The shift to a pass-centric league has made wide receivers hot commodities on the market. Teams are willing to throw the bag at pass catchers with the capacity to move the chains and light up scoreboards as electric playmakers on the perimeter.
Calvin Johnson enjoyed a Hall of Fame career as a WR1 in Detroit, utilizing his superior size, speed and athleticism to overwhelm defenders in space. The three-time All-Pro and six-time Pro Bowl selectee dominated the game from Day 1, especially during his record-breaking 2012 campaign, when he nearly eclipsed the 2,000-yard mark (1,964).
While the record has lasted for over a decade, the eye-popping numbers posted by receivers over the past few seasons make Johnson’s mark look vulnerable heading into 2024.
“I mean, it’s bound to fall at some point the way it’s going, so it is what it is,” Johnson recently told the Detroit Free Press. “I held it down, I don’t know even know how long, over a decade now.”
Last season, 28 pass catchers finished with 1,000-plus yards, including a pair of wideouts who exceeded 1,700 yards (Tyreek Hill and CeeDee Lamb). With 12 players making 100 or more catches in 2023, it is only a matter of time before someone takes down Johnson’s record as the ultimate WR1 in a game ruled by the pass.
Here are five receivers to consider threats to the throne.