7 NFL Wide Receivers with an Extra Boost

One of the biggest hurdles wide receivers have to overcome when transitioning from college to the pro game is finding efficient ways to separate from defenders.

Guys need an extra boost of sorts in order to become elite. Some pass-catchers have it and some don't.

The mission at hand is to highlight seven wide receivers who possess a special amount of boost. These are guys who can jump a little higher, run a little faster and perform a little better than the rest. From the AFC East to the NFC West, we bring you those names.

Alshon Jeffery

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Let's get this out of way right now: Chicago Bears wide receiver Alshon Jeffery is the king of the spectacular catch. He's made a living off coming down with outrageous grabs ever since he decimated the Dallas Cowboys' secondary in 2013.

Jeffery has done remarkable things in a Bears uniform. His 203 receptions, 2,999 yards and 20 touchdowns prove that defenders have a tough time trying to slow him down.

Jeffery isn't the fastest guy on the field. With that said, he has no issues pulling away from defenders thanks to his excellent positioning and leaping ability.

It will be interesting to see how Jeffery is able to continue his stellar play without the help of Brandon Marshall (now with the New York Jets). Talent-wise, he should be able to pick up right where he left off. Few guys can get up and after the pigskin like No. 17.

The biggest problem is a potential shift in coverage. No Marshall means Jeffery could see a lot more double-teams. Either way, in terms of that extra element of boost, Jeffery is the grand ruler of Chicago.

Antonio Brown

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There actually was a time in Pittsburgh when Mike Wallace was considered to be the Steelers' ultimate weapon. Once Wallace left for the Miami Dolphins in 2013, his counterpart, Antonio Brown, proved that he was on a different level.

Brown is not only a reception machine, he's also one of the fastest on-field wide receivers in the sport today. Over the 2013 and 2014 seasons, those skills turned into 239 receptions for 3,197 yards and 21 touchdowns.

Those numbers are a staggering total when you consider that Brown is only listed at 5'10".

He's defied the "big receivers dominate" mantra and done it thanks to an extra boost of route running, speed and catching ability.

Sammy Watkins

Gary Wiepert/Associated Press

On the surface, Sammy Watkins might seem like an unusual choice. The talented wide receiver only caught 65 passes for 982 yards and six touchdowns last season.

But when you remember that he hasn't been afforded an ideal quarterback situation, you begin to understand that his expertise far outweighs his stats.

Watkins was a savage during his days at Clemson. He turned a lot heads, which led the Buffalo Bills to trade up and snag him with the fourth overall pick in the 2014 NFL draft.

He's also a straight-up athlete, and his numbers at the NFL Scouting Combine prove that. Before he wound up in Buffalo, NFL.com indicates that the Clemson kid ran a blistering 4.43-second 40-yard dash and posted a 34-inch vertical leap.

Those traits translated right away on the field, as Watkins ran through defenders, posting four games with at least 115 receiving yards in 2014.

Once a capable QB can start threading him the pigskin, Watkins is going to take that extra boost and become an All-Pro pass-catcher.

Dez Bryant

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Dez Bryant is loud, brash and extremely talented. As the No. 1 option in the Dallas Cowboys' vaunted passing attack, Bryant has posted three straight seasons with over 1,200 receiving yards and 12 TDs.

Where Bryant thrives on film is when he's asked to generate separation. His leaping ability and strength create horrific problems for opposing defenders. Few receivers in today's game can contort their bodies and get into position like Bryant.

It's gotten to the point where you need a safety over the top just to slow Dez down. He's almost too strong for cornerbacks to handle on their own.

Calvin Johnson

Rick Osentoski/Associated Press

No one gets up like Calvin Johnson. No. 81 might be coming off two injury-laden seasons, but that hasn't stopped him from being a magnetic force of football brilliance.

Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press wrote about Johnson facing criticism this upcoming season. In the piece, Detroit Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford was quick to denounce the haters. "He looks pretty good to me. He's flying around. Running, catching, jumping, doing all the stuff he's always been able to do. He's the same old guy to me," Stafford said.

Johnson is still a 6'5", 237-pound freak of nature. He's a matchup nightmare for any cornerback who comes across his way. Assuming his health holds up, there's no reason to think Johnson won't jump, run and catch his way back to the top.

If anyone on this list defines the term "extra boost," it's "Megatron."

A.J. Green

John Minchillo/Associated Press

Of all the wide receivers we've talked about so far, it feels like A.J. Green of the Cincinnati Bengals is the least talked-about.

That's surprising when you look at all he's done since joining the Bengals. Including his 2011 rookie campaign, Green has managed to go over 1,000 receiving yards in each season. Beyond that, Green caught 97 passes in 2012 and 98 in 2013.

He's been a constant source of production due to his explosive tendencies.

Can you imagine if Green was playing with a quarterback who could perfectly land the deep ball? By Pro Football Focus' count, his current QB, Andy Dalton, ranked 20th in the site's signature deep-passing category.

Odell Beckham Jr.

Kathy Willens/Associated Press

We have to end this slideshow with Odell Beckham Jr. There are no two ways about it.

Beckham has become the face of the New York Giants after coming down with that iconic, one-handed grab in MetLife Stadium. Dazzling people is what he does. Beckham is a guy who is able to shred defenders with his refined route running and speed.

But it all comes back to his hands. No one can catch passes like the 22-year-old Giants wide receiver. He's shown remarkable control coming down with the football. That's why he was able to secure 91 passes for 1,305 yards and 12 scores in 12 games as a rookie in 2014.

All stats and information provided by Sports-Reference.com unless noted otherwise.