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NFL Draft 2017: Ranking the top 15 wide receivers

By Zach Bigalke

Dec 27, 2016; Phoenix, AZ, USA; Baylor Bears wide receiver KD Cannon (9) catches a pass for a touchdown in the first half against the Boise State Broncos during the Cactus Bowl at Chase Field. Baylor defeated Boise State 31-12. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 27, 2016; Phoenix, AZ, USA; Baylor Bears wide receiver KD Cannon (9) catches a pass for a touchdown in the first half against the Boise State Broncos during the Cactus Bowl at Chase Field. Baylor defeated Boise State 31-12. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports /
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Nov 26, 2016; Ames, IA, USA; West Virginia Mountaineers wide receiver Shelton Gibson (1) catches a 71 yard touchdown pass from quarterback Skyler Howard (not pictured) as Iowa State Cyclones defensive back Kamari Cotton-Moya (5) chases from behind during the third quarter at Jack Trice Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeffrey Becker-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 26, 2016; Ames, IA, USA; West Virginia Mountaineers wide receiver Shelton Gibson (1) catches a 71 yard touchdown pass from quarterback Skyler Howard (not pictured) as Iowa State Cyclones defensive back Kamari Cotton-Moya (5) chases from behind during the third quarter at Jack Trice Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeffrey Becker-USA TODAY Sports /

Before the Combine, Shelton Gibson was being talked up as one of the fastest receivers in the country. His performance in Indianapolis can be looked at in two ways. His 40 time was disappointing in the context of this claim.

Gibson he finished tied 19th among receivers with a 4.50 time. Yet Gibson also dominated the 60-yard shuttle, finishing four-tenths of a second ahead of Trent Taylor and Ryan Switzer.

What the Combine performance failed to capture is Gibson’s home-run potential. He scores a touchdown on every fifth touch, one of the highest scoring rates among receivers in this year’s crop of prospects. He didn’t put up huge numbers at West Virginia, but he also averaged 23 yards per catch over his final two seasons in Morgantown. At 5-foot-11 and 191 pounds, he is compact but fast at game speed.

Related Story: NFL Draft 2017: 10 biggest sleepers from smaller schools

Gibson didn’t dazzle with huge compiling numbers in college, but he did produce some of the most eye-popping rate numbers in the country. NFL teams would be wise to take a long look at Gibson, who could end up the best Power Five prospect among this year’s class of receivers.

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