The WR Report: 2020 NFL Draft Sophomores Breaking Out

New Three Level Threats Emerging

Deebo Samuel

A second round pick in the 2019 NFL Draft, Deebo Samuel was an NFL Draft prospect who thrived on toughness and agility after the catch while also showing toughness through contact in his stems. He was great in the quick passing game and deep down the field when stacking DBs, but lacked the refinement to win in the intermediate area.

Samuel looks to have improved in that area this season, and has the acceleration through his breaks and the creativity to separate at the top of his stem. He’s great at getting deep enough with his routes against sinking zone coverage, and opens up windows behind the second level of the defense. Combine that with great adjustment skills and speed deep, and there’s a reason Samuel is leading the league in yardage.

D.J. Moore

The first receiver taken in the 2018 NFL Draft, D.J. Moore also had the speed to win deep and the release game to win quick. Combine that with the burst to threaten angles, and Moore was a shoo-in to be a top pick.

What stands out with Moore now is how diverse he can be off the line of scrimmage, and how he maintains his speed through slight transitions. He stays very efficient in his breaks and keeps DBs guessing at the line of scrimmage versus press. Moore should be in for a big 2021 season.