Hip-drop tackles are common in football and can be difficult to escape. In many circumstances, the tackler does not want to damage the opponent. The NFL has really high-level athletes who are difficult to bring down.
Outlawing this style of tackle creates a lot of ambiguity in terms of what tacklers can and cannot do. Sometimes it is simply unavoidable in their endeavour to bring a guy to the ground, which is their job.
Not to mention that any direct contact above the shoulders results in a penalty. Player safety is critical, but there is only so much you can do to prevent injuries.
The NFL owners will gather next week in Orlando. There could be an update to this possible rule.
Jefferson’s most notable NFL work came back in 2021, when he helped a Rams team that changed WR2s midseason. Odell Beckham Jr. effectively replaced Robert Woods, with the latter suffering an ACL tear days after the OBJ addition. Jefferson stayed the course and totaled 802 receiving yards and six touchdowns. He added nine receptions for 102 yards in the playoffs, collecting a Super Bowl ring soon after. A knee surgery kept the Florida alum on the shelf for much of 2022. He totaled 369 yards in 11 games in 2022 — snagging the game-winner in Baker Mayfield‘s memorable debut — for a disappointing Rams team.
The Johnson deal confirms George Pickens as the team’s leading wide receiver. While his long-range work will aid incoming quarterback Russell Wilson, the Steelers will add more pieces here. Aside from Jefferson, the only significant auxiliary option is slot player Calvin Austin. Given the depth of this class, the franchise’s success at this position in the draft should be regarded a mortal lock.
