Breaking Down The NFL's Rookie Receiving Record List

Bengals rookie receiver Ja’Marr Chase came excruciatingly close to breaking the rookie NFL receiving record, putting up 1,455 yards on 81 receptions in his first season. This season will more-so be remembered for the epic Super Bowl run that the bengals had, backed by the dynamic duo of Chase and Joe Burrow. Chase did play his rookie campaign in an NFL season that had 17 games for the first time ever. With the added game to the season, there is a real possibility this record is broken in the near future. 

NFL fans, and especially Eagles fans, were puzzled when the franchise selected Jalen Reagor over star LSU receiver Justin Jefferson. In his rookie season Jefferson pulled in 88 passes for 1,400 yards, good enough for an average of 16 yards per catch. His first 100+ receiving game would come in week three, where he gained 175 yards. This would mark one of the seven games that Jefferson eclipsed the 100+ yard marker in his rookie season. 

Anquan Boldin had one of the most electric introductions in NFL history. After a solid college career at FSU, Boldin was selected with the 54th pick in the 2003 NFL draft by the Arizona Cardinals. He came right out the gates running, putting up 217 yards and two touchdowns on ten total receptions. He would reach the 100+ receiving mark four more times his rookie season, putting up a total of 1,377 yards. Boldin finished his career 14th on the all-time receiving list after retiring in 2016. 

You know you had a pretty epic career when your last name is used to describe the best and nastiest catchiest in the NFL. ESPN will even showcase the best ‘you got mossed’ moments across the country from the previous week. In his rookie season, Randy Moss put up 1,313 yards on just 69 receptions, an average of 19 yards per catch. Moss did however break the record for most touchdown receptions by a rookie, catching 17 passes in the end zone. 

One of the craziest facts about Odell Beckham Jr. ranking 6th on the all-time rookie receiving record list is that he only played in 12 games. In the last 9 games of the season OBJ would eclipse 90+ yards, with 7 of those games being 100+ yard games. The most memorable moment from this rookie campaign has to be the ridiculous catch the OBJ had against the Dallas Cowboys, widely regarded as one of the greatest catches in NFL history. He was able to help lead the Rams to a Superbowl ring in 2021. 

Michael Thomas has had quite the polarizing career since entering the NFL. The star wide receiver helped Ohio State win a national championship in 2015, and was selected in the 2nd round of the draft that year by the New Orleans Saints. In his rookie year Thomas caught 92 passes for a total of 1,137 yards, an average of 12.4 yards a catch. His most notable season would come in 2019 when he broke the NFL record for receptions, catching 149 passes.