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NFL: What to expect from rookie wide receivers

By Lyle Graversen

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
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 /
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Oct 31, 2013; Miami Gardens, FL, USA; Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver A.J. Green (18) makes a catch in front of Miami Dolphins cornerback Brent Grimes (21) during overtime at Sun Life Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 31, 2013; Miami Gardens, FL, USA; Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver A.J. Green (18) makes a catch in front of Miami Dolphins cornerback Brent Grimes (21) during overtime at Sun Life Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports /

2011 NFL Draft

No. 4 – A.J. Green – Cincinnati Bengals – 65 rec, 1,057 yards, 7 TDs

No. 6 – Julio Jones – Atlanta Falcons – 54 rec, 959 yards, 8 TDs

No. 26 – Jonathan Baldwin – Kansas City Chiefs – 21 rec, 254 yards, 1 TD

Let’s start with Jon Baldwin and get him out of the way. Baldwin’s rookie season was an unproductive one and things never got better from there. After being traded from KC for fellow first round bust A.J. Jenkins (more on him in a second) he was eventually cut by the 49ers and just this week failed a physical with Detroit that cost him an opportunity to make their roster. After just three seasons in the NFL, Baldwin’s NFL future is already in jeopardy.

Baldwin’s failure to perform aside, the 2011 first round did produce two of the best wide receivers in the NFL. A.J. Green and Julio Jones are both freakish talents that have been highly productive. When you look over all the rookie seasons in these past five seasons, Green’s and Jones’ rookie years were probably the most productive of all. Green’s 65 receptions is the most by any rookie during that span, he was the only receiver to top 1,000 yards as a rookie, and his seven TDs were just one short of the high for a rookie during that span which was Jones’ eight that same season.

For the teams that drafted wide receivers in the first round this year, the numbers put up by Green and Jones are probably the absolute best case scenario.

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