In the NFL, the wide receiver position has undergone somewhat of a generational change. In years past, the ideal wide receiver was a big guy who could make catches on top of their defenders and get away with a lack of athleticism due to their size. However, in current seasons the trend of having large physical wide receivers has been fading away. Now, teams are relying much more heavily on the quick and nimble receivers that, while they may lack physicality, make up for their shortcomings with their incredible athletic abilities.
The Future of the Wide Receiver Position in the NFL
An easy example that can be seen is the difference in playing styles between a player like Mike Evans and Odell Beckham. On one side of the spectrum, you have Evans. He’s a tall receiver at 6’5″ who, while may not be the most athletic receiver, gets the job done with his great hands and ability to catch passes on top of shorter defenders and physically dominate defenders. On the other hand, there is Beckham. While only 5’11”, he makes up for it with his insane athleticism and route running that allows him to use his speed and leaping ability to beat defenders to the ball and break away for long runs after the catch.
This trend has been developing for quite some time now. It can be seen in the different play styles between Arizona Cardinals superstar Larry Fitzgerald and former star on the Minnesota Vikings Percy Harvin. When Harvin was in his prime and was fully healthy, he was one of the top receivers in the league. Harvin was able to do exactly what current athletic receivers are doing now. He would use his speed and athleticism to exploit holes in zone coverage and burn man-to-man coverage with ease. Meanwhile, Fitzgerald has maintained consistency throughout his career with his size and strength. And 13 seasons into his career, he has remained one of the top receivers in the NFL.
The level of consistency Fitzgerald has maintained over a whopping 13 seasons brings up an interesting point when it comes to smaller and more athletic receivers: consistency. Percy Harvin played over 14 games in a season in only his first three seasons, with him playing under ten games in each of his past four seasons. In fact, Harvin’s lack of durability and inability to play at a high level anymore has led him to likely retirement. Meanwhile, Fitzgerald has played in at least 13 games in each of his 13 seasons in the league. He has also never suffered a severe injury that has seriously harmed his career.
So, when it comes to the future of the NFL, what will teams value more?
Will they value having a receiver that will be reliable and consistent for most of his career, but lacks the athletic ability to make him a speedy big play threat. Or would they rather have a receiver who, while may only be reliable and effective for around five seasons or so, will be a consistent big play threat in the meantime and will be a major playmaker in their offense?
When it comes down to it, both types of receivers will remain around for at least the next five seasons or so. While someone like Laquon Treadwell may have slipped down the draft boards due to his lack of athleticism, he was still a first round pick that should contribute at a high level in the NFL.
While the trend may be gaining popularity, physical players at the wide receiver position are not out of the NFL yet.
