Alex Freeman Headlines Kids Of Former NFL Players Making Their Names In Other Sports

While seeing second-generation NFL players isn’t uncommon, several former players have children starring at the highest level in sports other than football. Look no further than the event of the summer, the 2026 FIFA World Cup, and this week's NBA Draft. Here are some of the most accomplished current athletes in the pro sports ranks with NFL bloodlines: Alex Freeman scored the second goal in Team USA’s 2-0 win Sunday over Australia in group stage play at the World Cup, where the Americans have clinched Group D and will advance to the knockout round. The U.S. faces Türkiye in their final group-stage match Thursday (10 p.m. ET on FOX). At age 21, Freeman is the youngest player representing Team USA this year. He plays his club ball for Villarreal in La Liga, the highest level league in Spain. The elder Freeman, Antonio Freeman, played nine seasons as a wide receiver in the NFL, winning a Super Bowl with the Green Bay Packers in 1996. He was a first-team All-Pro selection in 1998. Haley, 27, is a standout for Brighton & Hove Albion in the English Women’s Super League, the most competitive tier of women's soccer in England. She starred collegiately at Stanford and was drafted seventh overall by the Chicago Red Stars in the 2021 NWSL Draft, though she never played for the team. She helped Sydney FC win the Australian League title in 2023 before joining Brighton. Madison's father, Charles Haley, is a Pro Football Hall of Famer. He won five Super Bowls and was twice named an All-Pro edge rusher in his 13 NFL seasons with the San Francisco 49ers and Dallas Cowboys. Joshua Jefferson was selected in the first round of the NBA Draft on Tuesday, taken at No. 28 overall by the Minnesota Timberwolves, who sent him to Brooklyn in a pre-arranged trade. A 6-foot-8 forward, Jefferson averaged 16.4 points, 7.4 rebounds and 4.8 assists for Iowa State last season. Ben Jefferson was a 6-foot-8, 300-plus-pound guard at Maryland in the 1980s. As a freshman in 1985, he was highlighted by Sports Illustrated as one of the biggest players in college football. He went undrafted out of college but had stints with a few NFL teams, making all four of his career appearances in 1990 with the Cleveland Browns. Koa Peat, who starred for Arizona as a freshman last season, was drafted by the Dallas Mavericks with the 30th overall pick in the 2026 NBA Draft — a selection that was traded to Phoenix. A 6-foot-8 forward, Peat averaged 14.1 points and 5.6 rebounds for an Arizona team that made the Final Four. Todd Peat Sr. was an 11th round pick of the St. Louis Cardinals in the 1987 NFL Draft, making 79 appearances as a guard across six seasons with the Cardinals and Raiders. Koa's brother, Andrus Peat, is an 11-year NFL veteran and three-time Pro Bowl guard, most recently appearing in six games with the Pittsburgh Steelers last season. Longtime pro tennis player Sloane Stephens has been ranked as high as the world No. 3 in singles by the Women’s Tennis Association. She has won eight singles titles as a pro, including the 2017 U.S. Open. Her father, John Stephens, was a first-round pick of the New England Patriots in 1988 and a Pro Bowl running back as a rookie. He played six total seasons, with the Patriots, Green Bay Packers and Kansas City Chiefs. Jaxson Hayes was selected eighth overall in the 2019 NBA Draft, and the 7-foot center has played eight seasons and counting with the New Orleans Pelicans and Los Angeles Lakers. His best season to date came in 2021-22, when he averaged 9.3 points and 4.5 rebounds for the Pelicans. Jaxson's father, tight end Jonathan Hayes, was a second-round pick in the 1985 NFL Draft by the Chiefs and appeared in 184 games across 12 seasons. The elder Hayes is a former tight ends coach for the Cincinnati Bengals (2003-18) and served as the head coach and general manager of the St. Louis Battlehawks in 2020. Vashti Cunningham is a three-time Olympian for Team USA in the high jump, finishing fifth in the Paris Games in 2024. The 28-year-old has medaled twice in the World Championships, winning gold in 2016 and silver in 2018. Randall Cunningham, a second-round pick of the Philadelphia Eagles in 1985, was a four-time Pro Bowl quarterback in his 16 seasons with the Eagles, Minnesota Vikings, Dallas Cowboys and Baltimore Ravens. Elijah Green was selected fifth overall in the 2022 MLB Draft after starring at IMG Academy in Florida. He’s hit 10 home runs in his first 62 games this season for the Wilmington Blue Rocks, the Nationals’ High-A affiliate. His father, Eric Green, was picked 21st overall in the 1990 NFL Draft by the Steelers. He played nine seasons in the league and was twice named to the Pro Bowl as a tight end.

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Steelers Rookie Drew Allar Embracing Understudy Role Behind Aaron Rodgers

LOS ANGELES — Drew Allar might be new to the NFL, but his first professional home provides him with some familiarity. Allar will get to back up Aaron Rodgers, a quarterback he looked up to growing up. But he's also joining an offensive system that he already knows with the Pittsburgh Steelers, believing the team that selected him in the third round of April's draft has created a "full circle moment" for him. "The West Coast offense in general was something I studied a lot in the offseasons at Penn State," Allar told me during a conversation this offseason at the NFLPA Rookie Premiere. "Kind of the newer versions like the [Los Angeles Rams head coach Sean] McVay and [San Francisco 49ers head coach] Mike Shanahan. I was on that trend for the last four years. "But it’s now kind of a full circle moment for me, going back and seeing how everything really started. Why the drops are a certain way and how they match up with the progressions. And where the concepts originated from. It’s really cool to be a part of that. It’s a lot of information, but it’s starting to slow down for me." And, as Allar mentioned, he will now get to learn from one of the innovators of the West Coast offense: Mike McCarthy. The new Steelers head coach learned from the originators of the scheme during his time as an assistant coach with the Kansas City Chiefs, including Paul Hackett. Hackett cut his teeth in San Francisco, learning from Bill Walsh, the originator of the West Coast offense. McCarthy would go on to coach Joe Montana in Kansas City before coaching Brett Favre and Rodgers with the Green Bay Packers. He also worked under another Walsh protégé, offensive guru Mike Holmgren. McCarthy has been reunited with Rodgers in Pittsburgh, and Allar said he’s privileged to share a quarterback room with the future Hall of Famer. "I’m really excited to learn from him," Allar told me. "With him being in Coach McCarthy’s system in Green Bay, it’s beneficial because he knows the system inside and out, even though he hasn’t played in it in five or six years at this point. And just everything he’s going through in his career, playing in tens of thousands of snaps, how much experience and knowledge he has — the nuances of playing the position of quarterback, reading coverages, the defensive tendencies — any little thing I can pick up to help me process faster and be more accurate, I’m all in for it." Allar didn’t always play quarterback. His father, Kevin, was Allar’s youth football coach, and as one of the bigger kids on the team, Allar was relegated to playing tight end, fullback, defensive end and linebacker during his early days of tackle football. But the chance to play quarterback full-time emerged in Allar’s first year in high school. "We didn’t have a quarterback my freshman year, and then I always loved throwing from baseball, so I just wanted to try it out," Allar told me. Allar blossomed into a five-star college recruit at Medina High School, a half hour south of Cleveland. During his senior season, Allar totaled 4,444 passing yards and 48 passing touchdowns. He also recorded 406 rushing yards and nine rushing touchdowns. Allar helped to lead Medina to a 13-1 record, earning All-State honors. Allar was also named Mr. Football in Ohio. "High school was fun," Allar told me. "We were five wide and just throwing the ball every time. We were kind of a no-huddle, up-tempo offense. When we got to my senior year, [head coach Larry Laird] was very lenient with me. I probably called like 20 to 30% of the plays at the line of scrimmage my senior year. And that was always in working collaboration with him." Considered a first-round pick at the start of the year, Allar didn’t perform as expected and his final season at Penn State was cut short because of an ankle injury. At 6-foot-5 and 228 pounds and blessed with good movement skills, Allar showed glimpses of developing into an NFL-caliber quarterback, but remains a work in progress in the pros. It will be up to McCarthy and an experienced offensive coaching staff led by offensive coordinator Brian Angelichio and quarterbacks coach Tom Arth to develop Allar’s unique skill set. "I believe in first impressions," McCarthy said about Allar in Pittsburgh’s post-draft press conference with reporters. I had a chance to not only watch him play but meet him at the combine. … I like everything about him. I think he’s got room for growth. He’s a young man that can throw the ball with the best of them, and that’s a great starting point to have." That’s high praise from McCarthy, but an opinion not necessarily shared by an NFL quarterback evaluator I spoke with about Allar. "I think it was a little bit of a surprise pick in the third round, given his production in college," the NFL talent evaluator told me. "He’s got all the physical tools. He’s kind of like a create-a-player in Madden. He’s 6-5 and 230. He can throw the ball a mile. He’s got a very pretty spiral. He’s a guy that scouts absolutely love, but I think the disconnect is you’ve got to become someone who coaches absolutely love in terms of decision-making, timing and accuracy. "I would say he’s a project. In my opinion, he’s got a long way to go. They’re investing in him as a guy that two years from now could have major upside. He’s got the prettiest deep ball on the planet, but I think most coaches would tell you, ‘Yeah, that’s great, but it’s second-and-10, and you overthrew the guy by five yards.’" For the past year, Allar’s worked with John Beck and 3DQB here in Southern California during the offseason to prepare him for the league. Beck also worked with another former McCarthy quarterback in Dak Prescott. Allar said Beck helped to improve his footwork, getting him in better throwing positions. Currently, Allar is No. 4 on the depth chart behind Rodgers, Mason Rudolph and Will Howard, who the Steelers took in the sixth round of last year's draft. But he’s willing to be patient, work on his craft and try to live up to lofty expectations, playing behind one of the best to ever do it in Rodgers. "It’s really just taking it a day at a time," Allar told me. "They do a great job of building it out throughout practice with the quarterback in individual drills. They do a great job of emphasizing things throughout each day, just so I can get that foundation, because the footwork is a little different than what I’m used to. "We were under center a little bit at Penn State, but not in the drop-back game. It was more run game and play-action game. So, just getting cleaner with under-center drops and drop-back footwork. And just really trying to pick up on the nuances of it. Just some different teaching, and it’s really cool to be a part of that. And kind of have another chapter to learn from and grow from. I already feel a lot more comfortable in it, and I know I’ve just got to keep my head down and keep working at it."

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NCAA's New Eligibility Rules Affect Transfers, Rosters And Playing Time

Tyler Shough needed seven years of college football to become a starting NFL quarterback. Under the new eligibility model approved Tuesday, athletes will no longer have that option. Athletes in Division I, the top level of competition, will have five years to complete five seasons of competition, a move the NCAA hopes will add structure to a system stretched into chaos and courtrooms by countless transfers, redshirt decisions, injuries, players seeking more seasons to cash in on NIL opportunities and even pandemic-era complexities. The eligibility clock starts when an athlete enrolls full-time or at the beginning of the academic year following their 19th birthday, whichever occurs first. If the new rules withstand potential legal challenges, the development of college athletes will undergo a dramatic shift. There will be no more traditional redshirt years, nor will there be medical or general extension waivers available; the only limited exceptions for going beyond five-in-five would be for military service, religious missions and maternity leave. Tom Loy, a national recruiting analyst for 247Sports, said he believes the change could keep talented players in college for longer. "In addition, I believe this rule change would have coaches putting a significant emphasis on retaining as much of the current roster as possible, especially upperclassmen, while focusing their attention slightly less on the transfer portal," Loy said in an email. "With the opportunity to play five full seasons, they could have a roster full of 23-year-olds, for example, compared to 18- or 19-year-olds, and beyond that, potentially have a group full of talent they have developed in their system." The End Of The Redshirt Shough spent two seasons at Oregon and three at Texas Tech before suiting up at Louisville as a seventh-year senior in 2024. Injuries, a redshirt season and the pandemic extended his college career, extra time that helped turn him into a second-round draft pick and, eventually, the starting quarterback for the New Orleans Saints. He believes future college athletes should be given the same opportunities. "I think everybody should have a chance to at least get a medical and then a redshirt," Shough said. "I know I benefited from that experience, the maturation process, having to compete multiple years. I feel strongly about that." Detroit Lions rookie defensive lineman Aidan Keanaaina followed a similar path. His six-year college career included an undergraduate stint at Notre Dame and two postgraduate seasons at California following a medical redshirt and pandemic waiver, when the NCAA gave thousands of athletes an extra year. The 5-in-5 would have taken away his final college season in 2025, a year that helped him make his case to NFL scouts. Even so, he understands the effort to bring order to a landscape he described as the wild West. "You can’t please everyone in this world, ever, but they’re trying to please as many people as they can and do right by as many people as possible," said Keanaaina, an undrafted free agent. "As someone who was injured, I think it’s tough to make a one-size-fits-all rule. But I also get that sometimes an older player is taking opportunities away from a younger one." It Could Change Recruiting Or Have Other Ripple Effects While Shough and Keanaaina point to what the new model could eliminate, others believe opportunities will be created elsewhere in college sports. "I think it’s the NCAA’s way of keeping college sports as amateur as possible with the chaos that is the NIL era. It will be good for sports like lacrosse where post-grad and redshirt years are less common than in football," said Kelsey Fee, an assistant women’s lacrosse coach at Dartmouth. "It will open up the portal to a new slew of craziness with kids looking to use their fifth year." Fee said she also thinks the shift will bring an excitement to recruiting that hasn’t been felt in recent years. Loy, the recruiting analyst, said coaches could be more interested in high school prospects "and getting these guys on the field as quickly as possible." "Whether it works out or not, everyone would get a glimpse at where each prospect stands compared to others," he wrote. "The players would get the early playing time, the coaches would see who outperforms who, and then, without the ability to redshirt anyone, a prospect can continue to be developed if they want to stick around and compete. They also wouldn’t just rush to leave and transfer, since they know they have five years to play ball." Green Bay Packers center and 2022 third-rounder Sean Rhyan predicted stricter eligibility guidelines could change the way athletes think about transferring: Once the clock starts ticking, a case can no longer be made to rectify a misstep. "Five for five, that’s fair. I think NIL is good, but I also think it took away that loyalty aspect that I think sports need," Rhyan said. "Having that fixed amount of time is going to bring that loyalty." And then Rhyan added perhaps the most convincing argument of all: "Having like a 27-year-old linebacker or something and then you have a 17-year-old running back ... I think five for five is more than fair." Reporting by the Associated Press.

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NFL Informs QB Brendan Sorsby It Will Not Hold A Supplemental Draft This Year

The biggest storyline of the offseason just had another wrinkle thrown its way. The NFL informed former Texas Tech quarterback Brendan Sorsby on Tuesday that it will not hold a supplement draft this year, instead encouraging him to focus on preparing for possible entry into the league through next year's NFL Draft. Sorsby, who transferred from Cincinnati to Texas Tech this past offseason, applied for the supplemental draft after a legal battle with the NCAA, which had declared him ineligible for making thousands of bets on sporting events worth at least $90,000 during his college career. Those included at least 40 bets on Indiana while he was a freshman there in 2022, though none of the games in which he played for the Hoosiers that season. After spending a month in a residential treatment program, Sorsby sued the NCAA and gained a court-ordered reinstatement that prompted nationwide backlash toward Texas Tech. The controversy led Sorsby to enter this special draft session that has not been used to select a player since 2019. However, since Sorsby was the only player who opted for the supplemental draft – three days before the deadline – the NFL sent a letter to Sorsby regarding their decision to opt out of the draft. "The League has not conducted such a draft for several years and, prior to your submission, the League had no plans to do so this year, as no other player has sought entry," NFL attorney Lawrence P. Ferazani Jr. said in his letter. "Your Petition — filed three business days before the deadline, without any supporting information or documentation, and only after abandoning your recent litigation efforts to avoid NCAA sanctions — does not provide a basis for the League to alter those plans. The issues presented by your Petition are too significant, and too closely tied to the League’s core integrity interests, to permit meaningful review within the timeline presented." With the supplemental draft off the table, Sorsby will not play in the NFL in 2026. His next avenue into the NFL will be the 2027 draft, which will take place in April. Despite no chance for an NFL bid this fall, Sorsby could receive an opportunity to play in the UFL or Canadian Football League. He is currently ineligible to play collegiately under NCAA rules. The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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2026 NFL Offseason: Ranking 15 New Faces In New Places Who'll Make Largest Impact

Through the draft, free agency and trades, NFL teams have added players who they believe will bring them success in 2026. But who are the newcomers poised to make the largest impact on wins and losses for their squads? Here’s my top 15, in descending order: A perennial Pro Bowl fullback, Ricard will be integral in helping the Giants establish the physical brand of football that new head coach John Harbaugh wants. Ricard's lead-blocking skills will clear rush lanes for dual-threat quarterback Jaxson Dart and a balanced running back room that gets Cam Skattebo back from injury. Tate, the No. 4 overall pick, has a good chance of being quarterback Cam Ward’s No. 1 wide receiver as a rookie, opening up a Titans pass game that struggled mightily last season. The Cowboys had the NFL’s worst pass defense a year ago. Enter Downs, selected No. 11 overall out of Ohio State, where he was a two-time All-American. From the nickelback position, Downs — touted as a generational safety prospect — is poised to make a massive difference in the back end with his communication skills, coverage IQ and sure tackling. In Moore, acquired from the Bears for a second-round pick, Josh Allen and the Bills get a bona fide No. 1 wide receiver for the first time since Stefon Diggs’ departure after the 2023 season. Buffalo hasn’t had a pass-catcher reach 900 yards over the past two years. With uncertainty at quarterback, the Cardinals’ offense could run through Love in 2026. Even with such talented pass-catchers as tight end Trey McBride and wide receivers Marvin Harrison Jr. and Michael Wilson, don’t be surprised to see the No. 4 overall pick surpass 1,000 rushing yards as a rookie. The Chiefs’ secondary underwent significant changes this offseason, highlighted by the blockbuster trade of CB Trent McDuffie to the Rams and the loss of Jaylen Watson in free agency. As a rookie, Delane, the No. 6 overall pick and an All-American out of LSU, will be expected to perform like a No. 1 cornerback. Linderbaum, a perennial Pro Bowl center for the Ravens, is expected to take significant pressure off quarterback Kirk Cousins (and eventually No. 1 overall pick Fernando Mendoza) in reading defenses pre-snap at the line of scrimmage. His presence should also create more interior rush lanes for second-year running back Ashton Jeanty, who was frequently hit behind the line of scrimmage as a rookie. The Raiders signed Linderbaum for three years and $81 million, making him the highest-paid interior offensive lineman in NFL history. In McDuffie, a two-time All-Pro selection for Kansas City, the Rams now have a cornerback capable of taking a No. 1 receiver out of the game. Given the explosiveness of its offense, Los Angeles could be playing with the lead quite often in 2026, which makes McDuffie particularly valuable. The Rams sent four picks to the Chiefs for McDuffie, including a first-rounder in 2026. The former Notre Dame standout should immediately step in as RB1 for the reigning Super Bowl champion Seahawks, with Kenneth Walker III signing a free-agent deal with the Chiefs and top backup Zach Charbonnet recovering from a torn ACL. Waddle, acquired via trade in March, gives the Broncos a No. 1-caliber wide receiver and the explosive playmaking their offense has lacked. The speedy Waddle averaged 14.2 yards per reception last season, which would’ve led all Denver pass-catchers. The Ravens signed Hendrickson to a four-year, $112 million contract in March after backing out of a trade with the Raiders for Maxx Crosby. A double-digit sack threat, Hendrickson’s presence could elevate Baltimore's defense to the elite status it had prior to last season. The pass-rush juice he provides should speed up the clock in the pocket for opposing quarterbacks, leading to more playmaking opportunities for Baltimore’s talented secondary. Beyond giving the Patriots a true No. 1 wide receiver, Brown — acquired from the Eagles for a 2028 first-round pick and a 2027 fifth-round pick — is a star who’s shown he’s capable of rising to the occasion in big moments. That’s something New England lacked in its run to the Super Bowl last season. The Pats didn’t have a pass-catcher reach 80 receiving yards in any of their four playoff games. Stefon Diggs, who was their leading receiver during the regular season, didn’t have a postseason appearance with more than 40 yards. Lawrence, the centerpiece of the Bengals’ defensive makeover this offseason, will make a significant impact on Cincinnati’s run defense, which ranked dead last in 2025 (147.1 rushing yards allowed/game). The Bengals gave up the No. 10 overall pick in the 2026 draft for the three-time Pro Bowler. If Murray plays to the Pro Bowl level we saw early in his career in Arizona, the Vikings will get more than a QB1 — they’ll have a player who can lead them back into contention in the NFC North. Plus, after the Cardinals released him, Murray is playing on a one-year, league-minimum deal worth $1.3 million. With Garrett in the fold, the Rams could have the NFL’s best defense by the end of the 2026 season. He’s that much of a force multiplier, making L.A. the heavy favorite to win the Super Bowl. And that's why the Rams traded Pro Bowl edge Jared Verse and three draft picks to Cleveland for the reigning NFL Defensive Player of the Year. With the Rams’ explosive offense, it’s not difficult to envision a scenario where opposing offenses are scrambling for points late in games, providing many opportunities for Garrett to pin his ears back and get after quarterbacks. Just last year, he broke the NFL’s single-season sack record with 23.

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Raise Hail? 49ers WR Brandon Aiyuk Shouts 'Go Commanders' In Social Post

So, Brandon Aiyuk wants to play for the Washington Commanders? The San Francisco 49ers' disgruntled star wide receiver posted a video to Instagram on Sunday that shows him repeatedly saying "Go Commanders" and chanting a handful of their rallying cries such as "Raise Hail" and "Take Command." What's more, Aiyuk posted a picture of former Washington quarterback Mark Rypien hoisting the Lombardi Trophy after the team's Super Bowl XXVI triumph over the Buffalo Bills. Of course, this is just the latest chapter in a two-year saga between Aiyuk and the 49ers that has included the receiver holding out for an extension, which he ultimately received in August 2024. He also made a public pitch to reunite with Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels, Aiyuk's teammate at Arizona State in 2019. After signing his four-year, $120 million deal, Aiyuk tore his ACL and MCL seven games into the 2024 season. He didn't play in 2025, and after there were questions about whether he was healthy enough to return, the 49ers ultimately removed the injury guarantees in his contract. Following the 2025 campaign, San Francisco President of Football Operations John Lynch claimed it was "safe to say" that Aiyuk had "played his last snap with the 49ers." However, the 28-year-old receiver remains on the team's roster, with a robust trade market yet to develop. Aiyuk is entering the second season of his extension and recently called the franchise "stupid." From 2022-23, Aiyuk led the 49ers in both receptions and receiving yards. His best NFL season was in 2023, when he reeled in 75 receptions for 1,342 yards (17.9 yards per reception) and seven touchdowns. Should Aiyuk land in D.C., he'd join a Commanders' wide receiver room that includes two-time Pro Bowler Terry McLaurin, veteran Van Jefferson and 2026 third-round pick Antonio Williams, among others. Aiyuk's former 49ers teammate, wide receiver Deebo Samuel, led Washington in receptions (72), receiving yards (727) and receiving touchdowns (five) last season but remains a free agent. The Commanders are coming off a disappointing 5-12 campaign after reaching the NFC Championship Game in the 2024 season for the first time since 1991. Daniels, the 2024 NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year, was limited to seven games last season due to knee, hamstring and elbow injuries.

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Top 10 QB-WR Duos: Where Do NFL's Newly Formed Combos Rank?

The 2025 season might have marked a changing of the guard in the NFL, and this offseason has seen plenty of shake-ups around the league, too. For years, three-time Super Bowl winner Patrick Mahomes was viewed as the best quarterback in the NFL. But he's now recovering from an ACL tear, and his most reliable target, Travis Kelce, is 36 and could be playing in his final season. So, after forming arguably the best quarterback-receiver duo for multiple seasons, you won't see future Hall of Famers Mahomes and Kelce on a list of the top quarterback-receiver duos in the NFL entering 2026. With the Kansas City Chiefs stars dropping off the list, there's room for other top quarterback-receiving duos to make their way into the top 10, including a handful of newly formed combinations. As the offseason movement has largely settled, let's attempt to identify the top 10 quarterback-receiver duos with just over a month from the start of training camps in July. Yes, I understand the Minnesota Vikings have not officially named a starter in the two-man competition between J.J. McCarthy and Kyler Murray. But for this exercise, we’ll assume Murray will be the guy who emerges as the starter for Week 1. In this career reset for the Oklahoma product, Murray is paired with the best receiver he’s thrown to since entering the league as the No. 1 overall pick in 2019. And for Jefferson, he gets an elite thrower of the football who should more accurately connect with the LSU product on deep shots, while also providing the added dimension to distort the defense and create explosive plays on second reaction throws. Add to it one of the best playcallers in the league in head coach Kevin O’Connell and the Vikings playing most of their games indoors, and we should see some fireworks on offense from Minnesota. The two-time NFL MVP was once again slowed by injuries last season, but Lamar Jackson finally has a No. 1 receiver option on the roster in Zay Flowers. The Boston College product finished seventh in the league in receiving yards (1,211) and eleventh in receptions last year (86). Last season, Flowers eclipsed the 1,000-yard receiving mark for the second time in his three-year NFL career, and at 25 years old, he still has room to grow as a receiver with the 29-year-old Jackson. Brock Purdy has had productive receivers over the years in Deebo Samuel, Brandon Aiyuk and Jauan Jennings. But his security blanket has been tight end George Kittle, particularly in the red zone. And while the most explosive receiver on the roster remains Ricky Pearsall, his most consistent and reliable pass catcher on the perimeter should be free agent addition Mike Evans. The former Tampa Bay Buccaneer posted an NFL-record 11 straight 1,000-yard receiving seasons to begin his career. The concern for San Francisco will be how much Evans, who turns 33 in August, has left in the tank. With Mahomes coming off an injury, Josh Allen has taken the mantle as the most talented quarterback in the league right now. And while Khalil Shakir has shown that he can be a highly productive receiver in the slot, the addition of Moore via trade gives Allen the potential for his most productive receiver on the perimeter since Stefon Diggs left three years ago. Moore hasn’t had a 1,000-yard receiving season since 2023, but if he can stay healthy, that should change this season. Specifically, Allen will do a good job of getting the ball out quickly in space to Moore, allowing him to create big plays after the catch with his elite ability to make defenders miss in space. Drake Maye played well enough to finish one vote shy of winning MVP last season in only his second year as a pro, and that was with Stefon Diggs as his most talented receiver. Now, the addition of Brown gives New England one of the best receivers in the league and should open things up for the rest of the offense. Specifically, Brown’s ability to consistently win on contested catches down the field will create more explosive plays for the extremely accurate Maye. Also, Brown’s 21 receiving touchdowns over the last three seasons are tied for ninth in the NFL over that stretch. He should improve New England’s ability to consistently get into the end zone, particularly in the red zone, in the passing game. Amon-Ra St. Brown is the best slot receiver in the league, and Jared Goff has created a unique chemistry with the USC product. St. Brown has produced a league-high 33 receiving touchdowns over the last three seasons. And Goff’s ability to deliver the ball on time and on target has been a primary reason for St. Brown’s success. St. Brown led all receivers with 59 catches for 618 yards and five touchdowns while aligned from the slot, according to Next Gen Stats. George Pickens was the most productive receiver for Dallas last year in his first season with the Cowboys, finishing with career highs in receptions (93), receiving yards (1,429) and receiving touchdowns (9). However, Dak Prescott has built a stronger rapport with CeeDee Lamb because of their time together. Prescott and Lamb were particularly effective connecting on deep shots. Lamb finished with 12 receptions for 454 yards on catches of 20-plus yards or more, according to Next Gen Stats. Only Jaxon Smith-Njigba (13 receptions for 542 yards) had better numbers. Speaking of Jaxon Smith-Njigba, this past season's NFL Offensive Player of the Year, and his quarterback, Sam Darnold, land here. The Ohio State product set franchise single-season records for receptions (119) and receiving yards (1,793) in 2025. The 1,793 receiving yards are the eighth-most in league history, and his nine 100-yard games led the league during the regular season. Darnold and Smith-Njigba quickly developed chemistry after the QB signed with Seattle last offseason. Darnold and Smith-Njigba connected 31 times for 723 yards and six touchdowns on play-action last season (18.1 yards per attempt), making them the only quarterback-receiver duo to have combined for more than 700 such yards in a season during the Next Gen Stats era (since 2016). Teammates who won a national championship together at LSU, Burrow and Chase developed into the gold standard for quarterback and receiver tandem in the NFL. Chase won the triple crown as the league’s top receiver in 2021, leading the NFL in receptions (127), receiving yards (1,708) and receiving touchdowns (17). Over the last three seasons, Chase is tops in receptions (352), receiving yards (4,336) and 32 touchdown receptions. Only St. Brown (33) has more touchdowns during that time. And since he entered the league in 2020, Burrow leads the league in completion percentage (68.5%), is third in passer rating (101.5) and is seventh in passing touchdowns (157). Matthew Stafford won the league’s MVP award last season for the first time in his 17-year NFL career, dominating the stat sheet. He led the NFL in touchdown passes (46), passing yards (4,707) and finished second in passer rating (109.2). While Davante Adams led the league in touchdown receptions (14), Stafford has developed a potent rapport with the acrobatic catching style of Puka Nacua, who posted the second-most receiving yards by a player in their first three seasons in NFL history, trailing only Justin Jefferson (4,825). In 2025, Nacua finished second in receiving yards (1,715) and tied for sixth in receiving touchdowns (10). Honorable mentions: Denver Broncos QB Bo Nix and WR Courtland Sutton; Washington Commanders QB Jayden Daniels and WR Terry McLaurin; Chicago Bears QB Caleb Williams and WR Rome Odunze; Kansas City Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes and WR Xavier Worthy; Los Angeles Chargers QB Justin Herbert and WR Ladd McConkey.

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