Who's the NFL's best wide receiver? Tight end? Cornerback? What about the second-best defensive tackle -- after Aaron Donald? To preview the 2021 NFL season, we set out to answer those questions and much more.
We surveyed more than 50 league executives, coaches, scouts and players to help us stack the top 10 players at 11 different positions, from edge rushers to interior offensive linemen and all the way through tight ends. This is the second edition of these rankings, and several players moved up or dropped from last year's lists.
Here's how our process worked: Voters gave us their best 10 to 15 players at a position, then we compiled the results and ranked candidates based on number of top-10 votes, composite average, interviews, research and film-study help from ESPN NFL analyst Matt Bowen. We had several ties, so we broke them by isolating the two-man matchup with additional voting and follow-up calls. Each section is packed with quotes and nuggets from the voters on every guy -- even the honorable mentions.
The objective is to identify the best players right now for 2021. This is not a five-year projection or an achievement award. Who's the best today? Pretty simple.
We'll roll out a position per day over the next 11 days. Here's the schedule:
Week 1: edge rushers (July 5), interior defensive line (July 6), off-ball linebackers (July 7), cornerbacks (July 8), safeties (July 9), offensive tackles (July 10), interior offensive line (July 11)
Week 2: quarterbacks (July 12), running backs (July 13), wide receivers (July 14), tight ends (July 15)
By far the most difficult position to rank, wide receiver is loaded with deserving candidates.
More than 20 receivers got at least one vote, and the only easy call was who would go No. 1. From second place on, evaluators preferred different flavors: the crafty route runners, the speed demons, the body-you-up receivers with size and strength, the physical forces who look like running backs with the ball in their hands, or the big names who are one healthy season away from regaining greatness.
And, of course, ranking No. 10 required a tiebreaker between two young stars.
One truism with the NFL receiver pantheon: You must put up big numbers to belong.
1. Davante Adams, Green Bay Packers
Highest ranking: 1 | Lowest ranking: 4
Age: 28 | Last year's ranking: 7
This wasn't close. Adams crushed the voting, earning a first-place spot on more than half the ballots.
Last year, Adams failed to crack the top five because -- despite his shake-you-at-the-line greatness and three seasons of at least 10 touchdowns -- some voters didn't consider him dominant. He showed the full arsenal in 2020 to win over nitpicky scouts and coaches who are sticklers for the technical aspects of receiver play.
"Made a ton of plays, release game was on point, constantly gets open, went from five to 18 touchdowns [year-over-year], large catch radius, gets yards after the catch," an AFC offensive coach said. "There's nothing he's not doing right now."
Adams earned a stellar 92.2 Pro Football Focus rating and grabbed 589 yards after the catch to lead all wide receivers. Aaron Rodgers had a 136.0 passer rating when targeting Adams, and that's with defenses knowing what's coming, since 34% of Adams' attempted routes resulted in a target.
"Just starting to get his due," an AFC coordinator said. "He wasn't this [good] a few years ago but you've seen him come into his own. So hard to deal with on the line of scrimmage."
2. DeAndre Hopkins, Arizona Cardinals
Highest ranking: 1 | Lowest ranking: 7
Age: 29 | Last year's ranking: 3
The "Hail Murray" play that will live in Cardinals folklore isn't all that unusual for Hopkins, whose catch radius helps him catch balls over, around and through defensive backs.
"He's not a blazer, but who cares -- the guy just wins," an NFC offensive coach said. "With those big hands and long arms, and the way he competes, I'm not sure I'd want anyone else to make a catch for me if I needed one play with the game on the line."
In his first year in Arizona, Hopkins' 75 first-down catches led all wide receivers, and he dropped one pass on 159 targets, or 0.06%, an improvement from a 2% clip the year before.
Arizona's Air Raid could stand to get Hopkins loose on more splash plays. His 14.8% rate of 20-plus-yard catches is among the lowest on this list.
"He never really separates from you but he's so strong that if you're not physical he will push you around," a veteran AFC defensive coach said.
3. Stefon Diggs, Buffalo Bills
Highest ranking: 2 | Lowest ranking: 8
Age: 27 | Last year's ranking: Honorable mention
Some evaluators wondered aloud how Diggs would handle Buffalo, a new offense and a (then) inaccurate quarterback in Josh Allen after the trade from Minnesota.
Answer: Like an elite receiver should. Diggs vaulted from fringe top-10 guy to one of the game's best thanks to a truly dominant season. Allen's new BFF led the league in targets (166), catches (127) and receiving yards (1,535).
"Years ago, one of [Minnesota's] receivers got hurt and they put in this new receiver, Diggs," recalled a veteran AFC defensive coach. "Smaller guy, more of a slot receiver at the time -- we figured it shouldn't be a problem. We get in the game and he had a pretty damn good day. He's been [great] ever since."
Diggs produced 20.3 receptions above expected, per NFL Next Gen Stats, by far the highest clip in the NFL.
Though Diggs was unhappy in Minnesota, those who coached him or followed him closely knew he would thrive when made the focal point of a high-level offense. He was a primary option for the Vikings but he shared that role with Adam Thielen.
"He's so competitive that his demeanor and ability had the opposite effect that some thought -- he lifted the entire offense up with his standard of play and his ability to get open and make tough catches," an AFC exec said.
Added an AFC coordinator: "Practices like every day is a game. He's known for that. Really quick, great route runner, knack for getting open."
4. Tyreek Hill, Kansas City Chiefs
Highest ranking: 1 | Lowest ranking: 10
Age: 27 | Last year's ranking: 5
Hill embodies where the NFL is going, a motion-and-movement player with elite lateral change of direction and sneaky physicality.
He not only managed to be the fastest wide receiver on any single catch in 2020 -- 21.91 mph on a 44-yard touchdown in Week 14 -- he also covered more distance per game than any other offensive player.
"Not a great route runner and Andy [Reid]'s scheme helps him, but he might be the hardest guy to prepare for," an NFC exec said.
He's developed into a more refined route runner the past few years, with the Chiefs (smartly) taking it slow with him, expanding his workload every year. His six drops were problematic last year, and some voters wonder whether he's scheme-dependent.
But many acknowledge Hill scares you more than just about anyone.
"His ability to get from 0 to 60 makes heads turn on the [opposing] sideline. You can feel it," an AFC coordinator said. "You are just hoping that when he gets it that there are a bunch of defenders around him."
5. Julio Jones, Tennessee Titans
Highest ranking: 1 | Lowest ranking: 13
Age: 32 | Last year's ranking: 1
Jones dipped four spots, but teams say turn on the tape and you still see a unicorn.
"This is not an A.J. Green situation where the play clearly declined," an AFC exec said. "He's still that dude."
We heard this similar assessment from several teams who looked into trading for Jones, whom Atlanta shipped to Tennessee for draft picks and a $15 million salary dump.
Despite missing seven games with hamstring issues last season , Jones still posted good numbers. His 11.2 yards per target was the best in the league, and he paced for nearly 1,400 yards over a 16-game slate. Nearly 32% of his receptions went for 20 or more yards.
"Still the best -- injuries aren't an issue," an AFC scout said. "If they were contending last year, I think he would have played."
6. Keenan Allen, Los Angeles Chargers
Highest ranking: 2 | Lowest ranking: 12
Age: 29 | Last year's ranking: 8
Allen became the fourth receiver to sign a contract worth at least $20 million annually, and he followed up that deal with his third 100-catch season.
Opposing teams use Allen's route running in the film room as an example of how to win at the line of scrimmage.
"Everything he does is detailed -- releases, setting up DBs in the route stem and at the top of the route," an AFC offensive coach said. "Really does a nice job of creating separation."
Added a separate AFC coach: "The only knock is he's not a true vertical guy, but he can still win deep, though. If I need eight yards on a crucial down, he's one of the first guys I call."
The numbers validate that claim. Allen caught 16 of his 33 tight-window targets, per NFL Next Gen Stats, the best clip among receivers with at least 20 targets.
7. Mike Evans, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Highest ranking: 4 | Lowest ranking: 13
Age: 27 | Last year's ranking: 6
Young receivers try to unseat Evans but he keeps fending them off.
Averaging 15.5 yards per catch over seven seasons is impressive, but Evans took that a step further in 2020, with 28.1% of his catches going for at least 20 yards, second to Carolina's DJ Moore among receivers with at least 100 targets. Tom Brady found him 13 times in the end zone out of their 109 targets on the season.
"He was DK Metcalf before DK Metcalf," an AFC coordinator said.
Added an AFC scout: "I thought he declined in '19 but maybe wasn't playing as hard as he used to -- looked better this year. You don't realize how good he is until you really watch him and how consistent he's been. He's a constant No. 7 or 8. Not a top-five guy but definitely top-10. He doesn't do it for everybody. But he's the size of a tight end and can run, and that's rare."
The coordinator says Evans reminds him of a bigger Steve Smith because "when you watch the tape and you play him, he will downright want to fight you. He will get nasty with you. Don't get that dude angry."
8. Michael Thomas, New Orleans Saints
Highest ranking: 4 | Lowest ranking: Unranked
Age: 28 | Last year's ranking: 2
Maybe Thomas, our No. 2 receiver last year, can regain a top spot, but a bizarre year of injuries and production decline resulted in a rankings free fall.
Thomas' yards-per-game average dropped from 107.8 to 62.6 year-over-year. That 2019 clip led the league, so duplicating that would have been difficult. But a 42% dip is a tough sell. "Still highly effective at winning inside," an NFC exec said. "All those dig routes and overs, he's still one of the best."
Added an NFC coordinator: "He can beat you on a post, too. He'll do the dirty work, but he's a better route runner overall than people have given him credit for."
Skeptics wonder about the in-house ramifications of Thomas reportedly punching teammate C.J. Gardner-Johnson during a practice -- and how Drew Brees' departure will affect his game in 2021.
"Playing to his strengths means he needs an accurate quarterback, and Drew Brees is the most accurate quarterback in history," an AFC exec said. "Brees was perfect for him."
9. DK Metcalf, Seattle Seahawks
Highest ranking: 4 | Lowest ranking: Unranked
Age: 23 | Last year's ranking: NR
Metcalf got the fifth-most total votes, with evaluators recognizing he's too elite to leave off. But he didn't crack some top 10s because of perceived limitations.
"The only concern with him is that stiff lower body, fluidity," an NFC exec said. "There are certain routes where he won't be able to bend like some of the other young receivers can. But he's such a force that he overcomes all that -- and he has gotten better as a route runner."
It's hard to argue with this production: Metcalf is one of four NFL receivers with at least 2,200 yards and 17 receiving touchdowns in his first two seasons in the NFL. The others: Odell Beckham Jr., Randy Moss, A.J. Green.
His 9.9 yards per target was one of the best clips in the NFL.
"I don't know if he has to be that precise route runner -- he can win every 50-50 ball, outrun you or just overpower you," an AFC coordinator said.
10. A.J. Brown, Tennessee Titans
Highest ranking: 3 | Lowest ranking: Unranked
Age: 24 | Last year's ranking: NR
Brown and Calvin Ridley required tiebreakers for the 10th spot, and execs tasked with breaking the tie preferred Brown's explosion over Ridley's smooth route running -- barely.
Brown made the most of his routes, averaging 10.1 yards per target on his way to a second 1,000-yard season.
"After the catch, he's as good as anybody," said an NFC exec. "Looking for contact."
Brown's 159 yards after contact last year is more in line with what tight ends and running backs are producing. He averages 6.11 yards after catch per reception, tops among wide receivers with at least 80 targets.
"Similar to DK, but he's more fluid," an NFC scout said. "Not as polished a route runner as Calvin [Ridley] but could handle more than [the Tennessee] offense gives him. I could see them expanding the passing game this year with Julio and A.J."
Honorable mention
Calvin Ridley, Atlanta Falcons: "His ability to drop his weight at full speed and turn his hips is elite." -- AFC offensive coach
Allen Robinson II, Chicago Bears: "Him and Diggs are probably the best route runners. I've seen Robinson with bad QB play put up ridiculous numbers. Release off the ball ridiculous, radius terrific, knowledge second to none." -- NFL veteran offensive player
Odell Beckham Jr., Cleveland Browns: "With all the injuries and the production [decline] it's a concern. Not sure there's anyone better if he's healthy and in his prime. Play in and play out, not sure you can line him up and he can dominate a game anymore." -- AFC scout
Justin Jefferson, Minnesota Vikings: "He has almost like a Eurostep where he can Gumby his way into routes." -- AFC scout
Cooper Kupp, Los Angeles Rams: "He's 'teach tape.' Does everything well." -- AFC offensive coach
Chris Godwin, Tampa Bay Buccaneers: "He didn't have as big of a year but [he's] incredibly tough, played through pain on that hand injury and still produced in big moments." -- NFC defensive coach
Adam Thielen, Minnesota Vikings: "Savvy technique, route running, counter moves, toughness, he's still so good. And he has a knack for making plays in the end zone." -- AFC offensive coach
Terry McLaurin, Washington Football Team: "Speed and intangibles make him a top-10 receiver." -- AFC offensive coach
Jarvis Landry, Cleveland Browns: "One of the toughest players in football. And he's an underrated route runner." -- AFC exec