Receiver. It’s the second highest-profile position in the modern NFL. Disagree? Take a look at where Netflix focused their sequel to their debut NFL docuseries, ‘Quarterback,’ (and allow for them to include…a tight end. That’s another story). Wideouts are more important than ever, and paid accordingly.
And yet, the New England Patriots haven’t had a receiver on their roster record 1,000 or more yards in a season since Julian Edelman in 2020. Wandering through a pass-catcher desert becomes a much more pressing issue when it looks like the franchise has hit on its quarterback of the future in Drake Maye. To get a scope of the where the position is headed, what the league, (not just the Patriots) gets wrong, and what New England can do at wideout in the future, three superstar wide receiver gurus weighed in with their perspectives.
These are the major lessons:
Patriots have to get back to their type
Explosive receivers may dominate talk show conversations, but the Patriots’ calling card among receiver circles is still the speedy, diminutive guy – and he’s still invaluable in Foxborough.
The names Edelman, Welker, and Amendola were invoked by more than one coach when determining what style of receivers the Patriots should zero in on, with Josh McDaniels returning.
“The slot receiver always gets the ball on third down, so the NFL needs them. The first and second down is for the fans, the third down is to win the game. So they’re going to throw to Randy Moss on first down, and on second down. But on third down? They’re throwing to Wes Welker,” said Premier Athletes’ Sly Johnson, who’s worked with Amari Cooper, Jerry Jeudy, and Elijah Moore.
He’s not a traditional slot receiver, but one name that could be on the trade market, according to reports from NFL Media, is San Francisco 49ers hybrid self-proclaimed “wideback” Deebo Samuel. Coach David Robinson of D-Rob Sports & Fitness Training, who’s trained Samuel among dozens of other star receivers, said he “definitely” sees a fit for him with the Patriots:
“He’s a guy that, in the [49ers] system that he’s been in, he’s been asked to be in the backfield. But I think he’s a pure receiver, if given the chance. In McDaniels’ system, getting wideouts like him, and Amendola, and guys I mentioned, in space, I think that’s how he could be with Deebo.”
Johnson named Xavier Restrepo, one of his clients out of University of Miami, as having potential to be the best slot receiver in the 2025 draft. A recent three-round mock draft from NFL Media had the Tennessee Titans selecting the receiver with the 35th pick.
Javon Baker could find his role
Fourth-round draft pick Javon Baker came up short on his own expectations for his rookie season, posting just 12 receiving yards and returning three kicks in 2024. But his longtime skills coach, Steph Brown, of Top Shelf Performance, is hopeful he’s growing into a pro. Brown also works with Jhaquan Jackson and Mecole Hardman, Jr.
“I can speak for Javon, because that’s my little brother,” said Brown, who has worked with Baker since his middle school days. “He had to mature. It’s not his ability. He might be the best receiver in that room, physically, can do whatever you need to do. But you’ve got to mature, you’ve got to do things right, you’ve got to do things the way they want you to do it. It’s not your way. That’s the only thing that was holding him back. Some guys take a little bit longer to grasp the understanding that, ‘I’ve got to do it the way the organization wants me to do it.’ Not that he was rebelling or anything like that.”
Brown said Baker has sounded motivated by the news of the Patriots’ returning offensive coordinator.
“Right now, he’s ready to work out right. He’s ready to get into it. He’s like, ‘I’m ready to go. My mindset is different now. Coach McDaniels is coming back, he’s been here, he can show me the right way. I’ve got a new receivers coach.’ This is him, just talking, like, he’s excited about it. Because now he has a year under his belt. He understands what it was. So hopefully he gets the opportunity to go showcase what he can do.”
New England should also consider “bigger” receivers in the draft
The Patriots can’t just field a receiver room full of Edelmans, as fantastically entertaining as that would be. Brown suggested New England also look to add size to their pass catchers.
“I just think they need a bigger body guy that can move really well, be that backside X or Z,” he said.
He named Jayden Higgins, who clocked in a 6’4, 216 pounds at Iowa State, as one draft fit for that need.
“[He’s a] big body guy, plays inside and outside, understands the system. Hard-nosed guy, doesn’t mind blocking.
Quarterback-friendly. I think he will be a great fit. Him and Will Sheppard, he would be a great fit from Colorado,” he said.
Sheppard was last listed at 6’3 and just shy of 200 pounds at Colorado.
The league overvalues speed
Coaches agreed, if there’s one thing the league is getting wrong about the position, it’s the obsession with testing for speed – especially the 40-yard dash.
“It is overrated,” said Johnson, who explained the most important trait in a professional receiver is the ability to “manipulate the defensive back.”
“Once the regular person understands that the offensive player can control where the defensive player goes, they’ll realize it doesn’t matter how fast that person is. But they only get ‘fast,’ so they look for Tyreek Hills.”
“Some guys may not test well in the 40 or the L-drill, but they’re better football players than they are as tested guys,” Robinson agreed.
The jump from college, where air raid passing offenses are prevalent, to the NFL is about a lot more than pure speed, Robinson said:
“The game is faster, the playbook is thicker, so you have to be very smart. The mechanics and technical part of the route-running is a lot different in the NFL, from college systems.”
“They care more about the speed than playing ball, and pedigree, and route-running, and understanding – can I get open against press, can I find zone, or can I make plays in the cold? I think they just worry about speed,” Brown said.