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Ranking NFL's Best WR Duos After Broncos Trade for Jaylen Waddle
The Denver Broncos had a quiet offseason until they made a blockbuster deal with the Miami Dolphins for Jaylen Waddle, which stirred up debates about the NFL's best wide receiver duos.
Before the Waddle trade, notable wideouts were on the move. The Indianapolis Colts traded Michael Pittman Jr. to the Pittsburgh Steelers. The Chicago Bears dealt DJ Moore to the Buffalo Bills. The San Francisco 49ers signed Mike Evans.
So, let's reset the receiver duo rankings for a new top-10 list following the Broncos' splashy acquisition.
Our rankings are based on recent production, accolades (All-Pro and legitimate Pro Bowl campaigns), awards like Offensive Player of the Year and accomplishments such as winning the receiving triple crown or leading the league in key stat categories.
10. Nico Collins and Jayden Higgins, Houston Texans
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Nico Collins and Jayden Higgins edged out Mike Evans and Ricky Pearsall for the No. 10 spot.
Collins has racked up over 1,000 receiving yards in three consecutive seasons and earned Pro Bowl nods in back-to-back campaigns while averaging about 15 yards per catch.
Meanwhile, Evans fell well short of 1,000 receiving yards in an injury-riddled campaign for the first time in his 12-year career. Pearsall can't stay healthy. Though he's made big plays, the second-year pro missed eight games because of injuries last season.
If Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud rediscovers his 2023 Pro Bowl form, Collins could reach an All-Pro level. Despite Stroud's struggles, Higgins flashed his potential as a rookie last year, hauling in 41 passes for 525 yards and six touchdowns.
As a pair of 6'4" receivers, Collins and Higgins will be tough to cover for years to come.
9. Michael Pittman Jr. and DK Metcalf, Pittsburgh Steelers
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During the legal tampering period, the Pittsburgh Steelers acquired Michael Pittman Jr. from the Indianapolis Colts, which changed the complexion of these rankings. Pittman and Alec Pierce would've made this list, but the former makes the cut with two-time Pro Bowler DK Metcalf.
Metcalf and Pittman are coming off an underwhelming year in the context of a No. 1 receiver.
Metcalf recorded a career-low 850 receiving yards. Pittman finished with 784 yards, his second-lowest total since his 2020 rookie year, but he logged a career-high seven touchdown receptions.
Nonetheless, Metcalf has three 1,000-plus-yard seasons on his resume, and Pittman has two as well. They've been in the league longer than Nico Collins and Jayden Higgins with consistent stretches, which gives them the edge for the No. 9 spot.
8. Courtland Sutton and Jaylen Waddle, Denver Broncos
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The newest duo lands in the No. 8 spot because of a lack of accolades. Like the previous two tandems, the Denver Broncos' duo has two Pro Bowls between them.
In 2025, Courtland Sutton made the AFC Pro Bowl roster for the second time in his career. He's shown consistency, eclipsing 1,000 receiving yards in consecutive terms with young quarterback Bo Nix.
Entering his age-31 term, Sutton isn't an ascending talent, but he's a reliable chain-mover and red-zone threat with 25 touchdown receptions over the last three years. The Broncos added a speedy complementary receiver in Jaylen Waddle to produce more explosive plays.
Waddle hasn't eclipsed 1,000 receiving yards in a season since 2023, but his production trended in the right direction between 2024 and 2025. He's only recorded eight touchdown receptions over the last two years, but Sutton will be the main target in the red zone.
The Broncos pair should mesh well together because their skill sets and physical strengths don't overlap. Waddle has room to grow in a better offensive situation under head coach Sean Payton, too.
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7. Jaxon Smith-Njigba and Cooper Kupp, Seattle Seahawks
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There's a notable gap between the No. 7 and 8 spots because of Jaxon Smith-Njigba's and Cooper Kupp's accomplishments.
Smith-Njigba won 2025 Offensive Player of the Year in an All-Pro campaign, catching 119 passes for a league-leading 1,793 yards and 10 touchdowns. He's a rising star. And though it happened five years ago, you still have to respect Kupp's triple crown year.
Entering his age-33 term, Kupp is past his prime. Since his 2021 triple crown year, his receiving yard totals have been on the decline, but he's still a quarterback's safety blanket in the offense, averaging 12.6 yards per reception with a 67.1 percent catch rate last season.
Smith-Njiga's breakout 2025 season elevated this pair past the first three duos. If he builds on the previous campaign, the 24-year-old will be mentioned in more discussions among the league's top receivers.
6. Justin Jefferson and Jordan Addison, Minnesota Vikings
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Jaxon Smith-Njiga is headed for stardom; Justin Jefferson is already there, which is why the Minnesota Vikings are in the No. 6 spot.
In 2022, Jefferson led the league in catches (128) and receiving yards (1,809) in his first All-Pro season. He earned a second All-Pro nod in 2024. Despite playing with a different quarterback in each of the last three terms, the six-year veteran has shown elite-level consistency, eclipsing 1,000 receiving yards in all six of his campaigns.
Don't let Minnesota's quarterback situation cloud your assessment of Jefferson. He's still a top-five receiver.
Yet the Vikings' duo didn't crack the top five in these rankings because Jordan Addison's receiving yard totals have been on the decline since his impressive rookie season.
In 2025, Addison caught 42 passes for 610 yards and three touchdowns in 14 outings after serving a three-game suspension for violating the league's substance-abuse policy. If he gets back on the right track, Minnesota moves up on this list next year.
5. A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith, Philadelphia Eagles
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The Philadelphia Eagles' wide receivers separated themselves from the five tandems below them with their steady production.
A.J. Brown has racked up 1,000-plus yards in four consecutive seasons, two of them Pro Bowl years. In the same span, DeVonta Smith has three 1,000-yard campaigns.
Even more impressive, they've accumulated those numbers in an offense that's ranked 21st or lower in passing attempts. So, both wideouts are making the most of fewer opportunities than wideouts who play in pass-heavy systems.
Brown is the subject of swirling trade rumors. If Philadelphia deals him, Smith would have a chance to show he's a No. 1 receiver with Hollywood Brown as the No. 2 target. Besides that, the Eagles would shake up the top five on this list with another blockbuster move that involves a premier wideout.
4. Amon-Ra St. Brown and Jameson Williams, Detroit Lions
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Amon-Ra St. Brown's accomplishments and production propelled the Detroit Lions into the No. 4 slot. He's not your prototypical No. 1 wide receiver, but his numbers are off the charts.
St. Brown is a four-time Pro Bowler and two-time All-Pro with over 1,100 receiving yards in four consecutive seasons and at least 10 touchdowns in three straight terms. He also led the league in first-down receptions in 2023 and 2024.
At 6'0", 202 pounds, St. Brown doesn't have elite speed and operates primarily out of the slot, so he's often overlooked, but his resume speaks for itself.
The Lions' tandem could move up another spot if Jameson Williams continues to ascend as a dynamic playmaker. In each of the last two seasons, he's accumulated over 1,000 yards while averaging more than 17 yards per reception.
Williams has finished the last two terms with a 63.7 percent catch rate. So don't categorize him as an all-or-nothing deep threat. After a slow start to his career, coming into the league on the mend with a torn ACL, the 24-year-old is on the rise, and so is this duo.
3. CeeDee Lamb and George Pickens, Dallas Cowboys
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The Dallas Cowboys receivers narrowly edged the Detroit Lions tandem because of George Pickens' standout 2025 season. For now, he's an upgraded version of Jameson Williams.
Last year, Pickens recorded career highs across multiple receiving categories, hauling in 93 passes for 1,429 yards and nine touchdowns in his first Pro Bowl campaign.
Pickens has shown explosive playmaking ability, leading the league with 18.1 yards per catch in 2023, but he's also produced as a lead receiver. The four-year veteran has led his teams, the Pittsburgh Steelers and Cowboys, in receiving yards for each of the previous three campaigns.
In Dallas, Pickens may be the league's best No. 2 receiver because he shares targets with CeeDee Lamb, who's established himself as a perennial Pro Bowler and All-Pro.
Lamb has racked up over 1,000 receiving yards in five consecutive Pro Bowl years and led the league with 135 receptions in 2023. Effective out of the slot, his versatility has allowed Pickens to blossom as a perimeter threat in the passing game.
2. Puka Nacua And Davante Adams, Los Angeles Rams
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We've entered future Hall of Fame territory with the No. 2 duo, another level of excellence in these receiver rankings. Puka Nacua is off to an awe-inspiring career start, though Davante Adams will get a gold jacket one day.
Adams is a six-time Pro Bowler and three-time All-Pro. He's led the league in touchdown receptions in three seasons, most recently last year.
In 2025, Adams saw his 1,000-yard receiving streak come to an end after five consecutive seasons, but he caught 14 touchdown passes. The 33-year-old missed three games, which may be a result of wear and tear on his body over the course of 12 campaigns, but he's not too far past his prime for this duo to fall in these rankings.
Over the last two years, Adams has built a strong relationship with Nacua, who's learning from the savvy veteran. Neither of the two possesses top-gear speed, but they know how to separate with their route-running.
Adams is one of the best at beating defenders off the line of scrimmage. Nacua has made strides in that regard, though he's a more physical receiver who picks up a ton of yards after contact. So, it's no surprise that he has 33 carries for 240 yards and two touchdowns.
As one of the most accomplished receivers younger than 25, Nacua is a two-time Pro Bowler and All-Pro in three seasons. He led the league in catches (129) and receiving yards per game (107.2) last year.
1. Ja'Marr Chase and Tee Higgins, Cincinnati Bengals
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Ja'Marr Chase and Tee Higgins hold the No. 1 spot. They're both in their prime, and Chase is the most recent receiving triple crown winner, propelling them over a less accomplished Puka Nacua and an older Davante Adams, who may be at the beginning of a decline.
Chase can claim he's the NFL's No. 1 receiver. Even with his starting quarterback, Joe Burrow, battling injuries throughout his career, he's posted gaudy receiving numbers. The 26-year-old has made the AFC Pro Bowl roster in all five of his seasons and despite playing with three different starting quarterbacks in 2025, he earned his second All-Pro nod.
As the Cincinnati Bengals' No. 2 wideout, Tee Higgins would benefit significantly if Burrow could shake off the injury bug. He hasn't eclipsed 1,000 receiving yards in a campaign since 2022, but the six-year veteran earned his first Pro Bowl nod last season, hauling in 59 passes for 846 yards and a career-high 11 touchdowns.
Higgins' resume doesn't come close to Adams', but he's still 27 years old, and his best seasons could be ahead if Burrow stays on the field.
Maurice Moton covers the NFL for Bleacher Report. You can follow him on Twitter @MoeMoton.
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