A Closer Look at Every Team's WR Situation Heading into 2015
It has always been far better to give than receive.
On the other hand, when it comes to professional football, has there been a better time to be a wide receiver (unless you’re trying to get into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in your first year of eligibility)?
All told, 21 of the 23 players to total at least 1,000 receiving yards in the NFL in 2014 were wideouts (tight ends Rob Gronkowski and Carolina’s Greg Olsen were the only exceptions). This offseason, while numerous clubs retained their superstar receivers, we saw a fair share change teams.
The objective here is to address all 32 franchises’ wide receiving corps and explain where each stands. From the Arizona Cardinals to the Washington Redskins, we will preview the units in alphabetical order and try to tell you what to expect in 2015.
It’s safe to say that there’s an abundance of talent at the position these days.
Arizona Cardinals
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While 11-year veteran Larry Fitzgerald ranks 19th in NFL history with 909 career receptions, is he still the best player at his position on the team?
Bothered by injuries in 2014, the franchise’s all-time leader in catches, receiving yards and total touchdowns led the Arizona Cardinals with 63 grabs, but only two went for scores. Fortunately, there’s some young talent on the club in speedy John Brown and former first-rounder Michael Floyd, who totaled a team-high 841 receiving yards and six touchdowns this past season.
Four Cardinals quarterbacks combined for 21 scoring tosses in 2014, with more than half of those reeled in by Brown (five) and Floyd. With a healthy Carson Palmer and more contributions from young performers such as Jaron Brown and 2015 fifth-round pick J.J. Nelson, you may see much different results in the not-too-distant future.
Atlanta Falcons
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Finding wide receivers has obviously not been a problem for the Atlanta Falcons.
Veteran Roddy White is entering his 11th NFL season, and while he’s been a bit banged up in recent years, there’s a lot to be said for 765 career receptions and 62 touchdowns—the most in franchise history.
In his fourth NFL season, Julio Jones put up monster numbers, finishing third in the league in both catches (104) and receiving yards (1,593) while scoring six touchdowns. While the team released Harry Douglas this offseason (he signed with the Tennessee Titans), veteran Devin Hester added 38 catches for 504 yards and two touchdowns in his first season in Atlanta.
Via free agency, the club added wide receiver Leonard Hankerson, late of the Washington Redskins. What will really be interesting is watching what kind of numbers both Jones and White put up this season with seven-year quarterback Matt Ryan put under new offensive coordinator Kyle Shanahan.
Baltimore Ravens
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Although some will recall the film classic Mr. Smith Goes to Washington, there were apparently too many Smiths in nearby Baltimore.
The Ravens have the likes of wide receiver Steve Smith Sr., inside linebacker Daryl Smith, cornerback Jimmy Smith and even linebacker Za’Darius Smith, who joined the team in this year’s draft. However, quarterback Joe Flacco will no longer have big-play wideout Torrey Smith in his arsenal. The four-year pro led the team with 11 touchdowns in 2014 but signed with the San Francisco 49ers.
Where does that leave head coach John Harbaugh? Steve Smith led the team with 79 catches for 1,065 yards and scored six times. The other starter for now appears to be Marlon Brown, who caught 24 passes in 2014 but zero for touchdowns. General manager Ozzie Newsome added Breshad Perriman in the first round and Darren Waller in the sixth round.
There is also lesser-known wideout Kamar Aiken, who like Brown totaled 24 receptions but for 267 yards and three scores.
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Buffalo Bills
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The biggest news when it comes to the Buffalo Bills' passing game has nothing to do with wide receivers, although the team did add some new faces this offseason.
General manager Doug Whaley and new head coach Rex Ryan brought in well-traveled Percy Harvin, now with his fourth team in as many years. Whaley also used a seventh-round pick four weeks ago on developmental wideout Dezmin Lewis (Central Arkansas).
Last year, the team moved up in the draft (sacrificing its first-round pick in 2015) to grab wide receiver Sammy Watkins with the fourth overall selection. He responded with 65 catches and recorded club highs in receiving yards (982) and touchdowns (six). Teammate Robert Woods equaled Watkins’ reception total and finished second on the team with five touchdowns. Chris Hogan was a pleasant surprise in 2014, totaling 41 grabs for 426 yards and four scores.
Former Eagles running back LeSean McCoy should open things up for the Buffalo passing game, be it Matt Cassel, EJ Manuel, Tyrod Taylor or possibly Matt Simms at quarterback.
Carolina Panthers
5 of 32
Last offseason, the Carolina Panthers did a bit of a house-cleaning when it came to the wide receiver position.
One year later, things appear to be a whole lot better thanks to a standout rookie in 2014 and some new additions this year.
First-round draft choice Kelvin Benjamin had his share of eye-popping moments as a rookie, finishing second on the team with 73 catches, tying Pro Bowl tight end Greg Olsen with a club-high 1,008 receiving yards and leading the Panthers with nine touchdowns. Veteran Jerricho Cotchery rejoins him, while Carolina added both Jarrett Boykin and Ted Ginn (who played for the club in 2013) via free agency.
Last year, the team got contributions from Brenton Bersin and Corey Brown, who are both back with Carolina as well. General manager David Gettleman is hoping onetime New York Jets’ second-round pick Stephen Hill can revive his career, and the GM also used a second-round selection this year to add former University of Michigan standout Devin Funchess.
This looks like a group with a lot more promise than it showed a year ago at this time.
Chicago Bears
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It was out with the old and in with the new this offseason in the Windy City.
That was the deal earlier this year, literally, as the Chicago Bears dealt productive wide receiver Brandon Marshall to the New York Jets.
Part of the new are first-round pick Kevin White, the former University of West Virginia product, as well as veteran Eddie Royal, late of the San Diego Chargers. The incumbents are Pro Bowler Alshon Jeffery, who led the team in receiving yards (1,133) and touchdown grabs (10), and former seventh-round pick Marquess Wilson, who hopes to stay healthy this upcoming season.
Cincinnati Bengals
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Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Andy Dalton has a solid set of wide receivers at his disposal, if they're healthy.
Such was not the case in 2014 as perennial Pro Bowler A.J. Green missed some time and Marvin Jones missed the entire season. Mohamed Sanu started strong but faded. However, he did catch 56 passes for 790 yards and five touchdowns.
Green, whose 69 catches, 1,041 yards and six scores led the Bengals in 2014, would benefit greatly from a healthy Jones, who caught 10 touchdown passes the previous season. The team still has Brandon Tate, whose primary work remains on special teams, added Denarius Moore in free agency this offseason and drafted Mario Alford in the seventh round.
Cleveland Browns
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There are once again a number of new faces when it comes to the wide receiving corps of the Cleveland Browns.
That’s because the most talented member can’t seem to remain on the field.
Troubled Josh Gordon won’t be catching any passes this season. The NFL suspended him for all of 2015 due to his latest violation of the league’s substance-abuse policy.
While Andre Hawkins returns after leading the Browns with 63 catches in 2014, the free-agent imports include Dwayne Bowe (Kansas City Chiefs) and Brian Hartline (Miami Dolphins). Taylor Gabriel and Travis Benjamin return, and the club added Vince Mayle in the fourth round of the draft this year. But Miles Austin, second on the team with 47 catches this past season, signed with the Philadelphia Eagles.
In 2014, the Browns’ passing attack accounted for only 12 touchdowns, and just eight of those came from wideouts. Meanwhile, Bowe did not catch a touchdown pass with the Chiefs this past season.
Good luck.
Dallas Cowboys
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Slowly but surely, the Dallas Cowboys have gotten plenty from 2010 first-round pick Dez Bryant.
Now the team’s designated franchise player wants to make sure he gets plenty from the Cowboys—and deservedly so.
In the past three seasons alone, the two-time Pro Bowler has totaled 273 catches for 3,935 yards and 41 scores, including a league-high 16 touchdown receptions in 2014.
Bryant (who has yet to sign his franchise tender) will be rejoined by Terrance Williams and Cole Beasley, who each totaled 37 receptions in 2014 and combined for 12 touchdowns (eight by Williams). The Cowboys also recently added former first-round disappointment A.J. Jenkins to the mix.
It’s also worth noting that only five Cowboys caught touchdown passes this past season: Bryant, Williams and Beasley, along with tight ends Jason Witten and Gavin Escobar.
Denver Broncos
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In 2014, wide receivers Demaryius Thomas (111) and Emmanuel Sanders (101) became the first set of teammates to total at least 100 receptions in the same season since Reggie Wayne and Dallas Clark turned the trick for the Indianapolis Colts in 2009.
Do we really have to explain who the quarterback was in both instances?
Thomas and Sanders also combined for 3,023 receiving yards and 20 touchdown receptions. The Denver Broncos franchise-tagged the former this offseason, but he has yet to sign his tender.
Vice president of football operations John Elway did not add a wide receiver in this year’s draft, and while Andre Caldwell is still in the mix, the team expects much more from second-year pro Cody Latimer, who played in only eight games and caught just two passes in his rookie campaign.
Detroit Lions
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There was quite the surprise when it came to the performance of the Detroit Lions' wide receivers this past season.
While superstar Calvin Johnson was hampered a bit and missed three games (and still caught 71 passes for 1,077 yards and eight touchdowns), former Seattle Seahawks receiver Golden Tate proved to be the free-agent find of 2014. The onetime Golden Domer finished sixth in the NFL with 99 receptions, good for 1,331 yards and four scores.
While Jeremy Ross and Corey Fuller contributed as well this past season, former second-round pick Ryan Broyles remains an enigma, so it will be interesting to see what the future holds for the three-year wideout. In free agency, the Lions added Lance Moore and Greg Salas.
Still, the primary focus here is on the Big Man (Johnson) and Tate, who combined for 170 of the team’s 365 receptions in 2014.
Green Bay Packers
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Do the Green Bay Packers possess the best group of wide receivers in the NFL?
They are certainly in the discussion. When you consider the potential of Davante Adams, who caught 38 passes for 446 yards and three touchdowns as a rookie this past year, as well as the expectations regarding 2015 third-round pick Ty Montgomery, there is a lot to get excited about.
Yes, we buried the leads on purpose. The Pro Bowl combination of Jordy Nelson and Randall Cobb (who avoided free agency this offseason) accounted for 189 catches, 2,806 receiving yards and 25 of quarterback/NFL MVP Aaron Rodgers’ 38 touchdown tosses in 2014.
As usual, general manager Ted Thompson brought in his share of rookie free agents and still has a pair of last year’s draft picks on the roster in Jared Abbrederis and Jeff Janis.
It could be interesting to see what the Packers can get out of some of their younger wideouts.
Houston Texans
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If you’re a fan of the Houston Texans, a few of the team’s new wide receivers will look familiar considering they have spent their share of time with the opposition in recent years.
And isn’t it ironic that former AFC South wideouts such as Nate Washington (Tennessee Titans) and Cecil Shorts (Jacksonville Jaguars) are now in Houston, while the franchise’s greatest pass-catcher (Andre Johnson) is now a member of the rival Indianapolis Colts?
Yes, while the team released Johnson (the third overall pick in the 2003 draft) this offseason, head coach Bill O’Brien still has improving deep threat DeAndre Hopkins. In his second NFL campaign, he finished second on the club with 76 catches for 1,210 yards (15.9 yards per reception) and six scores.
This year’s draft brought third-rounder Jaelen Strong and fifth-round pick Keith Mumphery. By all accounts, this appears to be a much deeper unit than in recent seasons.
Indianapolis Colts
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It’s amazing to consider that only 10 players in NFL annals have totaled at least 1,000 career receptions, and two of them spent their entire careers with the Indianapolis Colts.
Now factor in that another one of the 10 managed the feat with another team and is now a member of Chuck Pagano’s squad.
Cast off by the Houston Texans, Andre Johnson and his 1,012 catches are now in Indianapolis in place of Reggie Wayne, whose 1,070 career grabs rank seventh in league history. The Colts did not re-sign the free-agent wideout this offseason.
T.Y. Hilton has emerged as quarterback Andrew Luck’s favorite toy after he led the club with 82 catches for 1,345 yards (seven touchdowns). He and Johnson are joined by second-year pro Donte Moncrief, who caught 32 passes for 444 yards and three scores as a rookie. The club added Phillip Dorsett in the first round of this year’s draft, Duron Carter from the CFL (yes, Cris Carter’s son) and Vincent Brown in free agency.
As was the case in 2014, will this be the league’s top-ranked passing attack in terms of yards gained?
Jacksonville Jaguars
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Will youth be served in 2015 in Jacksonville? That is the hope of Jaguars head coach Gus Bradley as well as new offensive coordinator Greg Olson.
Last year, the team used a pair of second-round picks on wide receivers Marqise Lee and Allen Robinson and signed undrafted free agent Allen Hurns. The trio combined for 136 catches, 1,647 yards and nine of the team’s 15 passing touchdowns in their rookie seasons.
In this year’s draft, general manager David Caldwell added two more wideouts in Rashad Greene (fifth round) and Neal Sterling (seventh round).
There is also incumbent Ace Sanders, who caught only six passes in limited action this past season, Tandon Doss (who missed all of 2014) and free-agent additions such as Arrelious Benn and Bryan Walters.
The Jaguars no longer have the services of Cecil Shorts, the team’s top pass-catcher, who left for the Houston Texans. This is a club with a second-year quarterback in Blake Bortles and possibly a "Help Wanted" sign when it comes to an experienced wide receiver.
Kansas City Chiefs
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We all know the woes of the Kansas City Chiefs' passing attack this past season.
Quarterback Alex Smith threw three times as many touchdown passes as interceptions. Of course, he only served up 18 scoring tosses, and none went to a wide receiver. This offseason, the team gave Dwayne Bowe, Donnie Avery and A.J. Jenkins their pink slips.
Head coach Andy Reid hopes the offense's fortunes change in 2015. And for good measure, he signed one of his former pupils in wideout Jeremy Maclin. The former first-round pick totaled 85 receptions for 1,318 yards and 10 scores with the Philadelphia Eagles this past season.
As for the rest of the group, Jason Avant (another onetime pupil of Reid) returns after joining the team last season. Chief-of-all-trades De’Anthony Thomas caught 23 passes as a rookie in 2014, and the club did add Chris Conley (Georgia) in the third round of the draft this year.
Have the Chiefs done enough to improve the position? It may be another busy year in terms of catches for tight end Travis Kelce and running back Jamaal Charles.
Miami Dolphins
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How about a little math?
This past season, the Miami Dolphins’ leading receivers in terms of catches were rookie wideout Jarvis Landry (84), fellow receiver Mike Wallace (67), tight end Charles Clay (58), wide receiver Brian Hartline (39), running back Lamar Miller (38) and wideout Brandon Gibson (29).
Well, Clay is now a member of the Buffalo Bills, as the Dolphins didn’t match a lucrative offer sheet. But tight ends are a discussion for a different time.
Miami dealt Wallace to the Minnesota Vikings, while it released Hartline and Gibson.
So who are emerging quarterback Ryan Tannehill’s new targets this season? The team traded for Kenny Stills (New Orleans Saints), signed veteran Greg Jennings (whom head coach Joe Philbin is more than familiar with) and drafted University of Louisville standout DeVante Parker in the first round. Plus, Landry returns for his second NFL season.
Rishard Matthews is back, as is Matt Hazel, a sixth-round pick in 2014 from Coastal Carolina who saw no action this past year.
It’s safe to say Miami’s passing game will have a different look and feel to it.
Minnesota Vikings
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What can we expect from the Minnesota Vikings offense this season?
While we think running back Adrian Peterson will be in the starting backfield in Week 1, quarterback Teddy Bridgewater will have a new wideout in Mike Wallace, whom the team obtained from the Miami Dolphins via trade this offseason. The onetime Pittsburgh Steelers Pro Bowler totaled 10 touchdown receptions in 2014.
“It’s a vertical offense (compared to) a short, West Coast offense,” said Wallace to Matt Vensel of the Star Tribune last week. “You go down the field a lot more here, more to what I’m accustomed to.”
Gone is Greg Jennings, released after the acquisition of Wallace, while youngsters such as Charles Johnson and Jarius Wright hopefully continue to progress. That duo combined for 73 catches this past season and each scored a pair of touchdowns.
But the real wild card is former first-rounder Cordarrelle Patterson, who entered 2014 with plenty of promise but finished the season with more questions than answers.
New England Patriots
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It’s been quite the offseason for the defending Super Bowl champions on numerous fronts.
Actually, more like the back, as the New England Patriots have seen their share of cornerbacks leave Foxborough for one reason or another.
Fortunately for quarterbacks Tom Brady and Jimmy Garoppolo, they have the services of Julian Edelman, Danny Amendola and Brandon LaFell at their disposal. Edelman led the club with 92 catches, four for scores, while LaFell hauled in 74 passes for 953 yards and seven touchdowns. Of course, all three found the end zone in the team’s Super Bowl XLIX win over the Seattle Seahawks.
Tight end Rob Gronkowski remains the real focus of the passing attack, and the club hopes second-year running back James White can replace the pass-catching skills of Shane Vereen. But the key here is that the Pats have managed to overhaul their wide receiving corps over the last two seasons, and it will be interesting to see how much this latest group develops.
New Orleans Saints
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It has been an offseason of change for one of the most productive passing attacks in the league for nearly a decade. But somehow we know that the New Orleans Saints will be just fine.
The club still has the franchise’s all-time leader in receptions and touchdowns in veteran Marques Colston, who finished with 59 catches for 902 yards and five scores in 2014. He’s the team’s top returning pass-catcher from last season, as New Orleans dealt tight end Jimmy Graham (85) and wide receiver Kenny Stills (63) this offseason.
Although his rookie year was cut short by a thumb injury, the sky could be the limit for wideout Brandin Cooks, who caught 53 passes (three touchdowns) and also totaled seven rushing attempts, one for a score. Nick Toon returns for his third season after catching 17 passes in 2014, while the team added veteran Josh Morgan via free agency.
New York Giants
21 of 32
We could probably get away with just writing about Odell Beckham Jr., the 2014 NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year, and the anticipated return of former Pro Bowler Victor Cruz and say all we need to say about the New York Giants.
Of course, quarterback Eli Manning still has 2012 second-round pick Rueben Randle, who had 71 catches for 938 yards and three scores this past season. Free agency brought Dwayne Harris of the Dallas Cowboys, although the deep threat is more known for his prowess on kick returns and special teams. Wide receiver Preston Parker caught 36 passes for the team (two touchdowns) this past season.
Back to Beckham, who was busy healing all last offseason but joined the team in Week 5. He would go on to post club highs in catches (91), receiving yards (1,305) and touchdowns (12) despite playing in only a dozen games.
Cruz finished with 23 catches for 337 yards and one score before going down with a patellar tear, playing in just six games. But can you imagine him and Beckham together for a full year?
New York Jets
22 of 32
This past season was a pure disaster for the New York Jets, who won just four games and featured the league’s lowest-ranked passing attack.
All told, New York scored only 16 touchdowns through the air in 2014, with wide receivers accounting for just eight of those scores.
What a coincidence. This offseason, via trade from the Chicago Bears, the team acquired Brandon Marshall, who missed the Bears' final three games but still totaled eight touchdown receptions. And per NFL Media’s Albert Breer (h/t Marc Sessler of NFL.com), the five-time Pro Bowler just received a revised deal from his new team.
Elsewhere, Eric Decker returns after leading the club in catches (74), receiving yards (962) and touchdown grabs (five) this past year. He’s rejoined by Jeremy Kerley and T.J. Graham, while new general manager Mike Maccagnan used a second-round selection to tab former Ohio State wideout Devin Smith.
Be it Geno Smith (the likely starter at quarterback) or veteran Ryan Fitzpatrick, there is nowhere to go but up for the Jets’ passing game…we think.
Oakland Raiders
23 of 32
This past season, the Oakland Raiders ranked dead last in the NFL in total yards gained and 26th in the league in passing offense.
General manager Reggie McKenzie was determined to change that this offseason, signing former San Francisco 49ers wideout Michael Crabtree and using the fourth overall pick in this year’s draft on University of Alabama receiver Amari Cooper.
“He adds an explosiveness to the offense,” said Raiders wide receiver Rod Streater to Michael Wagaman of ESPN.com.
“I feel like he is going to come in and make an impact right away,” added Streater, who missed the final 13 games of 2014 with a foot injury. “The more playmakers you have, the better you are going to be…”
This gives promising second-year quarterback Derek Carr some new toys to play with. The team did release James Jones this offseason after he led the club with 73 catches and six touchdown receptions in 2014.
The Raiders still have Andre Holmes, good for 47 receptions and a team-high 693 receiving yards this past season. They also hope to get more out of one-time New England Patriots wideout Kenbrell Thompkins, who caught 15 passes with the team in 2014, and drafted Andre Debose in the seventh round.
If Carr continues to develop as expected and both Crabtree and Cooper perform up to expectations, this could be an interesting passing attack to watch.
Philadelphia Eagles
24 of 32
It wasn’t long ago that the Philadelphia Eagles boasted one of the most dangerous wide receiving duos in the game in the form of DeSean Jackson and Jeremy Maclin.
Of course, now both have moved on (Maclin left this offseason to sign with the Kansas City Chiefs), and the team’s passing attack is in the hands of Riley Cooper, promising second-year pro Jordan Matthews and 2015 first-round pick Nelson Agholor. The team also added Miles Austin and Seyi Ajirotutu via free agency, although the latter was really to appease the special teams.
Matthews finished second on the team in catches (67), receiving yards (872) and touchdown receptions (eight), while Cooper chipped in with 55 catches (three touchdowns in 2014).
How all the pieces fit here is still a little matter of debate. But what isn’t when it comes to the Eagles these days?
Pittsburgh Steelers
25 of 32
It’s still somewhat hard to believe that the Pittsburgh Steelers have been a member of the NFL since 1933 and it wasn’t until last season that one of their players led the league in receptions.
This past season, All-Pro wide receiver Antonio Brown was sensational thanks to league highs in catches (129) and receiving yards (1,698). He also scored a total of 14 touchdowns (13 receiving), and his reception total was the second-highest in a season in league annals.
The cupboard is far from bare elsewhere. Once rookie Martavis Bryant got going, he rarely stopped, catching 26 passes for a whopping 549 yards and eight scores. He could press Markus Wheaton (53 receptions) for starting duties this season, while the team also used a third-round pick on wideout Sammie Coates. In addition, the Steelers re-signed Darrius Heyward-Bey this offseason.
This is a young, talented group that is capable of some bigger things in 2015.
St. Louis Rams
26 of 32
For a team that has spent a number of high draft choices on the position, the St. Louis Rams haven’t gotten much from their investments at wide receiver.
Tavon Austin, Brian Quick, Stedman Bailey and Chris Givens were all taken in the first four rounds from 2012 to 2014, but none of them totaled at least 50 catches this past season. Granted, the team’s quarterback situation didn’t help, but this has been an underwhelming group.
The Rams did re-sign free-agent Kenny Britt, who finished second on the team with 48 catches, and head coach Jeff Fisher and general manager Les Snead opted for University of Missouri wide receiver Bud Sasser in the sixth round earlier this month. But the team needs a big improvement from this group.
San Diego Chargers
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Could a pair of big-play veteran wideouts elevate the San Diego Chargers offense of recent seasons to different heights?
Stevie Johnson and Jacoby Jones were let go by the San Francisco 49ers and Baltimore Ravens, respectively, this offseason, and both signed on with the Bolts. Jones can not only contribute as a deep threat but is also one of the best kick return specialists in the league. Johnson caught 35 passes for 435 yards and three touchdowns with the Niners in 2014 after six seasons and 301 receptions (28 touchdowns) with the Buffalo Bills.
Johnson hopes to fill the void left by Eddie Royal, who caught 62 passes for 778 yards and seven scores this past season but is now with the Chicago Bears. In his second NFL campaign, Keenan Allen led the club with 77 grabs but averaged just 10.2 yards per catch and scored only four touchdowns. Malcom Floyd finished fourth on the team with 52 receptions but led the club with 856 receiving yards and scored seven touchdowns.
San Francisco 49ers
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Despite bagging one of the better wide receivers in free agency, there’s a sense of puzzlement when it comes to the San Francisco 49ers at the position.
This offseason, the team cut loose Stevie Johnson and also allowed former first-round wideout Michael Crabtree to sign in Oakland.
While veteran Anquan Boldin and his 940 career catches (tied for 15th in NFL history) are back for a 13th season in the league, he will be reunited with a former teammate in big-play wideout Torrey Smith. They were teammates on the 2012 Baltimore Ravens, winners of Super Bowl XLVII. Smith comes off a season in which he caught only 49 passes, but 11 were for touchdowns.
The team added veteran wideout Jerome Simpson this offseason and drafted former Georgia Tech product DeAndre Smelter in the fourth round. Meanwhile, former fourth-round picks Quinton Patton and Bruce Ellington hope to emerge with bigger roles in 2015.
Seattle Seahawks
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When it comes to the Seattle Seahawks' wide receivers, the popular perception seems to be that the two-time NFC champions don’t have a true No. 1 wideout.
That’s kind of funny, considering what the likes of Doug Baldwin, Jermaine Kearse and Ricardo Lockette seem to do on an almost weekly basis. Add second-year pros Paul Richardson and Kevin Norwood into the mix and sprinkle in Super Bowl XLIX standout Chris Matthews and 2015 third-round pick Tyler Lockett, and you have an effective group that suits head coach Pete Carroll and offensive coordinator Darrell Bevell just fine.
Still, it was running back Marshawn Lynch who led the team with four touchdown receptions this past season. Of course, this is a club in which 10 different players caught Russell Wilson’s 20 scoring passes in 2014.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
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When you are the first overall pick in the NFL draft, you know you will have to deal with lofty expectations.
In the case of Tampa Bay Buccaneers rookie quarterback Jameis Winston, he will also be dealing with some lofty targets.
There is veteran receiver Vincent Jackson, second-year wideout Mike Evans and second-year tight end Austin Seferian-Jenkins. Each not only stands at 6’5”, but the trio combined for 159 receptions, with 16 of those for touchdowns (12 by Evans).
While Louis Murphy, 28, remains on the club, youth could wind up being served here in second-year pro Robert Herron, who caught just six passes in his debut season, as well as rookies Kenny Bell and Kaelin Clay, a pair of Day 3 draft choices.
Tennessee Titans
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In his second season at the helm of the Tennessee Titans, head coach Ken Whisenhunt has quite the interesting mix at his disposal.
While former first-rounder Kendall Wright and 2013 second-round pick Justin Hunter remain, veteran Nate Washington signed with the rival Houston Texans. The Titans added Atlanta Falcons castoff Harry Douglas and veteran Hakeem Nicks via free agency—the latter is playing for his third team in as many years.
This year’s draft brought a pair of intriguing prospects in Dorial Green-Beckham (second round) and Tre McBride (seventh round) from Oklahoma and William & Mary, respectively. The former has had his share of issues while the latter opened some eyes as the season wore on.
Nevertheless, Hunter expects a big challenge from Green-Beckham in terms of a starting role. “It's always (about competition) in the NFL," said Hunter to John Glennon of The Tennessean last month. “Your spot can always be taken. Everywhere you go, everyone is fighting for a position…”
With rookie quarterback Marcus Mariota a strong possibility to start the season, he will need veterans such as Wright and Hunter, as well as Nicks and Douglas, to step up and aid the learning curve a bit.
Washington Redskins
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Sometimes, one of the more talented wide receiving corps in the National Football League gets a little lost, what with all the talk surrounding the quarterback position.
It was as recently as 2013 that Pierre Garcon led the NFL with 113 receptions. This past season, he followed that with a team-high 68 catches and three touchdowns. In his first season with the Washington Redskins, speedster DeSean Jackson averaged a gaudy 20.9 yards on his 56 catches (for 1,169 yards) and pulled down six touchdown passes.
Last offseason, the team signed Andre Roberts prior to adding Jackson, and he responded with 36 catches for 453 yards and two scores. Earlier in May, new general manager Scot McCloughan drafted a pair of wideouts in Jamison Crowder and Evan Spencer in the fourth and sixth round, respectively.
If head coach Jay Gruden can get a little continuity from Robert Griffin III this season, look for a lot of the aforementioned numbers to go up.
All free-agent information and player signings/transactions are courtesy of Spotrac. Depth chart information comes via Ourlads. Unless otherwise noted, all player and team statistics come from Pro Football Reference and ESPN.com.
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