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There was only one quarterback, Kenny Pickett, taken in the first Sal Maglie Jersey round of the 2022 NFL Draft. There were no running backs among the top 32 picks.That made wide receiver once again the marquee rookie offensive skill position for this season. From Round 1 through Round 7, 28 wideouts in all were selected, including the initial six going from No. 8 to No. 18 overall.Some of those early picks have been healthy enough in their first NFL training camp and exhibition games to flash on their high pedigree and promise. What's been more impre sive is seeing later-round picks also showing they can be key immediate contributors to their teams.MORE: || |With Week 2 of the the NFL preseason coming to a close, here's breaking down which notable wide receivers picked before No. 200 overall have stood out the most ahead of their rookie regular seasons, weighing their performance in relation to where they were drafted: (Getty Images) 1. George Pickens, Steelers (Round 2, No. 52 overall)Grade: A+ | Stats: 5 catches on 7 targets for 49 yards, TDPickens has zoomed into a prime position as the Steelers' new preferred No. 2 receiver to Diontae Johnson, taking advantage a shaky, shoulder injury-marred camp for Chase Claypool. Now Pickens looks like the outside field-stretcher of choice with Claypool developing more into the big slot. It also wouldn't hurt if the Steelers just start Pickett from the get-go to boost the rookie-to-rookie love.2. Romeo Doubs, Packers (Round 4, No. 132 overall)Grade: A+ | Stats: 6 catches on 12 targets for 69 yards, 2 TDsAaron Rodgers challenged his young receiver corps and declared how much he wants seasoned veterans topping the pecking order without Davante Adams. Matt LaFleur and the coaching staff have had some i sues too, with Doubs' drops. But with all due respect to Allen Lazard, Randall Cobb and Sammy Watkins, Doubs brings a dangerous downfield element that none of them can in trying to replace the shot-play production of Marquez Valdes-Scantling. Rodgers can get picky with the Packers' wideouts, but he also can't ignore someone who can help him stretch the field best with his big arm.MORE:3. Alec Pierce, Colts (Round 2, No. 53 overall)Grade: A+| Stats: 3 catches on 4 targets for 36 yardsThe Colts have been thrilled with the speed, hands, route-running of Pierce. They also like the fact, like No. 1 wideout Michael Pittman Jr., he can use his size and quickne s outside or inside. The Cincinnati kid has all but secured a startling role for a thin corps on a run-heavy offense Matt Ryan will be locked into Pittman often, but Pierce can open things up by taking the top off defenses at times.4. Khalil Shakir, Bills (Round 5, No. 148 overall)Grade: A+ | Stats: 8 catches on 8 targets for 151 yardsShakir has led the Bills in receiving in their two preseason games as the Boise State product looks like the right choice to back up Stefon Diggs and Gabriel Davis on the outside. Before he settles into a much bigger role for Josh Allen in 2023, Shakir should get some key field-stretching looks in four wide, given Jamison Crowder and Isaiah McKenzie are varied slot options.5. Chris Olave, Saints (Round 1, No. 11 overall)Grade: A | Stats: 3 catch on targets for 32 yards, TDOlave is off to a strong start in the Saints' revamped downfield pa sing game. They want to be more aggre sive spreading the field and throwing downfield with Jameis Winston and Olave is central to those plans off the elite intermediate po se sion skills of fellow Ohio State product Michael Thomas. The flashy big playmaking will continue as a No. 2. (Getty Images) 6. Jahan Dotson, Commanders (Round 1, No. 16 overall)Grade: A | Stats: 2 catches on 2 targets for 23 yardsDotson is living up to expectations as the ideal No. 2 outside to established No. 1 Terry McLaurin. He's been as fast as advertised speedy vertical threat but he's also shown command with his hands and route-running. He is the type of downfield target with whom Carson Wentz connects well, too.7. Erik Ezukanma, Dolphins (Round 4, No. 125 overall)Grade: A | Stats: 8 catches on 12 targets for 132 yardsEzukanma is having a Shakir-like camp in the AFC East operating as a high-upside No. 4. He exploded for a big second preseason game, proving he's the best of the rest behind Tyreek HIll, Jaylen Waddle and Cedrick Wilson. In a revamped, remixed receiving corps, Ezukanma has taken advantage of getting to connect often with fellow rookie Skylar Thompson at QB. That has helped him earn a roster spot and should rise to have more relevance than a fourth newcomer, Trent Sherfield.8. Wan'Dale Robinson, Giants (Round 2, No. 43 overall)Grade: A- | Stats: NoneRobinson has had a big camp and the Giants have been careful to deploy the versatile weapon too much in the preseason, perhaps staying vanilla before unleashing their big plans for him when games count. Slot? Outside? Backfield? It doesn't matter. Brian Daboll and Mike Kafka were brought to lead New York's offense to make it more explosive and dynamic around Daniel Jones and Robinson might be needed most to support Kenny Golladay, given he's battling for key snaps with oft-injured Sterling Shepard and the mercurial Kadarius Toney.9. Garrett Wilson, Jets (Round 1, No. 10 overall)Grade: B+ | Stats: 2 catches on 3 targets for 25 receiving yardsWilson has incredible talent and arguably should have been taken ahead of London. But he's dealing with some drop i sues and questions at quarterback while adjusting to an outside-inside role to complement rising second-year star Elijah Moore and veteran Corey Davis.MORE:10. Danny Gray, 49ers (Round 3, No. 105 overall)Grade: B | Stats: 4 catches on 6 targets for 123 yards, TDDeebo Samuel is the clear No. 1 in San Francisco and is getting paid like it. By all accounts, perhaps motivated by the new big-play threat of Gray, Brandon Aiyuk has had a buzzworthy camp to fly out of the doghouse. Gray has flashed good deep chemistry with Trey Lance to give the 49ers their most explosive receiving corps in the Kyle Shanahan era operating behind that duo and Jauan Jennings. 11. Skyy Moore, Chiefs (Round 2, No. 54 overall)Grade: B | Stats: 3 catches on 4 targets for 23 yardsThe first name is the limit for the Chiefs' versatile slot option drafted to replace a good chunk of Hill's role. After being slowed by a hip injury early in camp, Moore has turned it on to prove more that he can be trusted as a cog Andy Reid and Patrick Mahomes can move all over the field. He is working to be more integral than Valdes-Scantling and Juju Smith-Schuster to support Travis Kelce.12. Drake London, Falcons (Round 1, No. 8 overall)Grade: B | Stats: 1 catch on 1 target for 24 yardsLondon started Atlanta's first preseason game with Marcus Mariota. Before leaving with a knee injury to shelve him for a little while, he caught his lone target. At 6-4, 219 pounds, when healthy, London remains on track to be Falcons' clear No. 1 outside target playing off bigger tight end Kyle Pitts (6-6, 245 pounds).MORE:13. David Bell, Browns (Round 3, No. 99 overall)Grade: B | Stats: 3 catches on 4 targets for 46 yardsBell is trying to accelerate his work in late August practice coming off a foot ailment suffered in early June minicamp. Leading the team in receiving in his first preseason action, Bell showed his size-speed potential as a big slot for a team needing more intermediate help behind Amari Cooper14. Velus Jones Jr., Bears (Round 3, No. 71 overall)Grade: B- | Stats: 1 catch on 2 targets for 4 yardsJones has flashed some of his speed playmaking at wideout, but he's been even more impre sive with his burst in the return game. He's gotten more opportunity early with Byron Pringle, the veteran newcomer No. 2 to Darnell Mooney, mi sing much time with a quad injury. Jones is still headed for No. 3 duties, but that might be a more calculated shot-play role behind Mooney, Pringle, tight end Cole Kmet and the backs in the pa sing game.15. Jalen Tolbert, Cowboys (Round 3, No. 88 overall)Grade: B- | Stats: 4 catches on 11 targets for 35 yardsTolbert has had a strong camp but with limited QB help in the preseason, it Chili Davis Jersey |
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发表于 2026-10-5 17:15:38