#NFL 2020 receiving class is crazy good: Here’s the proof
“#NFL 2020 receiving class is crazy good: Here’s the proof”
You might recall the Great Wide Receiver Class of 1985: Al Toon (Jets), Eddie Brown (Bengals) and Jerry Rice (49ers) in the first round; followed by Andre Reed (Bills) in the fourth round; followed by Eric Martin (Saints) in the seventh round.
And you will one day remember the Great Wide Receiver Class of 2020.
“I think it’s good as I’ve ever seen,” legendary NFL executive and historian Gil Brandt said.
This isn’t the time for young boys to start dreaming about becoming the Next Deion Sanders or the Next Darrelle Revis.
“All these guys,” ESPN “Monday Night Football” analyst Louis Riddick told Serby Says, “are showing the things that they showed in college, and they are delivering. It’s cool to see, because young wide receivers are generally thought to have a steeper learning curve and take some time. I think it’s tired, but the old perception that rookie wide receivers have to get off the jam in the NFL and that’s the No. 1 thing that they can’t do … nobody’s really jamming people. And these wide receivers are great athletes, and some of these guys are playing with real good quarterbacks, and they’re putting up real good numbers, and it’s pretty cool to see if you love offensive football.”
Henry Ruggs III (Raiders), Jerry Jeudy (Broncos), CeeDee Lamb (Cowboys), Jaelen Reagor (Eagles), Justin Jefferson (Vikings) and Brandon Aiyuk (49ers) all were drafted in the first round. That was followed by seven more receivers in the second round.
“These guys were playing in offenses that many of the NFL offenses were integrating into their style,” Riddick said.
Ruggs (six receptions, 177 yards, one TD): He was slowed early by hamstring and knee injuries, but flashed his intoxicating speed that Jon Gruden craves with a 72-yard TD against the Chiefs. People once thought Tyreek Hill wouldn’t be more than a gadget guy. “Jon’ll work with him, he’ll make him a good all-around player,” Riddick said.
Jeudy (17-266-1): Best route-runner in the class, and Riddick’s highest-rated receiver in the draft. “His ability to get off the line of scrimmage and just set you up in the route and at the break point, nobody was better than him,” Riddick said. “Nobody.”
Lamb (36-497-2): A highly competitive yards-after-catch demon. He plays with swag and believes the ball is his. “He looks like Secretariat against a bunch of trial horses,” Brandt said. Brandt was 9 when Don Hutson caught 17 TD passes for the Packers in 1942. “I compared Lamb to Don Hutson,” he said. “And also to [Marquise] “Hollywood” Brown, but bigger and stronger than Hollywood Brown.”
Reagor (5-96): Has missed the past four games following thumb surgery. “He’s a Bob Hayes type of guy,” Brandt said. “Bob Hayes could run fast, but he was strong. He’s got that lower-body strength.” Riddick liked Reagor’s speed and toughness and yards-after-catch ability, but was surprised the Eagles selected him. “Because Justin was still on the board,” Riddick said.
Jefferson (36-537-3): “He looks like a three-, four-year veteran already,” Riddick said.
Aiyuk (14-165-1, 4-69-2 rushing): “A catch-and-run guy, a jet sweep guy who is great with the ball in his hands,” Riddick said. “He is a big play waiting to happen. He’s fun to watch.” Comparable to 49ers teammate Deebo Samuel. “Probably more fluid as an outside route runner,” Riddick said.
Tee Higgins (22-339-2): Joe Burrow’s 6-foot-4 target. “He needs to probably be a little better at the 50-50 balls down the field,” Riddick said. “With as long and tall as he is, he should be going up over top of people more often.” Brandt concurred: “I didn’t think he was a special guy. I thought he was kind of a guy that they threw the ball to him and he just jumped up and caught it up over other guys.”
Michael Pittman Jr. (9-73): The Colts expect him back next week following calf surgery. “Real good high-point skills down the field, strong run after the catch, better playing speed than clock speed. You never saw him get caught from behind,” Riddick said.
Laviska Shenault Jr. (26-280-1, 10-54 rushing): “They’re using him in the wildcat, using him like a running back, using him in the slot, using him outside,” Riddick said. “He’s had circus-type catches where he showed you real soft hands, real strong at the catch point. … He looks like a tailback. He is a Swiss Army knife that’s gonna be a problem as long as he stays healthy. “ A 6-1, 227-pound weapon for Jaguars offensive coordinator Jay Gruden. “You almost could play him at running back,” Brandt said.
KJ Hamler (6-78): The lightning-quick Bronco is expected back from his hamstring woes Sunday against the Chiefs. “He can be a matchup problem inside, no question,” Riddick said.
Chase Claypool (17-335-4, 6-21-2 rushing): At 6-4, 228, he reminds Riddick physically of Calvin “Megatron” Johnson. “His size and his speed and catch radius is just something that Pittsburgh is going to be able to take advantage of for years and years and years to come,” Riddick said.
Van Jefferson (6-84): The Rams drafted him two picks before he might have gotten the chance to play for his father, Jets wide receivers coach Shawn Jefferson. “Very good pass catcher, doubles as a return specialist, good route runner, sure hands, not the fastest guy in the world,” Pro Football Network’s Tony Pauline said.
DENZEL MIMS (0-0): Will be making his Jets debut Sunday against the Bills. Not as polished. “Baylor’s offense isn’t real complicated as far as what they asked him to do, the learning curve would be a little steeper for him, but he made some spectacular catches along the sideline, high riser, go up and get the ball,” Riddick said.
Brandt likes the Raiders’ Bryan Edwards (5-99), a third-rounder, and Riddick likes the Bills’ Gabriel Davis (14-194-2 TDs) a fourth-rounder.
And there are more on the way: The 2021 wide receivers class — Ja’Marr Chase, Devonta Smith, Jaylen Waddle, Rondale Moore, Rashod Bateman — is filled with blue-chip prospects. LSU’s Chase is the cream of the crop.
“If you have the same number of underclassmen enter the draft as is expected,” Pauline said, “it’s gonna be really strong. It’s gonna have better talent at the top, led by Ja’Marr Chase of LSU, and it’s gonna be pretty darn deep. It may be just a notch below last year’s draft class on paper, assuming the top underclassmen enter.”
Brandt: “If last year was a 10, this is a 9 ¹/₂.”
Defense wins championships. But offense will sell tickets, whenever the pandemic ends.
For forums sites go to Forum.BuradaBiliyorum.Com
If you want to read more News articles, you can visit our News category.
