NFL: What to expect from rookie wide receivers

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May 8, 2014; New York, NY, USA; Sammy Watkins (Clemson) poses for a photo after being selected as the number four overall pick in the first round of the 2014 NFL Draft to the Buffalo Bills at Radio City Music Hall. Mandatory Credit: Adam Hunger-USA TODAY Sports /

The 2014 NFL Draft was viewed by many as having one of the deepest and most talented class of wide receivers that the league has seen in quite some time. By the time the final selection of round seven was made, 23 teams had selected a combined 33 wide receivers.

It goes without saying that all 23 of those teams are hoping their new addition at wide receiver will have a successful NFL career. However, five of those teams invested a first round draft pick on a wide receiver. Given the perceived depth of this wide receiver class, those five teams must have believed that the player they drafted is a difference making playmaker.

Now that the regular season is quickly approaching, what exactly should those teams be expecting from their rookie wideouts this season?

First, in case your memory is a little fuzzy, here are the wide receivers taken in the first round of the 2014 NFL draft along with the number pick that they were selected.

No. 4 – Sammy Watkins – Buffalo Bills

No. 7 – Mike Evans – Tampa Bay Buccaneers

No. 12 – Odell Beckham Jr. – New York Giants

No. 20 – Brandin Cooks – New Orleans Saints

No. 28 – Kelvin Benjamin – Carolina Panthers

The early reports floating in from training camps appear to be positive for all of these young wideouts. Benjamin has reportedly been much more sure handed them some expected, Cooks looks just as explosive in NFL practices as he did in college, and Sammy Watkins has been one of the most talked about players in the NFL during the training camp season. These positive reviews have fans of these teams (and possibly fantasy players as well) drooling over what these receivers may do this season.

So what does history tell us to expect from first round rookie wideouts? To find the answer let’s take a look at the previous five NFL drafts and see how the wideouts performed their rookie season. First you’ll see each individual year and then at the end you’ll see what the average production for first round rookie NFL wide receivers has been over the last five seasons.

Let’s start with the 2009 class………

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