Slot Receivers For New England Patriots
Behind roster lock Julian Edelman, the Patriots’ slot position is a rather young one.
- The NFL’s best slot receivers, No. 5: Julian Edelman, Patriots. For earning trust with Tom Brady in the New England offense. To think of Edelman as more of a slot receiver than he really.
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In the 2019 regular and postseason, per Pro Football Focus data, slot receivers regardless of position (receivers, running backs, and tight ends) accounted for 32% of all targets, 31.6% of all receptions, 32.3% of all receiving yardage, and 34.3% of all receiving touchdowns. In a league where the three-receiver set is by far the default formation (it happened on 69% of all snaps last season, per Sports Info Solutions), having a versatile and productive slot receiver is an absolute necessity in the modern passing game.
Moreover, there is no one kind of slot receiver in the modern NFL. It used to be that you wanted the shorter, smaller guy inside, and your bigger, more physical receivers on the outside. Then, offensive coaches started to realize that by putting bigger receivers and tight ends in the slot, you could create mismatches with slower linebackers and smaller slot cornerbacks. Teams countered this by acquiring linebackers built like safeties, eager to do more than just chase after run fits, and also by moving their best cornerbacks into the slot in certain situations.
Now that offensive and defensive coaches have worked hard to create as many schematic and personnel ties in the slot as possible, the best slot receivers are the ones who consistently show the ideal characteristics for the position. These receivers know how to exploit defenders who don’t have a boundary to help them — they’ll create inside and outside position to move the defender where they want him to go. They understand the value and precision of the option route, and how you can hang a defender out to dry with a simple “if this/then that” equation based on coverage rules. They know how to work in concert with their outside receivers to create route combinations which create impossible math problems for defenses. And they know how to get open in quick spaces.
But don’t automatically assume that slot receivers are just taking the dink-and-dunk routes — they’re actually tasked to catch everything from quick slants to vertical stuff down the seam and up the numbers. Last season, per PFF data, the NFL average for yards per completion for outside receivers was 11.28. 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.
More Top 11 lists: Slot defenders Outside cornerbacks Safeties Linebackers Edge defenders Interior defensive linemen Offensive tackles Offensive guards Centers Outside Receivers
Honorable Mentions
Had we dropped the qualifying floor to under 50% slot snaps, two guys would have easily made it — Tampa Bay’s Mike Evans, and Baltimore’s Marquise Goodwin. Evans led all slot receivers with at least 25 targets with a passer rating when targeted of 151.3, and Brown was an absolute force against defenses in the slot — especially when he was using his speed in empty formations.
New England Patriots Top Receivers
San Francisco’s Deebo Samuel, who was probably the MVP of the first half of Super Bowl LIV before things started to go backward for his team, would have received a mention as well — Samuel had just 33 targets, but caught 28 of them and helped his quarterback to a 135.3 rating when he was targeted in the slot. Kansas City speed receiver Mecole Hardman had just 23 a lot targets, but he was also highly efficient with them, helping his quarterbacks to a 133.9 rating. Though Danny Amendola was the only Lions receiver to make the 50% threshold, both Marvin Jones and Kenny Golladay were highly efficient when tasked to move inside. Other former slot stars like Tyreek Hill of the Chiefs and Minnesota’s Adam Thielen saw their roles change more to the outside in 2019 from previous seasons.
Of the receivers who actually qualified, Nelson Agholor of the Eagles was quietly efficient and had just two drops in the slot last season — which would go against several memes on the subject. Buffalo’s Cole Beasley just missed the cut, through he was one of several receivers on the Bills’ roster who didn’t always get the accuracy and efficiency they deserved from quarterback Josh Allen. And though Randall Cobb was productive for the Cowboys last season and should be so for the Texans in 2020, his nine drops as a slot man… well, we can only have one guy with nine slot drops on this list. More on that in a minute.
Now, on to the top 11.
Willie Snead IV Julian Edelman Tyler Boyd Jared Cook Golden Tate Keenan Allen Larry Fitzgerald Allen Robinson Cooper Kupp Chris Godwin Tyler Lockett
The New England Patriots are likely going to need to acquire pass-catchers. Julian Edelman, 31, is the only receiver set to return, with the rest heading for free agency. Rob Gronkowski, the team’s only proven pass-catching tight end, is considering retirement. The Patriots may need receivers to contribute right away, and it wouldn’t hurt to stash a younger receiver for development.
Lucky for New England, the 2019 NFL Draft class boasts a handful of talented receivers who would fill well in the slot role for the Patriots. Before we jump into this list, I’d like to clarify that these receivers aren’t limited to a slot role. Many are capable of playing inside and outside in New England’s offense, much like Julian Edelman has done in recent years. But any one of these players could become Edelman’s replacement.
Deebo Samuel, WR, South Carolina: He has drawn praise for his silky route-running and physicality. Both qualities combine in ways that get Samuel open often. During the Senior Bowl, his feistiness allowed him to fight through heavy physicality, often dwelling in what would be a penalty in the NFL.
Best Patriots Receivers
Parris Campbell, WR, Ohio State: He’s a two-time captain, and an all-around good kid. What’s more, he contributed in college on all four downs, serving as a returner on special teams. His final college season was his lone example of big production, when he logged 90 receptions for 1,063 yards and 12 touchdowns.Marquise Brown, WR, Oklahoma:New England Patriots Wide Receivers
He was rated to be a mid first-rounder before undergoing a foot surgery, according to ESPN. He should be ready for training camp, but there’s no saying where he’ll fall in the draft. Perhaps he’ll fall to the Patriots at 32. Perhaps he’ll fall further. Regardless, Brown is probably more of an outside receiver than any of the others in this list. But the Patriots could make his slippery speed work inside.Next up: Mid or late-round picks