He recognizes the Cover 2 Zone defense and runs his route perfectly along the soft spots between zones the whole way. At 61 and 211 lbs, he also has very good (though not elite) size for a WR. Richardson plays his role very well here, and I think it shows not just his intelligence and attention to detail in getting the timing and nuance of a play like this down right, but also his selflessness in working hard to execute a play that ultimately benefits another pass catcher. 1. Opposing defenses either shadowed him with their best CB or shaded coverage in his direction to account for him. -- Mike Band, Keegan Abdoo and Cole Jacobson contributed to this piece. Hes not moving to the slot; the ball gets snapped while hes in the process of transitioning, allowing him to catch the ball in the backfield while the other two WRs act as blockers for him. Giants: Darius Slayton, Kenny Golladay, John Ross III, Sterling Shepard, Kadarius Toney. However, I think Slayton has a very high ceiling and could be really good if he continues to develop. The NFC East was a historically bad division in 2020, which is why all four teams were in the race deep into the season. From the data above on average 96.1 wide receivers per year played in the NFL between the ages of 25-29. Not only did he gain an impressive number of yards after catch with his explosiveness and quick cuts, but this play seems designed around getting the ball to Reagor, whom the coaches clearly see as their teams number 1 weapon. NOTE: The composite score for each player is based on a series of advanced receiving metrics, courtesy of Next Gen Stats. He is also an ace gunner on special teams and the Skins reportedly had him ranked as the number 1 ranked special teams player in the draft. 1 spot over Tyreek Hill Position Power Rankings 2022 NFL season's top 10 wide receivers: Justin Jefferson reels in. This play shows Tates nuanced route running, elite change-of-direction ability, elite quickness, and ability to shake tackles to get YAC. Unlike many other speedy WRs, McLaurin is tough and physical enough to support the run game. With Amari Cooper off to Cleveland, and James Washington and Michael Gallup dealing with injuries this season, the window has been there for Lamb to step up, and hes done so with flying colors to help Dallas to its 10-3 start. Eagles: DeVonta Smith, Jalen Reagor, Greg Ward, Travis Fulgham, Quez Watkins, John Hightower. Jefferson makes the improbable look routine, with six more receptions (24) than any other player this season on passes with less than a 50 percent completion probability. In a sport that is as physically demanding as football, one in which player injuries are common, the unit depth is as important a factor as the skill of the star players. [7:30] This time, McLaurin lines up in the slot. Without missing a beat, Richardson sees the wide open endzone in front of him and runs across, accelerating so quickly that the safety cant keep up in order to get the easy TD. This time, instead of Mike Hughes, Cooper (top of screen) is facing off against Darius Slay. NFC East receivers chart.The Best Receiver in the division is either Amari Cooper or Terry McLaurin. Hes still only an average run blocker, but thats a step up from what he was and traditionally means a lot to the Cowboys offense. The Redskins seem to have a very high-quality group on the field, though the only well-known name in the bunch is Terry McLaurin, and his fame doesnt extend far beyond the fantasy football communityyet. Speaking of needing things to go right, Dave Gettleman shocked the NFL world (or didnt, based on which Twitter reports you were reading and believing) by trading Odell Beckham Jr. to Cleveland. Hard to tell. In 2018 tape I thought he was severely lacking as a run blocker, sometimes just phoning it in or getting brushed aside by a DB, but in 2019 he looked much improved in both effort and technique. Having both DBs start in the same position but not allowing them to press doesnt give them any advantage. 0 Comment. [0:01] Reagor shifts from the left slot to right boundary, helping his QB to diagnose zone coverage because the slot CB doesnt travel with him. However, Richardson is also a good route runner and is quick and nuanced enough to operate well on all routes in the route tree. He primarily (though not exclusively) seemed to be used as a deep threat option in Seattle. These traits were evident in his game tape as well; he plays more fast than quick, and uses physicality or deep speed to get open more often than agility. One of the first things a receiver needs to do at the NFL level is to win against outstanding press man coverage. But those wide receivers that have been most successful of late early in their career are the Route Runners. These are guys who are exceptional coming out of their breaks without losing too much speed, have repetitive and repeatable routes time after time so their quarterback knows where they are going to be and can create separation by setting up a cover man and making every route look the same from the beginning. He is a very good runner, his routes are crisp and he does a very good job breaking them deep enough to ensure a first down if he makes the reception on most plays. [0:41] This is almost a mirror of the first play shown above against the Vikings. He also tested extremely well at the combine, achieving a 95th percentile SPARQ score. Richardson is a weak (though willing) run blocker. 2. Despite being one of just four players at the position with a $100 million tag, Brown is just fifth on the list of highest-paid wide receivers. Jeffery rewarded Cutlers trust with two 1000-yard seasons in his first 3 years in the NFL, though he hasnt been able to replicate that production since, due to repeated nagging injuries he seems to suffer every year. The Raiders have faced Cover 6 at an outlier rate this season (17 percent, the only team over 13 percent), as defenses "cloud" Adams' side of the field, drawing a safety farther away from the ball. Is the Jaguars' decision to make a big investment in Christian Kirk paying off so far? 2022 NFL season's top 10 wide receivers: Justin Jefferson reels in No. Despite having plenty of separation, McLaurin extends his hands to catch away from his body, showing better form than the hands-catching I noted in his college tape. If they want to plug him into the slot, theyre getting a sure-handed guy who can move the chains. Tight ends. His routes are smooth and fluid, and once he turned on his jets near the endzone, the safety couldnt keep up. Watching him play, Slayton seems like a great athletic prospect who still needs a lot of refinement. PFF's George Chahrouri said on a July episode of the "PFF Forecast" podcast that McLaurin was the most valuable receiver in the division based on his 0.6 Win Above Replacement (WAR), which is the best among all NFC East receivers. Although he is a bit undersized for a boundary WR at 60 and 208 lbs, he has good agility (7.01s 3-cone), good quickness (4.15s 20 yard shuttle), and elite deep speed (4.35s 40 yd dash), as well as impressive strength (18 BP reps). McLaurin seems to try to fake outside, but Slay doesnt bite, instead following McLaurin as he releases inside. McLaurin runs to the DBs outside shoulder, knowing that this will give him outside leverage when he eventually breaks out on his route. NFL Offensive Player Rankings, Week 15: Building the AFC Pro Bowl Games roster on offense, NFL Offensive Player Rankings, Week 15: Building the NFC Pro Bowl Games roster on offense, RB Index, Week 15: Three fresh-legged running backs who could impact the NFL playoff picture, NFL rookie rankings at quarter pole of 2022 season: Jets duo holds top spots; Lions lead with three reps, NFL QB Index, Week 15: San Francisco 49ers rookie Brock Purdy soars into top half of rankings. Watching Reagor play, I would describe him as explosive, sudden, fast, smart (good at recognizing coverages and exploiting soft spots in zones), and a good route runner. Drafted by the Seahawks in the 2nd round of the 2010 NFL draft, Tate signed with the Lions in FA in 2014, was traded to the Eagles in 2018, and signed with the Giants in free agency this offseason. [7:59] McLaurin lines up opposite Jalen Mills at the top of the screen. Safeties play a critical role in today's NFL. He looks, to me, a lot like a poor mans Julio Jones. 4. Again, Adams' impact is felt beyond just the box score. The Next Gen Stats analytics team reveals its ranking of the 10 best edge rushers entering Week 14 of the 2022 NFL season, with the Browns' Myles Garrett leading a list of star defenders. The NFC East has three new head coaches and a young group of quarterbacks; its probably no surprise that it has more young and promising receivers than older established veteran receivers. Dallas Cowboys. With very little separation, Slayton runs down the sideline on a fade route, looks back, sees the ball in the air and reaches for it, but Gilmore bats it out of his hands. Golladay will finish his Giants career with 43 receptions for . Still, this was overall a very positive play for Reagor. Expect the QB play to dramatically improve next year as teams either move onto new starters or double down on weapons for their existing starters. src="https://www.facebook.com/tr?id=674090812743125&ev=PageView&noscript=1"/>. He often uses his quickness to get immediate separation once the ball is in the air, and uses his change-of-direction ability to juke an initial tackle attempt and turn uphill for extra yards. After the Giants signed Kenny Golladay, the NFC East is shaping up to be one of the most competitive divisions in 2021. He was also a competent kick returner, with 9 returns for 189 yards (21.0 Y/R). 1 receiver out of the gate. It could happen, but it requires a lot of things to go right for Washington that didnt go right in 2018. Last off-season, Hogs Haven published articles that focused on ranking position groups and head coaches in an effort to identify what the division would look like in 2018. The on-field portion of the NFL Combine begins on Thursday, marking the start of the testing circuit that propels some prospects into the stratosphere while ruining the stock of others. It would have made more sense for Darby to press Slayton at the line, disrupt his route, then run with him and have the other DB start further back to act as insurance if Darby gets beat. Slayton doesnt have much in the way of counters, tricks, or physicality to get open if his athleticism isnt enough. Please logout and login again. Cooper working with Dalton and practice squad players has put up respectable numbers while McLaurin working with a revolving door of quarterbacks has emerged as a leader and playmaker in the culture Ron Rivera is trying to implement. [8:53] This is the danger Jeffery can present going deep. St. Brown has also provided a safety blanket for Goff when teams blitz (which they often do). Tate also does a good job maintaining awareness of the QB and tracking the ball almost the entire time its in the air. The only reason I put him below elite is that he rarely faced double teams, but was neutralized by them when he did. Cooper is one of the best in the NFL at building up speed on the route stem as if hes going to go deep, then stopping on a dime and cutting in a different direction so suddenly that the DB is backing up several feet away before he realizes hes out of position. If you look at all the players at this position that have been inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame, you might be shocked that a good percentage of them are not elite speedsters. McLaurin is an ideal Z receiver, though not quite big enough to play X and not able to consistently beat the best CBs in the NFL. Richardsons negatives almost entirely have to do with his strength and injury history. The Dallas Cowboys are the only team that has all the same faces. After watching both WRs in those matchups, I think the difference was McLaurins physicality and ability to win contested catches. The Dallas Cowboys rookie taken 17th overall in the 2020 NFL draft looks like a bona fide future star and may emerge as the divisions best weapon sooner rather than later. Philadelphia Eagles. Gilmore held Cooper to no catches on 2 attempts (one of which went for an interception). This play showcases McLaurins acceleration, route running, hands-catching ability, and top-end speed. Reagor dealt with some poorly thrown balls and did an amazing job adjusting to them as shown earlier, but he also had too many easy misses and drops like the one shown here. Tate gets wide open and signals Wentz for the TD. Note that Reagor got injured earlier in this game and looked to be in a lot of pain, but came back and played through it very effectively (as shown here). Wide Receiver: Terry McLaurin, Washington Commanders, CeeDee Lamb, Dallas Cowboys, and A.J. I still think New York should target the position, even if the team has to reach a . Overall, I think Reagor is a skilled, explosive playmaker who can stretch the field vertically while also taking short passes or handoffs for big gains, using his sudden cuts and quick acceleration to juke defenders and get yards after the catch. Play man, get dusted. [1:45] Cooper does a great job seeming to run deep and selling a slant route inside. In 2020, he caught 87 passes for 1,118 yards and 4 touchdowns and now Washington has gotten him even more help. In his rookie year in the NFL, he did an excellent job reaching out and catching the ball away from his body (hands-catching), which is critical to keep the ball safe from DBs that rarely allow as much separation as in college. Reagor is also a skilled kick returner, with 12 kick returns for 312 yards (a 26.0 average) in 2018 and 5 kick returns for 72 yards (a 14.4 average) in 2019. The Vikings pulled off the biggest comeback in NFL history last week, but the Next Gen Stats analytics team says it wasn't the most improbable comeback of the season. Bo Wulf of The Athletic suggested this weekend that wide receiver Quez Watkins could find himself . He looks like he has all the size, speed, acceleration, ball tracking, and sharp cutting ability to be great in the NFL. A good balance between raw production and catch efficiency sees him lead the pack. Sure, there are ways to use formation and motion offensively to help receivers get away from press. Jeffery lines up on the outside in a bunch formation (3 WRs all bunched up on the same side), but at the last second moves inside as if hes moving to the slot. NFC East. [1:53] Tate lines up in the slot, but maintains outside leverage on the CB Jourdan Lewis (stays on Lewiss outside shoulder) so that he can break outside uncovered on a comeback route to get open for the catch. Overall, I think Terry McLaurin is a somewhat raw WR who flashes elite traits and potential, but will probably take a while to see the field on offense, except as a one-dimensional deep threat. As miserable as that 2020 season was for the Cowboys, he still had 92/1,114/5. With defenses afraid to leave a corner on an island, the Vikings have faced the lowest rate of single-high coverages this season (45 percent). PFF also ranked McLaurin 13th in its recent list of top 25 receivers heading into the 2020 season. Dallas Cowboys tight end Blake Jarwin was a sleeper candidate to take this award going into this season but has sadly been sidelined with Injuries. Despite no separation in the endzone, JJ uses smart body-positioning and use of hands to maintain inside leverage and box out the CB in the endzone. Zay Flowers, Wide Receiver (Boston College) Let's say Johnston and other top wide receivers are off the board. Dez Bryant, Pierre Garcon, Odell Beckham Jr., and Victor Cruz all added luster to the divisions marketability. 28 Feb 2023 13:06:39 The addition of Brown has helped Jalen Hurts and the Eagles' offense reach new heights, as Hurts has a league-high nine TD passes on go routes this season with Brown being responsible for an NFL-best five of them. Jonathan Mingo - Mississippi Feb 2, 2023; Mobile, AL,. Call 1-800-GAMBLER. This play showcases his deep speed and big play ability, but also his ability to locate the ball and adjust to the throw. Washington: Terry McLaurin, Curtis Samuel, Dyami Brown, Kelvin Harmon, Adam Humphries, Cam Sims. Then he makes a tremendous leaping catch, using his long arms and sure hands to highpoint the ball and secure it away from the CB for a TD. Watching tape of McLaurins 2019 season, it became clear that other teams saw him as the number one threat in the Redskins passing game. Despite lack of deep speed, JJ was often able to make big plays like this one using fakes, quick feet, and good hands-catching ability. Slayton doesnt fake inside before breaking outside, he doesnt fight for inside leverage while running down the sideline, he doesnt body out Gilmore when he jumps for the ball, he doesnt grip the ball strong enough that Gilmore cant knock it out of his hands. NFC Players By Position - Wide Receiver. Not all the players listed will make the team, and I might easily miss especially for the Redskins division rivals players who will make the Week 1 roster, but this list should give some idea of the relative depth of the four positional groups. The "Cheetah" has put up historic efficiency numbers this season, gaining 3.7 yards for every route run. Although its an offense that deflates WR stats by distributing the ball a lot, its a cleverly designed offense that gets WRs open. His basketball roots are also evident on plays like this. Featured Promo: Get any full-season NFL Premium Pass for 50% off and win big in 2023. The additions of Golladay and Toney should actually help Slayton and Shepard take some of the focus off them. Then Richardson makes a great leaping catch, highpointing the ball and securing it at maximum extension away from the DB. First, notice that McLaurin recognizes Indiana 14 is matched up on him. The 6-foot-3, 229-pound Ole Miss product was one of the best wide receivers in the league against man coverage. Perhaps most problematic, he is more of a body catcher than a hands catcher. Our daily series examining the NFC East from a positional perspective with the help of league personnel sources moves on to the position in which the Eagles spent the most time on in the offseason . Has all the same position but not allowing them to press doesnt give them any advantage the DB route! That this will give him outside leverage when he did, and Victor all. 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