Inspired by our recent “empty routes” study and conversation Dave Bryan and I had on Friday’s Terrible Podcast, which 2026 NFL Draft WR prospects were the most efficient and successful on a per-route basis?
Our Clayton Eckert kindly pulled the data for the top 15 receivers in the draft. Below is a chart showing the highest to lowest yards per route run, providing another data point of who Pittsburgh should target when the team goes to draft a receiver. The data is contained to the 2025 season.
Player Routes Yards/Route
Carnell Tate/Ohio State 225 3.52
Makai Lemon/USC 369 3.13
Omar Cooper Jr./Indiana 300 2.68
Chris Brazzell II/Tennessee 392 2.57
Zachariah Branch/Georgia 270 2.56
Chris Bell/Louisville 360 2.55
KC Concepcion/Texas A&M 374 2.46
Ja’Kobi Lane/USC 310 2.42
Ted Hurst/Georgia State 413 2.42
Jordyn Tyson/Arizona State 300 2.37
Kevin Coleman Jr./Missouri 304 2.35
Antonio Williams/Clemson 269 2.27
Denzel Boston/Washington 333 2.27
Malachi Fields/Notre Dame 286 2.2
De’Zhaun Stribling/Ole Miss 314 1.95
Germie Bernard/Alabama 428 1.73
Ohio State’s Carnell Tate easily leads the list at more than 3.5 yards per route. It was a highly efficient season that showcased his downfield ability. On tape, that matches his fluidity, hands and ability to track the football. USC’s Makai Lemon, vying with Tate to be the first receiver off the board, is the only other one above three.
There’s a gap to third place, Indiana’s Omar Cooper Jr. Despite more modest overall numbers and just a singular 100-yard performance, Cooper was efficient. These studies help isolate his playing time and eliminates the “noise” of playing for a squad that blew out about half its opponents, resting starters and running the ball late that naturally brought down his overall figures.
The two Chris’, Brazzell and Bell, aren’t far behind along with Georgia’s Zacariah Branch, who the Steelers held a Pro Day dinner with.
Toward the bottom of the list is Washington’s Denzel Boston and Alabama’s Germie Bernard. Two players the Steelers have pre-draft visits scheduled with. It’s surprising to see their numbers so low, especially knowing many of Bernard’s routes were manufactured, plays where the ball was easily designed to go to him. Compared to Branch, used in similar fashion, and there’s a stark contrast.
This is just one of many data points and shouldn’t alone dictate who Pittsburgh does or doesn’t draft. But given the Steelers’ extreme issues with inefficient routes, it’s one interesting way to view the top of this year’s receiver class.
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