So, Who Has a Better WR Corps Than the Vikings?

Jordan Addison Still
Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports. | Jan 15, 2023; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Justin Jefferson (18) looks on during warmups before a wild card game against the New York Giants at U.S. Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matt Krohn-USA TODAY Sports.

The Minnesota Vikings solved all Round 1 draft mysteries Thursday night by selecting wide receiver Jordan Addison from USC.

Fans weren’t quite sure if the club would target defensive firepower to rectify 2022 sins, trade up the board for a quarterback beyond 2023, or enhance the offensive firepower. The Vikings chose the latter.

So, Who Has a Better WR Corps Than the Vikings?

On paper, the Vikings are back to one of the NFL’s top WR groups after a very brief hiatus in 2022. In a few games, opponents were able to neutralize phenom pass-catcher Justin Jefferson, and unsurprisingly, the Vikings lost. Now, that task is trickier with Addison in the house.

While Addison has to prove he’s the real deal on the field, Minnesota employs an upper-echelon WR corps on paper. It’s debatable whether Justin Jefferson, Jordan Addison, and K.J. Osborn are the top dogs leaguewide, and here are the contenders for the discussion, in addition to the Vikings.

Miami Dolphins

Sam Navarro-USA TODAY Sports.

The Big Three and Age —

Tyreek Hill (29)
Jaylen Waddle (24)
Cedrick Wilson (27)

Certainly the top one-two punch in the NFL, Hill and Waddle stake their claim, for now, with no debate. And Wilson might inspire the dragon head meme here, but Hill and Waddle are enough to shove the group near the league’s top, undoubtedly.

If Tua Tagovailoa stays healthy, the trio will flourish in 2023.

Cincinnati Bengals

Better WR Corps Than
Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase (1) breaks away from Baltimore Ravens safety Marcus Williams (32) on a reception in the first quarter of the NFL Week 18 game between the Cincinnati Bengals and the Baltimore Ravens at Paycor Stadium in downtown Cincinnati on Sunday, Jan. 8, 2023. The Bengals led 24-7 at halftime. © Sam Greene/The Enquirer / USA TODAY NETWORK.

The Big Three and Age —

Ja’Marr Chase (23)
Tee Higgins (24)
Tyler Boyd (28)

Chase and Higgins fired up 1,000+ yard seasons in 2022, and Boyd wasn’t too far behind at 762 yards. It helps tremendously that Joe Burrow is flinging the rock on Sundays, so these players’ production won’t slow down anytime soon.

Rumblings suggested that Higgins could be traded earlier this offseason, but those died down in a hurry after Bengals brass told everyone else to find their own wide receivers.

The Bengals have one of the most established WR threesomes in the world and maybe the best in the sport.

Philadelphia Eagles

Eric Hartline-USA TODAY Sports.

The Big Three and Age —

A.J. Brown (25)
De’Vonta Smith (24)
Olamide Zaccheaus (25)

Unless you’re a fan of the Atlanta Falcons or a deep fantasy football league participant, you won’t know who Zaccheaus is, and that is fine — Brown and Smith are more than enough to create sleepless nights for defensive thinkers.

Brown tabulated 1,496 receiving yards last year, with Smith at 1,196. Not bad.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

The Big Three and Age —

Mike Evans (29)
Chris Godwin (27)
Russell Gage (27)

If Tom Brady didn’t retire, folks would still melt over this trio, but it’s Baker Mayfield or Kyle Trask now. The pizzazz is dampened.

But Evans and Godwin are still outstanding, as both tabulated over 1,000 yards apiece in 2022 during Brady’s swan song.

Seattle Seahawks

Ranking the Vikings Would-Be Playoff Opponents in Round 1
Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports.

The Big Three and Age —

D.K. Metcalf (25)
Tyler Lockett (30)
Jaxon Smith-Njigba (21)

Like the Vikings, you must buy into draft hype here, assuming Smith Njigba will become a bonafide contributor. His Ohio State buddies, Garrett Wilson (Jets) and Chris Olave (Saints), are legitimate — and Marvin Harrison Jr. next year will follow suit.

Geno Smith will excel for a second consecutive year in 2023 and might even blast off if Smith-Njigba is an Offensive Rookie of the Year contender.

Los Angeles Chargers

Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports.

The Big Three and Age —

Keenan Allen (31)
Mike Williams (28)
Quentin Johnston (21)

Justin Herbert will command a megadeal in the coming weeks or months, and with Allen, Williams, and Johnston to his sides, his team not winning playoff games will be fresh out of excuses.

Allen has a couple of seasons left. Williams is always a threat. Johnston might be classified as a strange fit with these two, but Allen won’t play forever.

Herbert has all he needs with or without Austin Ekeler on the RB depth chart.


Dustin Baker is a political scientist who graduated from the University of Minnesota in 2007. Subscribe to his daily YouTube Channel, VikesNow. He hosts a podcast with Bryant McKinnie, which airs every Wednesday with Raun Sawh and Sal Spice. His Vikings obsession dates back to 1996. Listed guilty pleasures: Peanut Butter Ice Cream, ‘The Sopranos,’ and The Doors (the band).

All statistics provided by Pro Football Reference / Stathead; all contractual information provided by OverTheCap.com.

Share: