Uncommon Knowledge
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The NFL Draft has come and gone, remaining free agents are starting to find new homes, and the 2024 NFL schedule release is set for next week.
Training camp will be here before we know it, and this year should bring tons of great storylines thanks to an exciting class of rookies and major shakeups in the offseason.
Wide receivers were a big part of the offseason storyline, with multiple big-name receivers finding new homes — both in free agency and via trade — and tons of top receiver prospects hearing their names called in the early rounds of the draft.
So, with a majority of the wide receiver movement done, we thought it would be a great time to rank the best wide receiver rooms in the NFL heading into the 2024 season.
The Dolphins have arguably the NFL’s best wide receiver in Tyreek Hill, who had an incredible 1,799 receiving yards and 13 touchdowns in 2023. They had a second 1,000-yard receiver in Jaylen Waddle, and just signed a three-time Pro Bowl wide receiver in Odell Beckham Jr. Braxton Berrios provides great depth, too.
The Texans made one of the biggest trades of the offseason, acquiring All-Pro wide receiver Stefon Diggs from the Buffalo Bills. He joins a wide receiver room with a 1,000-yard receiver from a year ago in Nico Collins, a breakout rookie in Tank Dell, and great depth in the form of Noah Brown, John Metchie III, and Robert Woods. Diggs has had six straight 1,000-plus-yard seasons and four straight Pro Bowl appearances.
A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith form the second-best receiving duo in the NFL behind the one in Miami. Both had 1,000-plus-yard seasons and seven touchdown catches in 2023. The team also added veterans Devante Parker (5,660 career receiving yards) and Parris Campbell (1,087 career receiving yards) this offseason.
The Bengals have a dynamic duo of their own with Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins, assuming the latter remains in Cincinnati this season. Chase is a top-five wide receiver in football, securing 100 catches for 1,216 yards and seven touchdowns last season. There isn’t much depth behind Chase and Higgins, though, with the loss of Tyler Boyd (more on him later).
Another wide receiver room filled with offseason trade drama, the 49ers have arguably the best core of weapons in the NFL. In the receiver room, though, they’re led by All-Pro Deebo Samuel and Brandon Aiyuk, who had the best year of his young career in 2023 with 1,342 yards and seven touchdowns. Behind them are the always-reliable Jauan Jennings and rookie first-round pick Ricky Pearsall.
The Bears traded for six-time Pro Bowler Keenan Allen and drafted Rome Odunze out of Washington with the No. 9 overall pick. They join a room with DJ Moore, who had 1,364 yards and eight touchdowns last season in Chicago.
Fifth-round pick Puka Nacua had a breakout rookie season, catching 105 passes for a rookie NFL record 1,486 yards and six touchdowns en route to finishing as the runner-up in the Offensive Rookie of the Year voting. He, along with All-Pro and Super Bowl MVP winner Cooper Kupp, form a strong duo. Behind them are Demarcus Robinson (371 yards, four touchdowns in 2023) and Tutu Atwell (483 yards, three touchdowns in 2023).
The Vikings have arguably the NFL’s best wide receiver in Justin Jefferson and saw their 2023 first-round pick Jordan Addison break out in his first year with 911 yards and 10 touchdowns. There’s not much behind those two, but Jefferson and his 5,899 yards and 30 touchdowns in his four-year career are enough to make this list.
DK Metcalf and Tyler Lockett lead the way for one of the NFL’s most consistent wide receiver rooms. Metcalf had 1,114 yards and eight touchdowns last season, while Lockett had 894 yards, but had 1,000-plus yards in each of the four years prior. With Jaxson Smith-Njigba’s strong rookie season (628 yards and four touchdowns), the Seahawks have a strong room heading into 2024. Look out for Jake Bobo, too.
The Titans’ front office did a great job at upgrading their receiver room this offseason. The major acquisition was Calvin Ridley, who they signed to a four-year, $92 million deal after he had 1,016 yards and eight touchdowns with the division-rival Jacksonville Jaguars in 2023. They also recently signed veteran Tyler Boyd, who has 6,000 career receiving yards. They join DeAndre Hopkins, who had 1,057 yards and seven touchdowns last season in Tennessee. There’s also tons of depth in the form of Treylon Burks, Nick Westbrook-Ikhine, and Kyle Phillips.
Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
