Top Receiving Groups

NFL.com' Bucky Brooks recently wrote a column ranking the top-5 receiving corps in the league. Receivers and tight ends. His rankings went like this:

1. Washington Redskins
2. Chicago Bears
3. Denver Broncos
4. San Francisco 49ers
5. Indianapolis Colts

Brooks played in the league for five years. He worked as a scout for several years. He knows his stuff. He's certainly not alone in thinking highly of the Washington Redskins pass catchers. I just don't see it and it's simply because I don't trust DeSean Jackson. If he can play and act with a team-first attitude, something that he's never done, I might start trusting DeSean Jackson.

Here's how I see the top-5 receiving groups in the NFL:

1. Denver Broncos
-Demaryius Thomas, Wes Welker, Emmanuel Sanders, Cody Latimer, Julius Thomas
That's a lot of receiving talent. Plus, they have Peyton Manning throwing to them.

2. Green Bay Packers
-Jordy Nelson, Randall Cobb, Jarrett Boykin, Davante Adams, Jared Abbrederis, Andrew Quarless
Tight end is the weakness here. If Jermicheal Finley returns and remains healthy, this group is probably #1. The Packers added some youngsters in case Finley is done in Green Bay. They drafted former Cal tight end Richard Rodgers and added talented, but troubled, tight end Colt Lyerla as an undrafted free agent. Rodgers, in particular, could make an early impact. He was probably Cal's best offensive player two years ago. He dropped a bunch of weight to fit into Sonny Dykes' "Bear Raid" offense. As a tight end he was great. As a big receiver in a funky offense he was a little out of place.

3. Chicago Bears
-Brandon Marshall, Alshon Jeffery, Martellus Bennett, Marquess Wilson
Marshall, Jeffery, and Bennett are probably the best starting group in the league. The depth is lacking.

4. Indianapolis Colts
-Reggie Wayne, T.Y. Hilton, Hakeem Nicks, Donte Moncrief, Coby Fleener, Dwayne Allen
This ranking is banking on Wayne returning healthy and Nicks reverting to the play that he showed a couple of years ago. This could be a fantastic group. I like Hilton a lot.

5. San Francisco 49ers
-Michael Crabtree, Anquan Boldin, Steve Johnson, Quinton Patton, Vernon Davis
The 49ers front office remade this group quickly and differently. Usually teams improve a position with a high-priced free agent or a high draft pick. The 49ers traded later-round picks for Boldin and Johnson. Add those players to Crabtree and Davis and you have something. 4th-round pick Bruce Ellington could add some speed and versatility.

Just for giggles:

Minnesota Vikings
-Greg Jennings, Cordarrelle Patterson, Jarius Wright, Jerome Simpson, Kyle Rudolph
This group has some serious under-the-radar talent. Jennings is still an effective, impact receiver. Patterson could become one of the most explosive football players in the league. Wright could break out this year. For two years he's been right on the cusp of doing so. Simpson adds speed and big-play ability. Rudolph, a Pro Bowl MVP, has been inching towards the elite tight ends for a couple of years. He just needs to take that big step forward. He has the talent. This group just needs to live up to their potential. A stable quarterback situation would help that a lot.