NFL Analysis
11/22/24
7 min read
Which Receiver Has The Safest Hands In the NFL?
The NFL is loaded with talented receivers who can make game-breaking plays at a moment’s notice. But not every player is reliable on a down-by-down basis.
There are only a few players who can be fully trusted to haul in a pass, no matter the circumstances. So, which players have the best hands in the league? Here is our ranking of the top 10 receivers with the safest hands in the NFL.
Ranking NFL Receivers With Best Hands
10. Cooper Kupp, Los Angeles Rams 
It’s nice to see Cooper Kupp back on the field and producing in a big way. Since returning from his injury, Kupp has recorded 29 receptions for 341 yards and three touchdowns in the last four games. He has just two drops this season but has just eight drops in the last three years.
Despite earning a ton of targets weekly, you can count on him to haul in a high percentage of those passes. Kupp gets open at will and is always a trustworthy target for Matthew Stafford. If he can stay healthy through the remainder of the 2024 season, he'll be much higher on this list next year.
9. Davante Adams, New York Jets
This has not been a particularly strong season for Davante Adams after being traded from the Raiders to the Jets midseason. But don’t discount what type of player he still is at this stage of his career. Adams has never been the biggest or most athletic receiver, but he wins because of route running and strong hands.
Adams has just two drops this season on 73 targets, giving him a drop percentage of just 2.7 percent, per Pro Football Reference. That ranks near the top of the NFL for a receiver with that many targets. While his overall numbers are down, don’t forget just how reliable Adams is and has been throughout his career.
8. Jakobi Meyers, Las Vegas Raiders
Jakobi Meyers has had quite the NFL career despite being an undrafted free agent after the 2019 NFL Draft. Meyers fell out of the draft after a poor showing during the NFL Combine.
The reason he’s stuck around and produced is his safe hands. Meyers has caught 349 passes and has never had a season with more than four drops. This year, he’s got just one on 60 targets. Meyers has carved out a pretty career by just being a reliable target who can play outside and in the slot.
7. Terry McLaurin, Washington Commanders
It’s too bad Terry McLaurin has been saddled with poor quarterback play for most of his career because he is one of the NFL’s top receivers and is showing that this year. With Jayden Daniels installed at quarterback, McLaurin is on pace to have the best season of his career.
McLaurin has dropped just one pass all season despite earning 68 targets. His drop percentage of 1.5 is tied for the second lowest among all receivers this year. Receivers with his speed and reliable hands are rare, which is why he is so highly regarded in NFL circles.
6. Khalil Shakir, Buffalo Bills
Khalil Shakir has quickly developed into one of the league’s most reliable receivers. He’s caught 56 of 66 targets (84.8%), which is, by far, the highest among any receiver with at least 50 targets this season.
His drop percentage of 1.5 is inside the top 10 of all players this year, and his ability to make tough catches across the middle of the field is impressive. Shakir's consistency and reliability have allowed Buffalo’s offense to take off this year, and his presence could make them a dangerous playoff contender in the AFC.
5. DeVonta Smith, Philadelphia Eagles
There might not be a better No. 2 receiver in the league than DeVonta Smith, and a big reason for this is his reliability. Whenever Jalen Hurts needs a big play or a key third-down conversion, he’s looking Smith’s way.
Smith has dropped just one pass this year (per Pro Football Reference), giving him a drop percentage of only 1.8 percent. His long arms allow him to secure passes that most receivers could never get to, and once the ball hits his hands, you know that it will be caught.
Smith is overqualified to be a No. 2 receiver because he can be trusted and effective in any situation.
4. Amon Ra St. Brown, Detroit Lions
The NFL’s best slot receiver has earned that reputation because of his safe hands. Amon-Ra St. Brown has posted massive numbers during the last three years, and it’s not very often that you’ll see him drop a pass.
Since entering the league in 2021, St. Brown has the third-most receptions (380) but just 12 drops. Compare that to the two receivers ahead of him in catches (Tyreek Hill, CeeDee Lamb), and both had double the amount of drops at the same time. You can always count on St. Brown to be Mr. Reliable in the middle of the field.
3. Chris Godwin, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
It’s a real shame that Chris Godwin was injured this season because he was having an excellent year. Since the start of the 2021 season, Godwin has just 14 drops on 461 targets.
That is the second-best among receivers with at least 450 targets, per TruMedia. Godwin operates mostly as a slot receiver, but he is as sure-handed as it gets. Here’s to hoping that he can get healthy and return to the field in 2025.
2. Nico Collins, Houston Texans
It took a few years for Nico Collins to break out in the NFL, but he’s always been one of the league’s most reliable pass catchers. Since C.J. Stroud was drafted by the Texans, Collins has averaged 91.3 yards per game in Houston. That is the third-most behind only Justin Jefferson and CeeDee Lamb.
What’s more impressive is that Collins has dropped only five total passes since entering the league in 2021, per Pro Football Reference. Not only is he a superstar receiver, but he also has arguably the best set of hands in the league. It won't be too long before he is the consensus No. 1 receiver on this list.
1. DeAndre Hopkins, Kansas City Chiefs
There is no argument about who has the best hands in the NFL, and that is DeAndre Hopkins.
It’s been that way since he entered the league. Hopkins has 10” hands and has to wear XXXXL gloves because his fingers are so long. Most receivers in the league are faster and quicker than Hopkins, but no one is better at securing passes than him.
As long as the ball is anywhere near his vicinity, you can bet that he will haul it in. According to TruMedia, Hopkins has racked up 213 catches since the start of the 2021 season but has only had eight drops on 339 targets. He’s as reliable as it gets, and his game is continuing to age well in Kansas City.
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