Ranking the best wide receiver classes in NFL draft history

We don't often see a wide receiver class featuring as many special, high-ceiling prospects as the group we're seeing in 2020. With two potential top-10 superstars, a handful of pass-catchers worthy of first-round consideration, and an impressive depth of talent in the later rounds, 2020's class of wide receivers might finally be the crop to meet expectations after some disappointing wideout recruiting in recent years.

As NFL teams prepare to select from an exceptionally promising group of wide receivers, theScore examines the best wide receiver classes of the common draft era (since 1967) and the most notable selections from each.

* = Hall of Famer

Honorable mentions: 1979, 1998, 2003, 2011, 2013

10. 1976

Pick	Name	Team
54	Sammy White	Vikings
65	Dave Logan	Browns
79	Henry Marshall	Chiefs
80	Duriel Harris	Dolphins
114	Pat Tilley	Cardinals
117	Steve Largent*	Oilers

The 1976 NFL Draft wasn't expected to yield an especially impressive group of wide receivers, as only three were selected in the first two rounds. But several mid-round selections became standouts over the course of their careers, including one of the league's all-time greats in Largent. Boasting mind-blowing catching ability, Largent held several league records by the time he retired in 1989, including most receptions (819), receiving yards (13,089), and touchdowns (100).

Arthur Anderson / Getty Images Sport / Getty

The 1976 class also had solid contributors in Tilley and Marshall, both of whom amassed 400 career receptions, and White, an Offensive Rookie of the Year and two-time Pro Bowler.

9. 1991

Pick	Name	Team
10	Herman Moore	Lions
13	Mike Pritchard	Falcons
46	Jeff Graham	Steelers
68	Jake Reed	Vikings
83	Ed McCaffrey	Giants
100	Rocket Ismail	Raiders
141	Michael Jackson	Browns
240	Shawn Jefferson	Oilers
326	Keenan McCardell	Redskins

Excluding the draft classes of the 2000s, the group of wide receivers selected in 1991 is the only one on this list that currently lacks a Hall of Famer. But while the 1991 NFL Draft might not have included any all-time great wideouts, it did feature one of the position's deepest classes ever, with several reliable starters and four Pro Bowlers.

McCardell went from a 12th-round selection who was cut after his first season to leading his draft class in career catches (883), yards (11,373), and touchdowns (63). Moore, meanwhile, owned every major receiving record for the Lions until Calvin Johnson entered the league. McCaffrey and Graham also topped 500 career receptions apiece. Though he went undrafted, Willie Davis was a member of the 1991 class and enjoyed a solid eight-season career that included the league's yards-per-catch lead in 1992.

8. 1978

Pick	Name	Team
3	Wes Chandler	Saints
6	James Lofton*	Packers
14	John Jefferson	Chargers
98	Mike Renfro	Oilers
167	Alfred Jackson	Falcons
197	Derrick Gaffney	Jets

You won't find a deep, Pro Bowler-loaded crop of wide receivers by examining the players taken in the 1978 NFL Draft. What you will see, though, is a few wideouts who were among the NFL's elite for multiple seasons throughout their careers.

Lofton, an unquestionably deserving Hall of Famer, made the Pro Bowl eight times during his 16-season career and became the first player in NFL history to eclipse 14,000 receiving yards. Chandler, whose average of 129 receiving yards per game in 1982 is still an all-time high, led the league in both yards and touchdowns that year. Jefferson led the NFL in those two categories in 1980 and amassed a league-high 36 scores from 1978-80.

7. 2010

Pick	Name	Team
22	Demaryius Thomas	Broncos
24	Dez Bryant	Cowboys
60	Golden Tate	Seahawks
78	Brandon LaFell	Panthers
82	Emmanuel Sanders	Steelers
87	Eric Decker	Broncos
195	Antonio Brown	Steelers
Undrafted	Victor Cruz	Giants

The biggest name of the 2010 wide receiver class is Brown, who displayed pure talent during his time with the Steelers and put himself in Hall of Fame discussions. If it wasn't for his off-field issues, he'd easily eclipse 1,000 catches, 10,000 yards, and 100 touchdowns for his career, something just six wideouts have achieved.

Diamond Images / Diamond Images / Getty

The 2010 NFL Draft also featured several reliable wideouts who made important Super Bowl contributions in Thomas, Tate, Sanders, and Cruz. Additionally, there were a couple of very good starters in Decker and especially Bryant. Overall, this group has combined for 17 Pro Bowl berths and six first-team All-Pro selections.

6. 2001

Pick	Name	Team
9	Koren Robinson	Seahawks
16	Santana Moss	Jets
30	Reggie Wayne	Colts
36	Chad Johnson	Bengals
52	Chris Chambers	Dolphins
74	Steve Smith	Panthers
204	T.J. Houshmandzadeh	Bengals

Only four drafts in the common era have produced more than a single Hall of Fame wide receiver. The 2001 class is likely to become No. 5 someday when both Wayne and Smith are recognized for their outstanding careers. But while two all-time greats shine brightest here, the 2001 draft yielded impressive wideout depth overall.

Ochocinco's performances were constantly overshadowed by off-field issues and Moss flew under the radar during most of his 14 pro seasons, but don't forget that both amassed 700-10,000-60 receiving lines over the course of their careers. Houshmandzadeh and Chambers also recorded solid NFL stints, especially the former, who led the league with 294 receptions from 2006-08 (including a season-high 112 receptions in 2007).

5. 1974

Pick	Name	Team
21	Lynn Swann*	Steelers
24	Roger Carr	Colts
78	Nat Moore	Dolphins
82	John Stallworth*	Steelers
174	Freddie Scott	Colts
232	Sam McCullum	Vikings
365	Billy Johnson	Oilers

The Steelers had perhaps the strongest draft class in NFL history in 1974 when they selected four future Hall of Famers (a fifth, Donnie Shell, would join them as an undrafted rookie). Among this impressive group were two outstanding wide receivers: Swann and Stallworth. They helped Pittsburgh win four Super Bowl titles, with the former earning Super Bowl MVP honors on one occasion. Stallworth, meanwhile, led this class in both receptions (537) and yards (8,723).

Though that production might not stand out compared to modern stat lines, the relatively modest totals can be attributed to how football was played back then. The 1974 wide receiver class also featured another 500-catch receiver in Moore and a multi-year Pro Bowler in Johnson, who shined despite being drafted in the 15th round.

4. 2014

Pick	Name	Team
4	Sammy Watkins	Bills
7	Mike Evans	Buccaneers
12	Odell Beckham Jr.	Giants
20	Brandin Cooks	Saints
53	Davante Adams	Packers
61	Allen Robinson	Jaguars
63	Jarvis Landry	Dolphins
91	John Brown	Cardinals

Five wide receivers drafted in 2014 enter the 2020 season as No. 1 wideouts. This group, which broke the rookie-class receiving-yards record six years ago, has already generated 15 Pro Bowl selections and is the only class with three wide receivers who rank top 10 in both catches and receiving yards since 2014 (Evans, Beckham Jr., and Landry).

Mike Zarrilli / Getty Images Sport / Getty

In addition to those stud pass-catchers, this group features wideouts who recently turned in strong campaigns - Brown, Watkins, and Jordan Matthews - as well as undrafted players with solid careers in Taylor Gabriel, Allen Hurns, and Willie Snead.

3. 1985

Pick	Name	Team
10	Al Toon	Jets
13	Eddie Brown	Bengals
16	Jerry Rice*	49ers
23	Jessie Hester	Raiders
31	Vance Johnson	Broncos
42	Chris Burkett	Bills
86	Andre Reed*	Bills
175	Reggie Langhorne	Browns
179	Eric Martin	Saints

The 1985 wide receiver class starts with two words: Jerry Rice. Arguably the greatest football player ever, Rice built along a no-brainer Hall of Fame career. Reed did the same, and while both rank far ahead of the second-tier wideouts in this draft, that second tier still had a multi-year Pro Bowler in Toon and a reliable weapon in Martin. Both eclipsed 500 career receptions.

Though Johnson, Langhorne, Hester, and Brown weren't exactly go-ahead receivers, they all handled starting roles for multiple seasons and enjoyed a few standout campaigns.

2. 1988

Pick	Name	Team
6	Tim Brown*	Raiders
7	Sterling Sharpe	Packers
11	Michael Irvin*	Cowboys
15	Anthony Miller	Chargers
46	Flipper Anderson	Rams
49	Brian Blades	Seahawks
52	Brett Perriman	Saints
60	Quinn Early	Chargers
166	Michael Haynes	Falcons

The 1988 NFL Draft checks every box for what to expect from a great class of wide receivers. It produced perhaps three of the top 20 wideouts of all time and five Pro Bowlers, four of whom earned at least five nods. This draft might have sent a third member to Canton along with Irvin and Brown, but Sharpe's career was shortened because of a neck injury. The former Packer retired right after making his third straight Pro Bowl following an 18-touchdown campaign in 1994.

The 1988 class also produced names like Miller, Perriman, and Blades, each of whom amassed 500 career receptions while combining for six Pro Bowl berths. Anderson didn't post stellar overall numbers as a second-round pick, but he still holds the record for most receiving yards in a single game (336), a benchmark he established in 1989.

1. 1996

Pick	Name	Team
1	Keyshawn Johnson	Jets
7	Terry Glenn	Patriots
18	Eddie Kennison	Rams
19	Marvin Harrison*	Colts
24	Eric Moulds	Bills
34	Amani Toomer	Giants
43	Muhsin Muhammad	Panthers
52	Bobby Engram	Bears
89	Terrell Owens*	49ers
135	Joe Horn	Chiefs

The 1996 draft is often remembered for having the greatest wide receiver class in NFL history, and it's not hard to understand why. The group not only produced two stud Hall of Famers in Harrison and Owens, but it also featured a record 10 wideouts who amassed at least 500 career receptions - four of whom also topped 800 catches and 10,000 receiving yards.

Jamie Squire / Getty Images Sport / Getty

Wide receivers drafted in 1996 established all-time league highs by combining for 27 Pro Bowl appearances and nine first-team All-Pro selections. Those figures don't include the accolades of Jermaine Lewis, who was originally a wideout but earned Pro Bowl and All-Pro selections as a kick returner.

Copyright (C) 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.