Non-1st-Round WRs Who Could Erupt as NFL Rookies

Wide receiver is arguably the easiest position to make a smooth transition from the collegiate ranks to the professional level. Rookie targets consistently create instant impacts upon their arrival and don’t need to be first-round picks to do so.

A year ago, Puka Nacua took the league by storm and set rookie records after being a fifth-round pick for the Los Angeles Rams.

The likes of George Pickens, Amon-Ra St. Brown, Chase Claypool, A.J. Brown, Terry McLaurin, DK Metcalf and Deebo Samuel have all cleared 800 receiving yards as rookies after falling somewhere outside of the opening frame.

In order to join those ranks, this year’s rookies require A) a skill set that translates to the field and B) opportunities within their respective situations to gain traction.

Eight—ranging from recent second- to sixth-round selections—have both and shouldn’t surprise if/when they become integral contributors early in their careers.

The Los Angeles Chargers are searching for a new WR1 with Keenan Allen and Mike Williams no longer on the team.

Plenty should be expected of last year’s first-round draft pick, Quentin Johnston. At the same time, this year’s 34th overall selection, Ladd McConkey, could quickly turn into quarterback Justin Herbert’s favorite target.

It may have already happened a couple of months after being drafted.

“The chemistry between Herbert and rookie receiver Ladd McConkey is continuing to blossom,” Daniel Popper of The Athletic wrote last week. “McConkey has been playing mostly in the slot, and he is already proving capable of winning easily and often in short areas of the field. His route running is pro-ready.”

Any time a receiver can consistently separate and prove himself a reliable option for his quarterback, he’ll receive a large portion of targets.

McConkey doesn’t have much in his way to slow him down, either.

“He’s just picked up the offense so easily,” Herbert said. “It’s like he’s been a four- or five-year vet. He understands the game, he understands leverage. He’s a smart player, he’s very athletic. He can beat man coverage, find the soft spot in zones.”

Ja’Lynn Polk never had a chance to be the top target in the Washington Huskies’ prolific passing attack, but his situation is likely to change as a member of the New England Patriots.

As part of college football’s best passing offense over the last two seasons, Washington also featured Rome Odunze and Jalen McMillan. The same obstacles aren’t found on the Patriots’ roster.

New England featured the league’s worst skill-position groups last season. The organization made a concerted effort to rectify that situation in the draft, starting with the selection of quarterback Drake Maye at third overall.

The 21-year-old may take a while before he’s in the lineup since New England can lean on veteran Jacoby Brissett this season.

However, Polk should create more of an instant impact.

“Polk has come as advertised to those on the Patriots staff who got to know him prior to taking him in the second round of the draft,” Phil Perry of NBC Sports Boston wrote. “He has embraced the steady installation of Alex Van Pelt’s playbook, showing a good understanding of the larger menu of plays available to the offense in minicamp.

“And while he has often been touted as an all-the-little-things type of player—tough, a willing blocker, etc.—it’s been pointed out to me by those in the building that he has some high-end physical skills that have them believing he’ll be more than a role player in their receiver room.”

Adonai Mitchell, who was drafted with this year’s 52nd overall pick by the Indianapolis Colts, has the potential to change the entire complexion of Shane Steichen’s offense.

Steichen’s approach as head coach and offensive play-caller involves a vertical element to create chunk plays. The Colts offense lacked that dynamic in his first year.

Michael Pittman Jr. is a powerful target, who’s at his best after the catch. Josh Downs is lightning-quick off the snap and working the middle of the field. Alec Pierce presents some downfield potential, though it didn’t materialize last season with quarterback Anthony Richardson injured.

The second-year signal-caller also presents tremendous arm talent to test every level of the field.

Mitchell has a legitimate chance to be one of the league’s better downfield threats in his first season.

“The explosiveness that he comes off the ball and wins one-on-ones,” Steichen told reporters after an early minicamp practice. “I mean he’s been making a ton of plays out here the last couple of days. He’s going to bring an element to our offense that we’re really excited about.”

The rookie may be the last piece of a puzzle that could form one of the NFL’s best up-and-coming offensive units.

Tyler Boyd had been a constant on the Cincinnati Bengals offense for the last eight seasons. He entered free agency this offseason, though, and joined the Tennessee Titans under former offensive coordinator-turned-head coach Brian Callahan.

The Bengals remain stacked at wide receiver with Tee Higgins back on the franchise tag alongside Ja’Marr Chase. Boyd’s slot is now available for the taking, with third-rounder Jermaine Burton being a prime candidate to fill the role.

More could be expected from Andrei Iosivas, Charlie Jones and Trenton Irwin, which should create excellent competition. But Burton is a talented target, who previously served as the top wide receiver for two of the nation’s best collegiate programs: Georgia and Alabama.

The rookie’s adjustment is going rather smoothly, as he fits in nicely with this Bengals roster.

“I don’t care what round I could have been,” Burton said. “If I would have known I was going to this team, I would’ve picked that from the jump.”

The potential difference between Boyd and Burton is the latter can provide far more of a vertical threat to open up an already dynamic passing attack even more.

Mike Evans and Chris Godwin are back for another season with Tampa Bay Buccaneers. After them, running back Rachaad White and tight end Cade Otton finished third and fourth, respectively, in receiving yardage last year.

A third target out wide should complete the Bucs offense.

The organization chose Jalen McMillan with this year’s 92nd overall pick. Two seasons ago, he led the Washington Huskies with 79 receptions. Nagging injuries slowed him this past year, but his skill set should translate well to the Tampa Bay offense.

“He’s a true route-runner,” offensive coordinator Liam Coen told reporters. “He’s a guy that’s wired to separate. Has the ability to work the defense at all three levels… He has that competitive nature to be able to come in here and compete for early playing time.”

The rookie adds significant flexibility, allowing the veteran targets to move around the formation while the incoming option can line up anywhere depending on the play-call.

“He had a lot of versatility in college,” head coach Todd Bowles said. “He played slot, he played Z, he played X, so he’s a very intelligent player, so that gives us some advantages.”

Familiarity will help Troy Franklin as part of the Denver Broncos.

Denver made an organizational-altering decision when it chose quarterback Bo Nix with this year’s 12th overall pick.

While everyone must wait to discover whether it’s a positive or negative shift, one thing is certain: Nix should have a favorite target out of the gates with Franklin also joining the squad.

Over the previous two seasons, Nix completed 142 passes to Franklin for 2,274 yards and 23 touchdowns at Oregon. The Broncos plan to use this year’s 102nd overall pick in a variety of ways.

“He can run…,” Broncos head coach Sean Payton told reporters. “He’s an eager learner, he’s excited. He’s a player that is going to play inside these numbers, but he’s a player that obviously can play outside these numbers … We’re anxious to work with him, excited to work with him.”

Denver still features Courtland Sutton and Marvin Mims Jr., while bringing in Josh Reynolds as a free agent. However, Franklin already has Nix’s trust, which will likely play a factor in his usage and how much the rookie sees the field.

If their connection is anything like at college, the rookie wide receiver could turn out to be a tremendous draft-day steal.

Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle give the Miami Dolphins the most explosive and dangerous receiving duo in professional football. A third option with a differing skill set is ripe to flourish.

Mike McDaniel knew exactly who he wanted in this year’s draft to fill the spot, and general manager Chris Grier chose Malik Washington in the sixth round after much cajoling from his head coach.

“He’s been bugging me to draft you here in these last couple of rounds,” Grier told Washington after selecting the wide receiver with the 184th overall pick.

McDaniel said: “That’s an understatement. I’ve been seriously annoying towards him…Your rookie year can be very productive if you’re a pro, which I know you can be immediately because you’re going to have the opportunity.”

Washington provides a tank to work the middle of the field. The 5’9″, 191-pounder plays more like a running back than a wide receiver after making the catch. He led major college football last season with 110 receptions and 35 forced missed tackles for Virginia.

The rookie will be able to work underneath and short routes in Miami’s scheme, much like Kyle Shanahan prefers to do with his top targets by letting them go to work with the 49ers.

Ryan Flournoy is the lowest-drafted option included among these rookie wide receivers expected to create an impact this fall. The Dallas Cowboys chose him with this year’s 216th overall pick.

So, why is he listed? Three reasons.

First, the Cowboys are searching for second and third options within their passing game. After CeeDee Lamb, no other wide receiver on the roster had more than 81 targets, and Brandin Cooks turns 31 later this year.

Second, Flournoy has an exceptional athletic profile, as a 6’1″, 202-pound target with a 9.89 (out of 10) relative athletic score, according to Pro Football Network’s Kent Lee Platte.

Finally, the rookie is an older and more mature prospect. He turns 25 during the 2024 season and comes from a smaller school in Southeast Missouri State.

These points can be viewed as negatives that fed into why he fell in the draft, but they may also be viewed as a positive as someone ready for the transition.

Patrik Walker of the official Cowboys site already envisions the sixth-rounder making “some waves” in the offense, while ESPN’s Todd Archer referred to the rookie as “Dez Bryant-like” because of his ability to pluck the ball out of the air.