Power Ranking NFL Receiver Depth Charts
Less than two weeks ago, we took a glance at all 32 NFL teams and their wide receiver situations.
Now after some more evaluation time, as well as a request or two, it’s time to rank each club at the wideout spot.
While we will obviously focus on the starters for each team, this is indeed a closer look at the entire wide receiver depth chart for each franchise. We will rank the clubs' pass-catchers (excluding tight ends and running backs) from No. 32 to No. 1.
Between the NFL draft and free agency, we will see our share of new faces as well as some familiar names in new places. In this day and age of increased passing in the league, every team is not only looking for playmakers but hopes it has the luxury of some depth as well.
So let’s get to the rankings before someone gets deep on us.
32. Cleveland Browns
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When you know you won’t have your top wide receiver for all of 2015, it’s hard to get too excited.
Yes, Andrew Hawkins did lead the team with 63 catches this past season and does return this year, but the season-long suspension of Josh Gordon has to leave a bad taste in your mouthguard if you’re a member (or fan) of the Cleveland Browns.
While Taylor Gabriel and Travis Benjamin are back for another year with the club, general manager Ray Farmer added castoffs Dwayne Bowe (Kansas City Chiefs) and Brian Hartline (Miami Dolphins) via free agency and Washington State wide receiver Vince Mayle in the fourth round of this year’s draft.
Of course, we are still waiting to see exactly who will be throwing the ball to these players. Head coach Mike Pettine certainly hopes that Josh McCown and/or Johnny Manziel can be more productive than the team’s 2014 passing attack, one that produced an NFL-low 12 touchdowns this past season.
31. St. Louis Rams
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We all know that the St. Louis Rams feature a defensive front loaded with former first-round draft choices.
The franchise has also used its share of high picks on the wide receiving position. Tavon Austin was the eighth overall selection in 2013. One year earlier, the Rams used second- and fourth-round selections on Brian Quick and Chris Givens, respectively. Stedman Bailey was a third-round choice in 2013. Even free-agent pickup Kenny Britt (who re-signed with the club this year) was a former first-round pick by the Tennessee Titans.
For what it’s worth, not one of these players totaled at least 50 catches last season, combining for just nine touchdown receptions. Can new quarterback Nick Foles get more from this quintet this upcoming season? He may have to if the team is to improve on last season’s 6-10 finish.
Meanwhile, Nick Wagoner of ESPN.com announced that the club had released 2015 sixth-round pick Bud Sasser late last week due to a heart condition, according to league sources. Are head coach Jeff Fisher and general manager Les Snead in the market for another wideout?
30. Kansas City Chiefs
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Yes, we all know what position on the Kansas City Chiefs offense failed to catch a touchdown pass this past season.
Don’t say it. That statistic has been beaten to death.
Of course, there’s only one way to end it and head coach Andy Reid hopes he has the solution in six-year pro Jeremy Maclin. The duo’s relationship began with the Philadelphia Eagles when the former University of Missouri star was the team’s first-round pick in 2009. This past season, Maclin rebounded from a lost 2013 to total 85 receptions for 1,318 yards and 10 touchdowns.
Meanwhile, Adam Teicher of ESPN.com talks about second-year pro De’Anthony Thomas' switch from versatile performer to full-time wide receiver. As a rookie, he caught 23 passes for 156 yards but zero touchdowns.
As for the rest of this unit, Jason Avant (another former Eagle under Reid) returns after joining the team midseason and catching 13 passes, as does Junior Hemingway. The club added Chris Conley (Georgia) and Da’Ron Brown (Northern Illinois) in the third and seventh rounds, respectively, of this year’s draft.
Despite the addition of Maclin, this is still not a group to get overly excited about.
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29. Tennessee Titans
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Incumbent wide receivers Kendall Wright and Justin Hunter combined for 85 catches and nine of the Tennessee Titans’ 20 touchdown receptions in 2014. However, Wright more than doubled (57) Hunter’s catch total (28) and scored six of those aforementioned nine touchdowns.
So was it any surprise that the organization added veterans Harry Douglas and Hakeem Nicks via free agency and Dorial Green-Beckham (Oklahoma) and Tre McBride (William & Mary) in this year’s draft?
It will be interesting to see how this entire group comes together, especially with rookie quarterback Marcus Mariota at the helm. Head coach Ken Whisenhunt and his team come off a 2-14 season in which the Titans offense finished 29th in total yards, including 22nd in passing.
28. San Francisco 49ers
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So what are we really expecting from the San Francisco 49ers offense and Colin Kaepernick in 2015?
Former quarterbacks coach Geep Chryst has been elevated from quarterbacks coach to offensive coordinator. He inherits a unit that scored only 30 offensive touchdowns in 2014, down nine scores from the previous year. The Niners also totaled a mere 306 points this past season, 100 fewer points than in 2013.
Chryst is also down wide receivers such as Michael Crabtree and Stevie Johnson, now with the Oakland Raiders and San Diego Chargers, respectively. Ageless Anquan Boldin, who led the 49ers with 83 catches for 1,062 yards and five touchdown grabs this past season, will now line up with onetime Baltimore Ravens teammate Torrey Smith, who turned 11 of his 49 catches into scores in 2014.
The Niners hope to see much more out of former fourth-round picks Quinton Patton (2013) and Bruce Ellington (2014), while general manager Trent Baalke added Georgia Tech wideout DeAndre Smelter in the fourth round this year. Along with Smith, the team also added veteran Jerome Simpson via free agency.
While Smith could help bring the long ball consistently back to San Francisco and Boldin figures to be his usual steady self, this is far from an imposing unit.
27. Jacksonville Jaguars
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So many wide receivers and so little time.
In 2014, the Jacksonville Jaguars drafted both Marqise Lee and Allen Robinson in the second round and struck gold with undrafted free agent Allen Hurns, who finished second on the team with 51 catches but led the club with 677 receiving yards and six touchdowns. Lee led the team with 53 receptions, but averaged just 10.5 yards per grab and found the end zone just once.
For good measure, the Jaguars also drafted wide receivers Rashad Greene (Florida State) and Neal Sterling (Monmouth) on Day 3 of this year’s draft.
Free-agent additions Arrelious Benn and Bryan Walters hope to help—although the latter figures to have a bigger impact on special teams. Two-year pro Ace Sanders and former free-agent pickup Tandon Doss (who missed all of 2014) are back as well.
In any case, second-year quarterback Blake Bortles hopes to grow with his young wideouts and vice versa. This is a team that has totaled only 31 aerial scores in its last 32 games dating back to 2013.
26. Philadelphia Eagles
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While there have been plenty of changes when it comes to the quarterback position of the Philadelphia Eagles, there are quite a few new faces at wideout as well.
Yes, Chip Kelly still has second-year pro Jordan Matthews and Riley Cooper at his disposal. The former finished second on the team in catches (67), receiving yards (872) and touchdown receptions (eight), while Cooper added 55 receptions but scored only three times in 2014. Josh Huff returns for his second season, but he had more kickoff returns (14) than catches (eight) as a rookie.
As for the newcomers, the Birds signed free agents Miles Austin (Cleveland Browns) and Seyi Ajirotutu (San Diego Chargers) and drafted former USC wideout Nelson Agholor in the first round on the final day of April. Austin finished second on the Browns with 47 grabs in 2014, while Ajirotutu’s specialty is special teams.
Soon we will find out if Kelly’s specialty is revamping a wide receiving corps.
25. New York Jets
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Common sense and easy math tells us that the New York Jets made some strides when it came to their wide receiving corps this offseason.
In 2014, the club’s offensive unit managed only 27 touchdowns, but just 16 of those came via the air—with half of those aerial scores via wide receivers. Keep in mind that no team in the league gained fewer passing yards than the Jets in 2014.
Now consider that new general manager Mike Maccagnan acquired star wideout Brandon Marshall via trade from the Chicago Bears this offseason. Despite playing in only 13 games, he still managed to catch 61 passes, eight of those for scores. He will give starting quarterback Geno Smith a tremendous target, especially when it comes to the red zone.
As for the rest of the group, Eric Decker led the team in receptions (74), receiving yards (962) and touchdown catches (five) in 2014. Jeremy Kerley ranked second on the team with 38 grabs but scored only one touchdown. The Jets also drafted Ohio State wideout Devin Smith in the second round this year.
Far from perfect, the Jets made some progress this season in adding talent at the position. But there is still some work to be done.
24. Carolina Panthers
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This past season, Carolina Panthers wideout Kelvin Benjamin was one of three rookies to total at least 1,000 receiving yards. It marked the first time in the history of the league that we saw such a feat.
Now the team hopes to see last year’s first-round pick back on his feet. David Newton of ESPN.com reports that Benjamin is expected to return to practice on Tuesday after sitting out with a hamstring injury suffered in May.
The former Florida State standout tied for the team lead in receiving yards (1,008) this past season with Pro Bowl tight end Greg Olsen. Benjamin will once again team with veteran Jerricho Cotchery, who finished third on the team with 48 catches this past season, 25 fewer than Benjamin. This offseason, free agency brought former Green Bay Packers wideout Jarrett Boykin as well as Ted Ginn—who played for the Panthers in 2013—while Brenton Bersin and Corey Brown return to the team.
General manager Dave Gettleman also used a second-round pick on University of Michigan standout Devin Funchess, who, according to Newton, has opened some eyes to date.
While we are not ready to elevate this group any higher for now, this is a wide receiving corps headed in the right direction.
23. Minnesota Vikings
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With all of the talk in the Twin Cities regarding who will be running the ball for the Minnesota Vikings in 2015, let’s not forget they have some people who can catch it as well.
Second-year quarterback Teddy Bridgewater has a new toy in wide receiver Mike Wallace—who hopes to look more like the former Pro Bowler with the Pittsburgh Steelers than the free-agent disappointment with the Miami Dolphins the past two seasons. Still, Wallace did catch 10 touchdown passes in 2014.
Young performers such as Jarius Wright (42) and Charles Johnson (31) must continue to improve as well. That duo combined for 73 receptions in 2014 and each scored two touchdowns. Former first-rounder Cordarrelle Patterson must rebound from a very disappointing second season, while general manager Rick Spielman opted for University of Maryland wideout Stefon Diggs in the fifth round this spring.
Only four teams in the league gained fewer passing yards this past season than the Minnesota Vikings, who hope to get their aerial attack back on track with a few new faces.
22. Oakland Raiders
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Now that Oakland Raiders second-year quarterback Derek Carr has gotten the go-ahead, he will have to acquaint himself with a new pair of prospective weapons.
Last year’s second-round pick has been dealing with a finger injury that hampered his participation at OTAs. But according to NFL Media’s Ian Rapoport (courtesy of Dan Hanzus of NFL.com), he’s been given the green light, and while you will see him at minicamp, he’ll be 100 percent for training camp.
Late last week, the Raiders also added a pair of free-agent wideouts in Trindon Holliday and Kris Durham, although the former’s forte is special teams.
Earlier this offseason, general manager Reggie McKenzie used the fourth overall pick in the draft on University of Alabama receiver Amari Cooper and signed former San Francisco 49ers wideout Michael Crabtree to help upgrade the NFL’s 26th-ranked passing attack of a year ago.
Elsewhere, Andre Holmes finished third on the team in 2014 with 47 receptions and a team-high 693 receiving yards while scoring four touchdowns. A healthy Rod Streater would be a plus as the three-year pro looks to rebound from an injury-shortened season in which he caught only nine passes in three games. Kenbrell Thompkins was a midseason addition in October and caught 15 passes.
McKenzie also added University of Florida wideout Andre Debose in the seventh round last month, while Brice Butler (a seventh-round pick in 2014) caught 21 passes, two for touchdowns, in his rookie campaign.
You get the feeling that this group will be rated a lot higher by the end of 2015.
21. Cincinnati Bengals
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In four seasons, Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Andy Dalton has received his share of criticism. At times it is deserved.
This past season, the experienced signal-caller didn’t get a lot of help from his receiving corps due to injuries. Perennial Pro Bowler A.J. Green was banged up, and Marvin Jones missed the entire season. It’s little wonder that Dalton connected for only 19 scores in 2014, with just 12 of those touchdowns going to wide receivers.
The team still has Mohamed Sanu, who caught 56 passes for 790 yards and five touchdowns but slumped as the season wore on. There’s also Brandon Tate, free-agent pickup Denarius Moore (Oakland Raiders) and 2015 seventh-round pick Mario Alford from West Virginia.
It will be interesting to see if Dalton and Green can return to being one of the best quarterback-wide receiver connections in the league. Health is the biggest factor when it comes to Green, who still led Cincinnati in 2014 in catches (69), receiving yards (1,041) and touchdown grabs (six) despite missing three games.
20. Arizona Cardinals
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Considering how many quarterbacks the Arizona Cardinals went through in 2014, it was somewhat impressive that the team still managed to score 21 touchdowns via the air this past season.
While more than half of those scores came via three-year pro Michael Floyd (six) and rookie John Brown (five), this is a team that still has 11-year veteran wideout Larry Fitzgerald, who now ranks 19th in NFL history with 909 career receptions but totaled only two touchdowns and 63 grabs in 2014.
Floyd, who led the club with 841 receiving yards on just 47 receptions (17.9 average), will continue to pair with Fitzgerald, but you may continue to see even more of Brown this season. And what impact will Jaron Brown and 2015 fifth-round pick J.J. Nelson have this year?
19. Houston Texans
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Talk about a closely knit division.
This offseason, the Houston Texans parted ways with legendary wideout Andre Johnson (who signed with the rival Indianapolis Colts). Meanwhile, the club added former AFC South opponents Nate Washington (Tennessee Titans) and Cecil Shorts (Jacksonville Jaguars) via free agency this offseason.
That duo will join emerging big-play wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins. In his second season, he finished second on the club with 76 catches, but his 1,210 receiving yards ranked 12th in the league in 2014. Hopkins also led the Texans with six touchdown receptions.
General manager Rick Smith also used the draft to add Jaelen Strong (Arizona State) and Keith Mumphery (Michigan State) in the third and fifth rounds this year, respectively.
18. Baltimore Ravens
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Baltimore Ravens general manager Ozzie Newsome is one of the best in the business when it comes to his job.
As he and the team watched Torrey Smith leave for the San Francisco 49ers via free agency, he used this year’s draft to add a pair of wide receivers—Breshad Perriman (Central Florida) in the first round and Darren Waller (Georgia Tech) in the sixth round.
As for the returning faces at wideout, veteran Steve Smith led the team with 79 catches for 1,065 yards and scored six times in his first season with Baltimore. Marlon Brown caught 24 passes for 255 yards in 2014 but did not score a touchdown. Kamar Aiken also totaled 24 receptions, totaling just 267 yards and three scores this past season.
The team also hopes to get a better look at Michael Campanaro, a seventh-round pick last year who caught seven passes (one touchdown) in his rookie campaign.
17. San Diego Chargers
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You have to like what you see with some of the additions to the San Diego Chargers wide receiving corps. However, it will be interesting to see how the newcomers are utilized.
The Bolts added veterans Stevie Johnson and Jacoby Jones this offseason, released by the San Francisco 49ers and Baltimore Ravens, respectively. Johnson totaled 35 receptions for 435 yards and three scores in 2014, while Jones (with only nine receptions in 2014) is one of the league’s top kick return artists.
In his second NFL season, Keenan Allen led the club with 77 grabs, but averaged just 10.2 yards per reception and totaled just four scores. Veteran Malcom Floyd ranked fourth on the club with 52 grabs, but led the club in receiving yards (856) and scored seven touchdowns. Dontrelle Inman added a dozen catches last year as well.
On paper, the Chargers look like an improved team at wide receiver. But how many balls will be headed their way, especially with ageless tight end Antonio Gates and running back Danny Woodhead (who missed nearly all of the 2014 season) at quarterback Philip Rivers’ disposal?
16. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
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Things may be looking up for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, although 6’4” rookie quarterback Jameis Winston doesn’t necessarily have to do that when eyeing the likes of wideouts Vincent Jackson and/or Mike Evans (as well as second-year tight end Austin Seferian-Jenkins).
Here we will concern ourselves with the pair of 6’5” wide receivers. Evans caught two fewer passes (68) than Jackson (70) in 2014, but last year’s rookie sensation led the club with 1,051 receiving yards and a dozen touchdowns.
As for Jackson, who totaled 1,002 yards and a pair of scores, new offensive coordinator Dirk Koetter (formerly of the Atlanta Falcons) has plans for the veteran performer.
“Dirk is having some fun moving me around and playing me in multiple places, and it’s been fun for me, too," Jackson told Roy Cummings of The Tampa Tribune. “It’s fun to play inside (in the slot) and outside, to be able stretch the field and cross the field.
“That’s what’s good about this system,” added Jackson. “We’re going to put the ball all over the place.”
Along with Louis Murphy (31 catches, two touchdowns in 2014), you can expect to see 2015 draft choices Kenny Bell (Nebraska) and Kaelin Clay (Utah), as well as second-year pro Robert Herron.
For the sake of head coach Lovie Smith and the Buccaneers, you also hope to see a lot more than two victories.
15. Buffalo Bills
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If the Buffalo Bills are going to shuffle off to the playoffs for the first time since 1999, they need to get more production from the league’s 26th-ranked offense of a year ago.
While the addition of former Eagles running back and 2013 NFL rushing champion LeSean McCoy is a huge plus, new head coach Rex Ryan also needs steady play from quarterback Matt Cassel…or EJ Manuel…or Tyrod Taylor…or perhaps Matt Simms.
The team’s young and talented wide receiving corps should help, especially with a year of experience under their belts. Although running back Fred Jackson led the team with 66 catches, wideouts Sammy Watkins and Robert Woods were tied for second with 65 grabs each. Watkins led the Bills with 982 receiving yards and six scores while Woods added 699 yards and five touchdowns.
Buffalo also got some surprising play from Chris Hogan, who finished fifth on the club with 41 catches and scored four touchdowns. Ryan will see a very familiar face in Percy Harvin, who spent half of 2014 with the New York Jets following a trade, and the team also drafted Dezmin Lewis (Central Arkansas) in the seventh round.
You can expect to see your share of big plays this season in Orchard Park. The real question is just how many and just how often.
14. New Orleans Saints
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Don’t feel too sorry for quarterback Drew Brees and the New Orleans Saints.
While three-time Pro Bowl tight end Jimmy Graham was dealt to the Seattle Seahawks this offseason, the prolific passer 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 both Graham (85) and wide receiver Kenny Stills (63) are now elsewhere.
While his rookie campaign was limited to only 10 games, it could be a big 2015 for last year’s first-round pick in wideout Brandin Cooks, who caught 53 passes (three touchdowns) and also totaled seven rushing attempts, one for a score. Veteran Josh Morgan was added via free agency this offseason, while Nick Toon returns for his third season after catching 17 passes in 2014.
It will be interesting to see if Jalen Saunders has a bigger role this season and if Joe Morgan (who has played in only five games the past two seasons combined) can recapture some of that 2012 big-play magic.
Like we said, there should be no tears for Brees this season.
13. Miami Dolphins
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In this instance, the focus on the Miami Dolphins wide receiving corps will be on who will be catching passes for suddenly well-compensated quarterback Ryan Tannehill and not who used to have those responsibilities.
However, the team’s new-look pass-catching corps got a bit of bad news recently. Armando Salguero of the Miami Herald tells us that 2015 first-round pick DeVante Parker will be out for two months following foot surgery.
As for Tannehill’s other new targets this upcoming season, the Dolphins traded for wideout Kenny Stills (New Orleans Saints) and signed veteran Greg Jennings—released by the Minnesota Vikings in April.
In terms of the incumbents, Rishard Matthews is back (for now), as is Matt Hazel, a sixth-round pick in 2014 from Coastal Carolina who saw no action this past year. Last but not least there’s former second-round pick Jarvis Landry, who led the team with 84 receptions in his rookie season, good for 758 yards and five scores.
With Tannehill coming into his own this past season, this could be a fascinating group of wideouts to watch this upcoming year.
12. Washington Redskins
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The problems surrounding the Washington Redskins passing attack in recent years have been more about the giver and less about the receiver(s).
Here we will focus on an underappreciated group of wideouts who have the potential to put up big numbers if all is well behind center with quarterback Robert Griffin III, now entering his fourth NFL season.
While Pierre Garcon saw his numbers decrease from a league-high 113 catches in 2013 to 68 receptions this past year, he led the team in receiving for the second straight year. Former Pro Bowler DeSean Jackson averaged 20.9 yards per catch in his first season with the club (1,169 yards on 56 grabs) and led Washington with six touchdown receptions.
Last offseason, the team added Andre Roberts in free agency from the Arizona Cardinals, and he finished sixth on the team with 36 catches, good for 453 yards and two scores. The team would like to see more from 2014 fifth-round pick Ryan Grant, while new general manager Scot McCloughan added a pair of wideouts in Jamison Crowder (Duke) and Evan Spencer (Ohio State) on Day 3 of this year’s draft.
This may be a much better group than some think, especially if Griffin can stay on the field all season.
11. Seattle Seahawks
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With the offseason tale regarding the acquisition of three-time Pro Bowl tight end Jimmy Graham, some may once again start sleeping on the Seattle Seahawks' underrated wide receiving corps.
You may be wise remaining sleepless in Se…never mind.
Yes, running back Marshawn Lynch led the team with four touchdown catches in 2015. Graham has totaled 51 scoring receptions in five NFL seasons, all with the New Orleans Saints, and could likely be quarterback Russell Wilson’s favorite end-zone target this upcoming season.
In 2014, Doug Baldwin (66), Jermaine Kearse (38), Paul Richardson (29) and Ricardo Lockette (11) did combine for 144 receptions and seven touchdowns. Second-year pro Kevin Norwood and Super Bowl XLIX sensation Chris Matthews return, and the team added Kansas State standout Tyler Lockett in this year’s draft.
All told, it’s a group that consistently gets the job done. And what more do you need than that?
10. Chicago Bears
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Those concerned that the Chicago Bears passing attack won’t be as productive without perennial Pro Bowler Brandon Marshall may have a point.
Then again, it’s not like the cupboard is bare at the position in the Windy City. Marshall was dealt to the New York Jets this offseason, but new head coach John Fox and new offensive coordinator Adam Gase, along with embattled quarterback Jay Cutler, have some promising faces on the club.
Start with Pro Bowl wideout Alshon Jeffery, who ranked third on the team with 85 catches in 2014 but led the Bears in receiving yards (1,133) and touchdown receptions (10). There’s also free-agent addition Eddie Royal, who totaled 132 catches (16 for scores) the past three seasons with the San Diego Chargers, and rookie Kevin White, the former West Virginia University product who was the seventh overall pick in the 2015 NFL draft.
There’s also former seventh-round pick Marquess Wilson, who missed the first nine games of 2014 but totaled 17 catches in the team’s final seven games this past season.
9. New England Patriots
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When the New England Patriots were busy winning three Super Bowl in four years in the early 2000s, they featured dependable wide receivers such as Troy Brown, David Givens, David Patten and Deion Branch, to name a few. They may have been far from spectacular in some people’s minds but all they did was hang onto the football, move the chains and make important plays.
Fast-forward to today and the franchise, which comes off its fourth Super Bowl championship in 2014, got the same kind of play this past season from Julian Edelman, Brandon LaFell and Danny Amendola. This past season, Edelman led the club with 92 receptions while LaFell finished third with 74 catches, seven for touchdowns.
Amendola chipped in with just 27 grabs during the regular season but was huge in the playoffs, totaling 11 catches for 137 yards and three scores.
Could 2015 be a comeback year for wide receiver Aaron Dobson? Jeff Howe of the Boston Herald talks about the former second-round pick whose career has recently been derailed by injuries.
8. Dallas Cowboys
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Last season’s edition of the Dallas Cowboys was a perfect example of how a punishing running game not only helps your passing attack but your defense, too.
While the club ranked second in the NFL in rushing yards, Jason Garrett’s squad ranked fourth in the league in passing touchdowns (37). More than half (24) of those scoring strikes went to the wide receiving trio of Dez Bryant (12), Terrance Williams (eight) and Cole Beasley (four), who combined for 162 catches.
Bryant, of course, has emerged as one of the top wideouts in the league and has really come into his own the past three years. He was given the franchise tag this offseason to prevent him from hitting the free-agent market and last week he attended OTAs.
Still, the Pro Bowl performer remains unsigned for now. “We know he will be a Cowboy this year," Cowboys owner Jerry Jones told Clarence Hill of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram. “If he ends up playing this year under the tag, we will go right back to work again next year.”
In five NFL seasons, Bryant has already caught 381 passes for 5,424 yards and 56 scores, and his 16 touchdown receptions led the league in 2014.
“Would we like to get a long-term deal on him? Of course we would,” Jones told Hill. “We will work hard to do so…Hopefully, he will understand it’s difficult to make a deal at this point and he will come on and get ready to play.”
While the Cowboys recently signed A.J. Jenkins (who fizzled with the San Francisco 49ers and Kansas City Chiefs), the team is hoping to see more down the road from 2014 fifth-round pick Devin Street.
More importantly, they hope to get some biz done with Bryant sometime soon.
7. New York Giants
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Deja boo-boo?
For the second straight offseason, New York Giants wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. is being plagued by hamstring problems. According to NFL Media’s Kimberly Jones (via Dan Hanzus of NFL.com), the team may not seem him on the field until training camp. Likewise for wideout Victor Cruz, who continues to recover from a midseason knee injury suffered last October.
Once the duo is back, they should be something to watch. Beckham, the 2014 NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year, totaled team highs in catches (91), receiving yards (1,305) and touchdowns (12) despite missing the team’s first four games in 2014. Cruz, a former Pro Bowler, finished the season with 23 catches for 337 yards and one score before going down in Week 6.
Elsewhere, three-year pro Rueben Randle (71) and Preston Parker (36) finished second and fourth on the team in receptions this past season. University of Connecticut wideout Geremy Davis was a sixth-round pick this spring and via free agency the Giants added free agent Dwayne Harris of the Dallas Cowboys, although his signing is a bigger benefit to the special teams.
No doubt head coach Tom Coughlin, offensive coordinator Ben McAdoo and quarterback Eli Manning are counting the days when it comes to a healthy return by both Beckham and Cruz.
6. Denver Broncos
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As we type, three-time Pro Bowl wide receiver Demaryius Thomas (given the franchise tag by the Denver Broncos this offseason) remains unsigned.
In each of the three seasons with quarterback Peyton Manning at the controls, the 2010 first-round pick has totaled 90-plus catches, 1,400-plus receiving yards and 10 or more touchdown receptions. In 2014, Thomas (111) and Emmanuel Sanders (101)—in his first season with the Broncos—became the first set of teammates to total at least 100 receptions in the same season since 2009, when Manning helped wide receiver Reggie Wayne and tight end Dallas Clark accomplish that feat.
As for the rest of the wideout corps, there’s Andre Caldwell and promising Cody Latimer, the latter a second-round pick in 2014 that caught only two passes and played in just eight games in his debut season. One of these performers must make up for the loss of Wes Welker, who caught 49 passes this past season but was not re-signed the club (and remains a free agent).
With new head coach Gary Kubiak, you can expect more of an emphasis on the ground game. But that doesn’t mean that the Broncos aren’t in pretty good shape when it comes to this position.
5. Atlanta Falcons
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Over the past two seasons, the Atlanta Falcons have won a combined 10 games and will take the field in 2015 under new head coach Dan Quinn.
For the past four seasons, quarterback Matt Ryan has had the pleasure of throwing the football to standout wide receivers Roddy White (335 catches and 25 touchdowns) and Julio Jones (278 catches and 26 touchdowns). Over that span (since 2011), the duo has combined for 613 receptions and 51 touchdowns grabs.
While White enters his 11th NFL season and is the franchise’s all-time leader in receptions (765) and touchdowns (62), Jones is in the midst of his prime entering his fifth year and comes off a season in which only two players in the league totaled more catches (104) and receiving yards (1,593). Meanwhile, veteran performer Devin Hester finished fourth on the team with 38 receptions (two touchdowns) in his debut season with the Falcons.
As for a few new faces, the team added Leonard Hankerson (Washington Redskins) in free agency and East Carolina wideout Justin Hardy in the fourth round. Now it is up to new offensive coordinator Kyle Shanahan to make it all work in 2015.
4. Indianapolis Colts
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From one incredibly productive wide receiver to another, the Indianapolis Colts have transitioned from a 14-year pro with 1,070 catches to a 12-year veteran with 1,012 receptions.
Goodbye Reggie Wayne and hello Andre Johnson.
The league’s No. 1 passing attack this past season has an abundance of riches with not only Johnson but Pro Bowler T.Y. Hilton, who led the Colts with 82 catches and 1,345 receiving yards. He is one of the best deep threats in the league, as evidenced by his average of 16.4 yards per catch.
Quarterback Andrew Luck, who led the NFL with 49 touchdown passes in 2014, also has second-year pro Donte Moncrief (32 receptions for 444 yards and three touchdowns) and this year’s first-round pick, University of Miami wideout Phillip Dorsett, at his disposal.
The team also added former Montreal Alouettes wide receiver Duron Carter. The son of Pro Football Hall of Famer Cris Carter totaled 124 catches for 1,939 yards and 12 scores in two seasons with the CFL club.
3. Detroit Lions
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If there was a better offensive free-agent pickup last offseason than wide receiver Golden Tate, please let us know. Now teamed with a hopefully healthy Calvin Johnson for a second consecutive season, this is as good as it gets when it comes to a starting combination.
The passing attack of the Detroit Lions didn’t put up mind-numbing numbers in 2014 but that doesn’t mean the team isn’t in terrific shape. Tate ranked sixth in the league this past season with 99 catches and he and Johnson (who missed three games) teamed for 170 receptions for a combined 2,408 yards but only a dozen scores (eight by Johnson).
There’s also Jeremy Ross, the team’s main threat on punt and kickoff returns who also caught 24 passes (one touchdown) in 2014. Corey Fuller returns as well and general manager Martin Mayhew added free agents Greg Salas and Lance Moore this offseason.
Look for better numbers from Johnson this upcoming season, especially if he can stay healthy for 16 games.
2. Pittsburgh Steelers
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Known for their Steel Curtains and physical defense for more than four decades, today’s Pittsburgh Steelers have now carved out quite the reputation when it comes to the passing game.
This past season, quarterback Ben Roethlisberger tied for the NFL lead with 4,952 passing yards, throwing 32 touchdown passes and only nine interceptions as the team won a division title for the first time since 2010.
Big Ben got a lot of help from fifth-year pro Antonio Brown, who became the first Steelers player ever to lead the NFL in receptions. His 129 catches were the second-highest in a season in league history and his 1,698 receiving yards were an NFL high as well. He was on the receiving end of 13 of Roethlisberger’s 32 scores while big-play wideout Martavis Bryant averaged 21.1 yards per catch and scored eight times as a rookie—all in the team’s final 10 games of 2014.
Add in Markus Wheaton, whose 55 catches were the fourth-highest total on the club, journeyman speedster Darrius Heyward-Bey and 2015 third-round pick Sammie Coates (Auburn) and this is a very potent group.
1. Green Bay Packers
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We all know what two-time NFL MVP Aaron Rodgers is capable of. However, he’s far from a one-man band in Titletown.
This past season, the talented signal-caller got plenty of help from wide receivers Jordy Nelson (98 receptions) and Randall Cobb (91 receptions), who totaled a combined 189 catches for 2,806 yards and 25 touchdowns.
Somewhat quietly, Nelson has totaled 400 receptions for 49 scores in seven seasons dating back to 2008—Rodgers’ first season as the Packers' starter. In four seasons, Cobb has amassed 227 catches, 25 for touchdowns, and can be a threat on special teams as well.
This potent duo is now complemented by emerging wideout Davante Adams, who snared 38 passes for 446 yards and three scores as a rookie this past season. There is also intriguing 2015 third-round pick Ty Montgomery from Stanford University. In each of his final two seasons with the Cardinal, he totaled 61 receptions and in four years at the school he returned a total of five kicks for scores.
Both Jared Abbrederis and Jeff Janis hope to make much bigger impacts than they did as rookies this past season. In any case, Nelson, Cobb and Adams are a very tough trio to top.
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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