The NFL’s 8 finest receivers towards press protection

NFL offenses are doing an increasing number of to dump defenses on their collective heads lately. Unfold ideas from condensed formations, 2×2 and 3×1 units that may splay into any sorts of route combos, and fast sport/RPO passing concepts that forestall the move rush from getting there earlier than the ball is out.

To counter these issues, defenses are sending all types of pass-rush plans towards which it’s tough to inconceivable to name protections, and security switches that give quarterbacks utterly totally different protection appears to be like earlier than and after the snap. As to the NFL’s current quick-game revolution, a variety of defensive coordinators are going again to the longer term by placing as lots of their cornerbacks in press protection as attainable. Whether or not it’s the sort of aggressive press protection we used to see within the Nineteen Sixties and Nineteen Seventies, or press-match protection which permits cornerbacks to work the routes from the road of scrimmage (ostensibly permitting fewer deep performs consequently), trendy NFL defenses are as a lot about receiver disruption as they’re about quarterback disruption.

That’s true of the trendy NFL defenses that work, to be clear.

So, within the “If this, then that” chess match that has at all times been a main assemble in soccer, receivers who can beat press protection on the common are extra beneficial than they could have been a decade in the past, when extra defenses had been making an attempt to copy the Seattle Seahawks’ Legion of Increase Cowl-3 stuff with out the LOB’s on-field expertise.

With these trendy defensive constructions in thoughts, listed below are the NFL’s finest receivers towards press protection.

(All superior metrics courtesy of Subsequent Gen Stats until in any other case indicated).

Tyreek Hill, Miami Dolphins

Hill stands out as the NFL’s most inconceivable receiver to cowl in a common sense, however he’s REALLY powerful while you attempt to press him. Along with his potential to leverage cornerbacks off the road of scrimmage with short-area motion, and his unparalleled discipline velocity to get vertical when he’s free from press protection, there isn’t a lot a defender can do.

Nonetheless, defenders tried. For regardless of the heck purpose, Hill ranked second within the NFL In targets towards press protection with 55. He caught 38 of these catches for 665 yards and 6 touchdowns. That’s a 69.1% catch fee, with 17.5 yards per completion. Hill’s Receiving EPA towards press protection – +43.6 – was by far the best amongst qualifying receivers; Brandon Aiyuk of the San Francisco 49ers ranked second at +33.1.

Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel would in all probability like it if opposing defensive coordinators dialed up extra of these items. Personally, I’d reasonably bracket Hill intermediate-to-deep and hope he doesn’t home my protection on a easy display screen.

Mike Evans, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

No receiver had extra touchdowns towards press protection final season than Mike Evans’ seven. General, Evans was focused 37 instances in press, catching 19 of these targets for 303 yards. That’s a catch fee of 48.1%, 16.7 yards per catch, and an EPA of +15.3 – Twelfth-highest on this listing. However while you watch Evans’ targets towards press, two issues grow to be clear. The passes to him weren’t at all times correct (sorry, Mr. Mayfield), and opposing cornerbacks had been mugging him one thing fierce at instances to offset Evans’ 6’5, 231-pound body, and his potential to only Godzilla his method to the ball.

When Evans had an excellent shot, even the very best press cornerbacks had severe bother with him.

CeeDee Lamb, Dallas Cowboys

In Lamb’s ongoing contract points with the Cowboys, there have been all types of discussions as as to if Lamb is a real No. 1 receiver. That definition is totally different to totally different folks – and a few would argue that you simply don’t actually need a No. 1 receiver to have a profitable passing sport – however in Lamb’s case, I believe he will get unfairly debited by the query as a result of he makes the issues he does properly look all too simple.

This prolonged to Lamb’s efforts towards press protection. He was focused 40 instances in press, catching 28 passes for 400 yards, two touchdowns, a 70.0% catch fee, 14.3 yards per catch, and an EPA of +25.7 that was fourth-highest within the league.

In Week 8 of the 2023 season, the Los Angeles Rams determined to press Lamb repeatedly, and it was a catastrophe for his or her protection. Lamb caught all 5 passes towards press wherein he was focused for 110 yards and a landing. Yikes.

Now that CeeDee Lamb has a brand new contract extension that makes him the second-highest-paid non-quarterback in NFL historical past, there’ll proceed to be discussions concerning whether or not Lamb is a real No. 1 receiver on the sector.

That definition is totally different to totally different folks – and a few would argue that you simply don’t actually need a No.1 receiver to have a profitable passing sport – however in Lamb’s case, I believe he will get unfairly debited by the query as a result of he makes the issues he does properly look all too simple.

Brandon Aiyuk, San Francisco 49ers

Aiyuk had simply 33 targets versus press protection in 19 video games final season, however he did as a lot as he might with these alternatives, catching 22 for 392 yards, 4 touchdowns, a catch fee of 66.7%, 17.8 yards per catch, and an EPA of +33.1 that was bested by solely Tyreek Hill.

Wherever he performs in 2024 and past, Aiyuk has grow to be one of many NFL’s finest and smartest route-runners, and he has a selected array of abilities towards press protection from the road of scrimmage to the catch level. In case you’re in his face, it’s exhausting to contend together with his short-area quickness and burst, and his understanding of how finest to go away cornerbacks within the filth with the proper of route cuts.

Ja’Marr Chase, Cincinnati Bengals

Was Chase higher towards press protection final season when he had Joe Burrow throwing him the ball? Effectively, certain… however Chase did greater than sufficient after Burrow’s Week 11 season-ending wrist harm to show that he’s able to beating press irrespective of who his quarterback is. General in 2023, Chase caught 24 passes on 41 targets towards press protection for 430 yards, 4 touchdowns, a catch fee of 58.5, and an EPA of 25.4.

Chase’s bodily skills are apparent and oft-discussed – you don’t get a variety of guys together with his mixture of dimension (6’, 201 kilos), downfield velocity, and bodily potential… particularly in the case of making the contested catch. In Week 12 towards Joey Porter Jr. of the Pittsburgh Steelers, and with Jake Browning as his quarterback. Chase put younger Mr. Porter – a greater than credible press cornerback – by way of the blender.

Garrett Wilson, New York Jets

If Aaron Rodgers can keep wholesome and play at an “Aaron Rodgers we’re used to” tempo, Wilson might simply grow to be one of the vital devastating receivers towards press protection. He already was that in 2023 with Zach Wilson, Trevor Siemian, and Tim Boyle as his quarterbacks, and Wilson ought to in all probability win some sort of award for that.

When pressed final season, Wilson caught 26 of 52 targets for 445 yards, three touchdowns, a catch fee of fifty.0%, 17.1 yards per catch, and an EPA of 16.6. However as is the case with Mike Evans, it’s a must to return to the tape to see what Wilson was coping with. Given even half an opportunity, Wilson demolished aggressive press on the line of scrimmage, and match press by way of his routes.

George Pickens, Pittsburgh Steelers

With Russell Wilson and Justin Fields as his quarterbacks this season, and Kenny Pickett and Mitchell Trubisky as his quarterbacks in 2023, Pickens is one other receiver who ought to obtain a quarterback waiver in the case of his skills towards press protection. Nonetheless, he managed 26 catches on 49 press targets for 586 yards and 4 touchdowns. Pickens’ yards per catch common of twenty-two.5 led all receivers with a minimum of 10 targets towards press protection, and his catch fee of 53.1 – to not point out his EPA of +18.0 – converse extra to the fellows throwing him the ball than any deficiencies on his half.

Final season, Pickens was particularly lethal on fade and nook routes towards press, however as this rep towards Cleveland Browns cornerback Denzel Ward (probably the greatest press cornerbacks within the enterprise) exhibits, Pickens has all of it on lock. Sadly, it seems that the quarterback problems with 2023 are again in numerous disguises.

Nico Collins, Houston Texans

Collins was a breakout star in 2023 with C.J. Stroud as his quarterback, and that bought the 2021 third-round choose from Michigan a brand new three-year, $72.25 million contract extension this offseason with $32,116 million assured. Collins’ efforts towards press protection had been fairly spectacular, as properly. He had 34 targets towards press, catching 22 for 466 yards, 4 touchdowns, a catch fee of 64.7%, and an EPA of +31.9 (third-best within the league behind Tyreek Hill and Brandon Aiyuk).

Collins had the good thing about Stroud throwing him excellent missile after excellent missile, however that’s to not low cost his personal skills. At 6’4 and 215 kilos, he’s a load to take care of on the line of scrimmage, and his sense of find out how to break free from press initially of his route is magnified by his discipline velocity, and his knack for making the contested catch. Even when high quality press cornerbacks tried to rein him in, the outcomes had been usually in Collins’ favor.