The trade Wednesday that sent George Pickens from the Pittsburgh Steelers to the Dallas Cowboys sparked a debate over the most effective extensive receiver combos within the NFL.
Listed here are Yardbarker’s high 5, ranked in inverse order:
Honorable point out: CeeDee Lamb and George Pickens | Dallas Cowboys
Not so quick, Cowboys followers. This duo must be good — if Dallas can corral Pickens’ unstable mood — however Lamb and Pickens do not make the minimize among the many high 5 within the league. They’ll, nonetheless, make this a enjoyable division for wideout duos. The NFC East additionally contains standout duos DeVonta Smith and A.J. Brown in Philadelphia, Terry McLaurin and Deebo Samuel in Washington and Darius Slayton and Malik Nabors in New York.
Lamb (101 catches, 152 targets in 2024) is a famous person, however how he and Pickens will mesh is a large unknown.
“[O]n paper, this transfer makes loads of sense for the Cowboys,” Seth Walder of ESPN wrote. “As poorly as 2024 went for this workforce, the roster nonetheless has the identical core because the one which went 12-5 in 2023 (albeit with a distinct coach) and had a serious weak spot at receiver after Lamb.”
However, as Walder famous, “An enormous a part of the explanation Pickens is offered is it appears the Steelers had had sufficient of him.” In three seasons with Pittsburgh, he drove Steelers coach Mike Tomlin and his employees bonkers with immature habits.
“He is acquired a goal on his again as a result of he is George; he understands that. However he is acquired to develop up. He is acquired to develop up in a rush,” Tomlin said last season.
5. Mike Evans and Chris Godwin | Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Evans completed final season twenty third in receiving yards (1,004 yards), extending his streak of seasons with 1,000-plus receiving yards to 11. He stays essentially the most constant receiver within the league.
Had Godwin not suffered an ankle damage in Week 7, ending his 2024 season, he might have had a profession 12 months. Final season, he was the Buccaneers’ chief in receiving in 5 video games and among the many league’s leaders in receiving yards via the primary seven weeks.
If Evans and Godwin are on high of their video games in 2025, Tampa Bay ought to simply win the middling NFC South for the fifth consecutive season.
4. Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle | Miami Dolphins
There are two huge questions surrounding this electrical two. The primary is: Does Hill — maybe the league’s quickest receiver — need to be in Miami? He sent several cryptic messages over the past few months, making his future with the Dolphins in query.
The second query is: Can Tua Tagovailoa keep wholesome for your complete season? Of the 11 video games he began at quarterback for Miami in 2024, both Hill or Waddle was the main receiver in six.
Final season, neither Hill (81 catches, 959 yards) nor Waddle (58 catches, 744 yards) eclipsed 1,000 receiving yards. In 2022 and 2023, when Tagovailoa began 30 of 34 regular-season video games, that they had 3,006 and a couple of,813 receiving yards mixed every season, respectively. Clearly, the well being of Tagovailoa will decide their manufacturing.
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