Updated Rankings of Top NFL WR Rooms After Early Free Agency

The wide receiver market has exploded over the last three years, with nine different targets currently holding contracts worth $90 million or more in total value. That number will grow by two once the Cincinnati Bengals make everything official with Ja'Marr Chase and Tee Higgins.

"The deals are done," a source told Sports Illustrated's James Rapien.

Now that Chase and Higgins are staying together, Cincinnati's status as featuring the league's best group of wide receivers won't be challenged. But plenty of movement around the league has shifted how some of the other top weapon combinations look.

Keep in mind, how something appears on paper doesn't always equate to on-field production. Case in point, the Chicago Bears looked like they pieced together an elite wide receiver trio prior to the 2024 season. It didn't work out that way.

But multiple units appear much stronger today than they did entering the offseason, which is good enough to place them among the league's B/R's top-10 wide receiver rooms.

No. 6-10

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Washington Commanders wide receiver Terry McLaurin

10. Seattle Seahawks

Plenty of asterisks come with this particular slotting. Jaxon Smith-Njigba must build upon last season's success. Cooper Kupp must stay healthy. Sam Darnold must continue to play well in Klint Kubiak's quarterback-friendly scheme. If all of that occurs, the Seahawks will be just fine despite moving past veterans DK Metcalf and Tyler Lockett.

9. Indianapolis Colts

The Colts were the NFL's only team with three wide receivers to eclipse 800 yards last season. Obviously, the group is held back by the team's shaky quarterback situation. But Michael Pittman Jr. is a proven target. Alec Pierce had a breakout season in 2024 as a deep threat. Quietly, Josh Downs is one of the league's best slot receivers.

8. Los Angeles Rams

Davante Adams joins the Rams to fill the role once held by Cooper Kupp, as the squad's savvy, veteran target. Puka Nacua finished 10 yards short of back-to-back 1,000-yard campaigns despite missing six games last year. Tutu Atwell is the overlooked piece among this group despite posting a career-high 562 receiving yards in 2024.

7. Atlanta Falcons

The Falcons appears to be set at the game's most important position, with Michael Penix Jr. becoming the full-time starting quarterback in 2025. He'll already benefit from plenty of quality options in the passing game, with Drake London catching 100 passes for 1,271 yards in his third season. Meanwhile, Darnell Mooney and Ray-Ray McCloud III combined for 1,678.

6. Washington Commanders

Washington's passing game no longer needs to fall entirely on the reliable shoulders of Terry McLaurin. Granted, the two-time Pro Bowler posted five straight 1,000-yard campaigns. But he'll now be helped by Deebo Samuel, who's an exceptional playmaker with the ball in his hands. Noah Brown is often overlooked, but he provides a big body and does a lot of the dirty work.

5. Pittsburgh Steelers

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Of the teams included in the top five, the Pittsburgh Steelers are the one represented primarily based on what it could be, not what's already established.

Obviously, the organization's acquisition of DK Metcalf serves as a game-changer. The 6'4", 235-pound Metcalf is the game's most physically dominant wide receiver. He's posted at least 900 yards in each of his six NFL seasons. One can go as far as saying the franchise has never fielded a wide receiver quite like him.

George Pickens is another physically gifted option. The 6'3" target's body control and penchant for remarkable catches are truly special. But he's also far too inconsistent despite producing 2,040 receiving yards over the last two seasons.

If Metcalf and Pickens are playing at full tilt, no duo is more fearsome. But that's not always the case, particularly for Pickens.

Also, Pittsburgh's third receiver can do a little more. Calvin Austin III did contribute 548 yards and four touchdowns last season. Maybe, last year's third-round pick, Roman Wilson, emerges after an injury-marred rookie campaign.

Finally, the Steelers still don't know who their starting quarterback will be. The organization could may with a veteran, rookie or both. It's waiting to see what happens, which tampers the excitement about this wide receiver group to some degree.

4. Philadelphia Eagles

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Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver A.J. Brown

Considering the Philadelphia Eagles are the reigning NFL champions and their duo of A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith both scored touchdowns during Super Bowl LIV, some may argue the Birds' wide receivers should be higher on the list.

To be fair, Brown is one of the game's most intimidating targets. He overwhelms defensive backs and is a freight train when trying to track him down after the catch. On the other hand, Smith, aka the Slim Reaper, slices through defenses with outstanding route-running and deceptive speed.

Even with the Eagles being a run-heavy team, Brown and Smith combined for 135 catches and 1,912 yards. They're dynamic when Philadelphia needs them to be.

But the main reason why the Eagles can't soar any higher on these rankings is due to the roster's lack of a true third option. Philadelphia likes to lean heavily on its tight ends, with Dallas Goedert and Grant Calcaterra finishing third and fourth on the team in receiving yardage during the 2024 campaign.

Jahan Dotson had his moments in his first year wearing an Eagles uniform. Still, the 2022 first-round draft pick wasn't a consistent presence.

When comparing the league's best overall wide receiver rooms, the Eagles can go punch-for-punch with their top two yet lack a true third.

3. Tampa Bay Buccaneers

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Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Chris Godwin

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have a special bond in their wide receiver room. So much so, Chris Godwin could have left during free agency and made significantly more by joining the New England Patriots.

"I mean, to be honest, I feel like we were really close (to leaving)," Godwin told Sara Walsh and Mike Garafolo on NFL Network's The Insiders. "When it comes to a situation like that, you have to really, really consider it. ...

"But at the end of the day, like I was mentioning in the presser, I have to go based off my gut, I have to go based off my intuition and what I think is going to be best for us in the long run. Being here, where we call home, where we feel the most comfortable, where we can raise our newborn son, I think all those things are big factors for us in making this decision."

Godwin's return extends his relationship with Mike Evans. The two have played alongside one another for the past eight years.

Evans is piecing together arguably the quietest Hall of Fame resume ever, after tying an NFL record with 11 straight 1,000-yard campaigns.

Jalen McMillan injects some youth and upside in the group after adding 461 yards and eight touchdowns during his rookie campaign.

2. Minnesota Vikings

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Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Jordan Addison (left) and Justin Jefferson (right)

The Minnesota Vikings still don't know exactly who will be the team's starting quarterback this fall, but whoever takes the reins—whether it's last year's 10th overall draft pick, J.J. McCarthy, or Aaron Rodgers after signing as a free agent—will do so knowing they have an exceptional group of offensive weapons at their disposal.

Justin Jefferson had made four straight All-Pro squads, including first-team recognition last season. He's registered at least 1,400 receiving yards in four of his five professional campaigns. His route-running and position flexibility are among the league's best. The 25-year-old has been nearly unstoppable since he joined the professional ranks.

Meanwhile, Jordan Addison is a No. 1 target on many other squads.

Addison, whom the Vikings selected 23rd overall in the 2023 draft, posted 1,786 yards and 19 touchdowns over his first two seasons. He did so despite Vikings quarterbacks targeting Jefferson 254 times during that stretch.

All the while, Jalen Nailor quietly emerged as a rock-solid third option. The '22 sixth-round pick contributed 414 yards and six touchdowns a season ago.

Sam Darnold pieced together an exceptional comeback campaign last year. The wide receivers on Minnesota's roster are a large part of why he did so. Jefferson, Addison and Nailor will help make whoever is behind center play better.

1. Cincinnati Bengals

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Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Tee Higgins

Ja'Marr Chase is either the best or second-best wide receiver in the NFL (depending on how you feel about Justin Jefferson). But one stud does not a great wide receiver room make. Depth is necessary.

In the case of the Cincinnati Bengals, they field the league's best duo, while also running an underrated slot receiver onto the field each week.

As for Chase, he led the NFL last season with 127 receptions, 1,708 yards and 17 touchdown receptions on his way to being named first-team All-Pro for the very first time.

Tee Higgins didn't eclipse the 1,000-yard plateau, but he missed five games due to injury. Still, he was supposed to be well on his way to joining another franchise and finally becoming a true WR1. The Bengals had other plans and placed the franchise tag on Higgins for the second time in two years.

As noted earlier, Higgins is on the verge of signing a long-term contract extension to remain in the Queen City and keep defensive coordinators up at night having to gameplan for him and Chase.

Andrei Iosivas deserves significant credit for emerging as the Bengals' slot receiver during his sophomore campaign. Iosivas is an excellent athlete and set new highs last season, with 36 receptions for 479 yards and six touchdown grabs. He should continue to improve in Year 3.

The Bengals are taking an interesting pathway in building their roster, with three huge contracts at quarterback and wide receiver. But Chase, Higgins and Joe Burrow are best players on the team and the organization is rewarding them. Defenses beware.