Best Slot Receivers Nfl 2019

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Jaguars wide receiver Dede Westbrook was ranked 11th in a recent list of slot receivers in the NFL by Doug Farrar of USA Today's Touchdown Wire. Of 2019 are reasons to have optimism for this. The point is, slot defenders are tested in new and vicious ways in the modern league, and their skill sets to defend speed, option routes and increased uses of receiver space are unique. Most great outside cornerbacks want to stay outside for those exact reasons.

Even a decade ago, your average slot defender was just that — average. A smaller guy without the speed to take outside receivers up the post routes and down the sideline. But as NFL offenses have defaulted to three- and four-receiver sets, the nickel and dime defender has not only become a de facto starter, but also as important as any other defensive back on the field.

Imagine you’re a slot cornerback in today’s NFL. One week, you have to deal with Minnesota’s Adam Thielen and his array of precise routes — not to mention his ability to streak downfield for a huge play if you make any hint of a mistake. The next week, you’re up against the Eagles’ Zach Ertz, getting bodied out by a 6-foot-5, 250-pound tight end in devilish route combinations. The next week, you may have to face Antonio Brown in a week when his coaches decide to make him a primary slot receiver. Good luck with that.

But hey, at least Rob Gronkowski retired, so that’s one slot nightmare out of the way.

The point is, slot defenders are tested in new and vicious ways in the modern league, and their skill sets to defend speed, option routes and increased uses of receiver space are unique. Most great outside cornerbacks want to stay outside for those exact reasons. As Richard Sherman once told me, the boundary is your friend, and if you have open space on both sides of your coverage, it isn’t a lot of fun.

So, here are the best slot defenders in the business coming into the 2019 season, and what makes each one of them special.

Losing Bryce Callahan to the Broncos in free agency was a blow for Chicago’s defense, but it would have been far worse had McManis not established himself as an estimable slot cornerback in his own right. The 31-year-old veteran doesn’t have top-end speed, but he understands defensive spacing and placement — he’s one of those guys who always seems to be around the ball. In 2018, McManis allowed just 12 receptions on 22 slot targets for 80 yards, 42 yards after the catch, no touchdowns and an opponent passer rating of 62.7. You want to see a larger sample size of targets before moving him up this list, but 2018 was a step in the right direction.

If there was a bright spot on the Jacksonville Jaguars’ offense last year it was second year receiver Dede Westbrook. While his 717 yards didn’t quite hit the 1,000-yard mark, he led the team in receiving and hauled in the most receiving touchdowns of the Jags’ group with five.

Throughout the 2018 season he also flashed his versatility to play from various receiver positions and proved to be a solid threat from the slot due to his run after the catch ability. His efforts certainly didn’t go unnoticed by some analysts in the nation like our comrade Doug Farrar of Touchdown Wire, who listed Westbrook as the NFL’s 11th best slot receiver in his recent rankings.

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When watching Jacksonville’s 2018 passing offense, two things are abundantly clear — Jaguars receivers had one heck of a time with consistent production with Blake Bortles and Cody Kessler throwing the ball all over the place, and the acquisition of Nick Foles was a necessity to give those receivers any chance of improvement. Among those receivers, Westbrook may have the most potential, as he brought in 59 slot receptions on 83 targets for 646 yards and five touchdowns. Not bad for a second-year receiver who’s never had a lot of help from his quarterbacks at the NFL level.

Westbrook uses nimble feet and an impressive catch radius to make contested catches, and he has a good knack for getting open in zones. His drop rate was a problem at times, but with a credible quarterback at the helm, Westbrook could be a rising star in a big hurry.

Best Slot Receivers Nfl 2019 Predictions

Farrar basically echoed what we’ve been saying all year, and that’s the fact that upgrading the quarterback position could help Westbrook. Nick Foles, who isn’t necessarily elite, certainly should be just that, and it’s showing in the early stages of the summer as he and the receivers had a strong showing in minicamp and offseason training activities. Now, all that is left is to have the same success when the pads go on.

Best Slot Receivers Nfl 2020

Best slot receivers nfl 2019 predictions

Best Nfl Slot Receivers 2019

With Chris Conley having the abilities to play at the X-receiver spot and DJ Chark having the ability to play the Y-receiver spot like Westbrook, it’s possible offensive coordinator John DeFilippo will utilize Westbrook in the slot often this season, but ultimately time will tell. Regardless as to where he plays though, it wouldn’t be shocking if he got closer to the 1,000-yard mark — or possibly eclipse it this season.