Rookie Wide Receivers That Could Shock The NFL
Every year we see a new group of young players come in and make their mold in the NFL. The 2024 draft class appears talented, especially at the wide receiver position. Who got a pass-catching prospect that will be an instant boost on day one?
5) Jermaine Burton
Although Tee Higgins just signed his Franchise Tag, we still don’t know how much he wants to be in Cincinnati, but he will likely resume his normal WR2 status until he ends up somewhere else. This could open up the Tyler Boyd role for the newly drafted rookie, Jermaine Burton.
Burton stands at six feet and weighs 196 pounds. He comes from Alabama where he played under Nick Saban, before that he spent two years at Georgia with Kirby Smart. In his two years at Alabama, Burton caught 79 passes for 1,475 yards and 15 touchdowns.
In 2023, Burton had the best season of his college career. He caught 39 balls for 798 yards and eight touchdowns. He also shocked everyone by leading the SEC in yards per reception with 20.5 yards. He also finished ninth in total receiving yards and fourth in receiving touchdowns.
4) Ja’Lynn Polk
The Patriots’ wide receiver room is certainly an odd one right now. Stacked up with guys like Kendrick Bourne, Demario Douglas, Juju Smith-Schuster, Tyquan Thornton, Kayshon Boutte, and rookies Ja’Lynn Polk and Javon Baker. Somebody has to step up. Looking at you, rooks.
Polk played second fiddle to Chicago Bears draft pick Rome Odunze last season at Washington, but he still put together a great year for himself. Polk caught 69 passes for 1,159 yards and nine touchdowns, averaging 16.8 yards per reception. He finished the year fifth in the Pac-12 in receiving yards and seventh in receiving touchdowns.
3) Ricky Pearsall
The 49ers shocked the world a little bit when they selected the Florida Gators pass catcher Ricky Pearsall at the end of the first round but may have begun to love the pick. Some have even called Pearsall the next Cooper Kupp. He’s a good route runner who might just make one of Brandon Aiyuk or Deebo Samuel expendable by trade for San Francisco.
Pearsall has spent the last two seasons at Florida. Over those two seasons, Pearsall caught 98 passes for 1,626 yards and nine receiving touchdowns, averaging 16.6 yards per reception. He runs a 4.4 40-yard dash and has a 42-inch vertical jump. Last season, he finished sixth in the SEC in receptions. The Niners might have found a gem here.
2) Keon Coleman
After sending Stefon Diggs down to Houston, Josh Allen is currently looking for a new best friend. That could be where Keon Coleman comes in. You’ve already seen all the clips of him on social media. He’s a funny guy. Oh yeah, and he’s a pretty good receiver.
The Bills receiver room is currently an odd one. Lots of names you will recognize, but none that are all that notable. Guys like Khalil Shakir, Curtis Samuel, Marquez Valdes-Scantling, Chase Claypool, Mack Hollins, and Andy Isabella. They still have the two-headed monster at tight end in Dalton Kincaid and Dawson Knox to go along with receiving back James Cook, but Allen is going to need an alpha. None of those guys fit the bill of an alpha receiver in the NFL.
Coleman could work his way to that WR1 position pretty easily this season. The former Florida State Seminole is almost a match made in heaven for Allen. Last season at Florida State, Coleman caught 50 passes for 658 yards and 11 touchdowns, averaging 13.2 yards per reception. If he can stretch the field for Allen, the Bills offense could be dangerous, as it has been. At least Coleman won’t be screaming at his quarterback every time he doesn’t get a look.
1) Adonai Mitchell
Somehow, the whole NFL let Adonai Mitchell fall to the 52nd overall pick for the Colts to snatch up, a team that desperately needed a WR2 to pair with Michael Pittman. Combine that with a healthy Jonathan Taylor and Anthony Richardson and the Colts might have an electric offense here soon. Especially if Richardson can expand on what he did in the short time before his injury last season.
Mitchell has looked explosive throughout OTAs and might be a problem for the league. Last year at Texas, Mitchell was able to haul in 55 passes for 845 yards and 11 touchdowns, averaging 15.4 yards per catch. He split targets with Xavier Worthy, too.
In his one season as a Texas Longhorn, Mitchell led the Big 12 in receiving touchdowns and had a season good enough to make Second Team All-Big 12. The Colts may have gotten a serious weapon that will help fast-track Richardson’s growth along with Pittman.