The 2026 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 2026 season. Over the next few weeks, I’ll be looking at the quarterbacks, running backs, wide receivers, and tight ends for all 32 NFL Teams. I’ll be ranking each unit 1-16 in their conference. When it comes to taking stock of the whole unit, it’s not just about star power but depth. Today, it’s the first group of NFC wide receiver rooms. Teams appear in ascending order.
#16 Washington Commanders
On the Roster: Terry McLaurin, Antonio Williams, Treylon Burks, Dyami Brown, Luke McCaffrey, Jalin Lane, Van Jefferson, Chris Hilton, Jr., Jacoby Jones, Nick Nash, and Jaden Bradley
About: The Commanders haven’t done Jayden Daniels any favors the past two seasons. While the team added Chig Okonkwo to help at tight end, the receiver room lost Deebo Samuel and brought in a few journeymen veterans and the rookie Williams. The fact that Williams and former First-Round selection Burks are listed as starters tells a lot about this unit. It’s been long rumored they could be a landing spot for Brandon Aiyuk, which would help. But even with Aiyuk, or adding Samuel back, this would still be a group that ranks at the bottom of the heap in the NFC.
#15 Carolina Panthers
On the Roster: Tet McMillan, Jalen Coker, Xavier Legette, John Metchie III, Chris Brazzell II, Jimmy Horn, David Moore, Ainias Smith, Dan Chisena, Brycen Tremayne, Ja’seem Reed, Kobe Prentice, and Malik Meiga
About: The Panthers found a stud in McMillan, who finished as WR16 in his rookie year. He’s a solid WR1. Coker, who just got an extension, has been a good role player and contributor. But Legette has yet to live up to his draft position, and behind those three there are questions. Brazzell is a prospect but wasn’t taken early. Horn was a prospect from last year that didn’t really pop, and Metchie is now on his third team in two years. There’s some potential, but this is still a group looking to find a solid identity top to bottom.
#14 Green Bay Packers
On the Roster: Christian Watson, Jayden Reed, Matthew Golden, Savion Williams, Bo Melton, Skyy Moore, Isaiah Neyor, Will Sheppard, Jakobie Keeney-James, Brenden Rice, and Michael J. Sturdivant
About: The Packers, on paper, should not be this low, especially with the investment they’ve made in their top three receivers. Watson got a big extension, and Reed is on the cusp. Then there’s Golden, a First-Round selection in the 2025 NFL Draft. And yet, there are major questions here. Arguably the group was hurt by Romeo Doubs leaving in free agency and Dontayvion Wicks being traded. The group isn’t as deep as it used to be, and Watson and Reed have struggled with injuries. As a rookie, Golden just plain struggled. If the three top players remain healthy and live up to their potential, this ranking could be too low. But for now, it’s hard to trust this group.
#13 Atlanta Falcons
On the Roster: Drake London, Olameide Zaccheaus, Jahan Dotson, Zachariah Branch, Casey Washington, Dylan Durmmond, Chris Blair, Vinny Anthony II, Le’Meke Brockington, and Keelan Marion
About: The Falcons have one of the best receivers in the league in London. He got a massive extension, and for good reason. He finished as WR7 on a points-per-game basis in 2025. He was limited to 12 games, but he made an impact when he was on the field. The problem is the depth—or lackthereof—behind him. The team let Darnell Mooney leave in free agency and currently profile to have Dotson, who washed out on two teams, and Zaccheaus, a journeyman, as starters. And there’s not much behind those three, either. Even if the rookie Branch hits, this is a thin group behind London.
#12 New York Giants
On the Roster: Malik Nabers, Darnell Mooney, Darius Slayton, Malachi Fields, Calvin Austin III, Juju Smith-Schuster, Odell Beckham, Jr., Braxton Berrios, Isaiah Hodgins, Jalin Hyatt, Breaux Collins, Xavier Gipson, Ryan Miller, and Dalen Cambre
About: The Giants have a lot of guys and a lot of them have at least a little name recognition. But the problem is what they bring to the field in 2026. Beckham, Smith-Schuster, Berrios, Slayton, and Mooney have all had good moments. But the Giants are hoping they can capture lightning in a bottle with some of these veterans to make it work. Austin was a good role player for the Steelers, and likely will be the same here. But then there’s Nabers. His talent is the reason the Giants are at twelfth on this list. His health and the potential that he’s not ready for the season are the reasons the Giants are at twelve on this list.
#11 New Orleans Saints
On the Roster: Chris Olave, Jordan Tyson, DeVaughn Vele, Ja’Lynn Polk, Bryce Lance, Barion Brown, Mason Tipton, Kevin Austin, Jr., Trey Palmer, Ronnie Bell, Bub Means, Damien Alford, and Brock Rechsteiner
About: The Saints have a solid group. Olave is the WR1, and he showed he’s still a force in 2025. He finished as WR6 to anchor this unit. The team added Tyson in the draft, and he could be an explosive difference maker. The team also has Vele, acquired from the Broncos prior to last season, who shows promise. I like the potential and the talent here surrounding Olave. It’s a young group and a young team, but I like what the Saints are building.
#10 San Francisco 49ers
On the Roster: Mike Evans, Ricky Pearsall, Christian Kirk, De’Zhaun Stribling, Brandon Aiyuk, Jordan Watkins, Jacob Cowing, DeMarcus Robinson, Malik Turner, Junior Bergen, Wesley Grimes, Colton Dowell, and Will Pauling
About: For now, I’m leaving Aiyuk on the roster. He’s technically still a member of the 49ers. Do I expect him to play? No, I don’t, at least not for San Francisco. But he’s not the reason the 49ers are here. The team has some talent and depth. Prior to injury last season, Evans was a lock for 1,000 yards a year. There’s a chance he returns to a solid form in San Francisco. The team also has a veteran in Kirk, acquired this off-season, who could add some production. Pearsall has shown flashes and struggled with health. But this could be the year he finally delivers on his draft potential. Then there’s Stribling, a surprise pick at the top of the Second Round. What can he bring? If he hits, this could be a very deep room.
#9 Arizona Cardinals
On the Roster: Marvin Harrison, Jr., Michael Wilson, Kendrick Bourne, Simi Fehoko, Devin Duvernay, Reggie Virgil, Xavier Weaver, Jalen Brooks, Tejhaun Palmer, Bryson Green, Harrison Wallace III, and Ihmir Smith-Marsette
About: The Cardinals are a tricky team to talk about in this context. Harrison was the top receiver taken in the 2024 NFL Draft, but he hasn’t really found a groove with the Cardinals. Now there’s a new staff and a new offense. Will it help or hurt? It’s unclear. What is clear is that Wilson looked like the better receiver playing with Jacoby Brissett, who profiles as the team’s starter. That’s a solid duo, with Bourne added this off-season to provide depth and experience. There isn’t a lot that catches your eye beyond the starting group, but the Cardinals should have enough firepower to make things interesting in the NFC, and certainly enough potential to be the top of the first group.
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.
