I did this for the quarterbacks a few weeks ago. Here's a Flea Flicker look at the best receivers in the history of each franchise.
Minnesota Vikings
Cris Carter
Randy Moss might be the most physically gifted receiver to ever play the game but Carter is the best receiver in the history of the Vikings. In my book.
Green Bay Packers
Don Hutson
The Packers have had a bunch of nice receivers in recent years. No receiver impacted the game more than Hutson.
Chicago Bears
Harlon Hill
Few receivers have burst on the NFL scene like Hill did in the mid-1950s. If injuries hadn't cut into his career he'd probably be in the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
Detroit Lions
Calvin Johnson
No explanation needed here.
New York Giants
Amani Toomer
For a team that dates to 1925 with eight league titles the Giants have a surprising lack of elite receivers. Half of those titles came when the receiver position wasn't like it is today. If Odell Beckham Jr. has the sort of career that his talent indicates he becomes an automatic choice in a few years. None of this is meant to diminish the solid career of Toomer.
Washington Redskins
Charley Taylor
This spot is a tossup between Taylor and Art Monk. I'm going with Taylor.
Philadelphia Eagles
Tommy McDonald
He's in the Hall of Fame but it often feels like he's overlooked. He was a great, dangerous receiver.
Dallas Cowboys
Michael Irvin
An easy choice. If Dez Bryant can stay on the field the choice will get difficult in a few years.
New Orleans Saints
Joe Horn
This could go to Marques Colston if he didn't drop so many of the footballs thrown to him. Horn was a terrific receiver.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Keyshawn Johnson
Johnson's solid four-year Buccaneers career included a Super Bowl win. That gets him the nod in a shallow pool.
Atlanta Falcons
Julio Jones
It's early but deserving. If he can stay healthy Jones should go down as one of the best. He's that talented.
Carolina Panthers
Steve Smith
This one requires zero thought.
San Francisco 49ers
Jerry Rice
Another easy one.
St. Louis Rams
Elroy Hirsch
Isaac Bruce, Torry Holt, Henry Ellard, Tom Fears. There are several receivers in the discussion here. I'm going with Hirsch. His 1951 season was one of the best receiving seasons in league history.
Arizona Cardinals
Larry Fitzgerald
Too easy.
Seattle Seahawks
Steve Largent
Largent and Jim Zorn made many of those early Seahawks games exciting when they shouldn't have been.
Pittsburgh Steelers
John Stallworth
For reasons I could never understand Stallworth played in the shadow of Lynn Swann. I always thought that Stallworth was the better receiver. Hines Ward is in the discussion.
Cleveland Browns
Mac Speedie
This could go to Dante Lavelli, Gary Collins, or Paul Warfield. Even Reggie Rucker. I'm going with Speedie because he was great and because he's ignored by just about everyone. He should join Lavelli in the Hall of Fame.
Cincinnati Bengals
A.J. Green
As with Julio Jones this is a little early. Unlike Jones, Green has some competition. Chad Johnson, Isaac Curtis, Carl Pickens, and Cris Collinsworth deserve consideration. I'm going with Green because of what he's done so far but mostly for what I expect him to do.
Baltimore Ravens
Derrick Mason
I have issues doing these sorts of things for the Ravens. I can't help but think of this team as anything but the historic Cleveland Browns that they are. Mason played most his career and his best years with the Tennessee Titans. He still saved some solid years for his time with the Ravens.
New England Patriots
Randy Moss
Moss only played about 3.5 years with the Patriots so this is mostly due to his fantastic 2007 season. Stanley Morgan is probably the better choice here for his great and very underrated career.
Miami Dolphins
Paul Warfield
Warfield's best years were in Cleveland but he was really good in Miami. He was so much fun to watch.
New York Jets
Don Maynard
Super fast. He was the perfect receiver to chase down the passes thrown by Joe Namath.
Buffalo Bills
Andre Reed
Easy one.
Indianapolis Colts
Raymond Berry
A tough one. Apologies to Marvin Harrison and Reggie Wayne. Berry was one of the most technically sound receivers to ever play. The perfect receiver for Johnny Unitas. Peyton Manning would have loved him too.
Tennessee Titans
Ken Burrough
Warren Moon's run-and-shoot receivers (Ernest Givens, Drew Hill, and Haywood Jeffires) might get more attention. Derrick Mason might be the better choice. I always thought that Burrough was an excellent, and underrated, receiver.
Houston Texans
Andre Johnson
Due to the Texans short history and Johnson's tremendous talent this is one of the easiest choices of the bunch.
Jacksonville Jaguars
Jimmy Smith
The receiving duo of Smith and Keenan McCardell was one of the best of their era.
Oakland Raiders
Fred Biletnikoff
This is a toss-up between Biletnikoff and Tim Brown. It all depends upon preference. Technical precision vs. explosion. When it comes to the receiver position I usually lean toward technical precision.
Kansas City Chiefs
Otis Taylor
Taylor should be in the Hall of Fame.
San Diego Chargers
Lance Alworth
Air Coryell plumped up the numbers for a bunch of Chargers receivers and they were great players. Charlie Joiner, Wes Chandler, John Jefferson. Alworth is one of the best receivers to ever play. He would have torn up the NFL much like he tore up the AFL.
Denver Broncos
Demaryius Thomas
As with Julio Jones and A.J. Green this might be a little early. Rod Smith and Lionel Taylor are in the discussion.
There it is. Up next: running backs.
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