Nick Saban and the Alabama Crimson Tide have recently become popular for producing high-talent wide receivers that are not only able to stand out at the collegiate level, but to carry that elite talent to the NFL.
In the 2020 NFL draft Henry Ruggs III and Jerry Jeudy were the first two receivers selected. However, the two receivers mentioned by CBS Sports’ Jared Dubin as being “top-10 in the NFL for 2020” are from years past.
Here’s where the former Crimson Tide pass catchers ended up:
6. Amari Cooper
The Biletnikoff-winning receiver was the No. 4 overall selection in the 2015 NFL draft by the Oakland Raiders. He has since been traded to the Dallas Cowboys, where he has thrived has the lead wide receiver. Overall, he has been selected to the Pro Bowl four times in his five NFL seasons.
“Cooper’s sporadic injury issues have affected him only slightly since being traded to the Cowboys, and his once sky-high drop rate has fallen from 6.4 percent in Oakland to 4.6 percent in Dallas,” says Dubin. “It also seems far more likely that the strange home-road splits Cooper has exhibited in Dallas are the result of a small sample than something we should expect to continue into the future, considering he did not display the same splits during his time with the Raiders. (Those splits are also affected by the fact that he played only three snaps in one of his 12 Dallas road games. They’re not quite as dramatic if you take that game out of the equation.)
Cooper’s arrival also hastened the breakout of Michael Gallup, who has been able to take advantage of opposing No. 2 corners while working opposite his star teammate. Gallup is more of a pure X receiver than Cooper, who has the flexibility to move around, and he’s benefitted from having someone to draw attention away from the boundary.”
2. Julio Jones
Jones has an NFL resume that backs up the No. 2 ranking. after being the No. 6 overall selection in the 2011 NFL draft, he has been a seven-time Pro Bowler, two-time first team All Pro and a two -time receiving yards leader.
Dubin has high praise for Jones’ elite skills as a receiver.
“Even during the three seasons since his last First Team All-Pro appearance (2017 through 2019) he leads the NFL in yards per route run, with a 2.80 average,” says Dubin. “His per-16-games average during that time is 102-1,537-6, with a 63 percent catch rate. (He’s played 47 of 48 games.) The ridiculous touchdown concerns should have been written off immediately when they first surfaced, considering he he scored eight, 10, six, eight, and six times during his first five healthy seasons, but hopefully his 14 scores over the past two years put them to bed for good.
Jones is a massive target at 6-3, 220 pounds and is still an excellent downfield threat, and it’s really only his decline in yards per reception (17.0 -> 16.4 -> 14.8 -> 14.1) and per target (10.9 -> 9.8 -> 9.9 -> 8.9) over the past several years that keeps him out of the No. 1 spot.”
Roll Tide wire will keep you updated on former Alabama players as the 2020 NFL season gets closer!
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