Where will Roman Wilson be drafted? Bengals, Steelers lead list of 2024 NFL Draft landing spots
The 2024 NFL Draft might be remembered for its deep wide receiver class years down the line.
One of the standout receivers in this class is Michigan football receiver Roman Wilson, who flashed his ability to get open and make a difference with seven catches for 127 yards and a touchdown across two College Football Playoff games for the national champion Wolverines. Wilson was the go-to target for likely first round quarterback selection J.J. McCarthy, with 12 touchdowns this season.
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Wilson is among several projected first- and second-round receivera after posting a strong senior season. He had an 84.5 Pro Football Focus receiving grade and ran an impressive 2.68 yards per route in his final season. Wilson also bolstered his stock with a 4.39 40-yard dash time at the NFL combine.
Here's where Wilson is projected to be selected and continue his football career as the 2024 NFL Draft kicks off Thursday:
Where will Michigan’s Roman Wilson go in the 2024 NFL Draft?
Wilson could be a player who is pushed down in a deeper receiver class. He is generally expected to be picked in the second round, but some mocks have him going in the third as well. He is not listed in USA TODAY's first-round mock draft.
Wilson finished his Michigan career with 107 receptions for 1,707 receiving yards and 20 receiving touchdowns. His best season came in 2023, when he finished with 48 grabs for 789 yards and 12 touchdowns.
The 5-foot-11, 185-pound receiver is one of the best players in this draft at getting open. According to PFF, Wilson, along with Oregon State’s Anthony Gould and Florida’s Ricky Pearsall, ranked among the top 10 in average depth of target vs. single coverage and getting open target rate.
Here’s a look at where various mock drafts have Corum projected to go:
CBS Sports' Josh Edwards: Round 3, No. 69 overall to Los Angeles Chargers
The Athletic: Round 2, No. 51 overall to Pittsburgh Steelers
Walter Football: Round 3, No. 76 overall to Denver Broncos
ESPN’s Mel Kiper: Round 2, No. 49 overall to Cincinnati Bengals
ESPN’s Field Yates: Round 2, No. 51 overall to Pittsburgh Steelers
ESPN’s Matt Miller: Round 2, No. 45 overall to New Orleans Saints (via Denver Broncos)
Roman Wilson scouting report
Wilson made a name for himself for his separation and ability to take the tops off of defenses. However, it's hard to get a read on his potential production due to Michigan's lack of emphasis on receivers under Jim Harbaugh.
Per Draftwire's receiver rankings, Wilson came in at No. 6. Wilson showed the skills to be greater than his college production, much like his quarterback. His silky, instant top speed could be a major problem for defenses in the NFL
Roman Wilson's best 2024 NFL Draft fit
The Bengals lost No. 3 receiver Tyler Boyd and are in a contract stand-off with Tee Higgins, while the Steelers traded No. 1 receiver Diontae Johnson to the Carolina Panthers. Either AFC North team makes sense. The Broncos, which traded Jerry Jeudy, could also be in the market for another receiver. The Los Angeles Chargers are coached by Harbaugh, and the offense has seen a mass exodus, creating a spot for Wilson. The Chargers hold three second-round picks, and Wilson could be picked in that round.
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Who will draft Roman Wilson? Landing spots, best fit for 2024 NFL Draft
