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Pro Football Focus ranks 3 former SEC stars among top 4 rookie WRs in NFL in 2021
By Adam Spencer
Published:
The SEC sent several elite wide receivers to the NFL via the first round of the 2022 NFL Draft.
Former LSU WR Ja’Marr Chase was the first receiver off the board, going No. 5 overall to the Cincinnati Bengals, reuniting with ex-LSU QB Joe Burrow and helping lead the Bengals to an AFC title.
Former Alabama stars Jaylen Waddle (No. 6 to the Miami Dolphins) and DeVonta Smith (No. 10 to the Philadelphia Eagles) also went in the first 10 picks.
And they all stood out this season, according to Pro Football Focus. As you can see below, Chase was the highest-graded rookie receiver, per PFF. Waddle checked in at No. 3, with Smith at No. 4:
The highest-graded rookie WRs in the 2021 season pic.twitter.com/HiFfgdXm6k
— PFF (@PFF) February 20, 2022
Amon-Ra St. Brown, a fourth-round pick by the Detroit Lions, finished second in PFF’s grading system.
How will those guys fare as second-year receivers in 2022? The future is bright!
Adam is a daily fantasy sports (DFS) and sports betting expert. A 2012 graduate of the University of Missouri, Adam now covers all 14 SEC football teams. He is the director of DFS, evergreen and newsletter content across all Saturday Football brands.
