There were five wide receivers taken in the first round of the 2014 NFL draft. Three of them - Sammy Watkins (Buffalo Bills), Odell Beckham Jr. (New York Giants), and Kelvin Benjamin (Carolina Panthers) - are joining new offensive systems and receiving corps.
Sammy Watkins was selected No. 3 overall by the Bill this past May. He was considered perhaps the most NFL-ready receiver in the draft and is already impressing the Bills coaching staff. Despite not registering any stats in the team's first preseason game against the Giants this past Sunday night, his talent is obvious and no one is concerned about his development. Buffalo released their first depth chart of 2014 on July 28, and to no surprise, Watkins was listed as a starter alongside wide receiver Robert Woods.
Unlike Watkins, Odell Beckham Jr. and Kelvin Benjamin are a bit different. Beckham, selected 12th overall, is diving into a whole new offensive system along with the rest of the Giants players under coordinator Ben McAdoo. He's also been limited in training camp due to a nagging hamstring injury. Benjamin was selected 28th overall by Carolina, but he's not exactly surrounded by a reliable corps of veteran/experienced receivers that can help him further develop.
Beckham is expected to play in the slot for the New York Giants, but he aggravated a hamstring injury on the first day of training camp practice that he originally suffered in OTAs. The team hoped Eli Manning would have a new weapon in the Ben McAdoo's offense, but if Beckham isn't out on the field meshing with the other offensive players as they learn the system together, his development is going to be hindered as a result. According to coach Tom Coughlin, Beckham could be back soon.
"Sounds like he's getting close," said Coughlin, in this NJ.com article. "They have him doing a lot of things. They're going to push him to do a little bit more today and then they are going to get a quarterback to throw to him and see how that goes too."
In Carolina, many are impressed with Kelvin Benjamin's development, but the team does not have a solid supporting receiving cast. The Panthers cut Steve Smith and let Brandon LaFell, Ted Ginn Jr. and Domenik Hixon walk via free agency. They have an entire new corps consisting of Benjamin, Jerricho Cotchery, Jason Avant, Tiquan Underwood, and other young players who are all in the same boat in terms of learning the offense and developing as a unit. Benjamin is expected to have an immediate impact and many will have a close eye on him during the preseason.
Check out NFL.com for the latest on the 2014 draft picks.
