Yes, the LA Rams fastest players can be deep threat receivers

Towering targets

While speed is clearly a contributing factor, it is not the only factor. A 2013 article by Bleacher Report’s Bruce Chen made the distinction this way: ‘Devin Hester of the Chicago Bears is one of the fastest players in the NFL, yet we don’t consider him a good receiver or a “deep threat“.

Some analysts consider TE Rob Gronkowski a deep-threat, but he runs a 4.68-second 40-yard dash. WR A.J. Green runs a 4.5-second 40-yard dash. WR Jordy Nelson ran a 4.51-second 40-yard dash.  So it’s clearly not solely the speed factor. Part of the deep threat moniker is a big-bodied target rumbling deep downfield.

As of today, the LA Rams have two towering tight ends in 6-foot-6 Tyler Higbee and 6-foot-5 Brycen Hopkins. Both could become that big-bodied target that Matthew Stafford loves to find when the pressure closes in on him. As for the wide receivers, most are 6-foot-1. While they do very well, the Rams may look for a taller target in free agency or the NFL Draft.

While I may not have answered the question about the LA Rams roster’s supply of deep-threat receivers, perhaps I’ve added some additional means of assessing what it takes to truly be one. As for me, I believe that the Rams do indeed have several deep-threat receivers.

The key is not the characteristics of the receiver, but rather of getting a quarterback capable of heaving the ball over half the length of a football field to get the ball to them.  So the true deep-threat is the combination of quarterback and receiver.  With that additional factor established, it should be a bit clearer that the Rams offense does have deep threat receivers now. But, the more the merrier.