Will this be the year the Saints join the rookie WR revolution? Here's 5 potential targets

SmashMouth · 03-10-2022, 09:33 AM

There never has been a better time to be a rookie NFL receiver.

Will the New Orleans Saints join the party?

The past three NFL drafts have produced a bounty of terrific young receivers across the league. Deebo Samuel, A.J. Brown, DK Metcalf and Terry McLaurin were all selected in the second round or later in 2019. Justin Jefferson broke the NFL’s rookie receiving record in 2020, only to be upstaged by his LSU college teammate, Ja’Marr Chase, a year later. Three of the NFL’s five leading receivers in 2021 played on rookie contracts.

It hasn’t always been this way. Saints general manager Mickey Loomis remembers a study from 10 or 15 years ago, which posited that rookie wideouts tended to take a couple of years to truly develop and acclimate to the NFL game.

“Recently that trend has changed,” Loomis said at the NFL combine. “We’ve had guys come in right away as rookies and have significant success. I think that’s probably a reflection of the passing game in college and guys being well-coached.”

Chris Olave, Ohio State, 6-0, 187
Jameson Williams, Alabama, 6-2, 189
Drake London, USC, 6-4, 219
Treylon Burks, Arkansas, 6-2, 225
Christian Watson, North Dakota State, 6-4, 208

03-10-2022, 09:33 AM	#1
SmashMouth I donated, did you? Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Mandeville, LA Posts: 38,554 Blog Entries: 29	Will this be the year the Saints join the rookie WR revolution? Here's 5 potential targets There never has been a better time to be a rookie NFL receiver. Will the New Orleans Saints join the party? The past three NFL drafts have produced a bounty of terrific young receivers across the league. Deebo Samuel, A.J. Brown, DK Metcalf and Terry McLaurin were all selected in the second round or later in 2019. Justin Jefferson broke the NFL’s rookie receiving record in 2020, only to be upstaged by his LSU college teammate, Ja’Marr Chase, a year later. Three of the NFL’s five leading receivers in 2021 played on rookie contracts. It hasn’t always been this way. Saints general manager Mickey Loomis remembers a study from 10 or 15 years ago, which posited that rookie wideouts tended to take a couple of years to truly develop and acclimate to the NFL game. “Recently that trend has changed,” Loomis said at the NFL combine. “We’ve had guys come in right away as rookies and have significant success. I think that’s probably a reflection of the passing game in college and guys being well-coached.” Chris Olave, Ohio State, 6-0, 187 Jameson Williams, Alabama, 6-2, 189 Drake London, USC, 6-4, 219 Treylon Burks, Arkansas, 6-2, 225 Christian Watson, North Dakota State, 6-4, 208 more on NOLA Attached Thumbnails Rugby Saint II likes this.