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Late-round wide receivers

Odds long for rookie impact from Packers trio

Green Bay drafted three wide receivers from the fourth through the sixth round last April, and some (including me) thought one of them might emerge as a significant receiver in their rookie season. Maybe Randall Cobb would get hurt, or maybe one of them would beat out Geronimo Allison for No. 3 duties in the Aaron Rodgers-led offense. Well, nope.

Fourth-rounder J'Mon Moore, fifth-rounder Marquez Valdes-Scantling (pictured) and sixth-rounder Equanimeous St. Brown are battling for roster spots, not to mention battling for the title of which name I have to look up the most often when writing about them. Moore, drafted earliest, has been the most disappointing to this point, struggling with drops in practices and games. Valdes-Scantling had a big outing in the first exhibition game, including a couple of pretty impressive grabs. He's probably going to make the 53, while Moore is iffier, and St. Brown -- the favorite of draft analysts prior to falling all the way to the sixth -- is probably going to wind up on the practice squad.

All three have been pushed by Jake Kumerow, who has shone in practices (praised by Aaron Rodgers) and made a couple of big plays in the exhibitions, as well.

In retrospect, I should have known not to expect a rookie impact from any of these draft picks. Of all the fourth- through sixth-rounders drafted since 2000, only a small handful have done anything in their first seasons. Only a dozen have even gone over 500 receiving yards.

4TH-6TH ROUND WRS, 2000-PRESENT, ROOKIE NUMBERS
YearRdPlayerNoYdsTD
20104Mike Williams, T.B.6596411
20155Stefon Diggs, Minn.527204
20124Chris Givens, St.L.426983
20094Austin Collie, Ind.606767
20135Kenny Stills, N.O.326415
20115Denarius Moore, Oak.336185
20154Jamison Crowder, Wash.596042
20165Tyreek Hill, K.C.6159312
20144Martavis Bryant, Pitt.265498
20095Johnny Knox, Chi.455275
20165Tajae Sharpe, Tenn.415222
20094Brian Hartline, Mia.315063
20134Ace Sanders, Jac.514841
20094Mike Thomas, Jac.484531
20175Trent Taylor, S.F.434302
20164Malcolm Mitchell, N.E.324014
20096Brandon Gibson, Phil.343481
20174Dede Westbrook, Jac.273391
20035Justin Gage, Chi.173382
20086Josh Morgan, S.F.203193
20115Jeremy Kerley, NYJ293141
20124Jarius Wright, Minn.223102
20064Brandon Marshall, Den.203092
20155J.J. Nelson, Ariz.112992
20124Travis Benjamin, Clev.182983
20174Mack Hollins, Phil.162261
20034Brandon Lloyd, S.F.142122
20164Ricardo Louis, Clev.182050
20125Marvin Jones, Cin.182011
20166Cody Core, Cin.172000
20184DaeSean Hamilton, Den.???
20184Antonio Callaway, Clev.???
20184J'Mon Moore, G.B.???
20184Jaleel Scott, Balt.???
20184Keke Coutee, Hou.???
20185Justin Watson, T.B.???
20185Daurice Fountain, Ind.???
20185Marquez Valdes-Scantling, G.B.???
20185Jordan Lasley, Balt.???
20186Ray-Ray McCloud, Buff.???
20186Damion Ratley, Clev.???
20186Dylan Cantrell, LAC???
20186Deon Cain, Ind.???
20186Cedrick Wilson, Dall.???
20186Russell Gage, Atl.???
20186Equanimeous St. Brown, G.B.???
20186Braxton Berrios, N.E.???

Table shows all wideouts selected in those rounds since 2000 who even went over 200 receiving yards in their rookie seasons. Wideouts drafted that late typically start out well down the depth chart, and tough (and rare) for them to carve out significant roles right away. That's what Moore, Valdes-Scantling and St. Brown are up against.

As far as developing eventually, chances are better in that regard. From the above list you can see a couple of guys who did little as rookies but emerged in their second or third seasons: Brandon Marshall and Marvin Jones. And the table doesn't even include players who were under 200 yards in their first seasons and then became stars, like the most famous sixth-round wideout in recent memory, Antonio Brown. Another was Pierre Garcon; he's had a pretty nice career.

I drafted Moore in dynasty. After Valdes-Scantling's big exhibition, I picked him up; last week I dropped Moore for Kumerow. You can't keep everyone, and I'm going to favor guys who have flashed over guys who haven't.

One upshoot of this is that Geronimo Allison looks very good as a full-time wideout in Green Bay's offense. The other guys, whoever makes it, will have to wait their turn.

--Andy Richardson

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