All this draft talk has got me into NFL Draft mode. Recently I've been looking at the 2012 NFL draft. The 2012 Indianapolis Colts draft class might just be the greatest draft class in Indianapolis Colts history for many reasons, one of them being TY Hilton. Hilton, through just 2 NFL seasons, has been amazing for a 5'9" WR drafted in the 3rd round. I always love a player that has success after being drafted in the later rounds or even not at all. I also am amazed at the amount of busts ahead of a breakout player who was drafted late or not at all. So the other day I was wondering how the WRs drafted ahead of Hilton have done through their first 2 seasons. Here's how their numbers compare to Hilton's through 2 NFL seasons:
Order in which each WR drafted ahead of Hilton was drafted and by which team:
Justin Blackmon (5th overall, Jaguars)
Michael Floyd (13th overall, Cardinals)
Kendall Wright (20th overall, Titans)
A.J. Jenkins (30th overall, 49ers)
Brian Quick (33rd overall, Rams)
Stephen Hill (43rd overall, Jets)
Alshon Jeffery (45th overall, Bears)
Ryan Broyles (54th overall, Lions)
Rueben Randle (63rd overall, Giants)
DeVier Posey (68th overall, Texans)
T.J. Graham (69th overall, Bills)
Mohamed Sanu (83rd overall, Bengals)
T.Y. Hilton (92nd overall, Colts)
Receptions:
158-Kendall Wright
132-T.Y. Hilton*
113-Alshon Jeffery
110- Michael Floyd
93- Justin Blackmon
63- Mohamed Sanu
60- Rueben Randle
54- T.J. Graham
45- Stephen Hill
30- Ryan Broyles
29- Brian Quick
21- DeVier Posey
8- A.J. Jenkins
Receiving Yards:
1,944- T.Y. Hilton*
1,788- Alshon Jeffery
1,705- Kendall Wright
1,603- Michael Floyd
1,280- Justin Blackmon
909- Rueben Randle
683- T.J. Graham
609- Mohamed Sanu
594- Stephen Hill
458- Brian Quick
395- Ryan Broyles
242- DeVier Posey
130- A.J. Jenkins
Receiving TDs:
12- T.Y. Hilton*
10- Alshon Jeffrey
9- Rueben Randle
7- Michael Floyd
6- Justin Blackmon
6- Kendall Wright
6- Mohamed Sanu
4- Brian Quick
4- Stephen Hill
3- T.J. Graham
2- Ryan Broyles
0- DeVier Posey
0- A.J. Jenkins
First Downs:
90- Kendall Wright
79- Alshon Jeffery
76- T.Y. Hilton*
74- Michael Floyd
58- Justin Blackmon
41- Rueben Randle
38- Mohamed Sanu
32- Stephen Hill
27- T.J. Graham
21- Brian Quick
20- Ryan Broyles
8- DeVier Posey
4- A.J. Jenkins
Top 5 best individual performances:
TY Hilton vs Chiefs 2014: 13 recs, 224 yrds, 2 TDs (playoffs!!!)
Kendall Wright vs. Cardinals 2013: 12 recs, 150 yrds
Alshon Jeffery vs Vikings 2013: 12 recs, 249 yrds, 2 TDs
Michael Floyd vs Jaguars 2013: 6 recs, 193 yrds, 1 TD
Justin Blackmon vs Texans 2012: 7 recs, 236 yrds, 1 TD
Obviously each of these WRs has faced different circumstances, but I think overall TY Hilton has done better than any WR drafted before him in 2012, and actually looking at the rest of the WRs drafted in 2012, Hilton seems to be the best as there hasn't been anyone of significance so far after Hilton also. I didn't put any of the stats of WRs taken after Hilton because none of them has put any numbers even close to Hilton's. Hilton has a good shot at being the best WR from the 2012 NFL Draft class, and the Colts grabbed him in the 3rd round 92nd overall.