A recent story out of Philadelphia has GM Howie Roseman saying that second-year wideout JJ Arcega-Whiteside needs to step things up this season. No kidding: Arcega-Whiteside caught only 10 passes as a rookie, despite injuries gutting the position for the Eagles. He's one of several 2019 second-rounders that can be said about.
Last year's draft produced three very impressive wide receivers from that round: A.J. Brown, DK Metcalf and Deebo Samuel. All three put up at least 800 receiving yards and scored at least 6 touchdowns, as key contributors for playoff teams. A fourth, Mecole Hardman, had over 500 receiving yards and 7 touchdowns for the Super Bowl champs.
But three other 2019 second-rounders did virtually nothing: Arcega-Whiteside, Indianapolis' Parris Campbell (pictured) and Arizona's Andy Isabella. None of the three reached 200 yards. Campbell was hurt half the year, Isabella was buried in Arizona, Arcega-Whiteside barely got on the field. What are the chances one or two of them will be significant players in 2020?
Over the last 20 years, there have been 47 second-round wideouts who, like those players, finished under 400 receiving yards in their rookie seasons. In year 2, only about 20 percent of those players (nine) put up notable receiving numbers; at least 500 yards. As luck would have it, the very best of those guys is Arcega-Whiteside's teammate in Philadelphia. And another of the best did it just last year, and it seemed just as unlikely at this time a year ago (DJ Chark).
| SECOND-ROUND WIDEOUTS, YEAR 2 | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year | Pk | Player | No | Yards | TD | Rookie |
| 2012 | 45 | Alshon Jeffery | 89 | 1421 | 7 | 24-367-3 |
| 2001 | 36 | Chad Johnson | 69 | 1166 | 5 | 28-329-1 |
| 2018 | 61 | D.J. Chark | 73 | 1008 | 8 | 14-174-0 |
| 2011 | 64 | Randall Cobb | 80 | 954 | 8 | 25-375-1 |
| 2018 | 60 | James Washington | 44 | 735 | 3 | 16-217-1 |
| 2017 | 37 | Zay Jones | 56 | 652 | 7 | 27-316-2 |
| 2012 | 63 | Rueben Randle | 41 | 611 | 6 | 19-298-3 |
| 2000 | 36 | Todd Pinkston | 42 | 586 | 4 | 10-181-0 |
| 2007 | 51 | Steve Smith | 57 | 574 | 1 | 8-63-0 |
| 2013 | 34 | Justin Hunter | 28 | 498 | 3 | 18-354-4 |
| 2017 | 40 | Curtis Samuel | 39 | 494 | 7 | 15-115-0 |
| 2005 | 61 | Vincent Jackson | 27 | 453 | 6 | 3-59-0 |
| 2010 | 39 | Arrelious Benn | 30 | 441 | 3 | 25-395-2 |
| 2010 | 60 | Golden Tate | 35 | 382 | 3 | 21-227-0 |
| 2008 | 51 | Malcolm Kelly | 25 | 347 | 0 | 3-18-0 |
| 2004 | 50 | Devery Henderson | 22 | 343 | 3 | 0-0-0 |
| 2012 | 43 | Stephen Hill | 24 | 342 | 1 | 21-252-3 |
| 2010 | 36 | Dexter McCluster | 46 | 328 | 1 | 21-209-1 |
| 2008 | 34 | Devin Thomas | 25 | 325 | 3 | 15-120-1 |
| 2008 | 36 | Jordy Nelson | 22 | 320 | 2 | 33-366-2 |
| 2005 | 55 | Roscoe Parrish | 23 | 320 | 3 | 15-148-1 |
| 2009 | 36 | Brian Robiskie | 29 | 310 | 3 | 7-106-0 |
| 2002 | 46 | Tim Carter | 26 | 309 | 0 | 2-37-0 |
| 2012 | 33 | Brian Quick | 18 | 302 | 2 | 11-156-2 |
| 2001 | 41 | Robert Ferguson | 22 | 293 | 3 | 0-0-0 |
| 2005 | 39 | Mark Bradley | 14 | 282 | 3 | 18-230-0 |
| 2006 | 44 | Sinorice Moss | 21 | 225 | 0 | 5-25-0 |
| 2000 | 47 | Jerry Porter | 19 | 220 | 0 | 1-6-0 |
| 2003 | 44 | Taylor Jacobs | 16 | 178 | 0 | 3-37-1 |
| 2003 | 45 | Bethel Johnson | 10 | 174 | 2 | 16-209-3 |
| 2007 | 44 | Sidney Rice | 15 | 141 | 4 | 31-396-4 |
| 2007 | 45 | Dwayne Jarrett | 10 | 119 | 0 | 6-73-0 |
| 2012 | 54 | Ryan Broyles | 8 | 85 | 0 | 22-310-2 |
| 2002 | 48 | Reche Caldwell | 8 | 80 | 0 | 22-208-3 |
| 2014 | 56 | Cody Latimer | 6 | 59 | 1 | 2-23-0 |
| 2014 | 45 | Paul Richardson | 1 | 40 | 0 | 29-271-1 |
| 2004 | 54 | Darius Watts | 2 | 22 | 0 | 31-385-1 |
| 2015 | 37 | Devin Smith | 1 | 20 | 0 | 9-115-1 |
| 2003 | 60 | Tyrone Calico | 2 | 13 | 0 | 18-297-4 |
| 2008 | 41 | James Hardy | 1 | 9 | 0 | 9-87-2 |
| 2008 | 53 | Limas Sweed | 1 | 5 | 0 | 6-64-0 |
| 2006 | 36 | Chad Jackson | 0 | 0 | 0 | 13-152-3 |
| 2005 | 58 | Terrence Murphy | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5-36-0 |
| 2008 | 46 | Jerome Simpson | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1-2-0 |
| 2019 | 62 | Andy Isabella | ? | ? | ? | 9-189-1 |
| 2019 | 57 | JJ Arcega-Whiteside | ? | ? | ? | 10-169-1 |
| 2019 | 59 | Parris Campbell | ? | ? | ? | 18-127-1 |
So not great odds for these guys. Arcega-Whiteside should have opportunity on a shaky depth chart, at least; that's also true of Campbell in Indianapolis. Isabella could have a tough time on a team that just traded for DeAndre Hopkins and still has Larry Fitzgerald and Christian Kirk.
Long-term, I notice a few players who didn't reach that 500-yard mark in Year 2 but eventually emerged as more significant contributors. Vincent Jackson, Golden Tate and Jordy Nelson all needed a little more seasoning.
Maybe one of these guys will be the next Jeffery or Chark. Odds are against it, though.
--Andy Richardson