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Top 25 NFL wide receivers of the 21st century

By Jarrett Bailey

SEATTLE, WASHINGTON - NOVEMBER 19: Larry Fitzgerald #11 of the Arizona Cardinals stands on the side of the field during their game against the Seattle Seahawks at Lumen Field on November 19, 2020 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Abbie Parr/Getty Images)
SEATTLE, WASHINGTON - NOVEMBER 19: Larry Fitzgerald #11 of the Arizona Cardinals stands on the side of the field during their game against the Seattle Seahawks at Lumen Field on November 19, 2020 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Abbie Parr/Getty Images) /
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CINCINNATI, OH – DECEMBER 21: A.J. Green #18 of the Cincinnati Bengals catches a pass against the Pittsburgh Steelers at Paul Brown Stadium on December 21, 2020 in Cincinnati, Ohio. (Photo by Jamie Sabau/Getty Images)
CINCINNATI, OH – DECEMBER 21: A.J. Green #18 of the Cincinnati Bengals catches a pass against the Pittsburgh Steelers at Paul Brown Stadium on December 21, 2020 in Cincinnati, Ohio. (Photo by Jamie Sabau/Getty Images) /

17. A.J. Green

If you are making a list of the best receivers in Cincinnati Bengals history, the person at the top of that list is Adriel Jeremiah Green.

The former No. 4 overall pick came into the NFL as an instant star, making the Pro Bowl in each of his first seven seasons. Green averaged over 16 yards per reception in 2011, hauling in 65 passes for 1,057 yards and seven touchdowns. It was 2012 where Green took his play to a borderline elite level. He caught 97 passes for over 1,300 yards and 11 touchdowns. He topped that performance the next season with 1,426 yards on 98 catches and once again caught 11 touchdowns.

Even while missing six games in 2016, Green made it to the Pro Bowl, and was just 36 yards away from another 1,000 yard season. He topped 1,000 yards in 2017 on 75 receptions while also scoring eight more touchdowns.

Green is one of the best deep threats of his era, and also one of the best at going up and coming down with 50-50 balls. Now in Arizona at age 33, he is still putting up good numbers as he chases his first Super Bowl with Kyler Murray and the Cardinals.

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