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Yahoo
8 hours ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Best NFL receiving corps 2025: Ranking the 10 best NFL receiving corps right now
Who has the best receiving corps in the NFL? The National Football League showed signs last season of emphasizing the run game more, but this is still an era dominated by passing. While quarterbacks get the majority of the spotlight, some of the best NFL receiving corps stir the proverbial drink for their offenses. Let's dive into our list of the best NFL receiving corps right now. Of note, we're collectively focusing on wide receivers and tight ends for this list. 1. Cincinnati Bengals Credit: Sam Greene / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images The Cincinnati Bengals' receiving corps is almost entirely carried by Ja'Marr Chase and Tee Higgins. While they lack the Tampa Bay Buccaneers' receiver depth and don't have a tight end like the Philadelphia Eagles' Dallas Goedert, Cincinnati has two true No. 1 wide receivers who defenses have to fear. The duo combined for 20 games with either 80-plus receiving yards or a touchdown last season, and they now rank among the highest-paid NFL players at receiver. It's also worth acknowledging that tight end Mike Gesicki (665 receiving yards) had a bounce-back season, and the Bengals' offense was one of the best in the NFL using 2-TE sets. Advertisement Read More: NFL defense rankings 2025, evaluating all 32 defenses 2. Philadelphia Eagles Credit: Bill Streicher-Imagn Images The Philadelphia Eagles came through in the postseason, combining for 407 receiving yards and 3 touchdowns in the NFC Championship Game and Super Bowl. A.J. Brown (4 games missed), DeVonta Smith (4 games missed), and Dallas Goedert (7 games missed) all missed significant time in 2025, but Smith and Brown still combined for 1,912 yards in 13 regular-season games. While Goedert might be due for some age regression entering his age-30 season, Brown and Smith are in their prime. If they can stay healthy this year, Philadelphia can have a more consistent and explosive passing game than it did a year ago. Advertisement Related: Best NFL corners 2025, ranking the best NFL cornerbacks right now 3. Tampa Bay Buccaneers Credit: Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have one of the best NFL receiving corps, even with Chris Godwin returning from a dislocated ankle. He's currently on track to play in Week 1, but it might be a little longer before he returns to what we saw pre-injury. He averaged 82.3 receiving yards per game from Weeks 1-7, nearly the same pace as A.J. Brown (83.0). With Godwin producing at an elite level out of the slot, wide receiver Mike Evans will have a clear path to breaking the NFL record for consecutive seasons with 1,000 receiving yards (12). Behind the duo, 2025 first-round pick Emeka Egbuka's skill set is very similar to Godwin's and Tampa Bay has Jalen McIllan (8 touchdowns, 461 yards as a rookie) as its fourth wideout. Even tight end Cade Otton, coming off a career-best season, is a nice complementary weapon for Baker Mayfield. Advertisement Read More: Best NFL running backs 2025, ranking 10 best running backs in NFL 4. Minnesota Vikings Credit: Matt Krohn-Imagn Images Having Justin Jefferson certainly elevates the Minnesota Vikings among the best receiving corps in the NFL. The No. 1 wide receiver is on a Hall of Fame pace, but he's not single-handedly carrying this group. In just 32 career games, Jordan Addison has nearly 1,800 receiving yards with 20 total touchdowns. Behind this tremendous receiver tandem, Pro Bowl tight end T.J. Hockenson has averaged 55.3 receiving yards per game since being traded to Minnesota. The trio alone is a phenomenal supporting cast for J.J. McCarthy, but there's also an added boost from having Jalen Nailor as the No. 3 receiver, with gadget weapon Rondale Moore now added to Kevin O'Connell's offense. Advertisement Read More: Best NFL quarterbacks 2025, ranking 10 best NFL QBs right now 5. Detroit Lions Credit: Jeffrey Becker-Imagn Images The Detroit Lions have the All-Pro offensive weapon in Amon-Ra St. Brown, who might be one of the most quarterback-friendly receivers in football. What elevated this unit in 2024 was the breakout season from Jameson Williams, 1,001 receiving yards, 17.3 yards per reception, and 8 total touchdowns, who finally played up to his potential. St. Brown and Williams complement one another perfectly, and tight end Sam LaPorta elevates this receiving corps as a chain mover and red-zone threat. We also love Tim Patrick as Detroit's No. 3 wideout, and there's long-term upside with rookie Isaac TeSlaa. When you have an All-Pro, depth, and a Pro Bowl tight end, your receiving corps is nearly unstoppable. Advertisement Read More: Best NFL wide receivers 2025, ranking 10 best NFL receivers right now 6. Los Angeles Rams Credit: Bill Streicher-Imagn Images The Los Angeles Rams upgraded at wide receiver this offseason with the switch from Cooper Kupp to Davante Adams. For as great a rapport as Kupp had with Matthew Stafford, Adams is far and away the better receiving threat at this stage of their careers. Adams will also stand to benefit from the presence of Puka Nacua, who has averaged 1,238 receiving yards per season and 88.4 receiving yards per game since entering the league. Los Angeles doesn't have much dependable receiving depth behind Adams and Nacua, but the tight end tandem of Tyler Higbee and Terrance Ferguson makes up for it in Sean McVay's offense. Advertisement Read More: NFL power rankings 2025, evaluating all 32 teams 7. Miami Dolphins Credit: Sam Navarro-Imagn Images The Miami Dolphins' tandem of Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle saw a steep drop in their production last season, totaling 1,703 receiving yards with 8 touchdowns on 206 targets. That pales in comparison to their 2,813 yards and 17 touchdowns on 275 targets in 2023. Health was an issue, but the Dolphins' offensive line and a concussed Tua Tagovailoa also played a part. The Dolphins' offense reportedly plans to get the football out even quicker in 2025 (Cameron Wolfe), but that worked out poorly a season ago. The plan would be even more suspect if tight end Jonnu Smith is traded. Advertisement Read More: Best NFL coaches 2025 8. Dallas Cowboys Credit: Bob Donnan-Imagn Images The Dallas Cowboys certainly wouldn't have ranked among the best NFL receiving corps right now if not for the George Pickens trade. CeeDee Lamb is a perennial All-Pro who had the fifth-most yards after catch (537) in the NFL last season, even with injuries. Now, Dallas has a high-end No. 2 receiver in Pickens who can stretch the field and make catches along the sideline. While he comes with volatility, there's some added incentive to avoid issues in a contract year. Pickens' presence also pushes everyone down in the order for targets, making tight end Jake Ferguson a high-end No. 3 pass-catching option while Kavontae Turpin adds a home-run threat for Dak Prescott. Advertisement Also Read: Best NFL pass rushers 2025, ranking 10 best edge rushers 9. Kansas City Chiefs Credit: Brett Davis-Imagn Images The Kansas City Chiefs' placement on this list is heavily dependent on the availability of Rashee Rice. Since the second half of his rookie season, Rice has led the NFL in yards after catch. When he was healthy in 2024, he had one of the highest yards per route run (3.39) in the NFL. He fits perfectly in the Chiefs' offense, with his presence allowing Xavier Worthy to be a far more effective deep threat. Those two alone put Kansas City in a very good place, with a healthy Hollywood Brown adding another element to this passing game. Pair all that with Travis Kelce's rapport with Patrick Mahomes and you have a passing game with a top-six ceiling this fall. Advertisement Read More: Best NFL general managers 2025 10. Green Bay Packers Credit: Kyle Terada-Imagn Images The Green Bay Packers don't have an 'alpha' No. 1 receiver, which often keeps them from being mentioned among the 10 best receiving corps in the NFL. With that said, there's a compelling case to be made that Romeo Doubs and Jayden Reed are both quality No. 2 receivers. Reed offers the explosive YAC ability, while Doubs has proven himself as a trusted target for Jordan Love. While Christian Watson (ACL) is going to be sidelined, first-round pick Matthew Golden can be that field stretcher and a lot more. On top of that, there's still a lot of upside with Dontayvion Wicks with rookie wideout Savion Williams having some Cordarrelle Patterson to his game. When you round out a deep receiving corps with the tight end tandem of Tucker Kraft and Luke Musgrave, that collective helps make this a top-10 receiving corps. Advertisement Read More: Best NFL tight ends 2025, ranking 10 best NFL tight ends right now Related Headlines
New York Times
5 days ago
- Sport
- New York Times
Bengals offseason debriefing: How OTAs, minicamp changed the season outlook
The vast majority of attention surrounding the Cincinnati Bengals over the past five months has come off the field. Understandable, from massive contracts for Tee Higgins and Ja'Marr Chase to the best defensive player and first-round pick both taking shots at the organization while standing on team turf. Advertisement That's before even opening the Pandora's Box that is the Paycor Stadium lease. All those spicy topics can be tabled for today. The Bengals just concluded their offseason program with last week's minicamp. Players and coaches return for the opening of camp in late July. Although the Bengals maintain one of the lighter offseason programs in the league, there was a notable uptick in tempo and intensity during seven-on-seven this year, with plenty of room for players to alter their outlook on 2025. Here are the most important trends seen, heard and observed during my time monitoring the team on the field over the last two months. Outside of the ongoing Trey Hendrickson saga, all of Joe Burrow's public requests of the front office have now been met. He got his way with Higgins and Chase both in Cincinnati and happy. As is Mike Gesicki. Continuity with offensive coordinator Dan Pitcher in his second year set this team up for immediate success. More than any of those factors, though, Burrow looks undeniably dialed in. He ripped a pass down the middle of the field to Andrei Iosivas during seven-on-seven that buzzed between two defenders and over a linebacker. It was nearly identical to a throw he made to Iosivas against Carolina last year. This was midseason form stuff. Go long Yosh.@JoeyB x @AndreiIosivas — Cincinnati Bengals (@Bengals) June 11, 2025 Take the pre-existing chemistry with all his weapons, Burrow's drive and emphasis on starting faster and pushing that organizational focus, plus currently enjoying a healthy summer, and you have a recipe for him to finally start fast. Injuries and recoveries have played a large role in past struggles in the first two weeks of the season for Burrow and the Bengals offense, leading to a 1-7 record over that span. Getting to Week 1 without issue will have Bengals fans knocking wood all over the city between now and Sept. 10, but for today, Burrow is in an ideal spot to pick up where he left off. Advertisement Typically, when Burrow puts a change for the season on his agenda, he's enjoyed success. There have been years in which he has worked on more efficient checkdowns. One year, he wanted to use his legs more. He's added weight. Last year saw the growth of playmaking in the pocket. This year, so much of his language has been about putting it on himself to have a faster start. 'We've got to go out and play better early in the season, and that's on us,' Burrow said. 'We'll take ownership of that. You know, I think we're going to have a plan coming into training camp that'll help with that and get us a little more ready. But at the end of the day, it's on us come week one.' If picking one winner from the rookie class, linebacker Demetrius Knight Jr. would be running away with the title. The 24-year-old second-round pick opened eyes across the locker room with how quickly he blended in and became a stabilizing force next to Logan Wilson. The Bengals have him starting, and his leadership as a more mature player entering the league was exactly what the defense sought. He's been used in different spots — blitzing off the edge, stacking behind the line — in any way defensive coordinator Al Golden has wanted to tinker. Golden sought versatility from the position and Knight is bringing it. 'Just consistent energy,' Golden said. 'I love his approach to the game. He makes everybody around him better. He's a live wire. He just enjoys the game, and he's got a grateful heart.' It was even mentioned in the locker room how Knight already feels like a leader of this defense for the next generation. His maturity and drive make it like the Bengals added a linebacker in free agency instead of the draft. That's a large reason why they had him valued much higher than the public perception. Advertisement The summer of Shemar Stewart has been well-documented. His stalemate with ownership became a volatile national storyline. There's no direct blame on Stewart, a 21-year-old, for fully understanding the issues that have transpired on the business side, but the handling of the situation on the whole left an impression. His verbal bombardment of team brass before even taking a snap left a relevant question about who the Bengals acquired with this pick and how much maturing is necessary to reach his potential. Meanwhile, Golden was notably forceful in his language surrounding 2023 first-round edge Myles Murphy. 'I think it's time, right?' Golden said. On a day when Golden praised players up and down the depth chart, the tone was notably different for Murphy, who is expected to soak up the majority of the opportunity on the edge, likely opposite Hendrickson, if he returns. Behind those two, there was excitement about Joseph Ossai, who picked up five sacks in the final seven games of last season. Also, Cam Sample, who missed last season with an Achilles injury, impressed with how well he's returned and could end up a key rotational piece to fill in gaps up and down the line. Another name of note, further under the radar, is 2024 sixth-round pick Cedric Johnson. He found himself in regular rotations and has received praise from different corners of the building throughout the offseason program. He's the only edge who fits the speed rusher profile at 6-foot-3, 260 pounds, and could find a subpackage role because of it. Much was made entering last season about the significant jump expected from defensive backs who have been forced into key roles, enduring growing pains in 2023 and expecting breakouts in 2024. They are still waiting and counting on that group, but the Bengals are believing once again that the theory could help solve the most volatile position group on the team. Advertisement Josh Newton, a fifth-round pick last year, impressed despite his rookie mistakes. Coaches love his leadership and how seriously he takes the game. He's constantly mentioned as one of the players standing out this spring. Newton could take over Mike Hilton's role in the slot. That depends on where Dax Hill lands in his return from a torn ACL. Hill said he expects to be fully cleared in training camp, but his role and how long it takes to return to full speed are still unknown. Plus, Golden is using all his corners across different spots, inside and out. Look for that to continue in August. But don't sleep on Newton. He will play meaningful defensive snaps this season if trends of the last two months are any indication. A focus on building good vibes and team chemistry early played out weekly. There were more team meetings than in past years and more opportunities for players to get to the front of the room and tell their stories, or to lead football topics. This comes as a direct result of a team that felt disconnected at times last year and battled the bad vibes of off-field distractions throughout the preparation process. Head coach Zac Taylor also made the most drastic overhaul of his training camp approach yet. Taylor rearranged practice times to be in the morning, opted not to participate in joint practices and plans to play starters much more in preseason games. He also pulled back on the number of public practices, keeping things private once the preseason weeks begin. Players hoping to avoid the afternoon heat and post-lunch malaise appreciated the move to the morning. Taylor allowing starters to play in multiple preseason games shows a major shift in giving his team real game experience before the opener. Specifically, with no joint practices, the decision-making in all this comes back to a central theme of his planning. 'Just focusing on us right now,' Taylor said. 'I think joint practices have a great benefit for what we need to do this year. We don't need to sacrifice that day before we're preparing for an opponent and practicing that day, and then taking a day, and then going and playing a game. We're just going to get three great days of work on our install, of improving on the things we need to improve on instead of competing against another team.' Taylor didn't rule out having joint practices returning in future years. But this year he wants to focus on cohesion and camaraderie. 'This was a year we decided we were just going to focus on ourself,' he said.
Daily Mail
7 days ago
- Sport
- Daily Mail
Trey Hendrickson's bitter contract stand-off with Cincinnati Bengals takes ANOTHER twist
The Cincinnati Bengals and star defensive end Trey Hendrickson's bitter contract stand-off may finally have some good news surrounding it as talks have resumed between the sides. For the first time in several weeks, the 30-year-old behemoth and his team, entering the final year of his current contract, are talking terms for his future. Hendrickson led the NFL with 17.5 sacks last season and will earn $16million in 2025. Now, he wants to be paid in line with other top defensive tackles in the league, per ESPN. The Bengals are not exactly strapped with cash with wide receivers Ja'Marr Chase and Tee Higgins recently signing new deals totaling a combined $276million. Hendrickson does rank No 21 in terms of contract average among defensive lineman in the NFL, nearly half of what Cleveland Browns star Myles Garrett makes. Garrett recently signed a contract extension with the Browns, making him $40million richer annually despite only amassing one more sack than Hendrickson over the last three seasons. According to Bengals beat writer Kelsey Conway, Hendrickson has no plans to line up for the team until his contract demands are met. Conway wrote on X Tuesday: 'Trey Hendrickson just finished talking. Plenty of takeaways but most importantly, Trey Hendrickson said he won't play the upcoming season on his current deal & wouldn't say one or the other if he would sit out games'. Earlier this week, Hendrickson revealed contract talks with Bengals officials have broken down as the two parties struggle to agree an extension. 'No communication has taken place between my camp and the organization post draft,' he told ESPN in a statement. 'The offers prior to the draft did not reflect the vision we shared and were promised last offseason if I continued to play at a high level. 'Coaches are aware of these past conversations,' he continued. 'Rather than using collaboration to get us to a point to bring me home to the team, THEY are no longer communicating. I have been eagerly awaiting a resolution of this situation, but that's hard to do when there is no discussion and an evident lack of interest in reaching mutual goals.' The Bengals did add another defensive end, Shemar Stewart, in the first round of last month's NFL Draft, but lost another major talent at the position in Sam Hubbard, a Cincinnati native who retired in March. Prior to the draft, Cincinnati gave Hendrickson permission to seek a trade, but within weeks those talks were off the table, according to Fox Sports NFL insider Jordan Schultz.
Yahoo
7 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Bengals' Zac Taylor comments on the ugly Shemar Stewart contract drama
Cincinnati Bengals head coach Zac Taylor was in front of microphones on the final day of mandatory minicamp work not long after the news that first-round rookie Shemar Stewart left the team early. As expected, Taylor didn't have much to say in terms of revealing information about the ongoing contract saga between Stewart and the Bengals. Advertisement NFL Network's Mike Garafolo captured Taylor's thoughts on the matter: 'Every year, you kinda learn something new in this position, and this is just one of those things that the players have managed really well.' RELATED: Bengals news: Jermaine Burton buzz, practice urgency and more Taylor continues to be stuck as the public spokesperson for the Bengals on these types of matters despite his having nothing to do with the business side of things. After dealing with the Ja'Marr Chase and Tee Higgins drama for the better part of a year, Taylor now has to lob answers at things like Stewart's odd contract situation and the holdout of Trey Hendrickson, which even Joe Burrow has admitted is a distraction. RELATED: Bengals' Andrei Iosivas adds 15 pounds while eyeing breakout season This article originally appeared on Bengals Wire: Bengals' Zac Taylor comments on the ugly Shemar Stewart contract drama
Fox News
11-06-2025
- Sport
- Fox News
Bengals rookie Shemar Stewart stands firm in contract battle: 'I'm 100% right'
The Cincinnati Bengals' contract conundrums continue. First-round pick Shemar Stewart is not practicing at the team's mandatory minicamp this week because he has yet to sign his rookie contract. Cincinnati ironed out Tee Higgins' contract situation this offseason, but the Bengals are still dealing with top edge rusher Trey Hendrickson. Now, their first-round pick is holding out until he gets a deal he likes. Stewart, the Texas A&M product who went 17th overall in the 2025 NFL Draft in April, has yet to practice this summer, and the Bengals are reportedly trying something no other team in the league has done yet by voiding future guarantees for Stewart. The unprecedented contract maneuver is not sitting well with Stewart, and he sounded off about the front office Tuesday while at the Bengals' complex. "I'm 100% right," he said of his stance about his rookie deal, according to "I'm not asking for nothing y'all (the Bengals) have never done before. But in y'all case, y'all just want to win arguments (more) than winning more games." Stewart said he "can't say" what he is asking for in his contract. In the meantime, he's still attending meetings and doing what he can off the field to be ready for the season. "I still study my playbook. Taking down the right notes, and then, whenever I get some free time, I go out to train," he said. But Stewart wants to be on the field with his teammates. He says he has been preparing properly in the offseason for his first crack at the NFL. "You gotta get your body somewhat prepared to play football, especially me coming from college. The NFL is a way physical game, even though I played in the SEC, which is very physical. Nothing compares to actually playing in the NFL. I thought I'd be on the field by now." Stewart was considered a raw prospect coming out of the Aggies' program, someone who possesses tremendous athletic ability but needs to shore up the technical aspects of playing outside linebacker. He's hoping to do that for years to come in Cincinnati, and though the contract situation is less than ideal, he doesn't have any ill will for the franchise. "I'm still new here. We still have a long future ahead of us," he said. However, Stewart is making it clear he's doing nothing wrong with his contract negotiations. The ball is in the Bengals' court. Follow Fox News Digital's sports coverage on X, and subscribe to the Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter.
