Top 30 athletes under 30

6. Dez Bryant, Dallas Cowboys – 26 years old

We’ve already been through three wide receivers and a tight end, but this list just wouldn’t be valid without No. 88.

Dez Bryant holding the title as the NFL’s best wide receiver is probably the least crazy thing that can be said right now.

Bryant is another one who entered the league with some off-the-field drama going on. The Dallas Cowboys strategically worded his contract to minimize his off-field incidents, and it has worked (supposedly). There’s been some drama with Bryant, but it hasn’t come to a head — yet.

As of late, the most controversial thing about Tony Romo’s favorite target was his catch that wasn’t a catch in the NFC Divisional Game against the Green Bay Packers. Dallas could have very easily been in the NFC Championship against the Seattle Seahawks, but… well, we all know the story by now.

Still, the No. 24 overall pick from the 2010 NFL Draft has the numbers to back up his claim for best pass catcher in the league. In his first two years, Bryant totaled 15 touchdowns, 1,489 receiving yards and 108 catches.

In his last three seasons he’s averaged: 14 touchdowns, 1,311 receiving yards and 91 receptions. Sounds pretty good, doesn’t it? In fact, he led the NFL with 16 touchdown receptions last year, so that helps his case as well.

Bryant may be missing part of the current season with a broken bone in his foot, but there is no doubt he’ll regain form when he eventually returns to the Cowboys’ starting lineup. He’s a 6-foot-2, 225-pound touchdown machine.

He’ll go down as one of the greats.

Next: No. 5 Ronda Rousey