- A few years back, when I asked Doug Baldwin — one of the pre-eminent slot receivers of the last decade — about the importance of the position, he summed it up pretty well. 'The slot receiver's kind of the quarterback of the receivers,' he said in 2015. 'More so because the slot receiver has more responsibilities in terms of reading.
- Belichick has been complimentary of Stills in the past. Cooks (signed through 2024) put up 1,000 yards in his one season in New England. Cobb (2023) is a reliable possession receiver and excels.
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Riley (5-foot-8, 178 pounds) is a diminutive slot option with punt return ability, while Hastings (5-foot-10, 174 pounds) is more of a traditional, possession slot receiver with past experience with Stidham at Auburn. Those two have the best chance out of the long shots of jumping on the roster, but project more as practice squad options for now.
Best Patriots Receivers
In the 2019 regular and postseason, per Pro Football Focus data, slot receivers regardless of position (receivers, running backs, and tight ends) accounted for 32% of all targets, 31.6% of all receptions, 32.3% of all receiving yardage, and 34.3% of all receiving touchdowns. In a league where the three-receiver set is by far the default formation (it happened on 69% of all snaps last season, per Sports Info Solutions), having a versatile and productive slot receiver is an absolute necessity in the modern passing game.
New England Patriots Slot Receivers
Moreover, there is no one kind of slot receiver in the modern NFL. It used to be that you wanted the shorter, smaller guy inside, and your bigger, more physical receivers on the outside. Then, offensive coaches started to realize that by putting bigger receivers and tight ends in the slot, you could create mismatches with slower linebackers and smaller slot cornerbacks. Teams countered this by acquiring linebackers built like safeties, eager to do more than just chase after run fits, and also by moving their best cornerbacks into the slot in certain situations.
Now that offensive and defensive coaches have worked hard to create as many schematic and personnel ties in the slot as possible, the best slot receivers are the ones who consistently show the ideal characteristics for the position. These receivers know how to exploit defenders who don't have a boundary to help them — they'll create inside and outside position to move the defender where they want him to go. They understand the value and precision of the option route, and how you can hang a defender out to dry with a simple 'if this/then that' equation based on coverage rules. They know how to work in concert with their outside receivers to create route combinations which create impossible math problems for defenses. And they know how to get open in quick spaces.
But don't automatically assume that slot receivers are just taking the dink-and-dunk routes — they're actually tasked to catch everything from quick slants to vertical stuff down the seam and up the numbers. Last season, per PFF data, the NFL average for yards per completion for outside receivers was 11.28. For slot receivers, it was 11.63. So, over time and based on the play design and the makeup of the receivers, teams could find just that many more yards by throwing to their slot targets.
The best slot receivers in the game bring unique and highly valuable traits to the game, and here are the best among them.
More Top 11 lists: Slot defenders | Outside cornerbacks | Safeties | Linebackers | Edge defenders | Interior defensive linemen | Offensive tackles| Offensive guards | Centers | Outside Receivers
Honorable Mentions
Had we dropped the qualifying floor to under 50% slot snaps, two guys would have easily made it — Tampa Bay's Mike Evans, and Baltimore's Marquise Goodwin. Evans led all slot receivers with at least 25 targets with a passer rating when targeted of 151.3, and Brown was an absolute force against defenses in the slot — especially when he was using his speed in empty formations.
San Francisco's Deebo Samuel, who was probably the MVP of the first half of Super Bowl LIV before things started to go backward for his team, would have received a mention as well — Samuel had just 33 targets, but caught 28 of them and helped his quarterback to a 135.3 rating when he was targeted in the slot. Kansas City speed receiver Mecole Hardman had just 23 a lot targets, but he was also highly efficient with them, helping his quarterbacks to a 133.9 rating. Though Danny Amendola was the only Lions receiver to make the 50% threshold, both Marvin Jones and Kenny Golladay were highly efficient when tasked to move inside. Other former slot stars like Tyreek Hill of the Chiefs and Minnesota's Adam Thielen saw their roles change more to the outside in 2019 from previous seasons.
Of the receivers who actually qualified, Nelson Agholor of the Eagles was quietly efficient and had just two drops in the slot last season — which would go against several memes on the subject. Buffalo's Cole Beasley just missed the cut, through he was one of several receivers on the Bills' roster who didn't always get the accuracy and efficiency they deserved from quarterback Josh Allen. And though Randall Cobb was productive for the Cowboys last season and should be so for the Texans in 2020, his nine drops as a slot man… well, we can only have one guy with nine slot drops on this list. More on that in a minute.
Now, on to the top 11.
Willie Snead IV | Julian Edelman | Tyler Boyd | Jared Cook | Golden Tate | Keenan Allen | Larry Fitzgerald | Allen Robinson | Cooper Kupp | Chris Godwin | Tyler Lockett
The initial wave of free agency is officially in the books, and the New England Patriots added a couple of intriguing players to the roster. However, they missed out on wide receivers Adam Humphries, Golden Tate, and Cole Beasley and need to find another wide receiver before the 2019 NFL Draft. While the big names may be gone, there are still a few possible New England Patriots wide receiver targets available on either the open market or in a trade.
Jordy Nelson
Former Patriots Slot Receiver
The Oakland Raiders released Jordy Nelson on Thursday, and the Patriots should be interested in bringing the longtime Green Bay Packer into Foxboro. While he's not the player he once was, Nelson still has enough in the tank to play a complementary role in New England's offense. Nelson played in 15 games for Oakland, hauling in 63 receptions for 739 yards and three touchdowns. He did this despite drawing top coverage from opposing defenses and playing with an underwhelming quarterback in Derek Carr.
According to NFL Next Gen Stats, Nelson recorded 2.7 yards of separation per route in 2018. This number ranked close to the league average, showing Nelson still has the ability to separate against most cornerbacks in the league. Nelson can line up all across the formation and would serve as an immediate upgrade over Chris Hogan.
Randall Cobb
The New England Patriots clearly want more help in the slot, and the best slot receiver left on the open market is Randall Cobb. Just like Nelson, Cobb's best days are likely behind him. The 2011 second-round pick has battled injuries and inconsistency over the past few seasons, finishing 2018 with just 38 receptions for 383 yards and two touchdowns in nine games played.
Cobb will never produce at an All-Pro level again, but he could fill Danny Amendola's old role as the complementary slot receiver. Back in 2017, Cobb recorded 66 receptions for 652 yards and four touchdowns in 15 games. Cobb is an average slot receiver, but being average is a significant upgrade over Bruce Ellington and Maurice Harris.
Chris Hogan
The Patriots should aim for somebody better than Hogan, but at least they know exactly what he brings to the table. In each of the past three seasons, Hogan has recorded between 34-38 receptions for 439-680 yards and three-five touchdowns. He obviously is familiar with the offense and has the trust of quarterback Tom Brady.
Hogan struggles to beat man coverage and really shouldn't ever be anything more than the third-best wide receiver on any given team. However, after missing out on the top options in free agency, the Patriots could look to bring back their two-time Super Bowl champion
Honorable Free Agent Mentions
Chicago Bears wide receiver Kevin White never lived up to his seventh-overall draft billing, and Bill Belichick loves to make low-risk signings for high-talent flameouts. Former Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Michael Crabtree doesn't have the speed to create separation, but he's still good in the red zone and at hauling in contested catches. Pierre Garcon battled through injury for most of the past two seasons, but can still be effective when healthy. Dontrelle Inman had a solid season in Indianapolis and had an 810-yard season with the then-San Diego Chargers back in 2016. All four would be solid low-cost options, but none of these players should be at the top of New England's wish list.
Trade Targets
Sterling Shepard
Absolutely nobody knows what Dave Gettleman and the New York Giants are doing. Trading Odell Beckham for pennies on the dollar and letting Landon Collins walk seemed to symbolize that New York was officially rebuilding. However, the team inexplicably signed 31-year old slot receiver Golden Tate to a hefty payday just one day after the Beckham trade. Tate primarily operates out of the slot, making Sterling Shepard an expendable asset.
Shepard has been a reliable and effective wideout since entering the league, recording 190 receptions for 2,286 yards and 14 touchdowns in his three seasons. The Patriots obviously want another slot receiver, as they heavily pursued Tate, Adam Humphries, and Cole Beasley. With Shepard entering the final year of his contract, both sides should be interested in striking a deal for the 26-year old.
A.J. Green
As mentioned prior to free agency, Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver A.J. Green would be a fantastic fit in free agency. When healthy, Green is a top-10 wide receiver and would immediately be New England's best outside receiver since Randy Moss.
Green is entering the final year of his contract, and the Cincinnati Bengals have to be self-aware enough to know they won't compete for anything in 2019. The Bengals are reportedly trying to sign Green to an extension, but they'd be open to moving him if the two sides cannot agree to a deal. New England has two second-round picks in the upcoming NFL Draft and could easily send one over to the Bengals in exchange for Green's services.
Rashard Higgins
The New England Patriots have minimal cap space, so they might pursue a trade for a restricted free agent. If they go that route, Cleveland Browns wide receiver Rashard Higgins should be one of their top targets. Higgins recorded 39 receptions for 572 yards and four touchdowns in 2019 and he'd immediately enter New England as a starting wideout.
At 6'1', 198 pounds, Higgins has the ideal build for a perimeter receiver. He doesn't drop passes and catches just about anything that comes his way. He may not be a superstar, but he's just 24 years old and knows how to get open. Tom Brady has the ability to make receivers look better than they actually are, and Higgins could have a 60-catch season if he came to New England and picked up the playbook.
The best slot receivers in the game bring unique and highly valuable traits to the game, and here are the best among them.
More Top 11 lists: Slot defenders | Outside cornerbacks | Safeties | Linebackers | Edge defenders | Interior defensive linemen | Offensive tackles| Offensive guards | Centers | Outside Receivers
Honorable Mentions
Had we dropped the qualifying floor to under 50% slot snaps, two guys would have easily made it — Tampa Bay's Mike Evans, and Baltimore's Marquise Goodwin. Evans led all slot receivers with at least 25 targets with a passer rating when targeted of 151.3, and Brown was an absolute force against defenses in the slot — especially when he was using his speed in empty formations.
San Francisco's Deebo Samuel, who was probably the MVP of the first half of Super Bowl LIV before things started to go backward for his team, would have received a mention as well — Samuel had just 33 targets, but caught 28 of them and helped his quarterback to a 135.3 rating when he was targeted in the slot. Kansas City speed receiver Mecole Hardman had just 23 a lot targets, but he was also highly efficient with them, helping his quarterbacks to a 133.9 rating. Though Danny Amendola was the only Lions receiver to make the 50% threshold, both Marvin Jones and Kenny Golladay were highly efficient when tasked to move inside. Other former slot stars like Tyreek Hill of the Chiefs and Minnesota's Adam Thielen saw their roles change more to the outside in 2019 from previous seasons.
Of the receivers who actually qualified, Nelson Agholor of the Eagles was quietly efficient and had just two drops in the slot last season — which would go against several memes on the subject. Buffalo's Cole Beasley just missed the cut, through he was one of several receivers on the Bills' roster who didn't always get the accuracy and efficiency they deserved from quarterback Josh Allen. And though Randall Cobb was productive for the Cowboys last season and should be so for the Texans in 2020, his nine drops as a slot man… well, we can only have one guy with nine slot drops on this list. More on that in a minute.
Now, on to the top 11.
Willie Snead IV | Julian Edelman | Tyler Boyd | Jared Cook | Golden Tate | Keenan Allen | Larry Fitzgerald | Allen Robinson | Cooper Kupp | Chris Godwin | Tyler Lockett
The initial wave of free agency is officially in the books, and the New England Patriots added a couple of intriguing players to the roster. However, they missed out on wide receivers Adam Humphries, Golden Tate, and Cole Beasley and need to find another wide receiver before the 2019 NFL Draft. While the big names may be gone, there are still a few possible New England Patriots wide receiver targets available on either the open market or in a trade.
Jordy Nelson
Former Patriots Slot Receiver
The Oakland Raiders released Jordy Nelson on Thursday, and the Patriots should be interested in bringing the longtime Green Bay Packer into Foxboro. While he's not the player he once was, Nelson still has enough in the tank to play a complementary role in New England's offense. Nelson played in 15 games for Oakland, hauling in 63 receptions for 739 yards and three touchdowns. He did this despite drawing top coverage from opposing defenses and playing with an underwhelming quarterback in Derek Carr.
According to NFL Next Gen Stats, Nelson recorded 2.7 yards of separation per route in 2018. This number ranked close to the league average, showing Nelson still has the ability to separate against most cornerbacks in the league. Nelson can line up all across the formation and would serve as an immediate upgrade over Chris Hogan.
Randall Cobb
The New England Patriots clearly want more help in the slot, and the best slot receiver left on the open market is Randall Cobb. Just like Nelson, Cobb's best days are likely behind him. The 2011 second-round pick has battled injuries and inconsistency over the past few seasons, finishing 2018 with just 38 receptions for 383 yards and two touchdowns in nine games played.
Cobb will never produce at an All-Pro level again, but he could fill Danny Amendola's old role as the complementary slot receiver. Back in 2017, Cobb recorded 66 receptions for 652 yards and four touchdowns in 15 games. Cobb is an average slot receiver, but being average is a significant upgrade over Bruce Ellington and Maurice Harris.
Chris Hogan
The Patriots should aim for somebody better than Hogan, but at least they know exactly what he brings to the table. In each of the past three seasons, Hogan has recorded between 34-38 receptions for 439-680 yards and three-five touchdowns. He obviously is familiar with the offense and has the trust of quarterback Tom Brady.
Hogan struggles to beat man coverage and really shouldn't ever be anything more than the third-best wide receiver on any given team. However, after missing out on the top options in free agency, the Patriots could look to bring back their two-time Super Bowl champion
Honorable Free Agent Mentions
Chicago Bears wide receiver Kevin White never lived up to his seventh-overall draft billing, and Bill Belichick loves to make low-risk signings for high-talent flameouts. Former Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Michael Crabtree doesn't have the speed to create separation, but he's still good in the red zone and at hauling in contested catches. Pierre Garcon battled through injury for most of the past two seasons, but can still be effective when healthy. Dontrelle Inman had a solid season in Indianapolis and had an 810-yard season with the then-San Diego Chargers back in 2016. All four would be solid low-cost options, but none of these players should be at the top of New England's wish list.
Trade Targets
Sterling Shepard
Absolutely nobody knows what Dave Gettleman and the New York Giants are doing. Trading Odell Beckham for pennies on the dollar and letting Landon Collins walk seemed to symbolize that New York was officially rebuilding. However, the team inexplicably signed 31-year old slot receiver Golden Tate to a hefty payday just one day after the Beckham trade. Tate primarily operates out of the slot, making Sterling Shepard an expendable asset.
Shepard has been a reliable and effective wideout since entering the league, recording 190 receptions for 2,286 yards and 14 touchdowns in his three seasons. The Patriots obviously want another slot receiver, as they heavily pursued Tate, Adam Humphries, and Cole Beasley. With Shepard entering the final year of his contract, both sides should be interested in striking a deal for the 26-year old.
A.J. Green
As mentioned prior to free agency, Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver A.J. Green would be a fantastic fit in free agency. When healthy, Green is a top-10 wide receiver and would immediately be New England's best outside receiver since Randy Moss.
Green is entering the final year of his contract, and the Cincinnati Bengals have to be self-aware enough to know they won't compete for anything in 2019. The Bengals are reportedly trying to sign Green to an extension, but they'd be open to moving him if the two sides cannot agree to a deal. New England has two second-round picks in the upcoming NFL Draft and could easily send one over to the Bengals in exchange for Green's services.
Rashard Higgins
The New England Patriots have minimal cap space, so they might pursue a trade for a restricted free agent. If they go that route, Cleveland Browns wide receiver Rashard Higgins should be one of their top targets. Higgins recorded 39 receptions for 572 yards and four touchdowns in 2019 and he'd immediately enter New England as a starting wideout.
At 6'1', 198 pounds, Higgins has the ideal build for a perimeter receiver. He doesn't drop passes and catches just about anything that comes his way. He may not be a superstar, but he's just 24 years old and knows how to get open. Tom Brady has the ability to make receivers look better than they actually are, and Higgins could have a 60-catch season if he came to New England and picked up the playbook.
Former Patriots Receivers
Honorable Trade Target Mentions
Stefon Diggs would be a fantastic get for New England and the Minnesota Vikings desperately need to clear cap space. However, his contract became fully guaranteed today, thus making a trade all-but impossible. Chester Rogers had a productive season as the Colts top possession receiver and would be easy enough to acquire as a restricted free agent. Marvin Jones might not be available in a trade, but the Patriots have enough connections in Detroit that they should try to see if they can swing a deal for the talented wideout.
Slot Receivers For Patriots
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