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Ranking all 32 NFL receiving corps ahead of the 2021 season
The NFL is now more pass-heavy than ever, and the very best teams are the ones that are able to move the ball through the air effectively.
When ranking pass-catchers, there’s a balance between identifying teams with elite No. 1 options and those groups that run three or four deep. In today’s NFL, the top teams have several passing-game options, and they’re able to keep defenses off balance with a variety of different playmakers. It's that kind of depth that earns favorable consideration in PFF's receiving corps rankings.
Here are the best pass-catching units in the NFL heading into 2021.
NFL receiving corps rankings ahead of the 2021 season | NFL News, Rankings and Statistics | PFF
The NFL's top teams have several passing-game options, and they’re able to keep defenses off balance with a variety of different playmakers. Here are the best pass-catching units in the NFL heading into 2021, headlined by the Buccaneers at No. 1.
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7. SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS
The 49ers have built a dangerous group of playmakers; it’s just a matter of keeping everyone on the field this season. Deebo Samuel has been used everywhere in this offense. He excels on “space” plays, as he’s averaged 9.6 yards after the catch per reception in his two years in the league, and he is also adept at working the intermediate route tree when lined up on the outside. Former first-rounder Brandon Aiyuk has similar YAC ability, but he was used in a more traditional role last season on his way to an 80.8 receiving grade, second-best among rookies.After Samuel and Ayiuk, the wide receiver snaps are up for grabs to a plethora of options. Travis Benjamin has played just 189 snaps since 2019, but at his best, he has take-the-top-off-the-defense speed that has led to 14.9 yards per reception in his career. Richie James Jr. has created plenty of big plays himself, averaging 18.1 yards per reception in his 38 career catches, but he also has five drops. Former third-rounder Jalen Hurd is a wild card after he showed early promise during the preseason as a rookie, but he’s yet to take a regular-season snap.
George Kittle is the league’s best all-around option at tight end; he’s one of the few options who can run block effectively in-line while keeping defenses off balance with his route-running and after-the-catch ability. Kittle has graded at 84.0 or better in each of the last three seasons, including an incredible 94.4 grade in 2019. Ross Dwelley will battle 2020 sixth-rounder Charlie Woerner for the backup job.
The 49ers have an excellent trio of pass-catchers in Samuel, Ayiuk and Kittle, but it’s all about health and one more target emerging to move them into the upper echelon of the league.
8. LOS ANGELES RAMS
Robert Woods and Cooper Kupp lead this receiving corps as two of the best route-runners in the league. Woods has been open on 62.1% of his targets against single coverage over the last three years, 11th-best in the NFL, and he’s only dropped 34 of his 596 catchable passes in his career. Kupp has been open on 59.5% of his single-coverage targets, 21st in the league since 2018, and he’s posted a receiving grade of 76.0 or better in each of his four years.Van Jefferson earned a solid 68.1 grade as a rookie and should be more of a vertical threat moving forward. The Rams added the ultimate vertical threat in DeSean Jackson, though he’s only been on the field for 245 snaps over the last two years. When healthy, he’s an all-time great deep threat, and he could add much-needed juice on the outside. At worst, Jackson is a mentor for second-rounder Tutu Atwell, who is similarly diminutive and speedy. Atwell will be a weapon in the jet sweep game while being able to line up all over the formation.
Tight ends Tyler Higbee and Gerald Everett each saw 59 targets a year ago, but with Everett moving on, Higbee will take on a bigger workload. He’s graded “in the green” in each of the last three years, including an impressive 86.1 effort in 2019. Johnny Mundt will compete for backup snaps with Brycen Hopkins. Mundt has played just 391 career snaps since 2017, while Hopkins didn’t play offensive last year as a rookie, but he came out of the 2020 draft as one of the better vertical threats at tight end.
The Rams have one of the deepest receiving units in the league, and they have even more big-play ability with the additions of Jackson and Atwell.
10. SEATTLE SEAHAWKS
Last season, Seahawks wide receivers graded at 79.2, eighth-best in the league. D.K. Metcalf has become one of the most difficult covers in the NFL, as his size/speed combination is a nightmare for defenses. He led the league with 480 yards on 20-plus-yard passes, and he could have had even more if he hadn’t dropped three of his 15 catchable deep passes.Lockett has been incredibly productive in his six-year career, generating a passer rating of 125.7 when targeted. He has done much of his damage from the slot over the last two years, but don’t be fooled by his 5-foot-10 frame — Lockett is a downfield threat who has caught an impressive 56.1% of his contested catches since 2017.
The big question in Seattle is what happens beyond the big two, and that’s why they spent a second-round pick on D’Wayne Eskridge. Eskridge adds even more speed to the mix, given that he ran a 4.38 40 at his pro day, but he also adds the route running and quickness to expand the Seattle passing attack horizontally. He’ll compete with Freddie Swain, Penny Hart and John Ursua for No. 3 snaps, while a pair of undrafted free agent rookies Tamorrion Terry and Cade Johnson will also be in the mix.
At tight end, Gerald Everett comes over from the Rams, where he had an up-and-down career. He’s effective with the ball in his hands and is another necessary piece as the Seahawks look to expand their passing attack. Will Dissly also returns as a solid backup option, as does Colby Parkinson and his 6-foot-7 frame that could become effective in the red zone.
The Seahawks have one of the best wide receiver duos in the NFL, but they need a third and fourth option to emerge if they’re going to take their passing attack to the next level.
17. ARIZONA CARDINALS
Last year’s addition of DeAndre Hopkins boosted the receiving corps, but there’s room for even more growth in Arizona. Hopkins played more of a possession role, finishing with a career-low 9.0 average depth of target, but he also led the league with 75 first downs plus touchdowns. On the other side, A.J. Green comes in to replace Cardinals legend Larry Fitzgerald, but Green is coming off a career-low 66.3 overall grade. His injury issues caused him to look like a completely different receiver last season, so unless he’s back to his previous self, Green looks like another possession option after a career as one of the best downfield threats in the NFL.Christian Kirk played on the outside last season and was counted on to be Arizona’s deep threat with a career-high aDOT of 13.2. However, he finished with just 12.9 yards per reception while catching just six of 19 deep passes for 282 yards. He’ll compete with second-round rookie Rondale Moore for those downfield targets. Moore brings a tiny frame but he’s an explosive playmaker who could line up all over the field, including becoming a weapon on jet sweeps and out of the backfield. Andy Isabella, a 2019 second-rounder, has had a few highlight-reel plays, but the consistency hasn’t been there as he’s graded below average on his 463 career snaps.
The tight end position is a secondary option in Arizona’s offense, and they had the second-fewest routes run among tight end groups in the NFL last season. Maxx Williams’ 81.3 run-blocking grade is second-best in the NFL since 2017 and he’s a solid receiver when called upon.
The big questions are Green’s health and who emerges as an explosive playmaker — both questions need strong answers if the Cardinals are going to complement Hopkins, who remains one of the league’s best receivers.
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