NFC Pass Catching Groups

 

We're getting closer to the 2024 NFL Season, so I'll be taking stock of how I rate groups in the NFL. Today it's NFC pass catching groups. This means taking stock of the whole room, including tight ends. Below is my take on the NFC rooms from No. 1 to No. 16.

No. 1: San Francisco 49ers
About: The 49ers go five deep in pass catchers that are all great. It starts with the top duo of receivers in Deebo Samuel and Brandon Aiyuk. It's a formidable and talented duo. The team also has a star at tight end in George Kittle. To that, they added rookie receiver Ricky Pearsall and retained veteran Jauan Jennings. It's a great group with diverse options, leaving them as the No. 1 in the NFC.

No. 2: Philadelphia Eagles
About: The Eagles also have a great group of starters, with A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith at receiver, and Dallas Goedert at tight end. The problem is there isn't much behind them. Currently Parris Campbell profiles as the No. 3 receiver. So, there's some options but not the great depth of the 49ers.

No. 3: Minnesota Vikings
About: How can the Vikings, with Justin Jefferson, be third? Well, it again comes down to depth. Jefferson and second-year man Jordan Addison lead the receivers, but there is precious little behind them with Brandon Powell currently profiling as the No. 3 guy. At tight end, I like T.J. Hockenson, but his injury likely holds him out half the season. Johnny Mundt doesn't have the same punch. So, I pushed them back to No. 3.

No. 4: Detroit Lions
About: The Lions have a great receiver in Amon-Ra St. Brown and a great tight end in Sam LaPorta. That's why they make the Top 4. But beyond those two, it's more questions. Jameson Williams was a First Round pick, but he hasn't done much in his two seasons so far. He needs to step up in 2024. The rest of the group is journeyman and role players, too. The Lions have two great receivers but lack the depth of groups ahead of them.

No. 5: Chicago Bears
About: I nearly boosted the Bears above the Lions. The team has a good receiver in D.J. Moore and a good tight end in Cole Kmet returning from 2023. To this, they added veteran receiver Keenan Allen, rookie receiver Rome Odunze, and veteran tight end Gerald Everett. They may well be too low, but I want to see how this group develops.

No. 6: Dallas Cowboys
About: The Cowboys have a great receiver in CeeDee Lamb. He might well finish as WR1 overall again in 2024. They also have a good tight end in Jake Ferguson and a capable No. 2 receiver in veteran Brandin Cooks. But the Cowboys lack depth. If Jalen Tolbert takes a big step forward, this group could rise.

No. 7: Los Angeles Rams
About: The Rams have a great duo at receiver in Puka Nacua, who shined as a rookie, and veteran Cooper Kupp. The team also has a solid veteran tight end in Tyler Higbee. I like the makeup of the group and its potential. But, like all the teams in the NFC seemingly, the Rams lack depth.

No. 8: Seattle Seahawks
About: The Seahawks have a solid trio of receivers in D.K. Metcalf, Tyler Lockett, and Jaxon Smith-Njigba. They also have a solid tight end in Noah Fant. They might have a better group than a few of the teams ahead of them on this list. My issue is that I don't know if they have the upside, so I locked them in at No. 8.

No. 9: Atlanta Falcons
About: Now we get to two teams back-to-back on this list that have improved their overall group. The Falcons retain Drake London at receiver and Kyle Pitts at tight end. That's a great duo. To that, they added receiver Darnell Mooney and Rondale Moore. I like this group of four enough to come just short of the top half of the draw.

No. 10: Arizona Cardinals
About: Another team that's working on its options. The Cardinals have a great tight end in Trey McBride, which helps. The team added the best rookie receiver in Marvin Harrison, Jr., which is impressive. They also have options in second-year receiver Michael Wilson and veteran Zay Jones. I feel like this is an under-rated group.

No. 11: Green Bay Packers
About: The Packers have good depth and options. At receiver, they team has Christian Watson, Jayden Reed, Romeo Doubs, and Dontayvion Wicks. At tight end the Packers have Luke Musgrave and Tucker Kraft. Those are solid options, but they lack a star and experience. No one has more than two years in the NFL. This group could grow, but they aren't quite there yet.

No. 12: Tampa Bay Buccaneers
About: The Buccaneers are hard to rank. I like Mike Evans, a veteran who has never produced less than 1,000 yards. I also like veteran Chris Godwin, and I think tight end Cade Otton is solid. The team has second-year player Trey Palmer and rookie Jalen McMillan, giving them some depth. They could be too low, but for now I'm placing them here.

No. 13: Washington Commanders
About: The Commanders have a solid duo in Terry McLaurin and Jahan Dotson, the latter of which needs to have a better season. They added rookie Luke McCaffrey, too, an interesting addition. At tight end, the Commanders added veteran Zach Ertz, who is close to the end of his time, and rookie Ben Stinott. There is potential here, but the group is still raw.

No. 14: New Orleans Saints
About: The Saints have a great receiver in Chris Olave. They got to No. 14 thanks to Olave. They are stuck at No. 14 for me because there isn't much else there. Rashid Shaheed is a solid role player, while second-year man A.T. Perry is being asked to step up big. Tight end Juwan Johnson is coming off injury and Taysom Hill is more of a jack-of-all-trades role player. There's some potential, but it's mostly about Olave for the Saints.

No. 15: Carolina Panthers
About: The Panthers added Diontae Johnson, and I like the move. Beyond him, they have aging veteran Adam Thielen and a couple young players in Jonathan Mingo and Xavier Legette, who need to prove themselves. The Panthers also have plenty of questions at tight end. So, that keeps them at No. 15 for me.

No. 16: New York Giants
About: The Giants' roster is thin everywhere. That's especially true at pass catcher, where veteran tight end Darren Waller just retired. That leaves Daniel Bellinger, Laurence Cager, and rookie Theo Johnson to try and fill the void. At receiver, the team has veteran Darius Slayton and Wan'Dale Robinson who were OK in 2023. Beyond that, the team hopes to see Jalin Hyatt step up in year two. But their best option is rookie Malik Nabers, who will have plenty of pressure. The Giants have some pieces, but none of it was impressive enough for me to move them off the bottom spot.