The 2020 NFL rookie class at wide receiver carried a pile of expectations into a strange, unprecedented season long before the first pass was thrown.
Despite no on-field work in the offseason due to COVID-19 restrictions, no preseason games and a slew of largely virtual-only meetings with their position coaches, the group did exactly what people in the league believed it would -- have immediate, even historical, impact.
Eight rookies topped 50 receptions this past season, five topped 800 receiving yards and seven caught at least five touchdown passes. According to ESPN Stats & Information, the five rookies with at least 800 yards receiving tied for the most in a season, equalling the 2014 group -- Odell Beckham Jr., Kelvin Benjamin, Mike Evans, Jordan Matthews and Sammy Watkins -- that topped 800 yards.
The Elias Sports Bureau said the combined 12,919 yards receiving by rookies this season was the most in league history. Justin Jefferson, the Minnesota Vikings' first-round pick, set the rookie record for receiving yards (1,400), eclipsing a record that had stood for almost two decades. Jefferson's 88 receptions broke the Vikings' franchise record for rookies, pushing Jefferson past none other than Hall of Famer Randy Moss. Jefferson led all the league's rookies in targets, catches, receiving yards and receiving yards per target.
"Everything about that kid is special, he's got special written on him," Vikings running back Dalvin Cook said. "The first time I met him, he came in and just the way he carried himself. ... Just to come in and make plays, be him, and I haven't seen him shy away from any big moment. I love being around him, that's my brother. I think he's just scratching the surface if you ask me."
Thirty-five receivers were chosen in last year's NFL draft, including six in the first round, seven in the second round and three in the third round. By season's end, 33 of those receivers had seen game action.
Last March ESPN polled scouts, pro personnel executives, coaches and general managers -- and rolled the tape -- about this receiver class and then put the prospects into tiers. Eleven months later, we visited with many of those same people to ask how they felt about players after a full regular season. Here's a look at the best of the 2020 wide receiver rookie class.
Justin Jefferson, Minnesota Vikings
Pick: No. 22
Stats: 88 receptions, 1,400 yards, 7 TDs, 15.9 yards per catch
Pre-draft tier: Tier 3 (top 40 talent)
What they're saying now: "The thing that's separated him is his football IQ. He's got an exceptional football IQ whether it's running routes, scheme, what you're trying to do, leverage, all those things that maybe it takes guys some time to catch up, he's way ahead.'' -- former Vikings offensive coordinator Gary Kubiak
CeeDee Lamb, Dallas Cowboys
Pick: No. 17
Stats: 74 receptions, 935 yards, 5 TDs, 12.6 yards per catch
Pre-draft tier: Tier 2 (top 15 talent)
What they're saying now: "Even without Dak (Prescott) for most of the year, he showed rare play-making ability. If Dak's throwing him the ball for 16 games, he might be rookie of the year.'' -- AFC personnel executive
Tee Higgins, Cincinnati Bengals
Pick: No. 33
Stats: 57 catches, 908 yards, 6 TDs, 13.6 yards per catch
Pre-draft tier: Tier 3 (top 40 talent)
What they're saying now: "The guy made the most of his targets, had (two) 100-yard games when (Joe) Burrow was back there. I like how he battles for the ball.'' -- NFC pro personnel director
Chase Claypool, Pittsburgh Steelers
Pick: No. 49
Stats: 62 receptions, 873 yards, 9 TDs, 14.1 yards per catch
Pre-draft tier: Tier 4 (top 100 talent)
What they're saying now: "He kind of got caught when their offense became so much short stuff and the quick game. ... There's a lot there and I think he transitioned faster than I thought he might. At the combine some people were thinking he might be a tight end.'' -- AFC general manager
Jerry Jeudy, Denver Broncos
Pick: No. 15
Stats: 52 catches, 856 yards, 3 TDs, 16.5 yards per catch
Pre-draft tier: Tier 1 (top 10 talent)
What they're saying now: "I knew the (Chargers game) was going to be one of the last bad games of my whole life (five drops) ... My rookie season, it was a good start, but I feel like there's a lot more I need to work on. It could have been better." -- Jeudy
Brandon Aiyuk, San Francisco 49ers
Pick: No. 25
Stats: 60 receptions, 748 yards, 5 TDs, 12.5 yards per catch
Pre-draft tier: : Tier 4 (top 100 talent)
What they're saying now: "Thought he closed out strong, they really looked to him in those last few games until he got hurt (ankle). But he fits that offense and there are more big plays for him.'' -- AFC college scouting director
Darnell Mooney, Chicago Bears
Pick: No. 173
Stats: 61 receptions, 631 yards, 4 TDs, 10.3 yards per catch
Pre-draft tier: Unranked
What they're saying now: "The guy didn't have a drop all year until the last game or second-to-last game (of the regular season). I thought before the draft he had better technique getting off bump than even some of the bigger guys and think that's why he contributed quickly with all that speed.'' -- NFC pro personnel director
Laviska Shenault Jr., Jacksonville Jaguars
Pick: No. 42
Stats: 58 receptions, 600 yards, 5 TDs, 10.3 yards per catch
Pre-draft tier: Tier 3 (top 40 talent)
What they're saying now: "We'll see a lot more from him, a lot, after the makeover with the new staff.'' -- AFC general manager
Gabriel Davis, Buffalo Bills
Pick: No. 128
Stats: 35 receptions, 599 yards, 7 TDs, 17.1 yards per catch
Pre-draft tier: Best of the rest (outside of top 100 players in draft)
What they're saying now: "We expect him to make veteran plays, he's done a great job, he's got a great head on his shoulders, and he's going to continue (to play well) for us.'' -- Bills WR Cole Beasley
Michael Pittman Jr., Indianapolis Colts
Pick: No. 34
Stats: 40 receptions, 503 yards, 1 TD, 12.6 yards per catch
Pre-draft tier: Tier 3 (top 40 talent)
What they're saying now: "I am going to go back and train like I have never trained. ... I have learned more (from Philip Rivers) than I ever thought I could learn. He pushes me to be better every day.'' -- Pittman Jr.
Henry Ruggs III, Las Vegas Raiders
Pick: No. 12
Stats: 26 receptions, 452 yards, 2 TDs, 17.4 yards per catch
Pre-draft tier: Tier 3 (top 40 talent)
What they're saying now: "He was the guy in this class who sort of had the traditional struggle of a rookie at that position -- getting off bump, what to do when the DB puts his hands on you. He's got to get stronger or people are going to mute his speed too often.'' -- AFC general manager
Jalen Reagor, Philadelphia Eagles
Pick: No. 21
Stats: 31 receptions, 396 yards, 1 TD, 12.8 yards per catch
Pre-draft tier: Tier 4 (top 100 talent)
What they're saying now: "It's been a test, trials and tribulations ... in college you play against defensive backs who've been there, at the most, four years. (Now) you're playing against guys who've been in the league, eight, nine, 10 years ... what I've learned is you have to keep learning your craft and put more in your toolbox, because they've probably seen everything.'' -- Reagor
KJ Hamler, Denver Broncos
Pick: No. 46
Stats: 30 receptions, 381 yards, 3 TDs, 12.7 yards per catch
Pre-draft tier: Tier 4 (top 100 talent)
What they're saying now: "Injured early, liked what he did late in the season, but he's got to stay on the field to contribute as much as he could, and should.'' -- NFC pro personnel director
Denzel Mims, New York Jets
Pick: No. 59
Stats: 23 receptions, 357 yards, 0 TDs, 15.5 yards per catch
Pre-draft tier: Tier 3 (top 40 talent)
What they're saying now: "I wouldn't judge anybody in that offense, but that said he's got some work to do, come in ready to go when he gets back on the field.'' --AFC general manager
Quintez Cephus, Detroit Lions
Pick: No. 166
Stats: 20 receptions, 349 yards, 2 TDs, 17.5 yards per catch
Pre-draft tier: Tier 4 (top 100 talent)
What they're saying now: "Think he really understands the position, how to play. His routes give him the step he needs instead of his speed. He gets open against faster guys and there's always a place for that.'' -- AFC general manager
Best of the rest
Of the other four receivers who were ranked in at least Tier 4 (top 100 talent) last March, the Browns' Donovan Peoples-Jones finished with a 21.7 yards per catch average on his 14 receptions; the Rams' Van Jefferson finished the regular season with 19 catches for 220 yards (he had a TD in the Rams' divisional round loss to the Packers); the Ravens' Devin Duvernay had 20 catches and a kickoff return TD; and the Chargers' K.J. Hill played just 146 snaps this season and didn't play more than 50% of the offense's snaps in any game.
Courtney Cronin contributed to this story.