Slot Receiver Nfl Draft 2019
A healthy Dante Pettis put on a show during his rookie season. Injuries limited him to only 12 games, but his time on the field was impressive enough to land him at No. 8 on Doug Farrar’s list of the 11 best NFL slot receivers.
Pettis’ ability to work out of the slot and outside is part of why he’s so valuable in an offense that requires a diverse skill set from receivers. He caught 27 balls for 467 yards and five touchdowns overall last season, but his work from the slot stood out to Farrar:
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Nfl Draft 2020
Especially in the slot, Pettis had some impressive moments, and he projects well as a primary receiver in multiple roles. In 2018, he caught 12 passes on 16 targets from the slot for 234 yards and two touchdowns. So, you have to project optimal production when it comes to Pettis, but it’s easy to do.
While he won’t line up a ton in the slot in 2019 with a few other receivers on the roster capable of filling that role, his high-level production in that area of the field point to all the things that make him a good receiver. His ability to quickly separate at the line of scrimmage make him deadly in the confined spaces a slot receiver works in, and he has enough speed to run away from defenders and turn short throws into big plays.
It stands to reason that Pettis notches a 1,000 yards in Year 2 as long as he stays on the field. A pair of knee injuries last year are the biggest red flag for the 23-year-old. On the other hand, he admittedly took awhile to get in the flow of the offense, and his productivity between Weeks 8 and 12 are a sign that he’s only going to get better. He hauled in 20 balls for 359 yards and four touchdowns in that four week stretch.
With the arrow pointing up on the former second-round pick, it’s not an inconceivable notion that Pettis winds up among the NFL’s best receivers overall after 2019, and not just out of the slot.
2019 NFL Draft
After dropping to No. 14 after their loss to the Seattle Seahawks, they fell another slot to No. 15 in Mark Schofield's new rankings. This was a gut-punch loss for the Arizona Cardinals. In 2019, 56.9% of receiver targets went to players lined up in the slot, up from 51.8% in 2016. It's fairly universal, too, rather than one or two outlier teams pumping up the numbers. Eighteen teams saw more than 55% of their wideout targets go to players in the slot, and only three (Tampa Bay, Dallas, and Carolina) ended with more passes out.
Slot Wide Receivers
By: Alex Khvatov
In today’s NFL, slot receivers play a vital role in an offense. Most teams line up in three and four wide receiver sets. This 2019 NFL Draft offers a lot of different options at the slot position. These guys come in different shapes and sizes.
Marquise Brown (Oklahoma) – you can’t call Brown just a slot WR at the next level. He is a weapon and a guy that you can line up in different spots. However, he will be a major weapon working out of the slot in the NFL. He is a skinny, undersized, athletic WR with outstanding 4.3 speed. He is explosive out of his breaks. He consistently creates separation. He is extremely dangerous as a deep threat, but excels on crossing routes and bubble screens as well.
Deebo Samuel (South Carolina) – will be used in a variety of roles at the next level. He can lineup outside, but will be most effective operating from the slot. Samuel is a physical wideout with good route running ability. He is very quick in and out of his breaks. Once he catches the ball, he turns into a RB. He shows the ability to break tackles and elude defenders in the open field.
Nfl Draft
A.J. Brown (Ole Miss) – has been one of the most productive receivers in the nation the last two seasons. He is very well-built with a muscular frame. He is a physical wideout with good catching radius and strong hands. Brown knows how to use his body to shield the defenders away from the ball. He makes consistent catches in traffic.
Jakobi Meyers (NC State) – a former QB has been overshadowed by Kelvin Harmon the past two seasons. He is 6’1, 196 pounds and has a good catching radius. He displays terrific hand/eye coordination. Meyers catches the ball away from his frame, has strong hands and has improved as a route runner. He excels on slants and crossing routes.
Hunter Renfrow (Clemson) – former walk-on who has played his best in the big games against top competition. His nickname is Mr. Reliable. He is more quick than fast. Renfrow runs precise routes and has outstanding short area quickness (very similar to Cooper Kupp). He displays excellent hands and is clutch on third downs.
Cody Thompson (Toledo) – this guy is flying under the radar right now. He is a physical receiver who knows how to use his body to his advantage. He has great hands and is a polished route runner. He excels on double moves. Thompson should thrive as a slot receiver at the next level.
Penny Hart (Georgia State) – is a small, undersized WR, but he is very tough. Hart is a playmaker who plays like a 6’2 wideout. He uses his quickness to get off the line. He is very quick at the top of his route and is able to create separation. He is elusive after the catch.
Parris Campbell (Ohio State) – a great athlete with outstanding speed. Campbell will light up the Combine at the end of February. He is dangerous in the open field and makes defenders miss. He excels on vertical and crossing routes, jet sweeps and bubble screens. With a creative offensive coordinator, he can turn out to be a valuable gadget player.
Clelin Ferrell
Andy Isabella (UMass) – a former RB who is shifty and elusive after the catch. He is a former track star who has great speed. Isabella has dependable hands and displays terrific hand/eye coordination on those downfield throws.
Keelan Doss (UC Davis) – versatile WR who lined all over the place in college, but projects as a slot guy at the next level. He is more quick than fast. He is physical and will make tough catches in traffic. Doss has good size, body control, strong hands and is a precise route runner. He excels on posts, slants and crossing routes.
Slot Receiver Nfl Draft 2019 Picks
Lil’Jordan Humphrey (Texas) – big WR at 6’4, 225 pounds. He is very good at finding soft spots in zone coverage. He was a former RB in high school. He is strong, physical and is able to break tackles after the catch. He displays good leaping ability and an impressive catching radius.
Jalen Hurd (Baylor) – former RB at Tennessee who transferred to Baylor and made the switch to WR. He is a big, slot WR at 6’5 and 227 pounds. He has large hands and a huge catching radius. Hurd is an athletic player with good speed. He is a hands catcher and displays a good burst off the line. He is still developing as a route runner. An intriguing prospect with upside.