Miami Dolphins: Top 5 Non-First Round Draft Picks Since 1990
5. Jarvis Landry, WR – 2014
It feels a little strange to have Jarvis Landry on this list given the caliber of players who follow him. However, Landry has had a stellar beginning to his career and could be on the path to greatness. No other wide receiver has had more receptions through his first three seasons than the youngster out of LSU. The only other player to have as many receptions? Landry’s teammate at LSU, Giants wide receiver Odell Beckham, Jr. In today’s NFL, that’s elite company.
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The knock on Landry throughout his career has been that he’s a “system receiver.” That is to say, his success is simply a product of the system he’s in, that he has to be schemed open to be effective with the football. His detractors point to his average yards per reception and his low touchdown totals to support this viewpoint.
To some degree, they have a point. But in response, I would say: isn’t that the point of a wide receiver? Isn’t that what your offensive system is supposed to do, get your guys open and in a position to succeed? Landry isn’t a prototypical No. 1 receiver in today’s NFL, but he is the perfect receiver for what the team has asked him to do.
Does he have great yards per reception numbers? No. Does he score often? No. But that’s not what he’s asked to do. He’s a slot receiver asked to have good hands and move the chains. Every single team out there needs a guy like that. And I believe he’s only going to get better as he enters the prime of his career while in Adam Gase’s offense.