Ranking The 2019 NFL Draft WR Class In Year Three: Who Tops The List?
3. Deebo Samuel, San Francisco 49ers
His third season has definitely vaulted him higher, but Deebo Samuel is a unique player in the NFL. Samuel dealt with some injuries in college at South Carolina, and again in the NFL, which wiped out a lot of his 2020. However, 2021 has been a special season for Samuel.
Backing up to how it started, Samuel came into the league with a running back build, good play speed, and a breadth of knowledge on how to separate using that speed, hand usage, and sinking his hips to quickly change direction. What stood out most for Samuel is his rookie campaign was how much he created after the catch.
We mentioned Brown’s ability to do so, but Samuel, through December of 2020, had averaged an absurd 12 yards after the catch per reception. His speed, toughness, and field vision brought that out, along with a Kyle Shanahan scheme that freed him up to make plays with the ball in his hands in the quick game.
Year three has proven that the 49ers selection of Samuel in the 2019 NFL Draft was a great one. He’s a consistent separator at every level of the field, and most notably, in the intermediate area. His ability to win on downfield routes and quick routes were there, but sinking and exploding or maintaining his speed on those deep in-breakers has been huge. Samuel is also winning in contested spots, which is rare for someone of his size, and is a definite contributor to his 18 yards per reception this season. His build is still contributing to success after the catch as well.
That “get the ball in his hands” mentality has trickled into Shanahan’s complex running game, and Samuel is now getting carries in the backfield to maximize that speed and contact balance, and his 8.1 yards per carry is outstanding.
When you have a consistent separator at all three levels, and he can win at the catch point and after, he’s a budding superstar. Deebo Samuel is that guy, and he could climb even higher on these rankings down the road.