Who is the Best Wide Receiver in the NFC East?
Who is the best wide receiver in the NFC East? For the past five seasons, that answer has been unanimously former Giants’ star Odell Beckham Jr. With the young receiver now in Cleveland, it’s time to crown a new pass-catching king in the division.
Many football fans remember the days where running the rock was priority number one; however, the NFL has seemingly favored the passing game over the last decade. In 2018, the Seattle Seahawks were the only franchise to call more rushing plays than passing plays, signaling a run call on 52.5% of their offensive snaps.
This raises the importance of finding an all-around player at the wide receiver position. In today’s game of football, a team can no longer succeed without a true number-one threat on the outside.
While the NFC East isn’t home to many of the top-tier pass catchers, the four teams still possess a plethora of talent at the position. Let’s take a look at the best receivers in the division, post-Beckham era.
5) New York Giants’ Sterling Shepard
Photo via gmenhq.com
Don’t. Sleep. On. Sterling. Shepard.
At 5’10”, 195lbs, Shepard’s measurables are nearly identical to his predecessor’s, Odell Beckham Jr. While similar in size, Sterling Shepard’s usage was noticeably different.
Shepard was primarily utilized out of the slot in Pat Shurmur’s offense. With the departure of Beckham Jr, the focus will be more on whether Shepard can fill the void left on the outside as opposed to his regular positioning.
In 2018, Shepard hit career-highs in targets, receptions, and yards. He has yet to surpass the 1,000-yard mark, missing the feat by only 128 yards this past season.
The Giants’ fourth-year receiver has glistening potential, and with the signing of his four-year, $41 million contract extension, it appears Shepard’s time in the Big Apple is only beginning.
4) Philadelphia Eagles’ DeSean Jackson
Photo via theeagleswire.usatoday.com
Right back where he belongs, in the midnight green. Isn’t it refreshing to see DeSean’s face in Philly once more?
Despite being 32 years old, Jackson is still one of the NFL’s premier deep threats. In 2018, the former Buccaneers’ wideout averaged 18.9 yards per reception, the highest total among receivers.
“He’s so far been a great teammate,” Wentz said of his new receiver. “Comes in, works hard. Obviously, I’ve learned he’s pretty fast. He’s a pretty smooth runner. People might say he’s getting up there in age, but he can still go. So I’m excited to just keep building that chemistry with him both on the field and off the field. He’s a great teammate, and I think we’re going to do something special with him,” (per Tim McManus, ESPN).
With Wentz as Jackson’s new signal-caller, Philadelphia has an explosive duo to challenge opposing defenses downfield.
3) New York Giants’ Golden Tate
Photo via nydailynews.com
A newcomer to the NFC East grabs the third spot.
Golden Tate was traded to the Philadelphia Eagles back in October before the trade deadline. After the two parties didn’t agree to a new contract, Tate entered free agency and eventually signed a four-year, $37.5 million deal with the New York Giants.
Tate is one of the NFL’s hardest players to tackle. He is known for his shifty footwork and toughness after the catch. Once the ball is in Tate’s hands, there aren’t many players more dangerous.
Since 2013, no wide receiver has forced more missed tackles after the catch than Golden Tate (via Pro Football Focus).
The Giants’ new offensive weapon has the versatility to lineup anywhere on the field. Tate’s primary role throughout his career has resided in the slot; however, he has experience on the outside as well.
A lot of eyes are on Eli Manning to perform well this upcoming season, and Golden Tate should be able to make that task a tad easier.
2) Dallas Cowboys’ Amari Cooper
Photo via sportingnews.com
While many of us laughed at the Cowboys for giving up their 2019 first-round pick to acquire Amari Cooper, the trade ended up going in Dallas’ favor.
In nine games with the Cowboys, Cooper managed to post 53 receptions, 725 receiving yards, and 6 touchdowns. If we pace these numbers out over a full 16-game season, his projected stat line would be around 94 receptions, 1,289 receiving yards, and 11 touchdowns.
While he was drafted in 2015, Cooper is still very young as he just turned 25 in June. The Cowboys not only acquire an instant-impact player but a young building block for the future of their franchise as well.
Now that Cooper and Cowboys’ quarterback Dak Prescott will have a full offseason with each other to further develop their on-field relationship, it will be intriguing to watch just how much stronger their connection can get.
1) Philadelphia Eagles’ Alshon Jeffery
Photo via clutchpoints.com
While the race for number one was close between Amari Cooper and Alshon Jeffery, the seven-year veteran gets the edge.
Alshon Jeffery is your prototypical x-receiver. At 6’3″, 218lbs, he has the height, weight, strength, and explosiveness to garner more attention than a typical NFL receiver would.
What makes Jeffery so special is how he is not limited to one aspect. While he is a sizeable force, number 17 still possesses the skills to beat a defense over the top.
In 2019, the Philadelphia Eagles will have a healthy Carson Wentz back at the helm. This is nothing but good news for Jeffery. The two Eagles’ players have developed a strong connection over their past two seasons together in Philly.
Alshon Jeffery has 15 receiving touchdowns in midnight green so far, and with a rising star in Carson Wentz, that number is likely on the rise.
Featured Image: empiresportsmedia.com
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