Since the end of the 2021 season, Samuels status as a 49er has been in flux. Uses his body well to initiate contact and make things difficult for smaller defensive backs. Where does Jets rookie Sauce Gardner land? NFL draft rankings for 2022: Top prospects by position, consensus top 10 overall for Mel Kiper, Todd McShay, Matt Miller, Jordan Reid How does another great wide receiver class fill out? The senior wideout has taken his game to another level in 2022. Also: Atlanta Falcons, Jacksonville Jaguars, "Burly, plus-sized receivers don't grow on trees and London got plenty of experience not only seeing a lot of targets at USC but also learning to adjust to inferior quarterback play. This tool includes all signings that happen during the Free Agency window only. Garret Wilson will be an excellent pro - he has elite 4.38 speed, good hands, runs perfect routes, and is a hard worker who gives everything at game time, he, however, does not 2021 was a spectacular year for Jameson Williams where he exploded into the national attention. His PFF grade dropped just a few points year-over-year to 77.4, a top-30 mark in the NFL. Burkss first day in rookie minicamp was one to remember. What also stands out about this year's wide receiver class is size and strength and this is particularly evident with the likely top prospect Garrett Wilson from Ohio State, who is listed at 6 0 but plays bigger. Kupp has a feel for the position that very few can match: He understands coverages, how to set up defenders and find space after the catch, traits that helped the 2021 Triple Crown winner produce at an astonishing level in the Rams Super Bowl run last year. Today: wide receivers. The 5-foot-10, 182-pound receiver was mostly force-fed underneath targets just to get the ball in his hands as opposed to the team relying on his elite speed down the field. He is smooth with great hands and will likely become a quality pro outside receiver. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports. Dont be surprised if the Fields-Mooney connection soon morphs into one of the better young tandems in the NFL. He told reporters he asked to play on special teams. While Waddle made the most of those shallow opportunities by earning a top-five grade on targets under 10 yards for the entire season, he is capable of more. Offensive coordinator Pete Carmichael Jr. could scheme up more quick-developing routes to get the rookie the ball in space, but that may be better for Olaves counting stats than it is for the offense. The rookie showcased similar smarts during this scramble drill with Marcus Mariota against the Rams in Week 2: Sure, Mariotas mobility may have kept that play alive, but itd be nothing without Londons crafty freelance zig route and the toe-tapping sideline grab. Dotsons 93 routes over the first two weeks are the most by a rookie through their first two games dating back to 2013, and his 141 snaps ranks third among all NFL receivers this season. NFL Week 15 underdogs: Can Dolphins halt slide against Bills? McLaurin did see far more contested targets in 2021, and his 25 contested catches led the NFL and helped him record the fourth-best catch rate on such plays at the position. Here April 15, 2023 5:05 PM PT. -- Mike Band, Keegan Abdoo and Cole Jacobson contributed to this piece. His precociousness doesnt stop there, though. Moore or Terry McLaurin, much less the level of elite-tier players like A.J. The Lions surprised everyone by trading up to grab Jameson Williams with the 12th overall pick. Between his deep speed, route running and after-the-catch ability, he can win in a variety of ways. He never earned better than an 18% target share in any season. Its no secret Robinson was stuck in a bad situation last year and didnt look like his normal self. We regard him as the best possession receiver in the 2022 Draft - but to put him in the Aspiring college or profootball journalist? They really don't have a choice, as Hill's yards-per-route figure jumps to 4.2 against man coverage and 4.6 when left on an island against single-high coverages. He caught eight of his nine vertical route targets for 151 yards and two scores in the 2021-22 postseason. 2022 NFL Draft 40 times Here are the fastest 40 times recorded during the 2022 NFL Combine. The Rams are simply not the same team when Kupp is off the field. However, because he's not a well-rounded receiver, there is potential for some downside -- perhaps more so than other top-shelf wideouts in the draft class. Miami will be able to use Hill in various ways, but expect an increase in schemed touches to get the ball in his hands and let him work in space. Its this type of savvy, subtle playmakingagainst a strong defensethat makes London look like a future star. There are a few highly-rated but undersized wide receivers in the 2023 NFL Draft, with Zay Flowers being the first to appear on this list. London is coming off a 1,000-yard season with 7 receiving touchdowns which saw him end his career with over 2,000 receiving yards and 15 touchdowns. The Jets reportedly tried to trade the 10th overall pick for Deebo Samuel. Their Run Is Just Beginning. Lamb needs to get better with defeating press coverage, but he ate when given a free release. London has ideal size and physical traits, even playing for USC's basketball team in 2019-20 before focusing on football. section: | slug: fantasy-football-today-get-to-know-the-2022-wide-receiver-class-best-fits-nfl-comparisons-and-more | sport: football | route: article_single_fantasy | He turned in the seventh-best slot receiving grade in 2021 and brought in 96.5% of his catchable targets when on the inside. He had three touchdown catches. He is a complete wide receiver in every sense, but his impact as a deep threat is what really helped the Bengals to the Super Bowl. ", Weaknesses "Can he improve his physicality and play strength? Before the down season, Allen was on a four-year run of producing an 80.0-plus PFF grade, all ranking inside the top 15 at the position. Kansas City Chiefs: "Williams wouldn't have to get rushed back as the Chiefs have Mecole Hardman and Marquez Valdes-Scantling to hold down the fort as downfield threats. The three-star wide receiver is Wisconsins first wide receiver commit in the Badgers class of 2024. Share this article 200 shares share tweet text this a deep wide receiver class where the Bears can find an There is a fear something similar could happen to Wilson, but it might take some time for defenders to catch up to him.". Our exclusive database, featuring the most in-depth collection of NFL player performance data. His sophomore year in the professional ranks ended in him being one of the 10 highestgraded wide receivers in the NFL. Not only was his 93.0 PFF grade the best in the NFL for the year, but it was one of the highest we have ever given out across a full season. Meanwhile, the veteran wideout has scored a league-high eight touchdowns on deep targets for his new team, two more than any other player. The first round of the 2022 NFL Draft saw five receivers drafted for the second straight year. Kansas City Chiefs: "It might take a while to come true, but London would be the theoretical heir to Travis Kelce's spot. Fantasy Football: Robust 2022 wide receiver NFL Draft class lacks only sure things How often does a rookie wideout dominate? When St. Brown has been missing, Goffs EPA per dropback becomes negative (-0.10). Its early, but the 2022 first-round rookie receiver class looks like another special one. Please check the opt-in box to acknowledge that you would like to subscribe. This seasons run has delighted a long-suffering and devoted fan base, but the Kings arent satisfied. Just because he didn't run a slew of downfield routes doesn't mean he won't at the pro level -- nobody should think of him as a giant slot receiver. Hes a technician, evidenced by his separation rate against single coverage since 2017 that ranks top five at the position. Thus far, though, Wentz has been more than serviceable, ranking among the leagues top 10 passers in expected points added per play, passing yards, and passing touchdowns. Through two games with the Falcons, its clear London is more than a jump-ball threat with limited speed. ", "Burks measured in almost identical to formerCowboysstar WR Dez Bryant at the combine (Treylon Burks at combine: 6-foot-2, 225 pounds, 4.55 40 -- Dez Bryant at combine: 6-2, 225, 4.52 40) and there are similarities in their games too. The Cowboys are 6-1 with an NFL-leading average of 35.7 points per game since Dak Prescott returned from injury in Week 7. He caught eight of his nine vertical route targets for 151 yards and two scores in the 2021-22 postseason. Yes, but it'll take the right team to guide him while he plays and develops -- preferably one with a track record of wide receiver success. Mooney has gone from a fifth-round pick out of Tulane to a budding WR1 in a couple of years' time. He posted an 84.7 receiving grade, 2.55 yards per route run and a 141.3 passer rating when targeted in the team's postseason run. His 75 combined first downs and touchdowns tied for the third-most among wide receivers in the regular season, but his average depth of target dipped to 11.0 yards, his lowest since his rookie campaign. Will Jaguars prevail over Cowboys. Thursday, March 3rd: Quarterbacks, wide receivers and tight ends. The inside receiver has surefire hands and a knack for dissecting zone coverage. The Next Gen Stats analytics team's top-10 ranking spotlights familiar names, breakout studs and instant-impact rookies. 1 option." Is anyone going to beat the Bruins? Allen is coming off the second-lowest-graded season of his nine-year NFL career, ahead of only his 2014 sophomore campaign. He is a physical, reliable possession receiver who has proven to be elite when healthy. Renfrow also doesnt get the recognition he deserves as a route runner. Jaime Valdez-USA TODAY Sports in this class. An All-American in the Heptathlon at Princeton, this 6-foot-3 and 205-pound wideout is perhaps the most intriguing athlete at the wide receiver position in this draft class. By Eddie Brown. Find out where your favorite wide receivers stacks up against the 2023 class and view expert mock drafts. This is the fourth of 11 positional breakdowns leading up to the NFL Draft (April 27-29). R4-P148 | Bills, 22) Montrell Washington, Samford Our weekly start-sit rankings will help you decide who to lean on and who to bench each week. Its clear the Saints want to throw it deep to the 6-foot speedster, whom the Saints wanted to draft so badly that they essentially traded five picks for the opportunity to select him in Aprils draft. Beckham remains a free agent after suffering a torn ACL in the Super Bowl, but he has a chance to reestablish himself as a top NFL pass-catcher once he gets healthy. You have to dream a bit more on Pickens than with most of his peers, because we just don't have the same kind of track record with him. Speaking of top-end receivers who switched teams in the offseason, Adams presents another great case study in positional value. Assuming he stays healthy, theres reason to believe his best football is still ahead of him with new quarterback Russell Wilson now in Denver. In particular, Lamb has been lethal when going in a shift or motion, leading the NFL with both 337 receiving yards and 4 receiving TDs on such snaps this season. Hilton developed into a dangerous wideout thanks to his incredible separation, but his size eventually became his downfall after too many injuries. St. Brown has been a revelation for the Lions -- and his impact has played a big role in the teams opportunity to end its five-year playoff drought. At 6-foot-4 and 213 pounds, London has been compared to Mike Evans, another big-bodied former basketball player with a nearly unparalleled catch radius. Pro Football Network, LLC. Good luck. ", Underlined or Crossed Out? Sheil and Raheem react to the win and discuss whether Sixers fans should be worried about James Harden, Bill, Chris, and Sean rewatch Alien, Ridley Scotts classic horror film, The guys talk NBA playoffs and some of the biggest names in the college basketball portal, By submitting your email, you agree to our, The 2022 Rookie WR Class Is Crushing Expectations Already. 3-Round 2024 NFL Mock Draft: Caleb Williams, Drake Maye, and Quinn Ewers Lead the Way. By R3-P71 | Bears, 15) Jalen Tolbert, South Alabama While his body strength needs some work, his hand strength is unquestionable. Stats through two weeks: 16 targets, 8 receptions, 121 yards, 0 touchdownsFull-season pace: 136 targets, 68 receptions, 1,029 yards, zero touchdowns. 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