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Gus’ Tiers: AFC South wide receivers

todayApril 3, 2024

Background

Welcome to the latest edition of “Gus’ Tiers” at 1010XL/92.5 FM!

Each Wednesday, I’ll be using Tiermaker dot com to create a 100% correct ranking of a timely subject related to the Jacksonville Jaguars/NFL landscape.

For this week’s Tier, I ranked the AFC’s top wide receivers following the Houston Texans’ trade for former Buffalo Bills superstar Stefon Diggs. (I previously tiered NFL pass-catching units here.)

Respect your elders: Stefon Diggs, DeAndre Hopkins

Diggs (turns 31 in November) has three All-Pro selections and 9,995 career yards; Hopkins (turns 32 in June) has five All-Pro selections and 12,355 career yards. These guys may not be in their prime anymore but they’re still the best pass-catchers in the division. 

High-end WR2: Christian Kirk, Calvin Ridley, Nico Collins

Kirk, Ridley and Collins could hold their weight as a team’s top wideout if needed – but they’d be best playing next to a certified no. 1 receiver, as Ridley and Collins are now set up to do. Kirk can only win consistently out of the slot, Ridley struggled against physicality last year, and Collins isn’t the greatest separator – though he has improved considerably since entering the league in 2021. 

Low-end WR2: Tank Dell, Michael Pittman Jr.

Dell and Pittman Jr. are exciting young players but aren’t well-rounded enough to be listed higher. Dell has concerning size at 5’ 8”, 165 lbs, and Pittman Jr. isn’t quite athletic enough to be a yards-after-catch threat. 

Role player: Noah Brown, Gabe Davis, Josh Downs

Brown and Downs had nice seasons working out of the slot for the Texans and Colts, respectively, last year. They’re nice options to round out receiver rooms, as is Davis, who brings vertical speed and plus blocking to the equation in Jacksonville. 

Weird vibes: Zay Jones, Robert Woods, Alec Pierce

Jones and Woods are in no man’s land as pricey veterans who could be phased out by new acquisitions. Pierce is one of the least efficient deep threats in the league. 

Now what?: Treylon Burks, Devin Duvernay, John Metchie III

Burks, the 18th overall pick in 2022, hasn’t worked out as Tennessee’s direct replacement for A.J. Brown – but perhaps his career can be rejuvenated in a slot/gadget role alongside Hopkins and Ridley. Metchie III was another intriguing draft prospect in 2022, though he’s dealt with various injury concerns and is near the back of the depth chart in Houston. The Duvernay signing raises questions about who the Jaguars’ WR4 is between him, 2023 sixth-rounder, Parker Washington, and 2023 undrafted free agent Elijah Cooks.

@ me on Twitter to tell me where I went wrong (@gus_logue )

Written by: Gus Logue


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