Off-Season Movement: 2025 Wide Receiver Landscape, Part One

Each off-season, I track team needs and the players most likely to fill those needs in a chart like this. In the coming weeks and months, NFL teams will have multiple opportunities to fill those holes, namely the March free agency period and April’s NFL Draft.

In this series, I’ll go position-by-position looking at teams in need, along with the veterans and rookies who could eventually fill the blanks on the chart below.

Every year, the wide receiver position seems to be more and more important as teams build deeper position groups than ever. Let’s take a look at what might happen this offseason at the wide receiver position.

Team Needs

New England Patriots

The Patriots found their long-term quarterback last year as they made Drake Maye their first-round pick. Despite a lack of receiving threats, Maye produced a very solid rookie season. Now it’s time for the Patriots and new head coach Mike Vrabel to find someone to catch the ball. New England took Day Two swings on Ja’Lynn Polk and Javon Baker last year but both struggled as rookies. This has long been a rumored landing spot for superstar Tee Higgins.

Carolina Panthers

The Panthers seemingly use a mid-round draft pick on a receiver every year and they never have much to show for it. While 2024 rookie Xavier Legette did flash some upside, the team also gave up on Jonathan Mingo, somehow getting a fourth-rounder for him from the Cowboys. Carolina got good production from veteran Adam Thielen once again but trading for Diontae Johnson proved to be a poor decision. The Panthers did find a gem in undrafted free agent Jalen Coker, who looks like he could contribute over the long term, as he scored more fantasy points in 2024 than Mingo or Terrace Marshall ever did in Carolina.

Buffalo Bills

After moving on from veteran Stefon Diggs last off-season, the Bills took their shots in trying to replace him and find a true WR1. After using their early second-rounder on Keon Coleman, the team later traded for veteran Amari Cooper. Along with Khalil Shakir, the trio was adequate but none separated himself from the pack. Josh Allen still won the MVP even with this crew of pass-catchers.

Las Vegas Raiders

The Raiders made the savvy move to trade veteran Davante Adams last season, shipping him off to be with Aaron Rodgers and the Jets. While that may have saved the team money and possibly some headaches, they are now very thin at the position. Jakobi Meyers is always underrated but shouldn’t be any team’s top wideout. New head coach Pete Carroll will surely make adding receiver depth a priority.

Washington Commanders

One of the top stories of the season was the play of rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels and the success of the Commanders. Veteran Terry McLaurin enjoyed his best season in years while Daniels turned veteran depth players Olamide Zaccheaus and Dyami Brown into weekly flex options. To take the next step, McLaurin and Daniels need some help.

Pittsburgh Steelers

Always a safe bet to draft a Day Two wideout, the Steelers are once again dealing with a troubled veteran receiver. There are already rumors that the team could trade away George Pickens, which would leave their depth chart barren. Dynasty managers are still hanging onto Roman Wilson at the end of their fantasy benches.

Tennessee Titans

The Titans have made some big moves with their receiver depth chart over the past year. Along with signing veterans Calvin Ridley and Tyler Boyd, the team also traded away DeAndre Hopkins. Entering the 2025 season, Tennessee has little left beyond Ridley. The Titans need to add multiple bodies to their receiving corps.

Denver Broncos

It is difficult to project just how high of a priority the receiver position might be for the Broncos. While the depth chart lacks star power and elite upside, they did get career-years from Courtland Sutton and Marvin Mims last season, while rookies Tony Franklin and Devaughn Vele were solid contributors. If Denver is not aggressive, that’s a sure sign they have high expectations, likely for Mims and Franklin.

Arizona Cardinals

Arizona spent up last year, using a top-five pick to acquire Marvin Harrison, Jr. Unfortunately, his rookie season was a bit of a disappointment and there is little else behind Harrison on the depth chart. Michael Wilson is a solid rotational player but this team needs Harrison to improve while also adding a starting WR2.

New York Giants

Like Arizona, the Giants went hard a year ago to upgrade their receiving room, drafting Malik Nabers, who showed he can be the long-term WR1 for the G-Men and dynasty managers. While Wan’Dale Robinson proved to be a target hog near the line of scrimmage, the Giants need a running mate for Nabers.

New York Jets

Thanks to a mid-season trade, the Jets paired veteran Davante Adams with youngster Garrett Wilson. Unfortunately, the duo wasn’t as successful as the Jets had hoped. With a major cap number in 2025, Adams is likely gone and veteran Allen Lazard could be following his buddy Aaron Rodgers to his next stop. That would suddenly make receiver a major area of need for the Jets.

Cincinnati Bengals

The Bengals have relied on elite receivers Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins for the past few years but now Higgins could be moving on via free agency. If he bolts, the Bengals will have work to do to find help for Chase and quarterback Joe Burrow. Andrei Iosivas has been a solid fill-in over the past two years, though 2024 rookie Jermaine Burton looks like a bust due to off-field concerns.

Dallas Cowboys

The Cowboys are in a similar spot to Cincy, having the established superstar in CeeDee Lamb with little else on the roster. Jalen Tolbert hasn’t really made an impact while veteran Brandin Cooks is set to be a free agent.

Los Angeles Rams

The Rams are another team with a locked-in WR1 in Puka Nacua. For the past several years, they’ve also boasted Cooper Kupp on the roster, though it appears he could be moving on this off-season. That would leave Jordan Whittington in line for a major playing time (and dynasty value) increase.

Jacksonville Jaguars

The Jaguars had a major hit in last year’s first-rounder, Brian Thomas, but have questions at the receiver position beyond him. Christian Kirk struggled and then missed most of the season with an injury last year. He’s now a cut candidate this off-season, which would lead to a big hole on the roster.

With so much to cover at the wide receiver position, this will be a two-parter. In the next article, we’ll look at the wide receivers that make up the free agent and rookie classes of 2025, along with some possible cap casualties.