from Five under-the-radar NFL players in contract year primed for breakout seasons in 2025: https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/news/five-under-the-radar-nfl-players-in-contract-year-primed-for-breakout-seasons-in-2025/
After being surprisingly selected by the Rams at No. 57 overall in the 2021 draft, which immediately was followed by an injury-plagued rookie season, the tiny speedster from Louisville has quietly improved his efficiency as a receiver the past two seasons.
Atwell’s catch rate has gone from 51.4% (2022) to 59.1% (2023) to 68.9% (2024). As a rookie he posted a yards-per-route-run figure of 1.67 (including the postseason). Last year, it was a hefty 2.24 on 259 routes.
Every coach on the Kyle Shanahan coaching tree wants a small burner to threaten vertically — and even on jet sweeps — within the offense — the Rams didn’t make Atwell a top 60 pick four years ago for no reason. The overwhelming majority of attention will be paid to Puka Nacua and Davante Adams, and rightfully so.
That’ll leave Atwell as a beneficiary of minimal over-the-top safety help, which is bad news for defenses given his 4.39 speed. In his final year of his rookie deal, Atwell will move into more of a prominent role in the Rams’ 11 personnel-heavy attack and continue his upward trajectory as a niche asset who’ll perfectly complement Los Angeles’ uber-efficient superstar receivers not known for their pure speed.
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