Todd McShay on Senior Wide Receivers

ESPN’s new draft guru Todd McShay lists the top senior wide receivers going into the 2009 draft.

Here’s a brief synopsis:

1. Brandon Tate - North Carolina

Scouts still question his top-end speed and toughness, but Tate is showing greater instincts and ball skills than ever before. The next step is to exceed expectations during a postseason all-star game and workouts to warrant first-day consideration.

2. Derrick Williams - Penn State

Williams became the first Nittany Lion under coach Joe Paterno to score a touchdown on a run, on a reception and a return in the same game. Don’t be surprised if Williams is the first receiver selected in April.

3. Quan Cosby - Texas

Cosby is more adept versus press coverage and is showing more consistency as a pass-catcher, but he needs to build on his 32 catches over the first five games and meet high expectations during pre-draft workouts to land in the middle rounds.

4. Manuel Johnson - Oklahoma

Johnson appears to be tough for his size and he’s doing a much better job of separating on intermediate and vertical routes. Juaquin Iglesias will be the first Sooner receiver selected next April, likely in the second or third round,but Johnson can secure his spot in the later rounds by keeping up his current pace.

5. Darius Passmore - Marshall

The 6-foot-1, 190-pound senior is running crisper routes and doing a better job of securing the ball in traffic. While he lacks elite speed, Passmore is quick and fluid enough to push for some playing time as a sub-package receiver in the NFL.