (20+ yards), where Nabers is most dangerous. An accurate QB will help him.