Re-Ranking NFL's Best WR Duos After Cowboys Pair CeeDee Lamb with George Pickens

Weeks after Jerry Jones teased some "pretty substantive trades," the Dallas Cowboys finally delivered. On Wednesday, the Cowboys acquired wide receiver George Pickens and a 2027 sixth-round pick in exchange for a 2026 third-round pick and a 2027 fifth-rounder, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter.

While the trade does carry risks for Dallas—Pickens is entering a contract year and had inconsistent production in Pittsburgh—there's logic behind it. Dallas has needed a dependable second receiver opposite CeeDee Lamb ever since it traded Amari Cooper in 2021.

On paper, Pickens is that high-end complement and helps give the Cowboys one of the better wide receiver duos in the NFL.

Where does the tandem of Lamb and Pickens rank among the league's best duos after free agency and the 2025 draft? Here's a look at the 10 best based on factors like past production, player upside and projected roles.

10. Brian Thomas Jr. & Travis Hunter, Jacksonville Jaguars

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Jaguars WR Brian Thomas Jr.

The Jacksonville Jaguars' young wide receiver duo is short on NFL experience, but it's long on upside.

New general manager James Gladstone made an aggressive draft-day play for Colorado receiver and cornerback Travis Hunter. The reigning Heisman winner has a chance to be a two-way player for the Jags and a potentially impactful receiver as a rookie.

According to The Athletic's Michael Silver, Jacksonville's plan is to use Hunter "as a wide receiver as he eases into his pro career."

Hunter caught 96 passes for 1,258 yards and 15 touchdowns while also playing cornerback full-time. He may not replicate those numbers as a rookie receiver, but he should be a very good second option.

And Jacksonville found its No. 1 receiver in 2024 first-round pick Brian Thomas Jr. The LSU product was electric as a rookie, catching 87 passes for 1,282 yards and 10 touchdowns despite having Trevor Lawrence at quarterback for only 10 games.

A lack of pro productions keeps this duo from ranking higher, but there might not be a tandem we're more excited to see grow over the next few seasons.

9. Mike Evans & Chris Godwin, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

AP Photo/Peter Joneleit

Buccaneers WR Mike Evans

Let's jump from the youngest duo on our list to perhaps its most proven. Mike Evans and Chris Godwin have been lighting up opposing defenses for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers for the past eight seasons.

Evans, who was drafted by the Bucs in 2014, is the elder statesman at 31, yet he remains incredibly productive. Despite missing three games in 2024, Evans compiled his 11th consecutive 1,000-yard campaign.

Godwin entered 2024 with three straight 1,000-yard campaigns and was well on his way to a fourth when a dislocated ankle ended his season—the 29-year-old had 576 yards and five touchdowns through seven games.

There's little reason to believe this tandem won't continue to shine for as long as it remains together. However, Godwin is coming off of a significant injury, which could impact his production in 2025.

Tampa also used a first-round pick on Ohio State receiver Emeka Egbuka, who could become one of the Buccaneers' top two receivers in the not-too-distant future.

8. Drake London & Darnell Mooney, Atlanta Falcons

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Falcons WR Drake London

Atlanta Falcons fans may be upset that the duo of Drake London and Darnell Mooney isn't ranked higher. Non-Falcons fans might be surprised to see this tandem ranked at all.

Anyone who didn't watch a good amount of Falcons football in 2024 missed just how well London and Mooney complemented one another in Zac Robinson's offense. Both had fantastic campaigns despite getting roughly a half-season of a healthy Kirk Cousins at quarterback.

After two good-not-great campaigns, London finally emerged as a legitimate No. 1 target, finishing with 1,271 yards and nine touchdowns. Mooney, in his first season with Atlanta, established himself as an explosive playmaker and top-tier No. 2 target. He finished with 64 catches for 992 yards and five touchdowns.

The big question here is whether London and Mooney can maintain their status as a top-10 tandem with second-year quarterback Michael Penix Jr. under center full-time.

Penix flashed plenty of promise as a rookie last season—and two of London's three 100-yard games came with Penix behind center. However, we're still talking about a younger duo that has spent just one season together and will be playing with an inexperienced quarterback in 2025.

7. Terry McLaurin & Deebo Samuel, Washington Commanders

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Commanders WR Terry McLaurin

The Washington Commanders' new receiver twosome of Terry McLaurin and Deebo Samuel has yet to take the playing field together. However, both wideouts have shown No. 1 receiver upside when at their best.

McLaurin, while perhaps a tier below the NFL's elite, has been one of the league's most consistent and dependable No. 1 receivers since entering the league in 2021. He just finished his fifth consecutive 1,000-yard campaign and has started all 17 games in each of the past four seasons.

Samuel, meanwhile, racked up 1,770 scrimmage yards and made the Pro Bowl with the San Francisco 49ers in 2021. While he hasn't replicated that production since, he did top 1,100 scrimmage yards in 2023 and remains a dynamic receiver and runner who can add a new creative element to Washington's offense.

"He is one of the best competitors on the field that I’ve ever seen in my life,” general manager Adam Peters told The Pat McAfee Show on Tuesday. “He could put a team on his back and will you to win.”

McLaurin is an elite route-runner with enough speed to beat defenses deep. Samuel is a physical runner and receiver who can create mismatches all over the field. They should complement one another and quarterback Jayden Daniels, though we have yet to see this duo in action.

6. CeeDee Lamb & George Pickens, Dallas Cowboys

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George Pickens

We're placing Dallas' new pairing right near the middle of our list. On paper, Pickens and Lamb have the makings of an elite duo. However, this new partnership does carry some bust potential.

Now, there's no risk in having Lamb as the Cowboys' No. 1 receiver. He's a truly elite pass-catcher who has 6,339 yards, 38 touchdowns and four Pro Bowls in five seasons.

Lamb is easily one of the five best receivers in the NFL right now.

Pickens, however, is more of a question mark. He has a tremendous blend of size (6'3", 200 lbs), play strength and speed. Those traits have allowed him to flash a No. 1 receiver ceiling, as he did during his 1,140-yard campaign in 2023.

However, he's also had up-and-down production and occasional problems with maintaining focus and avoiding penalties.

"He’s just got to grow up, man," Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin told reporters in December. "... He’s got to grow up in a hurry."

Will the 24-year-old grow up in Dallas? Maybe, but he'll have to accept his role as Dak Prescott's second or third target—possibly behind both Lamb and tight end Jake Ferguson—for that to happen.

5. Puka Nacua and Davante Adams, Los Angeles Rams

AP Photo/Kyusung Gong

Rams WR Puka Nacua

This tandem represents the last one that is based heavily on hypothetical potential. While both Puka Nacua and Davante Adams are proven commodities at this point in their respective careers, they'll be joining forces for the first time in 2025.

Nacua, of course, was the Los Angeles Rams' rookie surprise of the 2023 season. He caught 105 passes for 1,486 yards and six touchdowns that season while establishing himself as a true No. 1 target.

Injuries limited Nacua to 11 games in 2024, but he still fell a mere 10 yards short of a second straight 1,000-yard campaign.

Adams, meanwhile, is a six-time Pro Bowler and a three-time first-team All-Pro who remains a dangerous go-to playmaker. Despite seeing inconsistent quarterback play with the Las Vegas Raiders and New York Jets in 2024, the 32-year-old caught 85 passes for 1,063 yards and eight touchdowns.

With Matthew Stafford behind center and Sean McVay calling the offense, Adams should seamlessly step in for Cooper Kupp as L.A.'s 1A receiver opposite Nacua.

Nacua and Kupp helped the Rams rank 10th in both passing yards and net yards per attempt last season. Los Angeles' new tandem is extremely likely to have similar success as long as injuries don't become a factor.

4. A.J. Brown & DeVonta Smith, Philadelphia Eagles

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Eagles WR A.J. Brown

The Philadelphia Eagles don't have a truly elite receiver in either A.J. Brown or DeVonta Smith. They also have a run-first offense that has regularly kept the duo from achieving top-tier numbers.

Brown has two 1,400-yard campaigns and three Pro Bowls on his resume, while Smith has averaged just over 1,000 yards as a pro and has no Pro Bowls on his resume.

What the Eagles have in Brown and Smith, however, is a lethal pairing of complementary skill sets. Brown is a big (6'1", 226 lbs), physical possession receiver who is a mismatch in virtually any jump-ball scenario. Smith is a speedy, shifty receiver who can turn practically any play into a home run.

Both wideouts have a tremendous amount of chemistry with quarterback Jalen Hurts.

This duo is extremely difficult to defend because both receivers are nearly impossible to cover one-on-one. Brown and Smith each win in different ways, too, which makes it hard for opposing defenses to find a coverage package that can work against both.

There's a reason Philly ranked just 29th in passing yards but 12th in net yards per pass attempt last season. It has a wonderful pair of top receivers.

3. Amon-Ra St. Brown & Jameson Williams, Detroit Lions

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Lions WR Amon-Ra St. Brown

Two years ago, the Detroit Lions were in the NFC title game. This past season, they posted a conference-best 15-2 record. Yet, it feels like the tandem of Amon-Ra St. Brown and Jemson Williams continues to be overlooked.

Finding them this high on this list may be a surprise to many readers. That might be because the Lions have a dynamic rushing attack, frequently feature tight end Sam LaPorta or because Williams was largely a project prior to the 2024 season.

However, Williams arrived as a complete receiver last year to form a spectacular tandem with three-time Pro Bowler and two-time first-team All-Pro St. Brown.

"He is a man on a mission and I'm just going to leave it at that," Lions head coach Dan Campbell said of Williams last offseason, per Tim Twentyman of the team's official website.

Williams finished his third NFL campaign with 1,001 receiving yards and seven touchdowns. He proved to be more than just an explosive deep threat, too, showcasing a career-best combination of speed, route running and spacing. Along with St. Brown, who had 1,263 yards and 12 touchdowns, he helped Detroit rank second in passing yards and second in net yards per pass attempt.

This duo might not be as established as some others on our list, but its 2025 outlook is incredibly bright.

2. Justin Jefferson & Jordan Addison, Minnesota Vikings

AP Photo/Stacy Bengs

Vikings WR Justin Jefferson

Justin Jefferson is one of only three or four receivers with a reasonable argument for being the best in the NFL. The 25-year-old has amassed 7,432 yards, 40 touchdowns, four Pro Bowls and two first-team All-Pro appearances in five NFL seasons.

Jefferson is firmly on a Hall of Fame path and is the centerpiece of the Minnesota Vikings' passing attack.

Yet, No. 2 receiver Jordan Addison would be a top target on most other rosters. He was limited to 15 games in 2024 by ankle injuries but has still tallied 1,786 yards and 19 touchdowns in his first two seasons.

Jefferson and Addison are both big-play threats capable of winning on all areas of the field. Last season, they helped Minnesota rank eighth in net yards per pass attempt and sixth in passing touchdowns—despite having former draft bust Sam Darnold behind center for all 17 games.

Now, Darnold had himself a Pro Bowl season in 2024 and parlayed that into a three-year, $100.5 million free-agent payday this offseason. However, it's infinitely easier to argue that his success was a product of Jefferson and Addison's talent and not vice versa.

1. JaMarr Chase & Tee Higgins, Cincinnati Bengals

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Bengals WR Ja'Marr Chase

Our No. 1 entry should not be a surprise to anyone. The Cincinnati Bengals are a notoriously spendthrift franchise but broke down and gave massive extensions to both Ja'Marr Chase and Tee Higgins this offseason—and there was a good reason for it.

Chase and Higgins are two No. 1-caliber receivers who operate extremely well together and with quarterback Joe Burrow.

Higgins, who has 4,595 yards and 34 touchdowns in five seasons, is a dynamic downfield target and contested-catch specialist who would be a top wideout on most other teams. Chase, the reigning NFL yards, receptions and receiving touchdowns leader, is an elite pass-catcher with virtually no holes in his game.

Chase, who played his college ball with Burrow, has amassed 5,425 yards and 46 touchdowns in just four seasons. He, Higgins and Burrow led an offensive attack that ranked first in passing yards and passing touchdowns last season.

"We know how defenses feel when they step on the field against us," Burrow said, per Geoff Hobson of the team's official website. "We feel it when we're out there," Burrow said. "As long as we continue to put in the work to be the best we can be, the sky's the limit for us."

With Chase and Higgins now under contract long-term, it's hard to anticipate anyone stopping this duo, aside from, perhaps, the dreaded injury bug. The NFL features some spectacular wide receiver duos, but heading into the 2025 season, Cincinnati's is the gold standard.