Best College Slot Receivers 2020



Earlier in the week, we started our depth chart projections for the Jacksonville Jaguars. With the quarterbacks, running backs, and tight ends all covered, here are our projections for the wide receivers position:

But since Chase has opted out of the 2020 season, Nick Saban's dynamic duo is well-positioned at the top of the list of wide receivers actually playing this fall. (Although the order is open to. So, if you are looking for the best slot receiver in the group, look no further than LSU’s Justin Jefferson. Editor’s note: Check out PFF’s 2020 Mock Draft Hub, NFL Draft Big Board and NFL Mock Draft Simulator. PFF Elite subscribers can also download the 1,100-page 2020 NFL Draft Guide. For slot receivers, it was 11.63. So, over time and based on the play design and the makeup of the receivers, teams could find just that many more yards by throwing to their slot targets. The best slot receivers in the game bring unique and highly valuable traits to the game, and here are the best among them. The 2020 college football season is fast approaching and players will be allowed back on campus for summer workouts starting June 8. That said, let’s take a look at the Georgia wide receivers, perhaps the most exciting position to watch for the Bulldogs in 2020.

Best College Slot Receivers 2020 Draft

D.J. Chark was the most improved player on the Jags’ roster without a doubt. He also proved to be their top receiver, becoming the first receiver since Allen Robinson and Allen Hurns (2015) to garner 1,000 receiving yards.

It didn’t matter who the quarterback was, Chark shined and received a Pro Bowl nod after making highlights after highlights. The crazy part is that he’s just scratching the surface and is only 23 years old.

Chris Conley was one of the Jags’ veteran additions during the 2019 free-agency period and will enter 2020 as the Jags’ most experienced receiver as a sixth-year player. He had some issues with drops in 2019 but still managed to register 47 catches for 775 yards and five touchdowns.

As a new offensive coordinator to the Jags’ organization, Conley is a player I think Jay Gruden will be more than comfortable with as the No. 2 alongside Chark. However, it wouldn’t shock me if Laviska Shenalt received a lot of looks as the No. 2, too, but health is a concern with him and he’s also extremely raw.

The Jags will roll out a lot of multiple receiver sets under Gruden and one can understand why when looking at the potential they have. Gruden has also been known to get a lot of production from the slot and that became clear when looking at the success of Jamison Crowder, who registered 221 passes for 2,628 receiving yards and 14 touchdowns throughout four seasons with Gruden and the Washington Redskins.

Westbrook is just as talented as Crowder and could serve the same role for Gruden’s offense in Jacksonville. After all, it’s where he’s flourished and his 2018 season is proof of that as all five of his touchdowns came from the slot.

He was the Jags’ second-round addition of April’s draft and they have big-time plans for him. Shenault was extremely versatile while with Colorado playing as an exterior receiver, a slot receiver, running back, H-back, and as a wildcat quarterback.

Jags coach Doug Marrone says he’s already asked Shenault what kind of load he’s willing to take as a versatile weapon and the rookie is up for the challenge. That said, look for the Jags to be creative with Shenault while working him in slowly as an exterior receiver.

Having Keelan Cole as a No. 4 to No. 5 receiver on this roster is proof that the Jags at least have depth at receiver though the results may not be completely what fans want. He’ll enter the season with 1,600 career receiving yards, a 15.4 yard per catch average, and seven touchdowns.

With the depth chart now crowded Cole may have to see a lot of time on the field through special teams. It might be even wise to consider him in a returners role to protect the receivers further up the depth chart from injuries.

Collin Johnson was the second receiver drafted by the Jags in April’s draft as the team took him in the fifth round. At 6-foot-6, 222-pounds, there is a lot to be excited about with Johnson as he gives the Jags a massive jump-ball target to help Gardner Minshew II out.

There are questions as to if Johnson will be able to separate on the next level and he’ll also need to improve with breaking/sinking into his routes. However, if there is any receivers coach who could turn him into a solid pro it’s the Jags’ own Keenan McCardell.

The Miami Dolphins’ wide receiver room is one of the team’s more well established positions. Miami has plenty of size in the group, a fair amount of depth with the likes of Allen Hurns, Albert Wilson, Isaiah Ford and others on the roster and the group finally saw the big breakout the team was hoping for from DeVante Parker.

Best College Slot Receivers 2020

But Albert Wilson’s status with Miami is up in the air thanks to a sizable cap hit in 2020 and an underwhelming 2019 season. As this Dolphins team looks to remodel to offense to fit offensive coordinator Chan Gailey’s ideals, this team may be looking to find a new starter in the slot.

Who are some of the prime candidates?

Dolphins’ Jakeem Grant

Cost: Nothing

Let’s start with the good: Grant is an explosive athlete, a good route runner and a natural playmaker. The bad? He’s failed to finish the last two seasons with durability concerns and needs limited touches to protect him from breaking down over the course of 16 games.

Grant is a logical choice because he’s on the roster and was recently given an extension. But entrusting him with a primary role is risky business.

Free agent Rashard Higgins

Cost: Short-term “prove it” deal

Higgins found success in 2018 with the Browns before being pushed to the fringes of the team in 2019 — he logged nearly 600 receiving yards in 2018. Higgins’ route running skills are a viable asset and, if he’s left in the slot, he should routinely find separation. The concern here? There’s not a lot of long speed and Miami’s slot will ideally have explosive qualities.

Florida’ Van Jefferson

Best college slot receivers 2020 nfl

Cost: 56th/70th pick in the 2020 NFL Draft

Best College Slot Receivers 2020 Fantasy

Slot

Jefferson catches the ball really well in traffic, which will make him an asset in Miami’s horizontal spread attack under Gailey. With a heavy down hill run presence, the Dolphins stand to flourish from putting LBs in a bind and taking advantage of spacing issues to hit the defense over the middle. Jefferson frequently ate as a middle of the field receiver with the Gators and showed off some impressive route running at January’s Senior Bowl.

Arizona State’s Brandon Aiyuk

Cost: 56th pick in the 2020 NFL Draft

Best College Slot Receivers 2020 Nfl

Aiyuk thrived at Arizona State as a tunnel screen and in traffic receiver — he’s got a large catch radius, explosive qualities and the ability to force a missed tackle and make house calls in the quick game. He feels like a strong fit for what Miami is looking to do and if the Dolphins feel an early investment is necessary to upgrade the slot, he’s a name that would add another dynamic to the receiver group with his twitchiness.

Dolphins’ Albert Wilson

Cost: Over $10.5M in cap in 2020

If the Dolphins choose to stand pat, they’ll eat eight figures in cap space, $9.5M of which is easily avoidable by cutting Wilson. But if Miami feels Wilson has a reasonable chance of returning to form and getting the quickness back that he lost after a 2018 hip injury, they have the cap space to eat the money.