The best time to draft a wide receiver, it seems, is when you don’t need one. That’s the way it seems to be playing out with a pair of NFC West pass catchers, Jaxon Smith-Njigba and Ricky Pearsall.
Both were selected in the first round by teams that already had a pair of top-20 wide receivers. Deebo Samuel and Brandon Aiyuk played lights-out ball for the 49ers in 2023, while the Seahawks two years ago on draft day were seemingly set at wide receiver with DK Metcalf and Tyler Lockett.
But change is constant in the NFL. Aiyuk tore his ACL last year, while the 49ers have agreed to ship Samuel to Washington. San Francisco also has Jauan Jennings, but it’s clear Pearsall will have a shot to earn a big role in that offense.
With the Seahawks, they’ve been rolling with the Metcalf-Lockett combo for years, it’s looking like they’re ready to move on from both. They released Lockett (who’s 32) today, while reports indicate Metcalf wants to be traded. With him entering the final year of his contract, any trade will also need to include him also getting an extension.
Those choices of Smith-Njigba and Pearsall, therefore, are looking smart right now. With them having some NFL experience, they’re better situated to move into more substantial roles. Some rookie receivers play well right away, of course, but it’s harder.
Using PPR scoring, both Metcalf and Lockett have been among the 15 most productive wide receivers of the last five years.
Additionally today, the Jaguars released Christian Kirk. That means of the top 30 wide receivers of the last five years (PPR scoring), 14 are currently available. In the chart below, receivers who are free agents are tagged with black dots. Those who are available via trade appear in bold.
| TOP 30 WIDE RECEIVERS OF LAST FIVE YEARS | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Player (last team) | Rec | Yards | Avg | TD | PPR Pts |
| • Davante Adams, NYJ | 526 | 6,650 | 12.6 | 59 | 1,545.0 |
| Tyreek Hill, Mia. | 517 | 6,983 | 13.5 | 50 | 1,515.3 |
| Justin Jefferson, Min. | 495 | 7,432 | 15.0 | 40 | 1,478.2 |
| CeeDee Lamb, Dall. | 496 | 6,339 | 12.8 | 38 | 1,357.9 |
| • Stefon Diggs, Hou. | 492 | 5,868 | 11.9 | 40 | 1,318.8 |
| Mike Evans, T.B. | 374 | 5,424 | 14.5 | 57 | 1,258.4 |
| A.J. Brown, Phil. | 394 | 5,975 | 15.2 | 41 | 1,237.5 |
| Ja'Marr Chase, Cin. | 395 | 5,425 | 13.7 | 46 | 1,213.5 |
| Cooper Kupp, LAR | 438 | 5,180 | 11.8 | 36 | 1,172.0 |
| DK Metcalf, Sea. | 380 | 5,424 | 14.3 | 41 | 1,168.4 |
| DJ Moore, Chi. | 416 | 5,568 | 13.4 | 29 | 1,146.8 |
| Terry McLaurin, Was. | 402 | 5,460 | 13.6 | 31 | 1,134.0 |
| • Keenan Allen, Chi. | 450 | 4,869 | 10.8 | 32 | 1,128.9 |
| Amon-Ra St. Brown, Det. | 430 | 4,851 | 11.3 | 33 | 1,113.1 |
| • Tyler Lockett, Sea. | 385 | 4,756 | 12.4 | 34 | 1,064.6 |
| • Amari Cooper, Buff. | 354 | 4,936 | 13.9 | 31 | 1,033.6 |
| Adam Thielen, Car. | 362 | 3,996 | 11.0 | 39 | 995.6 |
| • Tee Higgins, Cin. (F) | 330 | 4,595 | 13.9 | 34 | 993.5 |
| • Chris Godwin, T.B. | 400 | 4,566 | 11.4 | 22 | 988.6 |
| • DeAndre Hopkins, K.C. | 352 | 4,363 | 12.4 | 29 | 962.3 |
| Michael Pittman, Ind. | 405 | 4,470 | 11.0 | 18 | 960.0 |
| Jakobi Meyers, L.V. | 367 | 4,233 | 11.5 | 20 | 910.3 |
| • Diontae Johnson, Hou. | 365 | 4,058 | 11.1 | 23 | 908.8 |
| Brandon Aiyuk, S.F. | 294 | 4,305 | 14.6 | 25 | 874.5 |
| DeVonta Smith, Phil. | 308 | 4,011 | 13.0 | 27 | 871.1 |
| • Brandin Cooks, Dall. | 308 | 3,802 | 12.3 | 26 | 844.2 |
| Jaylen Waddle, Mia. | 309 | 4,129 | 13.4 | 20 | 841.9 |
| Jerry Jeudy, Cle. | 301 | 4,282 | 14.2 | 15 | 819.2 |
| • Christian Kirk, Jac. | 293 | 3,877 | 13.2 | 23 | 818.7 |
| Deebo Samuel, S.F. | 277 | 3,990 | 14.4 | 19 | 790.0 |
—Ian Allan