NFL’s Top Wide Receiver Under 25: Odell Beckham Jr. or DeAndre Hopkins?
The 2016 NFL season will have an influx of seriously talented wide receivers who can catch the football that are under the age of 25. Two of the best players in that category are DeAndre Hopkins of the Houston Texans and Odell Beckham Jr. of the New York Giants. Let the debate begin: Who is the best wide receiver under the age of 25, Beckham Jr. or Hopkins?
I’m posting a simple yet complex question: Who is the better player, Odell Beckham Jr. or DeAndre Hopkins?
Both players have come into this league and taken it by storm. Both players are similar yet different with how they play the game on and off the field.
Without further ado, let the debate begin.
DeAndre Hopkins came into the league in 2013 drafted 27th overall by the Houston Texans in hopes of replacing or (for at least a short period of time) having a dynamic duo with himself and former perennial Pro Bowler, Andre Johnson.
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Hopkins, in just three years and at the age of 24, has put up electrifying numbers with very questionable quarterback play. Thus far in his career, Hopkins has 239 receptions, 3,533 receiving yards, averaging 14.9 per catch and 19 touchdowns.
Starting since the beginning of 2013, here is a list of all of the quarterbacks to take snaps as the signal caller for the Texans:
2013: Matt Schaub (8); Case Keenum (8).
2014: Ryan Fitzpatrick 12; Ryan Mallett (2); Case Keenum (2).
2015: Brian Hoyer (9); Ryan Mallett (4); T.J. Yates (2); Brandon Weedon (1).
Hopkins put him his best numbers as a professional thus far which is extremely impressive considering the Texans went through four different quarterbacks last season, all of which are mediocre to below average at best.
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In 2015, Hopkins totaled: 111 receptions, 1,521 receiving yards, and 11 touchdowns.
Hopkins served as the one-man wrecking crew for an offense and a team that finished 9-7 and won the AFC South. Unfortunately, the Texans were bounced after the Wild Card round after being routed 30-0 by the Kansas City Chiefs.
Despite the horrific loss in the playoffs, the Texans still got there with mediocre quarterback play and utilized an electric wide receiver who will be the offensive weapon for years to come.
In 2015, Hopkins was a Pro Bowler, a second team All-Pro, and set the Texans single season franchise record for touchdowns in a season with 11. Hopkins is also one of the fastest players in the NFL.
The New York Giants happen to also have an electric, elusive, star-studded wide receiver who is breaking records and amazing the league left and right. That player is none other than Odell Beckham Jr.
Beckham is younger than Hopkins at the age of 23 and has been in the league for one less year. The star receiver with the infamous three-finger catch grab against the Dallas Cowboys in 2014 will forever live in infamy and is the moment Beckham was put on the map.
The Giants selected Beckham 12th overall out of LSU in the 2014 NFL Draft and turned out to be an absolute steal. Yes, a steal at number 12.
In Beckham’s first two years as an NFL player in 27 games (12 in 2014; 15 in 2015) Beckham has been nothing short of brilliant totaling 187 receptions, 2755 receiving yards, and 25 touchdowns.
in 2015, Beckham continued to dazzle as the human highlight reel, he finished his year with: 96 receptions, 1,450 receiving yards, averaging 15.1 yards per catch, and 13 touchdowns.
At any point, in any game, Beckham can take it over. His breakaway speed and hands are something the league has not seen since Randy Moss first entered with the Minnesota Vikings, and the scary thing is, Beckham may be better.
If Beckham finds just a little space, and Eli Manning can throw a some-what accurate ball, it could end up resulting in a Giants touchdown on any given play. That’s how good Beckham is at only 23 years old.
In 2015, Beckham was a Pro Bowler, was honored with second team All Pro, and continued his rise to dominance at the wide receiver position.
Of course, Beckham has had much more solid quarterback play in Eli Manning than Hopkins with his mixture of mediocre based quarterbacks, although the Texans did reach the playoffs by playing in a weakened AFC South division and the Giants have not made the playoffs yet in Beckham’s tenure.
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However, the Texans signed former Denver Broncos quarterback, Brock Osweiler, to a tremendous $72 million dollar contract over four years including a $12 million signing bonus. Although Osweiler only appeared in eight games for the Denver Broncos, he put up good numbers and led an offense in such a way that it garnered belief for the future.
The Texans have found their franchise quarterback who can throw just as good a deep ball as any quarterback in the NFL. In combination with Osweiler’s rocket arm, Hopkins can out-run just about any corner back in the league. The tandem will be something to watch in 2016 and beyond.
Both players in my opinion rank one and two as the best young wide receivers under the age of 25, but who is the best?
My answer: Odell Beckham Jr.
Nothing against the electrifying DeAndre Hopkins, but Beckham’s pure talent, hands, and a chippy attitude as an X-factor (translation: willingness to win no matter what) put him above the 24 year old stud from the Texans.
The NFL has been blessed with some serious wide receiver talent, and these two guys get the nod as the league’s newest one-two punch under the age of 25.