Led by the likes of Odell Beckham Jr., Sammy Watkins and Mike Evans, last year's rookie wide receivers left quite a high bar to clear for the group available in the 2015 NFL Draft.
It's true that it might be tough to come close to the production that some of those players had in their first year in the NFL, but that shouldn't scare off any general manager from drafting a pass catcher in the first round.
Why?
Whether you're going with West Virginia's Kevin White, Alabama's Amari Cooper or somebody else, NFL Media analyst Daniel Jeremiah believes the position could be the safest in the 2015 NFL Draft.
"It seemed like it was boom or bust, and we can go through the Mike Williams, Troy Williamson, Darrius Heyward-Bey and all the risk involved," Jeremiah said on NFL Network's "Path to the Draft." "Then last year, we hit on all these guys. This year, I think they're some of the safest players in the draft, which you never would have said before.
"These guys are clean players," he said. "They've got high character and check every box."
In his latest mock draft, NFL Media analyst Charles Davis believes as many as five wideouts could go in the first round. In addition to White and Cooper, Louisville's DeVante Parker is widely viewed as a lock to be drafted on the first night, and Oklahoma's Dorial Green-Beckham, Arizona State's Jaelen Strong, Ohio State's Devin Smith and even hybrid tight end/receiver Devin Funchess will each be given strong consideration.
Throw in guys like Tyler Lockett out of Kansas State -- who is NFL Media senior analyst Gil Brandt's No. 5 receiver in the draft -- FBS record-setter Justin Hardy from East Carolina, or USC's Nelson Agholor in later rounds and the position certainly seems stocked with talent once again.
Based on last year and the tape the incoming class has, Jeremiah appears to be right that NFL franchises can't go wrong if they pick up a wide receiver early or often in this year's draft.
You can follow Bryan Fischer on Twitter at @BryanDFischer.
