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0 Share Newsweek is a Trust Project member See more of our trusted coverage when you search. Prefer Newsweek on Google to see more of our trusted coverage when you search. NFL teams have been easing into training camp while several others will be reporting over the next few days.
Teams will brave the summer heat for a little over a week until the preseason begins when the Arizona Cardinals and Carolina Panthers face off in the Hall of Fame Game on Thursday, Aug. 6 on NBC. Week 1 of the preseason officially kicks off the following week on Aug. 13.
In counting down until the NFL regular season starts on Sept. 9, we continue to look at key offseason storylines for each of the league’s 32 teams. Next up in our offseason series is power ranking every wide receiver room in each of the NFL’s eight divisions. First up is the AFC North.
Ja’Marr Chase, who has five straight 1,000-yard seasons and three straight 100-catch seasons, has an argument to be the top wide receiver in the NFL (though Minnesota’s Justin Jefferson and L.A.’s Puka Nacua would beg to differ), and some believe Tee Higgins is the best WR2 in the league as well.
Andre Iosivas has put up consecutive seasons with 33 catches and 435 yards or more, giving Cincinnati a dangerous trio of pass-catchers which is unquestionably the best in the division.
DK Metcalf had an up-and-down first season in Pittsburgh (59 catches, 850 yards, six touchdowns), but if he can get back to his Pro Bowl form it would be a big win for Pittsburgh.
Adding two-time 1,000-yard receiver Michael Pittman Jr. and Germie Bernard, who had 64 receptions, 862 yards, and seven touchdowns last season at Alabama, gives the Steelers a WR group that’s miles better than what they had last year. It also pushes Pittsburgh’s group of pass-catchers ahead of both Cleveland and Baltimore.
Cleveland’s passing game last season was underwhelming, to say the least. Jerry Jeudy was the only receiver with more than 21 receptions or 338 yards, which is why the team used first- and second-round picks to add KC Concepcion and Denzel Boston in April’s draft.
That trio, coupled with star tight end Harold Fannin Jr., who had 72 receptions, 731 yards, and six touchdowns as a rookie last year, will give either Shedeur Sanders or Deshaun Watson a fighting chance. The potential alone makes the Browns group better than Baltimore’s.
Zay Flowers, who has posted back-to-back seasons with 74 or more catches and 1,000 or more yards, is arguably the second-best receiver in the division behind Chase. The problem for the Ravens is the depth behind him is very much a wild card.
Rashod Bateman is a year removed from his career-high 756 yards and nine touchdowns, and he was far less productive last season. Rookies Ja’Kobi Lane and Elijah Surratt both have big upside, but they’re still unknown.
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