The 2025 NFL Draft is in the books, and the biggest wave of free agency is over. That makes it a perfect time to take stock of NFL rosters as we head toward the 2025 season. Over the next few weeks, I’ll look at the quarterbacks, running backs, and pass catchers for all 32 NFL Teams. I’ll be ranking each unit 1-16 in their conference. When taking stock of the whole unit, it’s not just about star power but depth. Today, it’s the rest of the pass-catching groups in the NFC. Teams appear in ascending order.
#8: Atlanta Falcons
WRs on the Roster: Drake London, Darnell Mooney, Ray-Ray McCloud, Casey Washington, Jamal Agnew, Khadarel Hodge, and Nick Nash
TEs on the Roster: Kyle Pitts, Charlie Woerner, Teegan Quitoriano, and Felipe Franks
About: Maybe old habits die hard, but I’m not ready to give up on Pitts yet. He’s entering year five, and it’s fair to say he hasn’t achieved his potential. He has only one 1,000-yard season, from his rookie year. But the talent and potential are there. That gives this group a boost. He’s been 600-plus yards each of the past two seasons, and I feel like a bigger breakout is coming.
London, meanwhile, had that breakout in 2024, becoming a top receiver. He caught 100 passes for 1,271 yards. Mooney also showed to be a solid WR2 option. With those top three, I like the Falcons’ pass offense. Their biggest issue, besides the question around Pitts, is a complete lack of depth. A key injury could be brutal. But, still, I have them at eighth.
#7: Los Angeles Rams
WRs on the Roster: Puka Nacua, Davante Adams, Tutu Atwell, Jordan Whittington, Britain Covey, Xavier Smith, and Konata Mumfield
TEs on the Roster: Tyler Higbee, Terrance Ferguson, Colby Parkinson, and Allen Davis
About: The Rams are my top team from the NFC West. I wrestled with their placement, but ultimately, the pairing of Nacua and Adams is too appealing. Nacua followed up a fantastic rookie year with 990 yards on 79 receptions in just 11 games. Despite the dumpster fire that was the Raiders and Jets in 2024, Adams finished with another 1,000-yard season.
The Rams also have some role players in Atwell and Whittington that fit what the Rams want to do, and a good set of tight ends with veterans Higbee and Parkinson, along with the rookie Ferguson. That gives them a good set of weapons for Matthew Stafford, enough for me to vault them up here.
#6: Chicago Bears
WRs on the Roster: D.J. Moore, Luther Burden III, Rome Odunze, Olamide Zaccheaus, Tyler Scott, Devin Duvernay, and Miles Boykin
TEs on the Roster: Colston Loveland, Cole Kmet, and Durham Smythe
About: The Bears are all potential. The only proven, reliable performer is Moore, who has done it throughout his career with the Panthers and the Bears. Moore had 98 receptions for 966 yards in 2024 and has appeared in all 17 games in the past four seasons. He’s the WR1, but he’s got plenty of competition for targets. Odunze had a quiet rookie year but could be poised for a stronger year two. In addition, the Bears added a great rookie receiver in Burden, out of Missouri, and tight end Loveland, out of Michigan.
The Bears also have a good veteran tight end in Kmet. That gives them stellar top-five pass-catching targets, a luxury most teams can’t boast. But many of those targets still have something to prove, especially with a second-year quarterback and a new Head Coach. This spot could be too low, but this is where I felt comfortable with the Bears for now.
#5: Dallas Cowboys
WRs on the Roster: CeeDee Lamb, George Pickens, Jalen Tolbert, KaVontae Turpin, Jonathan Mingo, Jalen Brooks, and Ryan Flournoy
TEs on the Roster: Jake Ferguson, Luke Schoonmaker, and Brevyn Spann-Ford
About: The Cowboys are another team I wrestled with. They were much lower before acquiring Pickens. His acquisition moved them to the Top 5, but I couldn’t go higher. There are still plenty of questions about Pickens. In 2024, as the only real weapon in the Steelers’ passing game, he finished with 900 yards and three touchdowns on 59 receptions. He’s likely better as a WR2, and that’s what he’ll be for the Cowboys.
The real star here is Lamb, one of the best in the game. He caught 101 passes for 1,194 yards in a rough offensive year for the Cowboys. He’s a star. The team also has a strong tight end in Ferguson. That gives Dak Prescott a good set of receivers. But the team has little depth, which could be a problem. Still, they have a Top 5 pairing.
#4: Philadelphia Eagles
WRs on the Roster: A.J. Brown, DeVonta Smith, Jahan Dotson, Terrace Marshall, Johnny Smith, and Anias Smith
TEs on the Roster: Dallas Goedert, Grant Calcaterra, Kylen Granson, and Harrison Bryant
About: There isn’t a lot that separates the Cowboys and the Eagles. Lamb is a better receiver overall than anyone on the Eagles, but Smith is a better WR2, and I give Goedert the edge over Ferguson. That gives the Eagles a slight edge over the Cowboys, for me. Brown and Smith are a great 1-2 pairing at receiver. The Eagles also have slightly better depth with former first-round pick Dotson on the roster and some intriguing prospects. The Eagles also have better depth at tight end. Again, slight differences but enough for me to give the Eagles an edge.
#3: Tampa Bay Buccaneers
WRs on the Roster: Mike Evans, Chris Godwin, Emeka Egbuka, Jalen McMillan, Trey Palmer, Sterling Shepherd, and Tez Johnson
TEs on the Roster: Cade Otton, Payne Durham, and Ko Kieft
About: The Buccaneers are one of the deepest teams in the league. All seven receivers listed could contribute this season. That’s a luxury. But it gives them great weapons, especially when paired with emerging tight end Otton. Evans has had 1,000-plus yards in each of his professional seasons. He’s a great and reliable target. Godwin was off to a stellar start before missing time with injury, while McMillan had some great contributions as a rookie.
Then the team went and grabbed Egbuka in the draft. He caught 205 passes in his career at Ohio State, including 81 in 2024. He’s a great weapon that solidifies a Top 3 spot for the Buccaneers.
#2: Minnesota Vikings
WRs on the Roster: Justin Jefferson, Jordan Addison, Jalen Nailor, Tim Jones, Rondale Moore, and Tai Felton
TEs on the Roster: T.J. Hockenson, Josh Oliver, and Gavin Bartholomew
About: The Vikings and the top team separate themselves thanks to a trio of pass-catching stars. You could argue that the Vikings are the best, but I have them as second. Jefferson is one of the best receivers in the league and the best receiver in the NFC. He has 100-plus receptions in three of his five professional seasons, including 103 in 2024.
Addison is an excellent WR2, too; in fact, he’s the kind of receiver that could be a WR1 on many other teams. The Vikings pair them with a great tight end in Hockenson. He had 41 receptions in just 10 games in 2024. That gives the Vikings a formidable group, even if they don’t have the most impressive depth. Again, they could arguably top this list. This is a good pass-catching group.
#1: Detroit Lions
WRs on the Roster: Amon-Ra St. Brown, Jameson Williams, Tim Patrick, Kalif Raymond, Isaac TeSlaa, and Dominic Lovett
TEs on the Roster: Sam LaPorta, Brock Wright, Shane Zylstra, and Kenny Yeboah
About: The Lions top my list. I think the differences with the Vikings are slight, similar to how I feel about the Eagles and Cowboys. Jefferson is the best individual receiver, but I like St. Brown and Williams as a pair. St. Brown is one of the game’s best, with 115 receptions in 2024. Williams also had a 1,000-yard season in 2024, making them a great pairing. Finally, I like Patrick better as a WR3 than Nailor, and I like LaPorta more at tight end than Hockenson. All that combined gives the Lions the best pass-catching group for me in the NFC.
Matthew Fox is a die-hard NFL fan and Broncos’ homer. He’s a member of the FSWA. You can find more from him on Twitter @knighthawk7734 or as co-host of the Fantasy Football Roundtable Podcast, a part of the Campus2Canton Network.
