Nfl Slot Receivers 2021
It’s never too early to look at some of the top prospects eligible for the next NFL draft at each position.
- Nfl Slot Receivers 2019
- Best Nfl Slot Receivers 2017
- Best Slot Receiver Nfl
- Nfl Slot Receivers By Team
- Nfl Slot Receivers 2021 Nfl
Here’s our updated list of the top wide receiver prospects in the 2021 NFL draft class:
1. Ja'Marr Chase LSU© Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports
The 2021 NFL Draft class isn’t as strong in terms of wide receivers as 2020. There are still plenty of options that would improve the Packers in 2021. Let’s take a look at five wide receivers the Packers should target in April’s draft. There are various receivers who are potential first-round picks when the 2021 NFL Draft commences. Below is an analysis of the 2020 and 2021 wide receiver classes. NFL Draft Wide Receiver Breakdown for 2020 and 2021 2020 NFL Draft Overview. The 2020 NFL Draft was a huge success for NFL teams acquiring valuable NFL caliber wide receivers. Since coming into the NFL, King is still – just about – the best-graded slot defender in football, but that is all built on his play over the first two seasons of play for the Chargers. He posted back to back overall PFF grades of 85.7 and then 88.6 before coming off the boil and failing to find that same production since. Dec 02, 2020 Since coming into the NFL, King is still – just about – the best-graded slot defender in football, but that is all built on his play over the first two seasons of play for the Chargers. He posted back to back overall PFF grades of 85.7 and then 88.6 before coming off the boil and failing to find that same production since. As the NFL regular season comes to a close, discussions surrounding the 2021 NFL Draft begin to heat up. I like him as a slot receiver at the next level, but I can see him utilized as a ‘Z.
2. DeVonta Smith Alabama© Gary Cosby Jr/The Tuscaloosa News via USA TODAY Sports
3. Jaylen Waddle Alabama© John Reed-USA TODAY Sports
4. Rashod Bateman Minnesota© Jesse Johnson-USA TODAY Sports
5. Terrace Marshall Jr. LSU© Jay Biggerstaff-USA TODAY Sports
Nfl Slot Receivers 2019
6. Chris Olave Ohio State© (Photo by Jamie Sabau/Getty Images)
7. Kadarius Toney Florida© (AP Photo/John Raoux, Pool)
8. Rondale Moore Purdue© (Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images)
9. Amon-Ra St. Brown USC© Matt Cashore-USA TODAY Sports
10. Tylan Wallace Oklahoma State© Rob Ferguson-USA TODAY Sports
11. Seth Williams Auburn© John David Mercer-USA TODAY Sports
12. Dazz Newsome North Carolina© Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports
13. Sage Surratt Wake Forest© Jeremy Brevard-USA TODAY Sports
14. Shi Smith South Carolina© Justin Ford-USA TODAY Sports
15. Nico Collins Michigan© Raj Mehta-USA TODAY Sports
16. Elijah Moore Ole Miss© Nelson Chenault-USA TODAY Sports
17. Anthony Schwartz Auburn© Nelson Chenault-USA TODAY Sports
18. Reggie Roberson Jr. SMU© Tim Heitman-USA TODAY Sports
19. Marlon Williams UCF© Reinhold Matay-USA TODAY Sports
20. Damon Hazelton Missouri© Syndication: The Knoxville News-Sentinel
21. Justyn Ross Clemson© Jim Dedmon-USA TODAY Sports
22. Dyami Brown North Carolina© Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports
23. Ihmir Smith-Marsette Iowa© Syndication: HawkCentral
Best Nfl Slot Receivers 2017
24. Amari Rodgers Clemson© John David Mercer-USA TODAY Sports
25. Jaelon Darden North Texas© (Photo by Richard Rodriguez/Getty Images)
Best Slot Receiver Nfl
In the 2019 regular and postseason, per Pro Football Focus data, slot receivers regardless of position (receivers, running backs, and tight ends) accounted for 32% of all targets, 31.6% of all receptions, 32.3% of all receiving yardage, and 34.3% of all receiving touchdowns. In a league where the three-receiver set is by far the default formation (it happened on 69% of all snaps last season, per Sports Info Solutions), having a versatile and productive slot receiver is an absolute necessity in the modern passing game.
Moreover, there is no one kind of slot receiver in the modern NFL. It used to be that you wanted the shorter, smaller guy inside, and your bigger, more physical receivers on the outside. Then, offensive coaches started to realize that by putting bigger receivers and tight ends in the slot, you could create mismatches with slower linebackers and smaller slot cornerbacks. Teams countered this by acquiring linebackers built like safeties, eager to do more than just chase after run fits, and also by moving their best cornerbacks into the slot in certain situations.
Now that offensive and defensive coaches have worked hard to create as many schematic and personnel ties in the slot as possible, the best slot receivers are the ones who consistently show the ideal characteristics for the position. These receivers know how to exploit defenders who don’t have a boundary to help them — they’ll create inside and outside position to move the defender where they want him to go. They understand the value and precision of the option route, and how you can hang a defender out to dry with a simple “if this/then that” equation based on coverage rules. They know how to work in concert with their outside receivers to create route combinations which create impossible math problems for defenses. And they know how to get open in quick spaces.
But don’t automatically assume that slot receivers are just taking the dink-and-dunk routes — they’re actually tasked to catch everything from quick slants to vertical stuff down the seam and up the numbers. Last season, per PFF data, the NFL average for yards per completion for outside receivers was 11.28. For slot receivers, it was 11.63. So, over time and based on the play design and the makeup of the receivers, teams could find just that many more yards by throwing to their slot targets.
The best slot receivers in the game bring unique and highly valuable traits to the game, and here are the best among them.
More Top 11 lists: Slot defenders Outside cornerbacks Safeties Linebackers Edge defenders Interior defensive linemen Offensive tackles Offensive guards Centers Outside Receivers
Honorable Mentions
Had we dropped the qualifying floor to under 50% slot snaps, two guys would have easily made it — Tampa Bay’s Mike Evans, and Baltimore’s Marquise Goodwin. Evans led all slot receivers with at least 25 targets with a passer rating when targeted of 151.3, and Brown was an absolute force against defenses in the slot — especially when he was using his speed in empty formations.
San Francisco’s Deebo Samuel, who was probably the MVP of the first half of Super Bowl LIV before things started to go backward for his team, would have received a mention as well — Samuel had just 33 targets, but caught 28 of them and helped his quarterback to a 135.3 rating when he was targeted in the slot. Kansas City speed receiver Mecole Hardman had just 23 a lot targets, but he was also highly efficient with them, helping his quarterbacks to a 133.9 rating. Though Danny Amendola was the only Lions receiver to make the 50% threshold, both Marvin Jones and Kenny Golladay were highly efficient when tasked to move inside. Other former slot stars like Tyreek Hill of the Chiefs and Minnesota’s Adam Thielen saw their roles change more to the outside in 2019 from previous seasons.
Of the receivers who actually qualified, Nelson Agholor of the Eagles was quietly efficient and had just two drops in the slot last season — which would go against several memes on the subject. Buffalo’s Cole Beasley just missed the cut, through he was one of several receivers on the Bills’ roster who didn’t always get the accuracy and efficiency they deserved from quarterback Josh Allen. And though Randall Cobb was productive for the Cowboys last season and should be so for the Texans in 2020, his nine drops as a slot man… well, we can only have one guy with nine slot drops on this list. More on that in a minute.
Nfl Slot Receivers By Team
Now, on to the top 11.
Nfl Slot Receivers 2021 Nfl
Willie Snead IV Julian Edelman Tyler Boyd Jared Cook Golden Tate Keenan Allen Larry Fitzgerald Allen Robinson Cooper Kupp Chris Godwin Tyler Lockett