The 2024 NFL offseason saw the wide receiver market explode, with Justin Jefferson, CeeDee Lamb, Amon-Ra St. Brown, and DJ Moore all securing new deals worth over $100 million. NFL teams aren’t stupid. They know you need good wide receivers to win in today’s league, which is why top wide receivers were paid at historic rates this offseason.
With that said, let’s dive into our annual rankings of all 32 NFL teams’ No. 1 wide receivers from worst to first.
Who are the top wide receivers in the NFL today?
32. Demario Douglas (New England Patriots)
Douglas was among the few bright spots on a lousy Patriots team in the final year of the Bill Belichick era. The 2023 sixth-round pick led the team with 561 receiving yards, though he didn’t record a single touchdown.
We’ll see if Douglas or somebody else can step up and emerge as the franchise’s first 1,000-yard pass-catcher since Julian Edelman in 2019.
31. Ladd McConkey (Los Angeles Chargers)
The Chargers dumped Keenan Allen and Mike Williams in cap-saving moves and decided to go younger at wideout. They used a second-round pick on Georgia wideout Ladd McConkey, who will battle it out with Josh Palmer and 2023 first-rounder Quentin Johnston for the No. 1 receiver role.
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For now, the slight edge goes to McConkey.
30. Christian Watson (Green Bay Packers)
The Packers are a unique case because they have four “good-but-not-great” young wide receivers here in Watson, Jayden Reed, Romeo Doubs, and Dontayvion Wicks.
Any of them could emerge as Jordan Love’s No. 1 receiver, but we’ll put Watson here, given his higher upside. It’s a shame that injuries have limited him to 23 games over his first two seasons, but the 6-foot-4 burner is bound to put it all together if he can avoid the injury bug. Might this be the year?
29. Keon Coleman (Buffalo Bills)
After trading the increasing headache that was Stefon Diggs, the Bills decided to get younger and cheaper at wide receiver. The makeover was headlined by the selection of Florida State wideout Keon Coleman, whom Buffalo selected No. 33 overall.
Curtis Samuel and Khalil Shakir could also emerge as Josh Allen’s WR1, but the early favorite here is Coleman. The speedy deep threat has the skill set to step in and replace Diggs right away.
28. Diontae Johnson (Carolina Panthers)
The Panthers acquired the former Pittsburgh Steelers star in a blockbuster trade, giving Bryce Young a new WR1 receiver.
The 2021 Pro Bowler has exceeded the 50-catch and 700-yard marks in four straight years despite suffering from awful quarterback play in Pittsburgh. If Bryce Young can bounce back from a tough sophomore year, Johnson may regain that star-like form we saw three years ago.
27. Courtland Sutton (Denver Broncos)
Sutton hasn’t hit 1,000 yards receiving since his 2019 sophomore year. However, he recorded a career-high ten receiving touchdowns last season, so maybe peak Sutton is on the verge of a return?
Jerry Jeudy’s departure opens up more opportunities for Sutton to have a career year.
26. Christian Kirk (Jacksonville Jaguars)
Trevor Lawrence and Christian Kirk have emerged as one of the best QB-receiving tandems. If Kirk hadn’t missed Jacksonville’s last five games last year, the Jags would have surely won their second straight AFC South division crown.
Kirk ranks lower here because you know he won’t get the ball as much as other WR1s. The Jaguars have another superstar at running back in Travis Etienne Jr., a top-10 tight end in Evan Engram, and newcomers Brian Thomas Jr. and Gabe Davis.
25. Zay Flowers (Baltimore Ravens)
Flowers was one of the top rookies of 2023, recording 77 receptions for 858 yards and five touchdowns. But the reality is that his numbers aren’t going to be eye-popping in a rush-first offense led by reigning MVP Lamar Jackson and two-time rushing champ Derrick Henry.
Flowers is also vying with superstar tight end Mark Andrews for targets. Flowers is more than serviceable as a WR1, but he’s not someone who’s going to challenge for the receiving crown or individual awards. And that’s okay as long as the Ravens’ rushing game doesn’t lose its steam.
24. Rashee Rice (Kansas City Chiefs)
There’s a real possibility that rookie Xavier Worthy or free agent pickup Marquise Brown will replace Rice as Kansas City’s WR1, and that factored into our rankings here.
The reality is that KC’s WR won’t put up off-the-charts numbers. Patrick Mahomes has too many weapons, starting with legendary tight end Travis Kelce. Throw in Isiah Pacheco and those three wide receivers, and you can see why it’s tough to find a fair placement for KC’s No. 1 receiver here.
23. Malik Nabers (New York Giants)
Some might find this high for a rookie, but the LSU product has all the tools to immediately step in and cement himself as a top-10 receiver. Also, it’s not like the Giants have any other stud pass-catchers to take some of the targets away from Nabers.
Daniel Jones may be a bottom-tier QB, but great wide receivers like Nabers always find ways to get open and make plays regardless of who’s behind center.
22. Calvin Ridley (Tennessee Titans)
Ridley put up a stellar 76-1016-8 stat line in his one year with the Jacksonville Jaguars and turned that into a $92 million contract with Tennessee.
We’d like to rank Ridley higher, given his skill set, but DeAndre Hopkins will challenge for the No. 1 receiver role as well, and newcomer Tyler Boyd is bound to get a nice quantity of targets himself.
21. George Pickens (Pittsburgh Steelers)
Pickens broke out in 2023, as expected, by catching 63 passes for 1,140 yards and five touchdowns. His ridiculous 18.1 yards-per-catch led the NFL, too.
Say what you want about Russell Wilson and Justin Fields, but they’re big upgrades over the QBs Pittsburgh had last season. So, another career year is needed for this highlight reel specialist.
20. Drake London (Atlanta Falcons)
London caught 69 passes for 905 yards and two touchdowns last season despite lackluster QB play from Desmond Ridder and Taylor Heinicke.
London is tough to rank here because you know he’s bound to put up big numbers with four-time Pro Bowler Kirk Cousins as his QB. But the Falcons gotta get the ball out to Kyle Pitts, Bijan Robinson, Darnell Mooney, and Tyler Allgeier as well, so it’s hard to project how many targets London will get.
19. Amari Cooper (Cleveland Browns)
You always know what you’re getting from the five-time Pro Bowler. He has exceeded the 70-catch and 1,000-yard marks in seven of his nine NFL seasons, including each of his first two years with the Browns.
The arrival of Jerry Jeudy means fewer targets for Cooper in the passing game, but there’s no reason to believe he can’t hit 1K for the eighth time in his career.
18. Terry McLaurin (Washington Commanders)
“Scary Terry” needs more respect for his name. He’s never had an above-average QB throwing him the football, yet he has four straight 70-catch and 1,000-yard seasons on his resume.
Now, just imagine how much more he’ll produce if rookie QB Jayden Daniels is the real deal the Commanders envision.
17. Michael Pittman Jr. (Indianapolis Colts)
Pittman Jr. had his best season as a pro with backup Gardner Minshew as his primary QB, racking up 109 receptions for 1,152 yards and four touchdowns.
If Anthony Richardson avoids the injury bug this year, Pittman Jr. might elevate his game even more…
16. Chris Olave (New Orleans Saints)
The Saints’ offense had no consistency in 2023, but it didn’t stop Olave from putting together a superb stat line in his sophomore season: 87 receptions for 1,123 yards and five touchdowns. If Derek Carr can find more rhythm this year, Olave might go from “very good” to “superstar” in 2024.
15. Marvin Harrison Jr. (Arizona Cardinals)
Don’t call this too high for a rookie. Harrison Jr. is a generational wide receiver prospect who has all the tools to be as good as his old man and proud Hall of Famer, Marvin Harrison Jr.
Kyler Murray’s dual-threat game will go hand-in-hand with Harrison Jr., who could easily cement himself as a top-five or 10 NFL receiver by season’s end.
14. D.K. Metcalf (Seattle Seahawks)
Because Seattle is a rush-heavy offense, Metcalf won’t produce like a top-five receiver. But in terms of individual talent and physical gifts, you won’t mind a more well-rounded NFL player than Metcalf.
Since his 2019 rookie year, Metcalf’s 43 receiving TDs are tied for fourth-most with Stefon Diggs.
13. D.J. Moore (Chicago Bears)
We really wanted to have Moore in the top 10, but realisticness is pivotal in lists like this. The Bears traded for perennial Pro Bowler Keenan Allen and used the No. 9 pick on can’t-miss Washington prospect Rome Odunze.
Moore had a career year in 2023 because the Bears didn’t really have any other weapons, so his numbers are bound to drop a bit this year.
12. Stefon Diggs (Houston Texans)
Diggs was easily a top-five receiver during his four-year run with the Buffalo Bills. But going to Houston means forming a 3-headed receiving monster with Nico Collins and Tank Dell. And that translates to fewer targets for Diggs.
He’s still going to produce big-time in H-Town, but Diggs won’t be pushing for 100 receptions and 1,500 yards again.
11. Mike Evans (Tampa Bay Buccaneers)
Death, taxes, and 1,000-yard seasons from Mike Evans, no matter who his quarterback is.
Evans helped Baker Mayfield turn in a career year and lead the Bucs to a third straight NFC South division crown. Tom Brady, who? Kidding, people.
The five-time Pro Bowler has hit 1K receiving in each of his first 10 NFL seasons. Who’s to bet against him making it 11 years in a row?
10. Puka Nacua (Los Angeles Rams)
Nacua set new rookie single-season records with 105 receptions and 1,486 yards in 2023. Not bad for a fifth-round pick, huh?
Nacua’s efforts helped the Rams return to the postseason, where they narrowly lost to the Detroit Lions on Wild Card Weekend. If last year was an indicator of anything, he’s on his way to becoming one of the top five wide receivers in football.
9. Brandon Aiyuk (San Francisco 49ers)
Aiyuk went from borderline Pro Bowler to superstar in 2023, catching 75 passes for 1,342 yards and seven touchdowns to help the 49ers to a Super Bowl 58 appearance.
Those numbers are pretty darn good when you also consider that he must share the ball with Christian McCaffrey, George Kittle, and Deebo Samuel. So, what does the YAC monster do for an encore? Stay tuned.
8. Garrett Wilson (New York Jets)
Two straight seasons of over 80 catches and 1,000 yards. And that’s with guys like Zach Wilson, Tim Boyle, and Trevor Siemian throwing him the ball.
Well, we got news for ya. Aaron Rodgers is an all-time great and only, like, lightyears better than the QBS Wilson has had to work with up to this point. If Rodgers is healthy this year, Wilson will go off with career highs across the board.
7. Davante Adams (Las Vegas Raiders)
A mediocre quarterback room of Jimmy Garoppolo and Aidan O’Connell led to a drop in production from Adams in 2023. But if 103 catches for 1,144 yards and eight touchdowns is a “down” year for you, then you must be pretty darn good at this wide receiver stuff.
The optimist in us wants to think that new starter Gardner Minshew will be an upgrade over Jimmy G and O’Connell. If he is, Adams will push 1,500 yards receiving again.
And if Minshew isn’t? Maybe Adams will be sent free and moved out ahead of the trade deadline.
6. Amon-Ra St. Brown (Detroit Lions)
St. Brown is fifth in receptions since entering the NFL in 2021 with 315. And yet, it still feels like the Lions’ superstar doesn’t get enough love.
St. Brown was the catalyst of a Lions’ offense that propelled the team to their first playoff win in 32 years, as well as a trip to the NFC Championship Game. St. Brown turned his career year into a $120.01 million extension. Now, let’s see if he can deliver a Super Bowl to Motor City.
5. A.J. Brown (Philadelphia Eagles)
Despite having to share the ball with fellow star wideout DeVonta Smith, Brown has posted his two best seasons right here in Philadelphia. The three-time Pro Bowler has 194 receptions for 2,952 yards and 18 touchdowns over his first two seasons as an Eagle — featuring a trip to Super Bowl 57.
With Saquon Barkley joining this star-studded offense, there’s no telling how much higher the Jalen Hurts-led unit will fly in 2024. What we can tell you is that Brown will produce like one of the top-five wide receivers, one way or another.
4. Ja’Marr Chase (Cincinnati Bengals)
Three years, three seasons of 80-plus catches, more than 1,000 yards, and at least seven receiving TDs in each. Chase has been everything the Bengals dreamed of when they selected him fifth overall in 2021.
The Bengals’ Super Bowl hopes cratered in 2023 when Joe Burrow suffered a season-ending wrist injury. But in Joe Cool’s two healthy seasons, Cincy has played in two AFC Championships and one Super Bowl.
If Burrow and Chase are both healthy this year, it’s football’s No. 1 quarterback-receiver tandem.
3. CeeDee Lamb (Dallas Cowboys)
Lamb turned a career year into a well-deserved $136 million extension. The Dallas Cowboys superstar led the league with 135 receptions and was second in yards with 1,749 behind only Tyreek Hill.
Only Hill and Mike Evans had more receiving TDs than Lamb, who finished with 13. Now that CeeDee has that long overdue extension in his back pocket, let’s see if he and Dak Prescott can end the playoff misery and lead the Cowboys on a deep run for once…
2. Tyreek Hill (Miami Dolphins)
Incredibly, Hill’s two best statistical seasons have come right here in Miami. So no, he wasn’t a product of Patrick Mahomes and Andy Reid in Kansas City.
“Cheetah” recorded 119 receptions for 1,799 yards and 13 touchdowns, with the latter two marks topping the NFL. It was Hill’s fourth straight season with over 1,200 yards receiving.
Hill’s MVP-caliber numbers are also impressive, especially when you remember that Jaylen Waddle, Raheem Mostert, and De’Von Achane also needed a big slice of the pie. Now, if Hill and Tua Tagovailoa could just lead Miami to at least one playoff victory…
1. Justin Jefferson (Minnesota Vikings)
A year after leading the NFL with 128 receptions and 1,809 yards, Jefferson suffered a hamstring injury and was limited to 10 games in 2023.
And yet, the new $140 million man still tallied 68 receptions for 1,074 yards and five touchdowns. And what if he told you that he actually averaged more yards per game — 107.4 — in 2023 than the 106.4 JJ averaged in 2022?
Jefferson remains the golden standard of NFL wide receivers.
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