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KA listed as 6th best WR according to ESPN
Who's the NFL's best wide receiver? Tight end? Cornerback? What about the second-best defensive tackle -- after Aaron Donald? To preview the 2021 NFL season, we set out to answer those questions and much more.
We surveyed more than 50 league executives, coaches, scouts and players to help us stack the top 10 players at 11 different positions, from edge rushers to interior offensive linemen and all the way through tight ends. This is the second edition of these rankings, and several players moved up or dropped from last year's lists.
Here's how our process worked: Voters gave us their best 10 to 15 players at a position, then we compiled the results and ranked candidates based on number of top-10 votes, composite average, interviews, research and film-study help from ESPN NFL analyst Matt Bowen. We had several ties, so we broke them by isolating the two-man matchup with additional voting and follow-up calls. Each section is packed with quotes and nuggets from the voters on every guy -- even the honorable mentions.
The objective is to identify the best players right now for 2021. This is not a five-year projection or an achievement award. Who's the best today? Pretty simple.
We'll roll out a position per day over the next 11 days. Here's the schedule:- Week 1: edge rushers (July 5), interior defensive line (July 6), off-ball linebackers (July 7), cornerbacks (July 8), safeties (July 9), offensive tackles (July 10), interior offensive line (July 11)
- Week 2: quarterbacks (July 12), running backs (July 13), wide receivers (July 14), tight ends (July 15)
By far the most difficult position to rank, wide receiver is loaded with deserving candidates.
More than 20 receivers got at least one vote, and the only easy call was who would go No. 1. From second place on, evaluators preferred different flavors: the crafty route runners, the speed demons, the body-you-up receivers with size and strength, the physical forces who look like running backs with the ball in their hands, or the big names who are one healthy season away from regaining greatness.
And, of course, ranking No. 10 required a tiebreaker between two young stars.
One truism with the NFL receiver pantheon: You must put up big numbers to belong.
1. Davante Adams, Green Bay Packers
Highest ranking: 1 | Lowest ranking: 4
Age: 28 | Last year's ranking: 7
This wasn't close. Adams crushed the voting, earning a first-place spot on more than half the ballots.
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Last year, Adams failed to crack the top five because -- despite his shake-you-at-the-line greatness and three seasons of at least 10 touchdowns -- some voters didn't consider him dominant. He showed the full arsenal in 2020 to win over nitpicky scouts and coaches who are sticklers for the technical aspects of receiver play.
"Made a ton of plays, release game was on point, constantly gets open, went from five to 18 touchdowns [year-over-year], large catch radius, gets yards after the catch," an AFC offensive coach said. "There's nothing he's not doing right now."
Adams earned a stellar 92.2 Pro Football Focus rating and grabbed 589 yards after the catch to lead all wide receivers. Aaron Rodgers had a 136.0 passer rating when targeting Adams, and that's with defenses knowing what's coming, since 34% of Adams' attempted routes resulted in a target.
"Just starting to get his due," an AFC coordinator said. "He wasn't this [good] a few years ago but you've seen him come into his own. So hard to deal with on the line of scrimmage."
2. DeAndre Hopkins, Arizona Cardinals
Highest ranking: 1 | Lowest ranking: 7
Age: 29 | Last year's ranking: 3
The "Hail Murray" play that will live in Cardinals folklore isn't all that unusual for Hopkins, whose catch radius helps him catch balls over, around and through defensive backs.
"He's not a blazer, but who cares -- the guy just wins," an NFC offensive coach said. "With those big hands and long arms, and the way he competes, I'm not sure I'd want anyone else to make a catch for me if I needed one play with the game on the line."
In his first year in Arizona, Hopkins' 75 first-down catches led all wide receivers, and he dropped one pass on 159 targets, or 0.06%, an improvement from a 2% clip the year before.
Arizona's Air Raid could stand to get Hopkins loose on more splash plays. His 14.8% rate of 20-plus-yard catches is among the lowest on this list.
"He never really separates from you but he's so strong that if you're not physical he will push you around," a veteran AFC defensive coach said.
3. Stefon Diggs, Buffalo Bills
Highest ranking: 2 | Lowest ranking: 8
Age: 27 | Last year's ranking: Honorable mention
Some evaluators wondered aloud how Diggs would handle Buffalo, a new offense and a (then) inaccurate quarterback in Josh Allen after the trade from Minnesota.
Answer: Like an elite receiver should. Diggs vaulted from fringe top-10 guy to one of the game's best thanks to a truly dominant season. Allen's new BFF led the league in targets (166), catches (127) and receiving yards (1,535).
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"Years ago, one of [Minnesota's] receivers got hurt and they put in this new receiver, Diggs," recalled a veteran AFC defensive coach. "Smaller guy, more of a slot receiver at the time -- we figured it shouldn't be a problem. We get in the game and he had a pretty damn good day. He's been [great] ever since."
Diggs produced 20.3 receptions above expected, per NFL Next Gen Stats, by far the highest clip in the NFL.
Though Diggs was unhappy in Minnesota, those who coached him or followed him closely knew he would thrive when made the focal point of a high-level offense. He was a primary option for the Vikings but he shared that role with Adam Thielen.
"He's so competitive that his demeanor and ability had the opposite effect that some thought -- he lifted the entire offense up with his standard of play and his ability to get open and make tough catches," an AFC exec said.
Added an AFC coordinator: "Practices like every day is a game. He's known for that. Really quick, great route runner, knack for getting open."
4. Tyreek Hill, Kansas City Chiefs
Highest ranking: 1 | Lowest ranking: 10
Age: 27 | Last year's ranking: 5
Hill embodies where the NFL is going, a motion-and-movement player with elite lateral change of direction and sneaky physicality.
He not only managed to be the fastest wide receiver on any single catch in 2020 -- 21.91 mph on a 44-yard touchdown in Week 14 -- he also covered more distance per game than any other offensive player.
"Not a great route runner and Andy [Reid]'s scheme helps him, but he might be the hardest guy to prepare for," an NFC exec said.
He's developed into a more refined route runner the past few years, with the Chiefs (smartly) taking it slow with him, expanding his workload every year. His six drops were problematic last year, and some voters wonder whether he's scheme-dependent.
But many acknowledge Hill scares you more than just about anyone.
"His ability to get from 0 to 60 makes heads turn on the [opposing] sideline. You can feel it," an AFC coordinator said. "You are just hoping that when he gets it that there are a bunch of defenders around him."
play0:27Tyreek Hill puts his hops on display
Tyreek Hill shows off his impressive dunking ability in the gym.
5. Julio Jones, Tennessee Titans
Highest ranking: 1 | Lowest ranking: 13
Age: 32 | Last year's ranking: 1
Jones dipped four spots, but teams say turn on the tape and you still see a unicorn.
"This is not an A.J. Green situation where the play clearly declined," an AFC exec said. "He's still that dude."
We heard this similar assessment from several teams who looked into trading for Jones, whom Atlanta shipped to Tennessee for draft picks and a $15 million salary dump.
Despite missing seven games with hamstring issues last season , Jones still posted good numbers. His 11.2 yards per target was the best in the league, and he paced for nearly 1,400 yards over a 16-game slate. Nearly 32% of his receptions went for 20 or more yards.
"Still the best -- injuries aren't an issue," an AFC scout said. "If they were contending last year, I think he would have played."
6. Keenan Allen, Los Angeles Chargers
Highest ranking: 2 | Lowest ranking: 12
Age: 29 | Last year's ranking: 8
Allen became the fourth receiver to sign a contract worth at least $20 million annually, and he followed up that deal with his third 100-catch season.
The NFL's best at every position
Jeremy Fowler polled a panel of more than 50 coaches, execs, scouts and players to come up with top-10 rankings for 2021:
• Edge | Interior DL | LB
• CB | Safety | OT | Interior OL
• QB | RB | WR | TE (July 15)
Opposing teams use Allen's route running in the film room as an example of how to win at the line of scrimmage.
"Everything he does is detailed -- releases, setting up DBs in the route stem and at the top of the route," an AFC offensive coach said. "Really does a nice job of creating separation."
Added a separate AFC coach: "The only knock is he's not a true vertical guy, but he can still win deep, though. If I need eight yards on a crucial down, he's one of the first guys I call."
The numbers validate that claim. Allen caught 16 of his 33 tight-window targets, per NFL Next Gen Stats, the best clip among receivers with at least 20 targets.
7. Mike Evans, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Highest ranking: 4 | Lowest ranking: 13
Age: 27 | Last year's ranking: 6
Young receivers try to unseat Evans but he keeps fending them off.
Averaging 15.5 yards per catch over seven seasons is impressive, but Evans took that a step further in 2020, with 28.1% of his catches going for at least 20 yards, second to Carolina's DJ Moore among receivers with at least 100 targets. Tom Brady found him 13 times in the end zone out of their 109 targets on the season.
"He was DK Metcalf before DK Metcalf," an AFC coordinator said.
Added an AFC scout: "I thought he declined in '19 but maybe wasn't playing as hard as he used to -- looked better this year. You don't realize how good he is until you really watch him and how consistent he's been. He's a constant No. 7 or 8. Not a top-five guy but definitely top-10. He doesn't do it for everybody. But he's the size of a tight end and can run, and that's rare."
The coordinator says Evans reminds him of a bigger Steve Smith because "when you watch the tape and you play him, he will downright want to fight you. He will get nasty with you. Don't get that dude angry."
8. Michael Thomas, New Orleans Saints
Highest ranking: 4 | Lowest ranking: Unranked
Age: 28 | Last year's ranking: 2
Maybe Thomas, our No. 2 receiver last year, can regain a top spot, but a bizarre year of injuries and production decline resulted in a rankings free fall.
Thomas' yards-per-game average dropped from 107.8 to 62.6 year-over-year. That 2019 clip led the league, so duplicating that would have been difficult. But a 42% dip is a tough sell. "Still highly effective at winning inside," an NFC exec said. "All those dig routes and overs, he's still one of the best."
Added an NFC coordinator: "He can beat you on a post, too. He'll do the dirty work, but he's a better route runner overall than people have given him credit for."
Skeptics wonder about the in-house ramifications of Thomas reportedly punching teammate C.J. Gardner-Johnson during a practice -- and how Drew Brees' departure will affect his game in 2021.
"Playing to his strengths means he needs an accurate quarterback, and Drew Brees is the most accurate quarterback in history," an AFC exec said. "Brees was perfect for him."
9. DK Metcalf, Seattle Seahawks
Highest ranking: 4 | Lowest ranking: Unranked
Age: 23 | Last year's ranking: NR
Metcalf got the fifth-most total votes, with evaluators recognizing he's too elite to leave off. But he didn't crack some top 10s because of perceived limitations.
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"The only concern with him is that stiff lower body, fluidity," an NFC exec said. "There are certain routes where he won't be able to bend like some of the other young receivers can. But he's such a force that he overcomes all that -- and he has gotten better as a route runner."
It's hard to argue with this production: Metcalf is one of four NFL receivers with at least 2,200 yards and 17 receiving touchdowns in his first two seasons in the NFL. The others: Odell Beckham Jr., Randy Moss, A.J. Green.
His 9.9 yards per target was one of the best clips in the NFL.
"I don't know if he has to be that precise route runner -- he can win every 50-50 ball, outrun you or just overpower you," an AFC coordinator said.
10. A.J. Brown, Tennessee Titans
Highest ranking: 3 | Lowest ranking: Unranked
Age: 24 | Last year's ranking: NR
Brown and Calvin Ridley required tiebreakers for the 10th spot, and execs tasked with breaking the tie preferred Brown's explosion over Ridley's smooth route running -- barely.
Brown made the most of his routes, averaging 10.1 yards per target on his way to a second 1,000-yard season.
"After the catch, he's as good as anybody," said an NFC exec. "Looking for contact."
Brown's 159 yards after contact last year is more in line with what tight ends and running backs are producing. He averages 6.11 yards after catch per reception, tops among wide receivers with at least 80 targets.
"Similar to DK, but he's more fluid," an NFC scout said. "Not as polished a route runner as Calvin [Ridley] but could handle more than [the Tennessee] offense gives him. I could see them expanding the passing game this year with Julio and A.J."
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Chargers have the 20th most talented roster according to ESPN. Chiefs are second, Donkeys 10th and Faiders are 26th
20. Los Angeles Chargers
Biggest strength: First-year head coach Brandon Staley was able to work with two of the best defenders in the NFL last season. He won't have Aaron Donald and Jalen Ramsey with the Chargers, but Joey Bosa and a healthy Derwin James Jr. are about as close as Staley could have gotten in terms of elite defensive line and secondary talent. Bosa's 22.0% pass rush win rate since entering the league in 2016 is second in the NFL to Donald, and James earned 80-plus PFF grades as a run defender, pass-rusher and coverage defender across multiple alignments as a rookie in 2018. (James was limited to five games across 2019 and 2020.)
Biggest weakness: For as good as the high-end talent is on this defense, Los Angeles does have some question marks behind the likes of Bosa and James on the depth chart. Can Uchenna Nwosu fill the shoes of Melvin Ingram III after playing fewer than 400 defensive snaps in each of his first three seasons? Can Jerry Tillery, who was the third-lowest-graded edge defender in the NFL in 2020, take a step forward? Can Chris Harris Jr. stay healthy and regain his earlier career form? The Chargers are banking on a lot of those answers being yes.
X factor for 2021: The offensive line has been a sore subject in Los Angeles for years. Philip Rivers and now Justin Herbert have been able to work around a group that offered little resistance to opposing pass rushes, but that kind of play under pressure is difficult to maintain. Hopefully, Herbert won't be forced to make magic happen under duress quite as often in 2021. The offseason additions of Rashawn Slater, Corey Linsley, Matt Feiler and Oday Aboushi leave this unit in a much better spot. Linsley was PFF's highest-graded center last season and is an ideal anchor for the group.
26. Las Vegas Raiders
Biggest strength: Darren Waller has at least earned a spot at the table in the conversation for league's best tight end with his play over the past two seasons. Since 2019, Waller has more contested catches (27) and receiving yards after the catch (1,188) than any other tight end in the NFL. He ranks second to only Travis Kelce in receptions of at least 15 yards over that same stretch (55). The missed time from George Kittle last season due to injury plays a part in some of those ranks, but Waller has been nothing short of elite.
Biggest weakness: Despite countless efforts to improve the unit through the draft in recent years, Las Vegas still projects to have one of the worst secondaries in the NFL. The Raiders need to see improvement from several former first-round picks -- notably Johnathan Abram and Damon Arnette -- under first-year defensive coordinator Gus Bradley. Abram was PFF's lowest-graded safety in 2020, and Arnette didn't fare much better at cornerback (sixth-lowest overall grade) in his rookie season.
X factor for 2021: Cory Littleton was supposed to highlight Las Vegas' linebacker group after the Raiders signed him to a three-year, $35.25 million contract last offseason. Instead, he was thoroughly outplayed by Nick Kwiatkoski and Nicholas Morrow in a disappointing 2020 debut with the team. Littleton ranked in the 99th percentile of all off-ball linebackers in coverage grade during his final two seasons with the Rams, and the former undrafted free agent getting back to that form would go a long way towards the Raiders turning things around defensively
10. Denver Broncos
Biggest strength: Denver might just have the best secondary in the NFL. Last year, third-round rookie Michael Ojemudia, an injured A.J. Bouye and Bryce Callahan -- who typically plays in the slot -- were the team's top three outside cornerbacks. Denver now has the luxury of deciding which of Kyle Fuller, Ronald Darby or top-10 pick Pat Surtain II will start the season on the bench due to Callahan likely moving back inside. And at safety, Justin Simmons and Kareem Jackson rank second and sixth, respectively, in PFF's wins above replacement metric since the start of the 2019 season.
Biggest weakness: For as much talk as there has been about bolstering the quarterback position this offseason, Denver didn't improve in any meaningful way. Sure, Teddy Bridgewater is a slight upgrade over the 2020 version of Drew Lock. He brings a little less volatility. But Bridgewater is still coming off a season in which his 66.0 PFF grade ranked 26th out of 32 qualifying quarterbacks. This is a roster talented enough to contend in the AFC from top to bottom. It's just hard to see that happening with Lock or Bridgewater at QB.
X factor for 2021: The best edge defender of the past decade, Von Miller, returning to the lineup this season is a significant addition. Miller put up elite 90-plus PFF grades each year from when he entered the league in 2011 through the 2018 season. 2019 was the first year to break that trend, as Miller recorded an overall grade of "only" 79.3. A lost season in 2020 due to injury now means that Miller is two years removed from his peak. A healthy return to dominance this year would be massive for a defensive front that also features Bradley Chubb, Shelby Harris and Dre'Mont Jones.
2. Kansas City Chiefs
Biggest strength: The offensive trio of Patrick Mahomes, Travis Kelce and Tyreek Hill is the reason Kansas City is once again the betting favorite to bring home a Lombardi Trophy this season. According to PFF's wins above replacement metric, Mahomes has been the most valuable quarterback in the NFL over the past three seasons by more than a full win. Kelce comfortably ranks first at the tight end position, and Hill comes in at fourth among wide receivers. Throw in coach Andy Reid, one of the top offensive playcallers in the NFL, and the offense becomes nearly impossible to stop.
Biggest weakness: Defensive tackle Chris Jones is elite. He has earned pass-rushing grades of at least 90.0 in each of the past three seasons. Aaron Donald is the only other interior defensive lineman who can say the same. However, the rest of the defensive line doesn't bring nearly as much juice. Frank Clark's pass-rushing grade is 20 points lower over the past two seasons in Kansas City than it was across his final two seasons in Seattle. Clark profiling more as a below-average starter than the top-flight edge the Chiefs expected only accentuates the lack of difference-makers on the defensive line beyond Jones.
X factor for 2021: Kansas City reportedly showed interest in several free-agent wide receivers this offseason, including JuJu Smith-Schuster and Josh Reynolds. The Chiefs didn't land any of those bigger names at the position in free agency, opening the door for a larger role for third-year receiver Mecole Hardman in 2021. Hardman saw 20-plus more targets in 2020 than he did as a rookie, but he struggled to bring in all of those additional targets. Hardman's 13.7% drop rate was one of the highest marks at the position.
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After this upcoming season we won't be ranked 20th. Is this a joke? With a Proper head coach (Staley) we're going to be difficult for many teams this year.
:wtf:Chiefs won the Superbowl with 10 Rookies....
"Locked, Cocked, and ready to Rock!" Jim Harbaugh
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Swing by the Hoag center bang on TT's door. He has been asleep at his desk since the draft.Originally posted by like54ninjas View PostComment
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LAC 20th
DEN 10th
Is it a joke ?
Common man !Comment
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Shhhhh! Better to be the underdog...good bulletin board material for Staley to pin up...I can just hear his pre-game speech now...Originally posted by Maniaque 6 View Post
"You know, some of these so-called sports writers have us ranked NUMBER 20 in the league...we just don't get any respect...but TODAY, ON THE FIELD, WE WILL GET RESPECT!!! (cheers) Today, THIS DAY, the rest of the league starts respecting US! (cheers) Today, we hit hard, tackle hard, remember our assignments, stay in our lanes, WE ADAPT, IMPROVISE AND OVERCOME!!!" (more cheers)...Comment
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Palmer and McKitty *know* they'd be hurting themselves if they didn't sign by camp.Originally posted by FoutsFan View Post
Serious point here: Once a draftee signs with the team that selected him, he THEN becomes obligated to comply with various terms of the contract that he isn't obligated to comply with UNTIL he signs and becomes team property.
For example: Once a player signs, he is almost certainly forbidden from skydiving, kayaking, white water rafting, bungee jumping, etc. Maybe Palmer and McKitty like alligator hunting, and doing that would violate safety provisions of the contract. You get my point.
So I expect everybody will be signed and in camp on time.Comment
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They're ranking as if every position is just as important as the next rather than weighting by impact. Silly.Originally posted by gzubeck View Post
Or who knows, maybe Teddy Bridgewater is the answer for the donks.Comment
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My 2021 Adopt-A-Bolt List
MikeDub
K9
Nasir
Tillery
Parham
ReedComment
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Nice catch and thanks for the share.
Always like Emory’s work. Watched him years ago breaking down draft prospects.
Not in total agreement but pretty fair, would flip grades for DL (A) with LB (B) but both are so injury dependent. Also pretty confident OL will gel, and become elite, although week one against Washington could suck? We’ll know very quickly.Comment
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