Allen Hurns one of the best slot receivers in the NFL
By Daniel Lago
The Jacksonville Jaguars had two breakout receivers in 2015, and one of them is already a top 10 slot receiver.
When the Jacksonville Jaguars took back-to-back wide receivers in the second round of the 2014 NFL Draft, the thought was Marqise Lee and Allen Robinson would become newly drafted franchise quarterback Blake Bortles‘ top 2 targets. Unfortunately, Lee has been hampered by injuries over his first 2 seasons and has yet to make an impact.
Luckily, the Jaguars stumbled into a gem in undrafted free agency with Allen Hurns. After earning a roster spot in training camp, Hurns started the 2014 season and was the most productive pass catcher on the team. He picked up where he left off last season, piling up over 1000 yards receiving and earning a lucrative contract extension. While he plays inside quite often, Hurns lines up all over the formation and has proven himself to be a dynamic playmaker.
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Doug Farrar considers Hurns to be a slot receiver and a damn good one
, as he has the 3rd year player ranked as the 10th best inside pass catcher.
"Hurns caught 64 passes for 1,031 yards and 10 touchdowns in 2015, becoming a consistent threat in Jacksonville’s increasingly vertical passing game. Twenty-nine of those catches came in the slot and went for a total of 511 yards and seven touchdowns. At 6′ 3″ and 195 pounds, Hurns gives Blake Bortles a great red-zone target with his size, elusiveness and toughness. He’s one to watch as Jacksonville’s passing game continues to expand."
Hurns had a lot of big plays in 2015, but some of his most important contributions came as a slot receiver. He showed a knack for catching the ball in traffic and holding onto it through some violent collisions. He’s the perfect complement to Allen Robinson as the outside threat and should continue to make plays regardless of where he lines up. The hope is Marqise Lee will finally be healthy enough to take some consistent snaps, but don’t expect Hurns’ production inside to go down.