Who Has The Best Hands In The NFL?
There’s no question that NFL quarterbacks have some of the best hands in professional sports. But who has the best hands in the NFL?
Tom Brady
Tom Brady has been in the NFL for 20 years, and during that time, he’s built up an impressive track record of success. He’s a 6-time Super Bowl champion, 4-time Super Bowl MVP, and 3-time NFL MVP. In other words, he’s pretty much the GOAT.
But what about his hands?
Throughout his career, Brady has been known for his ability to make catches in traffic, and while some might attribute this to his “goatiness”, we think it might have something to do with his hands.
In fact, when it comes to catching the football, Brady might just have the best hands in the NFL.
Julio Jones
There is no one in the NFL with better hands than Julio Jones. The Atlanta Falcons wide receiver has been one of the most consistent pass-catchers in the league since he was drafted in 2011.
Jones has had at least 1,400 yards and six touchdowns in each of the last four seasons, and he has eclipsed the 100-catch mark twice. His career catch rate is an incredible 67 percent, which is even more impressive when you consider that he often sees double coverage and is the Falcons’ primary target.
In addition to his sure hands, Jones is also an elite route runner with the speed to take the top off a defense. He has been named to six Pro Bowls and was first-team All-Pro in 2015.
DeAndre Hopkins
There are a lot of wide receivers in the NFL with great hands, but only a few can truly be considered elite. Among the elite are DeAndre Hopkins of the Houston Texans, Julio Jones of the Atlanta Falcons, and Odell Beckham Jr. of the New York Giants. These three players have demonstrated time and time again that they have the ability to make catches that other wide receivers simply cannot make.
DeAndre Hopkins has some of the best hands in the NFL. He is able to contort his body in ways that allows him to make catches that other players simply cannot make. In addition to his great hands, Hopkins also has excellent body control and coordination. He is able to make tough catches look easy, and he always seems to be open when his quarterback needs him most.
Julio Jones is another receiver with great hands. Jones is not quite as acrobatic as Hopkins, but he does have very strong hands that allow him to make catches in traffic. He is also an excellent route runner, which helps him create separation from defenders. Like Hopkins, Jones always seems to be open when his quarterback needs him most.
Odell Beckham Jr. rounds out the trio of elite wide receivers with great hands. Beckham has demonstrated time and time again that he can make one-handed catches look easy. He also has excellent body control and coordination, which allows him to contort his body in ways that other receivers simply cannot match. Beckham’s ability to make tough catches look easy has made him one of the most popular players in the NFL.
Odell Beckham Jr.
NFL great Jerry Rice once said, “Great hands aren’t about catching the easy ones. It’s about catching the hard ones.” With that in mind, we asked NFL Insider Dan Graziano to rank the 10 best sets of hands in the NFL. His task wasn’t easy — “hands” can mean so many things. But Graziano took a crack at it, and here’s how he came out:
1. Odell Beckham Jr., New York Giants receiver: “He might have the greatest hands I’ve ever seen on a football field. You see some of the things he does … one-handed catches in traffic … and it’s just so routine for him that you almost take it for granted.”
2. Antonio Brown, Pittsburgh Steelers receiver: “Catches everything away from his body. Great body control. Great hand-eye coordination.”
3. Julio Jones, Atlanta Falcons receiver: ” Freakish combination of size, strength, speed and catching ability.”
4. Keenan Allen, Los Angeles Chargers receiver: “He’s 6-foot-2, runs great routes and has great hands.”
5. DeAndre Hopkins, Houston Texans receiver: “He has incredible hand strength — he can go up and get it in traffic.”
6. Larry Fitzgerald, Arizona Cardinals receiver: “He just knows how to use his body and make contested catches over both shoulders better than anyone else in the game today.”
7. Davante Adams, Green Bay Packers receiver: “He’s become Aaron Rodgers’ security blanket; catch radius is incredible.”
8. Adam Thielen, Minnesota Vikings receiver: “He really should’ve been on this list last year … makes a lot of spectacular catches seem routine.”
9. Sammy Watkins, Kansas City Chiefs receiver: “(He) finally stays healthy for a full season and becomes one of Patrick Mahomes’ favorite targets en route to a 1,000-yard season with 10 TDs.”
10 Michael Thomas, New Orleans Saints receiver: “Drops were an issue early in his career but haven’t been lately … one of Drew Brees’ most trustworthy targets.”
Antonio Brown
Antonio Brown is widely considered to have the best hands in the NFL. The Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver has amassed over 11,000 receiving yards and 75 touchdowns in his career, and is known for his ability to make difficult catches look easy. Brown has been selected to seven Pro Bowls and was named a First-Team All-Pro five times.
