Chris Chambers' career path did not follow an upward trajectory.
Ten years ago, Doug Drinen wondered how often the top rookie wide receiver ended up having the best career among his classmates. At the time, he was discussing Chris Chambers — yes, he was the top rookie in 2001 — and was surprised by the results.
The research showed that for the period between 1981 and 2000, the top rookie receiver almost never ended up as the top wideout from his class. Doug was correct in speculating that because of that track record, Chambers was a bad bet to end up being the best receiver among all 2001 rookies, despite Chambers having had the best rookie year.
Here’s a look at the top rookie receivers from 2001 based on receiving yards, along with three other notable wideouts:
| Games | Receiving | ||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rk | Player | Year | Age | Draft | Tm | Lg | G | GS | Rec | Yds | TD | ||
| 1 | Chris Chambers | 2001 | 23 | 2-52 | MIA | NFL | 16 | 7 | 48 | 883 | 18.40 | 7 | 55.2 |
| 2 | Rod Gardner | 2001 | 24 | 1-15 | WAS | NFL | 16 | 16 | 46 | 741 | 16.11 | 4 | 46.3 |
| 3 | Koren Robinson | 2001 | 21 | 1-9 | SEA | NFL | 16 | 13 | 39 | 536 | 13.74 | 1 | 33.5 |
| 4 | Snoop Minnis | 2001 | 24 | 3-77 | KAN | NFL | 13 | 11 | 33 | 511 | 15.48 | 1 | 39.3 |
| 5 | Quincy Morgan | 2001 | 24 | 2-33 | CLE | NFL | 16 | 9 | 30 | 432 | 14.40 | 2 | 27.0 |
| 6 | David Terrell | 2001 | 22 | 1-8 | CHI | NFL | 16 | 6 | 34 | 415 | 12.21 | 4 | 25.9 |
| 7 | Reggie Wayne | 2001 | 23 | 1-30 | IND | NFL | 13 | 9 | 27 | 345 | 12.78 | 0 | 26.5 |
| 8 | Drew Bennett | 2001 | 23 | TEN | NFL | 14 | 1 | 24 | 329 | 13.71 | 1 | 23.5 | |
| 9 | Chad Ochocinco | 2001 | 23 | 2-36 | CIN | NFL | 12 | 3 | 28 | 329 | 11.75 | 1 | 27.4 |
| 10 | Freddie Mitchell | 2001 | 23 | 1-25 | PHI | NFL | 15 | 1 | 21 | 283 | 13.48 | 1 | 18.9 |
| 11 | T.J. Houshmandzadeh | 2001 | 24 | 7-204 | CIN | NFL | 12 | 1 | 21 | 228 | 10.86 | 0 | 19.0 |
| 16 | Steve Smith | 2001 | 22 | 3-74 | CAR | NFL | 15 | 1 | 10 | 154 | 15.40 | 0 | 10.3 |
| 25 | Santana Moss | 2001 | 22 | 1-16 | NYJ | NFL | 5 | 0 | 2 | 40 | 20.00 | 0 | 8.0 |
Provided by Pro-Football-Reference.com: View Original Table
As it turned out, Chris Chambers, Rod Gardner, Koren Robinson and Snoop Minnis weren’t as successful as Reggie Wayne, Chad Johnson/Ochocinco, Steve Smith and Santana Moss.
So, has that trend held up? For the most part, the answer is yes. Below are the top rookie [1]I’ve defined a player’s rookie year as their first year in which they played an NFL game, regardless of the year they were drafted. receivers in terms of receiving yards. But for each season, on the right side of the table, I’ve listed the career leaders in receiving yards among wideouts that were rookies that season:
2011 1. A.J. Green (CIN) 1057 | 1. A.J. Green 1057 2. Julio Jones (ATL) 959 | 2. Julio Jones 959 3. Torrey Smith (BAL) 841 | 3. Torrey Smith 841 4. Doug Baldwin (SEA) 788 | 4. Doug Baldwin 788 5. Greg Little (CLE) 709 | 5. Greg Little 709 6. Denarius Moore (OAK) 618 | 6. Denarius Moore 618 7. Titus Young (DET) 607 | 7. Titus Young 607 8. Randall Cobb (GNB) 375 | 8. Randall Cobb 375 9. Vincent Brown (SDG) 329 | 9. Vincent Brown 329 10. Jeremy Kerley (NYJ) 314 | 10. Jeremy Kerley 314 2010 1. Mike Williams (TAM) 964 | 1. Mike Williams 1735 2. Anthony Armstrong (WAS) 871 | 2. Victor Cruz 1536 3. Jordan Shipley (CIN) 600 | 3. Dez Bryant 1489 4. Dez Bryant (DAL) 561 | 4. Antonio Brown 1275 5. David Gettis (CAR) 508 | 5. Brandon LaFell 1081 6. Jacoby Ford (OAK) 470 | 6. David Nelson 1011 7. Brandon LaFell (CAR) 468 | 7. Anthony Armstrong 974 8. Arrelious Benn (TAM) 395 | 8. Andre Roberts 893 9. Emmanuel Sanders (PIT) 376 | 9. Arrelious Benn 836 10. Blair White (IND) 355 | 10. Demaryius Thomas 834 2009 1. Hakeem Nicks (NYG) 790 | 1. Mike Wallace 3206 2. Percy Harvin (MIN) 790 | 2. Hakeem Nicks 3034 3. Jeremy Maclin (PHI) 762 | 3. Percy Harvin 2625 4. Mike Wallace (PIT) 756 | 4. Jeremy Maclin 2585 5. Kenny Britt (TEN) 701 | 5. Michael Crabtree 2240 6. Austin Collie (IND) 676 | 6. Johnny Knox 2214 7. Michael Crabtree (SFO) 625 | 7. Austin Collie 1839 8. Mohamed Massaquoi (CLE) 624 | 8. Kenny Britt 1765 9. Johnny Knox (CHI) 527 | 9. Brandon Gibson 1747 10. Louis Murphy (OAK) 521 | 10. Mike Thomas 1688 2008 1. Eddie Royal (DEN) 980 | 1. DeSean Jackson 4096 2. DeSean Jackson (PHI) 912 | 2. Davone Bess 2669 3. Donnie Avery (STL) 674 | 3. Jordy Nelson 2531 4. Davone Bess (MIA) 554 | 4. Pierre Garcon 2519 5. Jordy Nelson (GNB) 366 | 5. Mario Manningham 2315 6. Chansi Stuckey (NYJ) 359 | 6. Robert Meachem 2269 7. Harry Douglas (ATL) 320 | 7. Steve Johnson 2189 8. Josh Morgan (SFO) 319 | 8. Eddie Royal 2107 9. Robert Meachem (NOR) 289 | 9. Mike Sims-Walker 1948 10. John Standeford (DET) 244 | 10. Josh Morgan 1764 2007 1. Dwayne Bowe (KAN) 995 | 1. Calvin Johnson 5872 2. Calvin Johnson (DET) 756 | 2. Dwayne Bowe 4927 3. James Jones (GNB) 676 | 3. Steve Breaston 3313 4. Anthony Gonzalez (IND) 576 | 4. James Jones 2704 5. Laurent Robinson (ATL) 437 | 5. Sidney Rice 2613 6. Ted Ginn Jr. (MIA) 420 | 6. Steve Smith 2510 7. Sidney Rice (MIN) 396 | 7. Ted Ginn Jr. 2047 8. Craig Davis (SDG) 188 | 8. Laurent Robinson 1858 9. Ben Obomanu (SEA) 180 | 9. Jacoby Jones 1741 | 10. Anthony Gonzalez 1307 2006 1. Marques Colston (NOR) 1038 | 1. Brandon Marshall 6247 2. Santonio Holmes (PIT) 824 | 2. Marques Colston 6240 3. Greg Jennings (GNB) 632 | 3. Greg Jennings 6171 4. Hank Baskett (PHI) 464 | 4. Santonio Holmes 5235 5. Demetrius Williams (BAL) 396 | 5. Miles Austin 3294 6. Ruvell Martin (GNB) 358 | 6. Lance Moore 2783 7. Brandon Marshall (DEN) 309 | 7. Devin Hester 2565 8. Derek Hagan (MIA) 221 | 8. Jason Avant 2551 9. Chad Jackson (NWE) 152 | 9. Greg Camarillo 1686 | 10. Derek Hagan 1524 2005 1. Reggie Brown (PHI) 571 | 1. Roddy White 7374 2. Braylon Edwards (CLE) 512 | 2. Braylon Edwards 6003 3. Mark Clayton (BAL) 471 | 3. Vincent Jackson 4754 4. Roddy White (ATL) 446 | 4. Nate Washington 3984 5. Matt Jones (JAX) 432 | 5. Mark Clayton 3448 6. Chris Henry (CIN) 422 | 6. Reggie Brown 2574 7. D.J. Hackett (SEA) 400 | 7. Matt Jones 2153 8. Troy Williamson (MIN) 372 | 8. Chris Henry 1826 9. Mike Williams (DET) 350 | 9. Mark Bradley 1663 10. Brandon Jones (TEN) 299 | 10. Mike Williams 1616 2004 1. Michael Clayton (TAM) 1193 | 1. Larry Fitzgerald 9615 2. Lee Evans (BUF) 843 | 2. Wes Welker 7226 3. Roy E. Williams (DET) 817 | 3. Roy E. Williams 6145 4. Larry Fitzgerald (ARI) 780 | 4. Lee Evans 6008 5. Keary Colbert (CAR) 754 | 5. Jerricho Cotchery 4751 6. Darius Watts (DEN) 385 | 6. Bernard Berrian 4122 7. Clarence Moore (BAL) 293 | 7. Devery Henderson 4061 8. Ernest Wilford (JAX) 271 | 8. Michael Jenkins 3978 9. Reggie Williams (JAX) 268 | 9. Patrick Crayton 3650 10. Bernard Berrian (CHI) 225 | 10. Malcom Floyd 3170 2003 1. Anquan Boldin (ARI) 1377 | 1. Andre Johnson 9656 2. Andre Johnson (HOU) 976 | 2. Anquan Boldin 9244 3. Nate Burleson (MIN) 455 | 3. Brandon Lloyd 5750 4. Bryant Johnson (ARI) 438 | 4. Nate Burleson 4929 5. Justin Gage (CHI) 338 | 5. Bryant Johnson 3938 6. Kelley Washington (CIN) 299 | 6. Kevin Walter 3861 7. Tyrone Calico (TEN) 297 | 7. Kevin Curtis 3297 8. Kassim Osgood (SDG) 278 | 8. Bobby Wade 2978 9. Charles Rogers (DET) 243 | 9. Justin Gage 2958 10. Brandon Lloyd (SFO) 212 | 10. Shaun McDonald 2490 2002 1. Antonio Bryant (DAL) 733 | 1. Deion Branch 7317 2. Donte Stallworth (NOR) 594 | 2. Antonio Bryant 6497 3. Ashley Lelie (DEN) 525 | 3. Jabar Gaffney 5622 4. Josh Reed (BUF) 509 | 4. Donte Stallworth 4774 5. Deion Branch (NWE) 489 | 5. Antwaan Randle El 4467 6. Antwaan Randle El (PIT) 489 | 6. Javon Walker 4011 7. Jabar Gaffney (HOU) 483 | 7. Ashley Lelie 3749 8. Andre' Davis (CLE) 420 | 8. Josh Reed 3575 9. Marc Boerigter (KAN) 420 | 9. Eric Parker 2586 10. Jason McAddley (ARI) 362 | 10. Andre' Davis 2470 2001 1. Chris Chambers (MIA) 883 | 1. Reggie Wayne 11708 2. Rod Gardner (WAS) 741 | 2. Chad Ochocinco 11059 3. Koren Robinson (SEA) 536 | 3. Steve Smith 10278 4. Snoop Minnis (KAN) 511 | 4. Chris Chambers 9348 5. Quincy Morgan (CLE) 432 | 5. Santana Moss 9142 6. David Terrell (CHI) 415 | 6. T.J. Houshmandzadeh 7237 7. Reggie Wayne (IND) 345 | 7. Drew Bennett 4412 8. Chad Ochocinco (CIN) 329 | 8. Koren Robinson 4244 9. Drew Bennett (TEN) 329 | 9. Justin McCareins 3676 10. Freddie Mitchell (PHI) 283 | 10. Rod Gardner 3316 2000 1. Darrell Jackson (SEA) 713 | 1. Laveranues Coles 8609 2. Sylvester Morris (KAN) 678 | 2. Plaxico Burress 8457 3. Peter Warrick (CIN) 592 | 3. Darrell Jackson 7132 4. Dennis Northcutt (CLE) 422 | 4. Dennis Northcutt 4941 5. Laveranues Coles (NYJ) 370 | 5. Jerry Porter 4120 6. Travis Taylor (BAL) 276 | 6. Travis Taylor 4021 7. Plaxico Burress (PIT) 273 | 7. Peter Warrick 2991 8. Danny Farmer (CIN) 268 | 8. Todd Pinkston 2816 9. Trevor Gaylor (SDG) 182 | 9. Dez White 2149 10. Todd Pinkston (PHI) 181 | 10. Dante Hall 1747 1999 1. Kevin Johnson (CLE) 986 | 1. Torry Holt 13382 2. Torry Holt (STL) 788 | 2. Donald Driver 10060 3. Troy Edwards (PIT) 714 | 3. Marty Booker 6703 4. Terrence Wilkins (IND) 565 | 4. Peerless Price 5281 5. Darrin Chiaverini (CLE) 487 | 5. Kevin Johnson 5229 6. David Boston (ARI) 473 | 6. David Boston 4699 7. Jason Tucker (DAL) 439 | 7. Brandon Stokley 4680 8. Peerless Price (BUF) 393 | 8. Brian Finneran 3093 9. Bobby Shaw (PIT) 387 | 9. Bobby Shaw 2843 10. Yatil Green (MIA) 234 | 10. Troy Edwards 2404 1998 1. Randy Moss (MIN) 1313 | 1. Randy Moss 15251 2. Oronde Gadsden (MIA) 713 | 2. Hines Ward 12083 3. Jerome Pathon (IND) 511 | 3. Marcus Robinson 4699 4. Tony Simmons (NWE) 474 | 4. Az-Zahir Hakim 4191 5. Germane Crowell (DET) 464 | 5. Joe Jurevicius 4119 6. Mikhael Ricks (SDG) 450 | 6. Jerome Pathon 3350 7. Ryan Thelwell (SDG) 268 | 7. Corey Bradford 3346 8. Kevin Dyson (TEN) 263 | 8. Oronde Gadsden 3252 9. Damon Gibson (CIN) 258 | 9. Tim Dwight 2964 10. Jacquez Green (TAM) 251 | 10. Germane Crowell 2722 1997 1. Rae Carruth (CAR) 545 | 1. Derrick Mason 12231 2. Reidel Anthony (TAM) 448 | 2. Ike Hilliard 6397 3. David Patten (NYG) 226 | 3. David Patten 4715 4. Dedric Ward (NYJ) 212 | 4. Bill Schroeder 4583 5. Derrick Mason (TEN) 186 | 5. James Thrash 3646 6. Will Blackwell (PIT) 168 | 6. Albert Connell 2674 | 7. Dedric Ward 2413 | 8. Kevin Lockett 1943 | 9. Reidel Anthony 1846 | 10. Keith Poole 1734 1996 1. Terry Glenn (NWE) 1132 | 1. Terrell Owens 15934 2. Eddie Kennison (STL) 924 | 2. Marvin Harrison 14580 3. Keyshawn Johnson (NYJ) 844 | 3. Muhsin Muhammad 11438 4. Marvin Harrison (IND) 836 | 4. Keyshawn Johnson 10571 5. Charlie Jones (SDG) 524 | 5. Eric Moulds 9995 6. Terrell Owens (SFO) 520 | 6. Amani Toomer 9497 7. Muhsin Muhammad (CAR) 407 | 7. Eddie Kennison 8836 8. Bobby Engram (CHI) 389 | 8. Terry Glenn 8823 9. Eric Moulds (BUF) 279 | 9. Joe Horn 8744 10. Karl Williams (TAM) 246 | 10. Bobby Engram 7751 1995 1. Joey Galloway (SEA) 1039 | 1. Rod Smith 11389 2. Frank Sanders (ARI) 883 | 2. Joey Galloway 10950 3. Chris Sanders (HOU) 823 | 3. Wayne Chrebet 7365 4. Wayne Chrebet (NYJ) 726 | 4. Antonio Freeman 7251 5. Willie Jackson (JAX) 589 | 5. Frank Sanders 6749 6. Michael Westbrook (WAS) 522 | 6. J.J. Stokes 4447 7. J.J. Stokes (SFO) 517 | 7. Michael Westbrook 4374 8. Will Moore (NWE) 502 | 8. Willie Jackson 3898 9. Justin Armour (BUF) 300 | 9. Chris Sanders 3285 10. Tamarick Vanover (KAN) 231 | 10. David Dunn 1351 1994 1. Darnay Scott (CIN) 866 | 1. Isaac Bruce 15208 2. Derrick Alexander (CLE) 828 | 2. Johnnie Morton 8719 3. Bert Emanuel (ATL) 649 | 3. Derrick Alexander 6971 4. Charles Johnson (PIT) 577 | 4. Darnay Scott 6193 5. Lake Dawson (KAN) 537 | 5. Bert Emanuel 5098 6. Tydus Winans (WAS) 344 | 6. Charles Johnson 4606 7. Isaac Bruce (RAM) 272 | 7. James McKnight 3595 8. Bryan Reeves (ARI) 202 | 8. Leslie Shepherd 2832 | 9. Chris Penn 1945 | 10. Lake Dawson 1406 1993 1. James Jett (RAI) 771 | 1. Curtis Conway 8230 2. Horace Copeland (TAM) 633 | 2. Troy Brown 6366 3. Vincent Brisby (NWE) 626 | 3. Sean Dawkins 6291 4. Victor Bailey (PHI) 545 | 4. Rocket Ismail 5295 5. Sean Dawkins (IND) 430 | 5. Qadry Ismail 5137 6. Rocket Ismail (RAI) 353 | 6. O.J. McDuffie 5074 7. Ray Crittenden (NWE) 293 | 7. James Jett 4417 8. Russell Copeland (BUF) 242 | 8. Andre Hastings 3307 9. Curtis Conway (CHI) 231 | 9. Vincent Brisby 3202 10. Qadry Ismail (MIN) 212 | 10. Kevin Williams 2314 1992 1. Arthur Marshall (DEN) 493 | 1. Jimmy Smith 12287 2. Courtney Hawkins (TAM) 336 | 2. Keenan McCardell 11373 3. Carl Pickens (CIN) 326 | 3. Carl Pickens 7129 4. Torrance Small (NOR) 278 | 4. Torrance Small 4602 5. Cedric Tillman (DEN) 211 | 5. Courtney Hawkins 4573 6. Tony Hargain (KAN) 205 | 6. Robert Brooks 4276 | 7. Desmond Howard 1597 | 8. Todd Kinchen 1358 | 9. Arthur Marshall 1267 | 10. Cedric Tillman 1227 1991 1. Lawrence Dawsey (TAM) 818 | 1. Herman Moore 9174 2. Mike Pritchard (ATL) 624 | 2. Jeff Graham 8172 3. Willie Green (DET) 592 | 3. Ed McCaffrey 7422 4. Tim Barnett (KAN) 564 | 4. Shawn Jefferson 7023 5. Randal Hill (PHO) 495 | 5. Jake Reed 6999 6. Alvin Harper (DAL) 326 | 6. Michael Jackson 5393 7. Derek Russell (DEN) 317 | 7. Mike Pritchard 5187 8. Michael Jackson (CLE) 268 | 8. Yancey Thigpen 5081 9. Anthony Morgan (CHI) 211 | 9. Willie Davis 4503 10. Wesley Carroll (NOR) 184 | 10. Randal Hill 4344 1990 1. Ricky Proehl (PHO) 802 | 1. Rob Moore 9368 2. Fred Barnett (PHI) 721 | 2. Tony Martin 9065 3. Rob Moore (NYJ) 692 | 3. Ricky Proehl 8878 4. Calvin Williams (PHI) 602 | 4. Terance Mathis 8809 5. Tony Jones (HOU) 409 | 5. Chris Calloway 5497 6. Tony Martin (MIA) 388 | 6. Fred Barnett 5362 7. J.J. Birden (KAN) 352 | 7. Calvin Williams 4018 8. Terance Mathis (NYJ) 245 | 8. J.J. Birden 3441 9. Greg McMurtry (NWE) 240 | 9. Nate Lewis 1802 10. Jeff Campbell (DET) 236 | 10. Alexander Wright 1772 1989 1. Shawn Collins (ATL) 862 | 1. Andre Rison 10798 2. Andre Rison (IND) 820 | 2. Michael Timpson 4047 3. Hart Lee Dykes (NWE) 795 | 3. Floyd Turner 3805 4. James Dixon (DAL) 477 | 4. Don Beebe 3416 5. Derek Hill (PIT) 455 | 5. Robb Thomas 2229 6. Andre Brown (MIA) 410 | 6. Tom Waddle 2109 7. Wayne Walker (SDG) 395 | 7. Jeff Query 1865 8. Jason Phillips (DET) 352 | 8. Anthony Edwards 1478 9. Jeff Query (GNB) 350 | 9. Shawn Collins 1433 10. Don Beebe (BUF) 317 | 10. Hart Lee Dykes 1344 1988 1. Sterling Sharpe (GNB) 791 | 1. Tim Brown 14934 2. Tim Brown (RAI) 725 | 2. Michael Irvin 11904 3. Brian Blades (SEA) 682 | 3. Anthony Miller 9148 4. Michael Irvin (DAL) 654 | 4. Sterling Sharpe 8134 5. Aaron Cox (RAM) 590 | 5. Brian Blades 7620 6. Anthony Miller (SDG) 526 | 6. Brett Perriman 6981 7. Ernie Jones (PHO) 496 | 7. Michael Haynes 6588 8. Quinn Early (SDG) 375 | 8. Quinn Early 6448 9. Flipper Anderson (RAM) 319 | 9. Flipper Anderson 5357 10. Michael Haynes (ATL) 232 | 10. Ernie Jones 3630 1987 1. Ricky Nattiel (DEN) 630 | 1. Cris Carter 13899 2. Mark Carrier (TAM) 423 | 2. Mark Carrier 8763 3. Frankie Neal (GNB) 420 | 3. Haywood Jeffires 6334 4. Bruce Hill (TAM) 403 | 4. John Taylor 5598 5. Ron Morris (CHI) 379 | 5. Kelvin Martin 4768 6. Lonzell Hill (NOR) 322 | 6. Curtis Duncan 3935 7. Gary Lee (DET) 308 | 7. Mark Ingram 3926 8. James Brim (MIN) 282 | 8. Mervyn Fernandez 3764 9. Stephen Baker (NYG) 277 | 9. Bruce Hill 2942 10. Lee Morris (GNB) 259 | 10. Robert Clark 2644 1986 1. Bill Brooks (IND) 1131 | 1. Ernest Givins 8215 2. Ernest Givins (HOU) 1062 | 2. Webster Slaughter 8111 3. Mike Sherrard (DAL) 744 | 3. Bill Brooks 8001 4. Mark Jackson (DEN) 738 | 4. Ricky Sanders 6477 5. Floyd Dixon (ATL) 617 | 5. Mark Jackson 5648 6. Webster Slaughter (CLE) 577 | 6. Tim McGee 5203 7. Hassan Jones (MIN) 570 | 7. Mike Sherrard 3931 8. Rod Barksdale (RAI) 434 | 8. Hassan Jones 3824 9. Ricky Sanders (WAS) 286 | 9. Floyd Dixon 2523 10. Tim McGee (CIN) 276 | 10. Aubrey Matthews 2343 1985 1. Eddie Brown (CIN) 942 | 1. Jerry Rice 23324 2. Jerry Rice (SFO) 927 | 2. Andre Reed 13198 3. Gary Clark (WAS) 926 | 3. Gary Clark 10856 4. Anthony Carter (MIN) 821 | 4. Eric Martin 8161 5. Vance Johnson (DEN) 721 | 5. Anthony Carter 7733 6. Jessie Hester (RAI) 665 | 6. Al Toon 6605 7. Al Toon (NYJ) 662 | 7. Eddie Brown 6134 8. Andre Reed (BUF) 637 | 8. Jessie Hester 5850 9. Eric Martin (NOR) 522 | 9. Vance Johnson 5695 10. Chris Burkett (BUF) 371 | 10. Reggie Langhorne 5446 1984 1. Louis Lipps (PIT) 860 | 1. Irving Fryar 12785 2. Bobby L. Johnson (NYG) 795 | 2. Louis Lipps 6019 3. Daryl Turner (SEA) 715 | 3. Brian Brennan 4524 4. Lionel Manuel (NYG) 619 | 4. Lionel Manuel 3941 5. Ron J. Brown (RAM) 478 | 5. Pete Mandley 2370 6. Brian Brennan (CLE) 455 | 6. Kenny Jackson 2170 7. Kenny Jackson (PHI) 398 | 7. Daryl Turner 1872 8. Mitchell Brookins (BUF) 318 | 8. Bobby L. Johnson 1862 9. Weegie Thompson (PIT) 291 | 9. Ron J. Brown 1791 10. Jesse Bendross (SDG) 213 | 10. Phil McConkey 1410 1983 1. Willie Gault (CHI) 836 | 1. Henry Ellard 13892 2. Jeff Chadwick (DET) 617 | 2. Mark Clayton 8974 3. Stephone Paige (KAN) 528 | 3. Willie Gault 6635 4. Eugene Goodlow (NOR) 487 | 4. Stephone Paige 6341 5. Stephen Starring (NWE) 389 | 5. Jeff Chadwick 4653 6. Clarence Weathers (NWE) 379 | 6. Dennis McKinnon 3012 7. Byron Williams (NYG) 346 | 7. Dokie Williams 2866 8. Dennis McKinnon (CHI) 326 | 8. Clarence Weathers 2680 9. Gregg Garrity (PIT) 279 | 9. Mike A. Jones 2372 10. Herkie Walls (HOU) 276 | 10. Stephen Starring 2193 1982 1. Charlie Brown (WAS) 690 | 1. Mark Duper 8869 2. George Farmer (RAM) 344 | 2. Mike Quick 6464 3. Floyd Eddings (NYG) 275 | 3. Charlie Brown 3548 4. Lindsay Scott (NOR) 251 | 4. Stacey Bailey 3422 5. Phil Epps (GNB) 226 | 5. Phil Epps 2992 6. Kenny Duckett (NOR) 196 | 6. Cedric Jones 2703 7. Renaldo Nehemiah (SFO) 161 | 7. Dennis Gentry 2076 8. Floyd Hodge (ATL) 160 | 8. Bobby Duckworth 1932 9. Mike Quick (PHI) 156 | 9. Calvin Muhammad 1276 10. Byron Walker (SEA) 156 | 10. Anthony Hancock 1266 1981 1. Cris Collinsworth (CIN) 1009 | 1. Cris Collinsworth 6698 2. Ken Margerum (CHI) 584 | 2. Matt Bouza 3064 3. Virgil Seay (WAS) 472 | 3. Leo Lewis 2933 4. Mike Holston (HOU) 427 | 4. Mark Nichols 2235 5. Marcus Anderson (CHI) 243 | 5. Mike Wilson 2199 6. Mark Nichols (DET) 222 | 6. Jim C. Jensen 2171 7. Malcolm Barnwell (OAK) 190 | 7. Byron Franklin 2016 8. David Verser (CIN) 161 | 8. Malcolm Barnwell 1997 | 9. Ken Margerum 1348 | 10. Mike Holston 1187 1980 1. Art Monk (WAS) 797 | 1. Art Monk 12721 2. Ray Butler (BAL) 574 | 2. Carlos Carson 6479 3. Kevin House (TAM) 531 | 3. Kevin House 5553 4. Lam Jones (NYJ) 482 | 4. Ray Butler 4293 5. Mike Friede (NYG) 371 | 5. Gerald Carter 3443 6. Danny Pittman (NYG) 308 | 6. Tim Smith 3107 7. Calvin Sweeney (PIT) 282 | 7. Lam Jones 2322 8. Jeff B. Moore (RAM) 168 | 8. Calvin Sweeney 1775 | 9. Mike Friede 992 | 10. Danny Pittman 832 1979 1. Jerry Butler (BUF) 834 | 1. Drew Hill 9831 2. Earnest Gray (NYG) 537 | 2. Roy Green 8965 3. Rickey Watts (CHI) 421 | 3. Dwight Clark 6750 4. Rich Martini (OAK) 259 | 4. Steve Watson 6112 5. Dwight Clark (SFO) 232 | 5. Jerry Butler 4301 6. John Floyd (SDG) 152 | 6. Earnest Gray 3790 | 7. Jeff Groth 2132 | 8. Steve Kreider 2119 | 9. Rickey Watts 1547 | 10. Gordon Jones 1402 1978 1. John Jefferson (SDG) 1001 | 1. James Lofton 14187 2. James Lofton (GNB) 818 | 2. Wes Chandler 10108 3. Derrick Gaffney (NYJ) 691 | 3. J.T. Smith 6974 4. Alfred Jackson (ATL) 526 | 4. John Jefferson 5714 5. Dave Stief (STL) 477 | 5. Mike Renfro 4708 6. Wes Chandler (NOR) 472 | 6. Preston Dennard 3665 7. Mike Renfro (HOU) 339 | 7. Alfred Jackson 3001 8. Jesse Thompson (DET) 175 | 8. Derrick Gaffney 2613 | 9. Jimmy Cefalo 1739 | 10. Don Bass 1580
A.J. Green bucked the odds by being the top receiver last year. We'll see if he can do it again.
Conversely, if we look at those wide receivers who ended up having the best careers from their class, the median rank during their rookie season was fifth, as was the case for Derrick Mason or Laveranues Coles.
Green looks to be the next superstar wide receiver in the league. My friend and football analyst Matt Waldman loves Green’s skillset, and I agree that he looks to be the real deal. That will just makes him even more unique if he ends up having the career many expect: Jim Benton is the only player in NFL history to be the highest drafted wide receiver, lead his rookie class in receiving yards, and then finish with the most career receiving yards among wideouts from his class. Benton was drafted in 1938.
Previous “Random Perspective On” Articles:
AFC East: Buffalo Bills, Miami Dolphins, New England Patriots, New York Jets
AFC North: Baltimore Ravens, Cincinnati Bengals, Cleveland Browns, Pittsburgh Steelers
AFC South: Houston Texans, Indianapolis Colts, Jacksonville Jaguars, Tennessee Titans
AFC West: Denver Broncos, Kansas City Chiefs, Oakland Raiders, San Diego Chargers
NFC East: Dallas Cowboys, New York Giants, Philadelphia Eagles, Washington Redskins
NFC North: Chicago Bears, Detroit Lions, Minnesota Vikings, Atlanta Falcons
NFC South: Atlanta Falcons, Carolina Panthers, New Orleans Saints, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
NFC West: Arizona Cardinals, San Francisco 49ers, Seattle Seahawks, St. Louis Rams
References
| ↑1 | I’ve defined a player’s rookie year as their first year in which they played an NFL game, regardless of the year they were drafted. |
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