Speed, explosion, elusiveness and the ability to create in open space are key traits for today's NFL offenses, and we see plenty of that in the 2022 NFL draft class. Just look at the ridiculously fast 40-yard dash times turned in at the combine this year. Or go open up the tape on some of the top-tier players in the class. Good luck tackling some of these lightning-quick talents.
Whether it be on a deep shot to a receiver on a vertical route or a pop pass to someone on a jet sweep, NFL teams use speed and suddenness to their advantage, getting playmakers in open space so they can create. The 2022 All-Satellite team is littered with prospects who are tough to contain when they get some room to operate, and I ranked the best of the best.
This marks the 13th edition of this list, dating back to C.J. Spiller and the 2010 class. Past iterations have included the likes of Odell Beckham Jr., Brandin Cooks, Christian McCaffrey, Lamar Jackson, Tyler Lockett and Kyler Murray. The 2021 class was headlined by Jaylen Waddle, who showcased his explosiveness on multiple occasions as a rookie. The 2022 edition is packed full of talented receivers, including another Alabama pass-catcher atop the list. Here are the seven best prospects in space from this year's class.
1. Jameson Williams, WR, Alabama
Williams' stop-start suddenness and acceleration are breathtaking. That combination of traits is unparalleled in this draft class -- and it would be in most classes, for that matter. He just explodes off the line of scrimmage, and his top-end speed is elite. Williams did not run the 40-yard dash at the combine -- he is recovering from a torn ACL suffered during the College Football Playoff national title game -- but he would have likely been among the fastest burners in Indianapolis. He averaged 19.9 yards per reception last year.
It's not a surprise, then, that his vertical game is outstanding. He averaged 13.9 air yards per target last season, and he hauled in 13 passes thrown at least 20 yards downfield. Eight of those deep balls went for touchdowns. Williams tracks the vertical throw well and has rare closing burst to the ball in the air, and he easily gets separation thanks to that speed and a great feel for the tempo of routes.
But while Williams is known more for his vertical ability, his production after the catch is also noteworthy. His 751 yards after the catch were third in the nation last season. Williams can break tackles despite a lean frame and is a shifty runner with the ball in his hands. I love the way he immediately accelerates upfield after plucking on the run. Williams still has some work to do with refining his route running, but he quickly emerged in 2021 as the premier big-play threat in college football.
And how about the return game? Alabama coach Nick Saban called his number just 10 times on kickoff returns, but Williams delivered two of those to the house and averaged 35.2 yards per return.
Williams was arguably the top receiver in the class before his January injury, but he should still be a first-rounder at the end of the month. He's currently my No. 19 prospect and No. 4 receiver.
2. Malik Willis, QB, Liberty
Willis -- my QB1 -- has the agility and speed of a high-end receiver but the lower-body build of an inside linebacker. His instincts are terrific, and he is at his best on the move -- both as a passer and a runner. And while he took 51 sacks last season, his short-area quickness allows him to escape pressure, run away from defenders and create outside the pocket. Opponents have to account for his running ability on every single dropback.
How about this: Willis forced 105 missed tackles in 2021. That was the most by any player in the country, and more than a dozen better than second place (Breece Hall, 92). He averaged 0.5 missed tackles per touch, meaning he forced one every other rush. It helped Willis pile up 878 rushing yards and 13 touchdowns last season.
We've talked a lot about Willis' arm strength and what he can do on off-platform throws, but I think he will enter the NFL as the league's third-most dangerous running quarterback behind Lamar Jackson and Josh Allen. Per ESPN researcher Paul Hembekides, Willis' 8.8 yards per rush over his college career (excluding sacks) was only slightly behind Kyler Murray's college average (9.1) and actually ahead of what Jackson did at Louisville (8.7).
3. Treylon Burks, WR, Arkansas
Burks isn't an ankle-breaker. Nor is he a burner. After all, his 4.55-second run in the 40 at the combine tied for 22nd best out of the 32 receivers who participated. But Burks is silky smooth, strong and instinctive. His open-field vision stands out on tape, and he straight-up embarrasses a lot of defensive backs with his run strength and the way he stiff-arms his way to extra yardage. He reminds me a lot of A.J. Brown.
Most players on this list are lightning quick in and out of breaks and beat defenders off the line, but Burks dominates in space and gets separation because he knows how to use his big 6-foot-2, 225-pound frame. With that said, he did clock 22.6 mph when taking a screen pass 91 yards to the house against Georgia Southern last season. For context, that would have been the fastest recorded speed in the NFL this season. He has a long stride and can make plays downfield due to his ability to adjust to the ball in the air.
Kj Jefferson with 91-yard TD Pass to Treylon Burks vs. Georgia Southern
Burks really stood out after the catch. His 9.4 average yards after the catch were in the top 25 nationally, and his 618 total yards after the catch ranked ninth. He forced 16 missed tackles and picked up more than three yards after first contact per reception. Burks transitions upfield quickly for a bigger receiver and can drag defenders.
He is my fifth-best receiver in this year's class and ranks No. 26 overall on my current board.
4. Calvin Austin III, WR, Memphis
Austin is just 5-foot-8 and 170 pounds, but he is wildly explosive. Just look at the combine results:
4.32-second 40-yard dash, third among receivers
39-inch vertical jump, third among receivers
11-foot-3 broad jump, second among receivers
6.65-second three-cone drill, best among receivers
4.07-second 20-yard shuttle, best among receivers
He's a truly dynamic player who can take it to the house any time he touches the ball. Austin has the second gear to take the top off the coverage, and despite a smaller frame, he's a threat downfield thanks to that speed and his ability to track vertical shots. In 2021, he averaged 15.5 yards per catch, and 7.2 of that came after the catch.
At No. 80 on the board, Austin will make for an intriguing Day 2 selection. His foot speed allows him to slip coverage and then jet for extra yardage, whether it be out of the slot or from out wide. He was a sprinter for Memphis' track and field team, and the team that drafts him will want to manufacture ways to get him the ball. Austin had only eight career rushing plays, but he averaged 21.1 yards per carry and scored three touchdowns on the ground. He has the speed to make an impact on special teams, as well, averaging 11.1 yards per punt return (29 returns) and taking two for touchdowns.
5. Marcus Jones, CB, Houston
If you haven't seen this dude in the return game, do yourself a favor and go watch his special-teams highlights. Jones is a 5-foot-8, 174-pound nickelback who reads the quarterback well and excels in zone coverage. He even got 19 offensive touches at Houston. But he makes this list for his ability as a return man. Jones hasn't participated in pre-draft workouts as he works back from a shoulder injury, but his speed/quickness combination on tape is elite. I think he's one of the fastest players in the country.
In the return game, Jones averaged 28.8 yards per kickoff return over his Houston career, scoring on six returns and taking 18.1% of 72 returns for at least 30 yards. He also scored three times on 63 punt returns while averaging 13.9 yards. Fourteen of those returns picked up 20-plus yards. He led the country in total return TDs in 2021 (four) and was in the top five in total return yardage (884).
Marcus Jones takes the kickoff to the house with just seconds remaining in the game as Houston stuns SMU 44-37.
And while he has a smaller catch radius, he had five interceptions last season and has great ball skills, meaning he has opportunities to make plays on defense in space, too. He should be a midround pick.
6. Wan'Dale Robinson, WR, Kentucky
Another 5-foot-8, sub-180-pound prospect, Robinson is a versatile slot receiver whose twitchiness and suddenness stand out on tape. He can reach top speed in a split-second after making a cut. It's wild to watch. And every time he touches the ball, the game seems to speed up.
Robinson has easy speed, clocking 4.44 in the 40 at the combine. He is always in control and hits second gear in a flash. And he's a true ankle-breaker in space. Robinson forced 26 missed tackles last season, tied for the sixth most among receivers.
He made an impact as both a receiver and ball carrier at Kentucky, and he averaged 111.2 yards from scrimmage per game. He plucks the ball on the run as a receiver and transitions upfield smoothly. His quickness, burst, balance and vision stand out after the catch. In the vertical game, Robinson doesn't have the size or length to dominate bigger, more physical cornerbacks, but he has the speed to run right past them.
I think Robinson could be a valuable No. 3 receiver in the NFL, and I currently have him ranked at No. 72 overall (WR11).
7. Velus Jones Jr., WR, Tennessee
Jones' 4.31 in the 40-yard dash ranked fourth among all participants at the combine (second among receivers). He has a running back's build (6-foot, 204 pounds) and a sprinter's speed. That, as you'd imagine, can be a nightmare for defenders trying to tackle him in space.
A midrounder with upside, Jones is an instinctive runner in the open field with great contact balance and a unique ability to accelerate upfield. Jones tracks the deep ball well, but he is at his best on quick slants. There, his ability to break an initial tackle and take off makes him dangerous on offense. In 2021, Jones forced 21 missed tackles and averaged 8.4 yards after the catch.
Jones will also cause problems for opponents in the return game. His 900 total return yards across kickoff returns and punt returns ranked third in the nation last season. He averaged 24.4 yards per kickoff return and 15.1 per punt return during his college career.