The wide receiver market has seen as many blockbuster moves as any position in recent years. From superstar trades to contract drama, players such as Tyreek Hill, A.J. Brown, Davante Adams, CeeDee Lamb, and Brandon Aiyuk have been defining figures in recent offseasons.
As the NFL approaches the start of the 2025 league year, wide receivers are set to headline some of the biggest moves in the free agency and trade market. Below we break down the biggest receiver-related question for all 32 teams.
What Is Each Team’s Biggest Wide Receiver Question?
Arizona Cardinals: Will Marvin Harrison Jr. Become a True No. 1?
As one of the most hyped wide receiver prospects in recent memory, Marvin Harrison Jr. was always going to face unfair expectations. A rookie campaign of 62 catches, 885 yards, and eight touchdowns is a promising start, but it paled in comparison to the production of Malik Nabers and Brian Thomas Jr. As a result, Harrison’s rookie year felt a tad underwhelming.
Still, the Arizona Cardinals could have a true No. 1 WR with better usage. Harrison was largely used as a true vertical threat, a sharp contrast to his Ohio State usage. His aDOT of 13.5 air yards ranked 10th-deepest in 2024, right behind deep-ball merchants like George Pickens and Rashod Bateman.
That’s not really Harrison’s game, and a route tree that better highlights his route-running skills would help. For example, Harrison was most frequently targeted on go routes, where he averaged -0.36 EPA per target (six catches on 30 targets). But his second-most frequently targeted route were crossing routes, where he averaged a robust 0.92 EPA per target (15 catches on 19 targets).
To the Cardinals’ credit, there were adjustments made after a rough start, and Harrison had four of his six highest receiving totals from Week 8 on. While he wasn’t the best rookie receiver from his class, there’s every reason to believe Harrison can become the superstar many expected.
Atlanta Falcons: Does Drake London Get Extended?
Drake London finally enjoyed his big breakout in 2024, finishing fourth in the NFL with 1,271 receiving yards and recording 100 catches on the nose. His 2.33 yards per route average also represented elite efficiency, ranking 10th overall.
That means it’s time for the Atlanta Falcons to pay up for the former top-10 overall pick. London still has a fifth-year option for 2026 that the Falcons will surely exercise. However, Atlanta would be wise not to wait that long to extend London, a la the Bengals with Ja’Marr Chase. The wide receiver market has steadily risen in recent years, and the likes of Chase, Tee Higgins, and Garrett Wilson will only push that market higher.
London’s game fits beautifully with Michael Penix Jr.’s inclination to push the ball downfield. In Penix’s starts the final three weeks, London averaged 117 yards per game while receiving an absurd 39.4% target rate. For context, the highest target rate for the season was 38.3% by Puka Nacua. Given London’s strong chemistry with Penix, the Falcons would be wise to extend him before his asking price rises even higher.
Baltimore Ravens: Is Rashod Bateman’s Breakout for Real?
The Baltimore Ravens leaned on wide receivers less than any team in 2024. Baltimore had three or more WRs on the field just 32.4% of the time this past season, the lowest rate in the NFL. Still, in Zay Flowers and Rashod Bateman, the Ravens had their best receiver duo in ages, which could change the complexion of the offense moving forward.
Flowers is the team’s No. 1 after becoming the first player in franchise history to make the Pro Bowl as a wide receiver. However, Bateman emerged as a home-run threat, ranking third with 16.8 yards per reception. His nine receiving touchdowns were also more than double his total from his first three seasons combined (four).
Most critically, Bateman has stayed healthy the last two seasons after missing 16 games over his first two seasons. If that pattern continues, Bateman could see a significant rise from his 15.8% target share, which ranked 60th league-wide.
Buffalo Bills: Is Amari Cooper Worth Re-Signing?
One of the splashier moves at the trade deadline, Amari Cooper never delivered the expected impact with the Buffalo Bills. Cooper got injured in his second game after the trade and averaged only 30.7 receiving yards per game in 11 games with the team (including playoffs). In six of those 11 games, Cooper was held below 15 yards.
Cooper turns 31 this June, and his combination of age and declining production could allow the Bills to bring him back on a cheap one-year deal. There’s a scenario where a full offseason with Josh Allen enables Cooper to occupy a more consistent role after he played only 43% of the snaps in the games he was active.
Moreover, Cooper was losing out on snaps to veteran journeyman Mack Hollins, so it’s not as if his presence blocks a promising young receiver on the roster.
The question boils down to whether the Bills can find a better cheap veteran fit on the free agent market, or whether they have the patience to let another rookie develop on a win-now team. Buffalo is roughly $12 million over the salary cap, so Brandon Beane will be shopping on a tight budget to add to the MVP’s supporting cast.
Carolina Panthers: Defense or WR With Eighth Overall Pick?
No unit needs help more than the Carolina Panthers’ defense. Carolina recorded an abysmal 53.5 Defense+ grade in 2024, the worst by any team since the 2020 Lions. Two of their few notable veteran starters — safety Xavier Woods and linebacker Shaq Thompson — are free agents as well, making a very young defense even more anonymous.
As a result, many expect the Panthers to use the eighth overall pick (and many of their subsequent draft picks) to rebuild the NFL’s worst defense. But with Carolina still in rebuilding mode, it’s worth at least considering if the Panthers should go all-in on supporting Bryce Young and ensuring that his late-season breakout continues into 2025.
There’s no pressure to make the playoffs next season, which means that Young’s development is easily the most important factor in 2025. Young’s QB+ after he returned as a starter in Week 8 was 75.9, which would have ranked 18th for the season ahead of Matthew Stafford and Bo Nix.
If a player like Arizona’s Tet McMillan falls to No. 8, drafting him could allow Young to continue that trajectory and make the 2025 season a win regardless of what the defense does.
Chicago Bears: Will Rome Odunze Make the Leap in Year 2?
The third wide receiver drafted in a deep class, Rome Odunze mostly underwhelmed amid a dysfunctional Chicago Bears offense. Odunze curiously took a backseat to Keenan Allen in two-receiver sets, even as the Bears fell out of contention. For the season, Odunze ranked third among Bears WRs with 52.7 snaps per game, behind Allen and DJ Moore.
Allen is a free agent, clearing the way for Odunze to emerge as an every-down player in Ben Johnson’s offense. Odunze showed some big-play flashes but would probably benefit from a more balanced route tree that lowers his 13.8 aDOT from 2024 (fifth-deepest among WRs last season). Because his average target was so deep, Odunze’s 53.5% catch rate ranked 72nd out of 76 qualifying WRs.
Moore’s future beyond next season is unclear after a shaky 2024. He’ll be on the 2025 roster, but Chicago can save $16.5 million by cutting or trading Moore next offseason. That should clear the way for Odunze to make a second-year jump and become Caleb Williams’ clear top target.
Cincinnati Bengals: Will Tee Higgins Sign a Long-Term Extension?
After significant public pressure from Joe Burrow, it appears the Cincinnati Bengals might keep the band together after all. Reports emerged the week after the Super Bowl that the Bengals would be willing to use a second franchise tag on Tee Higgins, which would come at a cost of $26.18 million.
The Bengals can easily absorb that with their $49.5 million in cap space, but that’s not the most efficient way to build their team. That’s especially true with Ja’Marr Chase and Trey Hendrickson also in need of monster extensions. To keep even two of those players, the Bengals will almost certainly need to break their own precedent and include guaranteed money beyond the signing bonus (an exception they made for Burrow).
It’s probably well worth it to keep their Big Three on offense together though. This past season, Burrow averaged 8.2 yards per attempt and 0.23 EPA per dropback with both Chase and Higgins on the field. For context, he would have ranked fourth in both categories if those were his averages over the full course of the regular season.
But when either one was off the field, Burrow averaged 6.5 yards per attempt (would have ranked 32nd) and 0.04 EPA per dropback (would have ranked 19th). It wasn’t a small sample size either, as Burrow took 285 dropbacks with either WR off the field, compared to 436 with both on.
Keeping Higgins is a telling sign that the Bengals might be changing the way they do business. But unless they can secure him on a manageable long-term deal, they could be compromising their 2025 roster just to have the same conversation next offseason.
Cleveland Browns: Does Jerry Jeudy’s Breakout Continue Without Jameis?
The league’s worst offense still had one of the most unlikely bright spots in 2024. The Jameis Winston-to-Jerry Jeudy connection was improbably one of the deadliest in the league during Winston’s seven-game starting stint from Weeks 8-15.
During that stretch, Jeudy ranked second in the NFL with 786 receiving yards while averaging an absurd 0.62 EPA per target. For the season, the Winston-Jeudy duo had the fifth-best EPA per target average among all QB-receiver duos.
However, Winston is a free agent and seems unlikely to return. That raises questions about the sustainability of Jeudy’s breakout, given that he has never produced at a high level with any other quarterback in the NFL.
The Browns are unlikely to turn back to Deshaun Watson, but Jeudy will need a passer as willing to push the ball downfield as Winston was to sustain his production. If his breakout continues without Winston, the Browns will have the luxury of a No. 1 WR to help rebuild their offense.
Dallas Cowboys: Can They Find an X Receiver?
The Dallas Cowboys have the luxury of the NFL’s most productive slot receiver in CeeDee Lamb. However, the Cowboys have leaned too heavily on Lamb the last two seasons. Since 2023, Lamb has accounted for 34% of Dallas’ receiving yards and 29% of their receptions. Both figures rank in the top four in the league over that span.
There’s nothing wrong with leaning on your superstar wideout, but Dak Prescott’s effectiveness when targeting his non-Lamb receivers collapsed in 2024. Prescott averaged his lowest yards per attempt (8.2), completion percentage (64.6%), and EPA per dropback (-0.11) when targeting non-Lamb receivers since the Cowboys drafted Lamb in 2020.
Brandin Cooks and Jalen Tolbert are both free agents, leaving the Cowboys wide receiver room barren beyond Lamb. Getting to rebuild that group isn’t the worst thing, but Dallas’ reluctance to spend in recent years suggests the team is unlikely to land a difference-making X receiver via free agency or trade.
As such, Dallas might consider using one of its picks in the first three rounds on a Lamb complement. Hitting on that pick is crucial, as the Cowboys aren’t likely to invest many more financial resources on offense with Prescott and Lamb playing on mega-deals (and Micah Parsons due to receive his own lucrative extension as well).
Denver Broncos: Does Courtland Sutton Get Extended?
Injuries and a ceaseless quarterback carousel hurt Courtland Sutton’s production for four seasons, but the Denver Broncos’ top wide receiver bounced back to emerge as Bo Nix’s top target in 2024. Sutton had his first 1,000-yard season since 2019 and was the only constant in a skill-position group that otherwise liberally rotated several players at WR, RB, and TE.
Now, Sutton is an extension candidate after looking like a potential cap casualty last offseason. Sutton is in the last year of a four-year deal he signed back in November 2021. Denver can absorb his $20.2 million cap hit, but an extension to lower that number would be more prudent.
The issue could be years, as Sutton turns 30 in October. A three-year deal could be the sweet spot, similar to deals signed by Michael Pittman Jr. (three years, $70 million) and DeVonta Smith (three years, $75 million).
Detroit Lions: What Is Jameson Williams’ Future?
The Detroit Lions made a big gamble trading up to draft Jameson Williams 12th overall in 2022. Strictly on the field, Williams paid off that bet in 2024 by becoming one of the deadliest home run threats of the season.
Including playoffs, the speed merchant scored five touchdowns of 50+ yards, second-most behind only Saquon Barkley (seven). In fact, Williams had more 50-yard scores than 29 of the 31 other teams did the whole season (the Eagles and Colts being the only exceptions).
However, Williams was suspended two games for violating the performance-enhancing substances (PES) policy. It was his second straight year with a suspension after receiving a six-game betting suspension in 2023 (it was eventually reduced to four games). And although Williams has stayed healthy since being drafted, he was limited to six games as a rookie due to a torn ACL suffered his final season at Alabama.
The Lions will likely exercise Williams’ fifth-year option for 2026, but an extension is a tough debate with Amon-Ra St. Brown already paid. If Williams can prove dependable and productive without Ben Johnson calling plays, he’ll have earned a lucrative second contract, whether it’s with the Lions or someone else.
Green Bay Packers: Does the First-Round WR Drought Finally End?
Josh Jacobs created a stir during Super Bowl week when he claimed the Green Bay Packers need a No. 1 wide receiver. While a trade addition (like a reunion with Davante Adams) is the surest way to address that, Brian Gutekunst could also look to snap the longest active drought without a first-round wideout.
The Packers’ last first-round wide receiver was Javon Walker back in 2002. That streak of 22 straight drafts without picking a first-round receiver is tied for the third-longest in the Common Draft Era and easily the longest active drought as well.
Of course, this isn’t considered the deepest receiver draft, so the streak could very well continue to a 23rd straight season. But it’s telling that Jordan Love had the largest decline in EPA per dropback against man coverage compared to zone coverage, as the Packers never had a coverage-bending weapon for third downs and other man-heavy situations.
Green Bay has invested plenty of Day 2 picks at receiver in recent years, and another could be on the way to add more talent to the receiver room.
Houston Texans: Who Emerges as Nico Collins’ Sidekick?
Pairing an elite No. 1 wide receiver with a promising young quarterback should be a recipe for a high-floor offense. Nico Collins reaffirmed his status as a true alpha receiver, ranking third in yards per route (2.87) behind only Puka Nacua and A.J. Brown.
Still, that wasn’t enough to make the Houston Texans a passable offense. The Texans ranked 28th in Offense+, the worst of any playoff team. Much of that was due to a porous offensive line and stubborn reliance on an inefficient run game, but the lack of receiving depth after season-ending injuries to Stefon Diggs and Tank Dell didn’t help either.
Dell is unlikely to play much if at all in 2025 after his gruesome Week 16 knee injury. Diggs’ status is uncertain as well as a 31-year-old free agent coming off a torn ACL. Houston could likely retain Diggs on another one-year deal, but his availability after a major late-October injury might leave Houston shorthanded to start the season.
Even if the offensive line is patched, the Texans need another reliable pass-catcher to draw attention away from Collins (preferably a slot weapon who can control the middle of the field). Re-signing Diggs on a prove-it deal while also drafting his successor could be the most prudent path forward.
Indianapolis Colts: Can Michael Pittman Jr. Get Back on Track?
Michael Pittman Jr. was the Indianapolis Colts’ clear No. 1 WR entering 2024, as evidenced by the three-year, $70 million extension he signed before the season. However, Pittman’s first season after the extension was marred by injuries and a puzzling change in his usage
In his first four seasons, Pittman thrived as an efficient mid-range target who produced an above-average level of YAC. But after averaging an 8.2 aDOT his first four seasons, Pittman’s aDOT rose to 11.1 air yards in 2024, the first time he had cracked more than 10 aDOT.
His target distribution was altered from a heavy dose of 7-10 yard passes over the middle to far more targets outside the numbers, with many of his middle-of-the-field targets coming 15 or more yards downfield.
As a result, Pittman averaged a career-worst -0.02 EPA per target, the first season he was a net negative in that category. Pittman’s usage was a symptom of Anthony Richardson’s boom-or-bust play style, and altering that style to maximize the strengths of Indy’s top WR would go a long ways to improving the passing game’s consistency.
Jacksonville Jaguars: Is Brian Thomas Jr. Already a Top-5 WR?
This may seem presumptuous, but solely by the numbers, the answer to this question is yes. Brian Thomas Jr. ranked fifth among all wide receivers in 2024 with 2.5 yards per route, right ahead of Mike Evans and Ja’Marr Chase. He was also third in receiving yards (1,282) and tied for fifth in receiving TD (10) at the position.
Many will argue that Thomas needs another year of production before locking him into elite status, which is a fair critique. But based on recent history, Thomas’ sophomore season should cement that status.
Since 2000, Thomas had the sixth-highest yards per route for a rookie to run at least 300 routes. Of the five above him, all but Chase (who missed five games with a hip injury) ranked top five in yards per route as a second-year player.
And all this is before remembering that Trevor Lawrence missed seven games, while an injury-depleted Jaguars receiving corps allowed defenses to hone in on Thomas. None of that mattered in 2024, and a little more support in 2025 could result in an even better campaign.
Kansas City Chiefs: Do Any of the Veteran Free Agents Return?
The Kansas City Chiefs’ preferred wide receiver grouping never materialized in 2024. Hollywood Brown was injured on the first drive of the preseason and didn’t return until Week 16. By then, Rashee Rice was long gone with a torn LCL, which cut short a promising first month.
Rice will be back as a centerpiece, but the rest of the wide receiver room looks very uncertain. Brown, DeAndre Hopkins, JuJu Smith-Schuster, and Justin Watson are all free agents. Collectively, those represent four of the six WRs that received a snap for the Chiefs in the playoffs (Xavier Worthy played 138 snaps, while kick returner Nikko Remigio played three).
The Chiefs probably won’t want or need to keep all of them with Rice and Worthy leading the wide receiver room next season. But Travis Kelce will need regular-season load management if he returns at all, and Kansas City doesn’t have any depth behind their top two wideouts.
Rebuilding that receiver room will play a factor in whether the Chiefs can recover from another long season to run the gauntlet again in 2025.
Las Vegas Raiders: Do They Prioritize WR or QB in Free Agency?
Two late-season wins weren’t enough to save Antonio Pierce’s job, but they did drop the Las Vegas Raiders from a top-two overall pick to sixth overall. That could require the Raiders to trade up for a quarterback in an already thin class.
Of course, quarterback isn’t the only reason the Raiders ranked 29th in Offense+ last season. Even the dysfunctional 2023 team, which fired Josh McDaniels and benched Jimmy Garoppolo midseason, ranked 21st. Adding a top field-stretching wide receiver is an important priority too after trading away Davante Adams.
Brock Bowers is a nice building block, but the Raiders should at least consider drafting Tet McMillan to complement Bowers’ possession receiver-style skill set. McMillan would boost a Raiders offense that had the third-lowest explosive play rate in 2024 (8.5%). While that would require another stopgap year at quarterback, Las Vegas could be better positioned to help its next franchise quarterback by improving the supporting cast.
Los Angeles Chargers: Can They Find a Perimeter Threat?
The Los Angeles Chargers supported Justin Herbert in 2024 far better than they did over the quarterback’s first four seasons. The Chargers had the top-ranked scoring defense after ranking outside the top 20 every year from 2020-23, while rookie Ladd McConkey emerged as a prolific slot threat as Herbert’s go-to option.
However, while McConkey emerged as a worthy heir to Keenan Allen, the Chargers never really replaced Mike Williams’ role in the offense. Quentin Johnston took a big step forward as a home run threat in his second season, but also had seven games with fewer than 25 receiving yards as a boom-or-bust option.
As a result, Herbert attempted only 49% of his passes outside the numbers, the second-lowest rate of his career. And when he did throw to the perimeter, Herbert had a 50.5% success rate, the lowest of his career on those throws.
The Chargers are armed with the fifth-most cap space at just over $65 million, though their ideal target (Tee Higgins) doesn’t appear likely to hit the open market. Regardless, the Chargers could look at a receiver like Stanford’s Elic Ayomanor or Ole Miss’ Tre Harris early in the draft if a trade option doesn’t materialize.
Los Angeles Rams: What’s the Return for Cooper Kupp?
The Cooper Kupp era appears over, with the Los Angeles Rams openly shopping the 31-year-old wideout. Kupp is far removed from his Triple Crown season of 2021, and has missed 18 games due to injury over the last three seasons.
That combined with his declining production down the stretch could limit Kupp’s trade market. Kupp averaged only 39 receiving yards per game over his final eight games, being held below 30 yards in five of those games. For the season, he averaged career lows in yards per reception (10.6) and YAC per reception (4.0).
With a $29.8 million cap hit, it’s not even clear if the Rams can find a trade partner. Los Angeles could improve Kupp’s value by keeping him past March 15, when they’ll have to pay $12.5 million of his salary (a $7.5 million roster bonus and $5 million base salary guarantee).
But even at a reduced cap hit, the best case for the Rams would likely be what the Titans received for 32-year-old DeAndre Hopkins this past season (a fifth-rounder that could become a conditional fourth).
Miami Dolphins: Will They Finally Get the No. 3 WR Spot Right?
The Miami Dolphins have had one of the best wide receiver duos the last three seasons in Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle. However, finding the right complementary third wideout has been elusive. Odell Beckham Jr. flopped last year after a preseason injury limited him to nine games, leaving the third spot open again in 2025.
The Dolphins haven’t used many three receiver sets under Mike McDaniel, but they always excelled in those personnel groupings until 2024. Since McDaniel became Miami’s head coach in 2022, the Dolphins have used 3+ WR sets at the third-lowest rate (45%), ahead of only the 49ers and Ravens.
But from 2022-23, Miami averaged league-best 6.8 yards per play with 3+ WRs on the field. In 2024, that figure plummeted to 4.9 yards per play, second-worst ahead of only the Browns.
Keeping Tua Tagovailoa on the field will obviously help that number, but this is also important for the sustainability of the offense down the road. Next year could be Hill’s last season in Miami, as his 2026 cap number of $51.9 million is totally untenable and will result in either a restructure or release.
Drafting the right receiver this year could not only improve the depth behind Hill and Waddle, but also serve as a successor when it’s time to move on from Hill.
Minnesota Vikings: Do Justin Jefferson and Jordan Addison Simplify the QB Decision?
One of the biggest questions in the whole league this offseason is what the Minnesota Vikings choose to do at quarterback. Sam Darnold led the Vikings to a surprise 14-win season, but consecutive clunkers to end the season against the Lions and Rams could lead to Darnold leaving in free agency with first-rounder J.J. McCarthy available.
But while there are lots of ways to break down the merits of Darnold and McCarthy, the real answer to the Vikings’ quarterback question could lie in the offensive infrastructure. Justin Jefferson and Jordan Addison are among best WR duos in the NFL, with Addison building on a stellar rookie year. Jefferson and Addison combined for 2,408 yards this past season, second-most of any duo behind Ja’Marr Chase-Tee Higgins (2,619).
In two years together, Jefferson and Addison have shown they can produce at consistently high levels regardless of the quarterback. The two combined to average 2.16 yards per route and 0.35 EPA per target in 2024 with Darnold. With a hodgepodge of QBs in 2023, Jefferson and Adison averaged 2.04 yards per route and 0.36 EPA per target.
That’s not to say that any quarterback will produce the same numbers in Minnesota. But coupled with Kevin O’Connell’s play-calling, it seems that most passers will have a high floor in this offense. Considering the cost savings of McCarthy relative to Darnold, that could make the Vikings’ quarterback decision a relatively simple one.
New England Patriots: Can They Add a Veteran No. 1 WR?
Armed with a league-high $123.6 million in cap space, the New England Patriots have plenty of cash to improve one of the least talented rosters in the league. Supporting second-year quarterback Drake Maye could be the priority in free agency, especially since it appears that a defensive cornerstone like Abdul Carter could wind up being the most logical pick at No. 4 overall.
Tee Higgins and the Patriots were a common player/team free agency pairing for months, but it appears Higgins is returning to Cincinnati on either an extension or second franchise tag. The Patriots have tried to acquire top receivers in recent years from Brandon Aiyuk to DeAndre Hopkins, so it’s clear the team is seeking an immediate solution to its talent-poor receiver room.
The free agent targets aren’t too appealing if both Tee Higgins and Chris Godwin remain with their incumbent teams, though trade targets like Cooper Kupp and George Pickens could be worthwhile gambles. None of those options would fully check the box of a star No. 1 WR the way Higgins would have, but New England likely needs to use both free agency and the draft to ensure Maye is better supported in 2025.
New Orleans Saints: Can They Count on Chris Olave?
The perpetually capped-out New Orleans Saints won’t have many resources to add to their roster this offseason. The good news is that the Saints’ wide receiver room appears relatively set on paper. Chris Olave and Rashid Shaheed should return from season-ending injuries, while Marquez Valdes-Scantling could return on another cheap one-year deal after surprisingly strong late-season production when Derek Carr played.
However, that receiver room only holds up if Olave stays on the field and continues developing into a No. 1 WR.
Olave missed nine games last season after suffering two concussions and has had four documented concussions in his three-year NFL career. The 24-year-old saw a specialist after his second concussion last season, but he declared during Super Bowl week that he was symptom-free after practicing the final two weeks of the season.
The Saints will likely pick up Olave’s fifth-year option, but they may want to see a healthy season before considering an extension. Since entering the league in 2022, Olave ranks 12th with 2.22 yards per route run, ahead of superstars like Ja’Marr Chase and Davante Adams. His production has certainly warranted a long-term deal, and the only question is if his body can hold up.
New York Giants: Can They Find an X Receiver?
Darius Slayton has perpetually defied preseason expectations, but his time with the New York Giants could finally be over as he hits free agency. With Malik Nabers playing all over the formation and slot receiver Wan’Dale Robinson under contract for one more year, the Giants could fill out their receiver rotation with a more capable X receiver.
New York quarterbacks had the fifth-shortest aDOT last season at 6.8 air yards. While relying on YAC played into the strengths of Nabers and Robinson, the Giants would benefit from a field-stretcher to open the offense. Only 9.3% of the Giants’ completions gained 20+ yards last year, the second-lowest explosive pass rate ahead of only the Dolphins (9.0%).
The third overall pick is likely ticketed for a quarterback, particularly given the tenuous job security of Brian Daboll and Joe Schoen. However, a receiver at the top of the second round or a flier on a veteran like Marquise Brown could round out this receiver room and give the Giants’ next quarterback a better chance to succeed.
New York Jets: Can They Find a Davante Adams Trade Partner?
The New York Jets traded a third-round pick for Davante Adams in October. And while Adams proved he still has some gas left, the 32-year-old could be untradeable as the Jets move on from the Adams-Aaron Rodgers partnership in 2025.
The reason boils down solely to money. Adams has the highest cap hit of any wide receiver this season at $38.3 million. An acquiring team would inherit his $35.6 million base salary, making it very difficult to find a match for the aging star.
Adams has openly stated his preference to return to the West Coast. That could make a team like the Chargers ($65.6 million in cap space) or Rams ($40.2 million) a potential fit. However, the likeliest outcome remains the Jets cutting Adams, saving roughly $30 million in cap space, and giving him the option of signing in the same place as Rodgers this offseason.
Philadelphia Eagles: Does DeVonta Smith See Even More Slot Usage?
The reigning Super Bowl champions have a fairly simple outlook at wide receiver. Both A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith are under contract through at least 2028, keeping one of the elite WR duos in place for four more years if the team chooses. And while the Eagles could add more competition for the No. 3 WR spot, the presence of Dallas Goedert and an elite running game make that a luxury more than a necessity.
So since there aren’t really personnel questions at wide receiver, it’s worth examining whether the Eagles can continue to get the most out of their existing personnel. Under Kellen Moore, Smith saw a spike in slot usage. The 2021 first-rounder lined up in the slot a career-high 47.5% of the time in 2024, well above his average (19%) from his first three seasons.
Injuries limited Smith’s counting numbers, but he averaged a career-high 2.14 yards per route. From the slot specifically, Smith averaged 0.59 EPA per target, eighth-best among 58 players to receive 30+ targets from the slot.
Jalen Hurts has steadily improved throughout his five seasons, but throwing over the middle of the field consistently remains one of the only minor holes in his game. Further slot usage for Smith could facilitate Hurts’ improvement there and make Philly a serious threat to repeat.
Pittsburgh Steelers: What Is George Pickens’ Future?
The Pittsburgh Steelers have a history of hitting on Day 2 and 3 wide receivers who eventually outstay their welcome. Antonio Brown and Diontae Johnson were traded away in recent years after becoming malcontents, and George Pickens could be next despite being the only productive receiver on the roster.
Pickens is entering the final year of his rookie contract in 2025, making him an extend-or-trade candidate. By productivity alone, Pickens is an easy choice to build around. But the character questions from Georgia have followed him to the NFL, with a late stadium arrival after inactives were due on Christmas Day serving as a particularly egregious incident.
Pickens’ youth and talent will likely lead to some team giving him an opportunity, giving Pittsburgh the opportunity to recoup solid value (though likely not a first-rounder). That would leave an already stagnant offense in rough shape, however, perhaps spelling the end of Mike Tomlin’s 18-year streak of non-losing seasons.
San Francisco 49ers: What’s the Return for Deebo Samuel?
One of the few offensive stars who stayed relatively healthy for the 2024 San Francisco 49ers, Deebo Samuel Sr. nevertheless appears headed out of the Bay Area. Samuel received permission to seek a trade from the team, a sensible move given the 49ers’ impending cap crunch.
Even at just 29 years old, Samuel appears to be beyond his prime. He averaged a career-low 44.7 receiving yards per game this past season, while also seeing his yards per route plummet from 2.4 in 2023 to 1.6 in 2024.
However, Samuel’s one reliable skill is his ability to pick up yards after the catch. He ranked second among WRs with 8.3 YAC per reception in 2024, and has never ranked outside the top two among WRs in his six-year career. Not every offense will maximize that skill set, but a receiver-needy team like the Rams or Texans that has ties to the Kyle Shanahan tree could serve as a logical landing spot.
Seattle Seahawks: Is DK Metcalf Part of their Future?
The Seattle Seahawks will say goodbye to at least one franchise icon at wide receiver this offseason. Tyler Lockett’s time with the franchise is almost certainly over given his $30.9 million cap hit and declining productivity as a 32-year-old. But could his longtime teammate DK Metcalf also follow Lockett out the door?
Metcalf is a more complicated case. His $31.9 million cap hit in 2025 is even larger than Lockett’s and ranks third among WRs (behind only Davante Adams and CeeDee Lamb). Metcalf isn’t really worth that salary anymore, as Jaxon Smith-Njigba emerged as the clear top target in the offense when Metcalf sprained his MCL in Week 7.
The Seahawks could save nearly $11 million in cap room by trading Metcalf, who enters the last year of his contract in 2025. Seattle seems unlikely to keep him on another long-term deal with Smith-Njigba’s ascendance, which raises the question as to whether they’d move on a year early while Metcalf still holds some trade value.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Does Chris Godwin Return?
Assuming his recovery from a Week 7 dislocated ankle is progressing, Chris Godwin would seem like a clear must-sign for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Still only 29 years old for next season, Godwin was on pace for a career-high 1,398 receiving yards prior to his season-ending injury.
An extension does appear to be a priority, as the Buccaneers and Godwin pushed back the deadline to void his deal to March 12, giving the team nearly a month to work out a new deal. With Tee Higgins reportedly set to receive an extension or franchise tag from the Bengals, it’s imperative for Tampa Bay to sign Godwin before he reaches the open market and becomes the top available wide receiver with Higgins unavailable.
The emergence of Jalen McMillan in the second half of the season gives the Bucs a solid insurance policy if they can’t strike a deal with Godwin. Due in part to McMillan’s emergence, Tampa Bay’s passing-game productivity didn’t decline much after Godwin’s injury.
Tampa Bay only has about $5.7 million in cap space this offseason, which ranks 23rd. Still, given Godwin’s status as a franchise icon and his complementary skill set to Mike Evans, it’s hard to imagine him playing for another franchise.
Tennessee Titans: Travis Hunter or a QB at No. 1 Overall?
With the Will Levis experiment belly-flopping in 2024, it’s clear the Tennessee Titans need a new quarterback. Unfortunately, the Titans drew the top pick in a year without a clear franchise quarterback prospect, leaving them in an uncertain position.
Like most 3-14 teams, the Titans need help everywhere. Tennessee finished 27th in Offense+ and 22nd in Defense+, making a “best player available” approach more appealing. In that sense, two-way star Travis Hunter could give Tennessee an immediate boost on both sides.
Hunter appears likely to play more at cornerback, but Calvin Ridley is the only wide receiver on the roster who had more than 1,000 receiving yards this season. Even a part-time role for Hunter would be a tremendous help to the offense.
The Titans’ roster is a multi-year rebuilding project, and the most damaging outcome would be to reach for a quarterback at first overall without adequately supporting him. With Tennessee likely picking at or near the top of the draft again in 2026, there could be multiple opportunities to address their quarterback need in the draft.
Washington Commanders: Are They the Perfect WR Trade Partner?
The Cinderella story of the 2024 season looks well set up for 2025. The Washington Commanders return most of the core pieces that reached the NFC Championship Game, and they enter the offseason with the third-most cap space at over $79.5 million.
With Jayden Daniels cost-controlled for the next four years, now is the time for the Commanders to capitalize on a window to add to his supporting cast. That could come via a trade for someone like Myles Garrett, but it’s also worth considering adding help to the wide receiver corps.
Terry McLaurin is the clear No. 1, but Washington shouldn’t depend on another productive season from 34-year-old Zach Ertz, who was the team’s second-leading receiver in 2024. The rest of the supporting wide receiver corps were on short-term deals, as all of Noah Brown, Dyami Brown, and Olamide Zaccheaus are free agents.
That combination of roster space and cap room makes Washington an ideal landing spot for a splash wide receiver trade. The Commanders are one of the teams that could comfortably fit Davante Adams’ $38.3 million cap hit, while someone like Tyreek Hill could also represent a win-now move that doesn’t compromise the team’s long-term future.
