Conventional wisdom holds that a draft can’t be properly evaluated until after three years. If that’s the case then Odell Beckham Jr. is undoubtedly the best wide receiver taken in the 2014 NFL Draft.
Duh.
But not only does Beckham pass the eye test with his highlight reel plays and consistent, jaw-dropping numbers but the New York Giants wide receiver is amazingly productive. What stands out is that even in the little things and the nitty gritty, Beckham ranks better than his peers. It isn’t just the highlights but Beckham is remarkably consistent.
According to ProFootballFocus.com, Beckham is the top wide receiver from his draft class in one under-appreciated category. The analytics website ranks Beckham tops in ‘Most Yards Per Route Run’ among wide receivers taken in the 2014 NFL Draft.
Beckham averaged 2.46 yards per route compared to fellow 2014 draft picks Martavis Bryant (2.32) and Mike Evans (2.24). Pretty good company as neither Bryant nor Evans is exactly a slouch:
Martavis Bryant’s impact on the Steelers offense can’t be understated. It’s a game changer when he’s on the field pic.twitter.com/le9bb9tEy4
— Pro Football Focus (@PFF) July 7, 2017
Also recently, PFF had a warning for the AFC West this year, the division that the Giants have slated on the schedule this year. Last year, PFF notes that Beckham had a 140.5 rating against the AFC North, a huge rating when compared to his wide receiver rating against the NFC East (92.6) and the NFC North (72.0):
Odell Beckham Jr. torched the AFC North last year pic.twitter.com/3aHiQgqE51
— Pro Football Focus (@PFF) July 8, 2017
