The Bucs have one of the top receiving duos in the NFL. No one contests their standing among the top 10 pairings in the league. Within that top 10, though, the picture becomes considerably murkier. This was the topic of a conversation between WDAE personalities Nick Wize and Chris Mathis recently.
I lost sleep last night over @thechrismathis saying Evans and Godwin today are a better duo than Davonta Smith & AJ Brown and CeeDee Lamb and George Pickens.
— Nick Wize (@iAmNickWize) May 15, 2025
How To Parse The Vibes
Bucs WRs Mike Evans and Chris Godwin – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR
Any discussion looking at rankings is inherently flawed. But we can look to create a process that attempts to create a clearer outlook. I built such a model. Before I get to the results, allow me to define the system.
- Looked at top receiving duos from last year. If pair was together in 2023, used that data as well.
- Only looked at duos who appear at this time to be playing together in 2025.
- Skewed to WR/WR relationships. But if a team had a truly elite tight end that was a top two option, it included the tight end. There were four instances of this.
- Used combined yards/route run in common games (i.e. games where both players played.
- Looked at individual yards/route run for each player as a secondary measurement.
- Included playoffs where applicable.
There were 22 teams included in this list. Pittsburgh just traded George Pickens to Dallas. This creates a pairing with no data together in Dallas and changes the picture with the Steelers significantly. Both teams were left off the list. Similarly, the Jaguars, Jets, Patriots, Titans, Browns, Seahawks, Rams and Panthers all added or subtracted a major weapon this year that warranted their exclusion from this project.
Some judgement calls that I left on the list included the 49ers (lost Deebo Samuel, getting Brandon Aiyuk back from injury – I used George Kittle and Jauan Jennings) and the Commanders (adding Deebo Samuel – I used Terry McLaurin and Zach Ertz).
Also, important to note this uses past data to create a snapshot of a moment in time. It’s not necessarily a forward-looking list. And offensive system/coordinator as well as quarterback’s unquestionably impact the metrics used here. I don’t deny that in the least, but I am also not attempting to stabilize for them either.
With all of that said, here are the tiers, which will include the Bucs’ top duo of Mike Evans and Chris Godwin.
Tier One – The Elite – Two Plus Elements
Dolphins WRs Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle Photo by: USA Today
Miami Dolphins – Tyreek Hill/Jaylen Waddle
Common games: 29
Combined yards/route run: 2.26 (2nd)
Tyreek Hill: 2.63 yards/route run (3rd among top options) – 2,371 yards
Jaylen Waddle: 1.88 yards/route run (5th among second options) – 1,647 yards
Hill and Waddle have been an incredibly productive and unique pair since Hill arrived in Miami three years ago. The two also overlap each other in which areas of the field they attack and do damage in. 57% of Hill’s targets last year came from 10+ air yards while Waddle had over 80% of his production come from 0-19 air yards. Both attacked the intermediate part of the field aggressively.
Houston Texans – Nico Collins/Tank Dell
Common games: 19
Combined yards/route run: 2.37 (1st)
Nico Collins: 2.85 yards/route run (1st among top options) – 1,669 yards
Tank Dell: 1.87 yards/route run (7th among second options) – 1,063 yards
Tank Dell is not considered among the masses as a top echelon #2 yet. There is also a very real chance he does not play a snap in 2025. But looking at the last two years, both he and Collins can attack every level of the field, which amplifies their threat level to defenses. That shows in their combined yards/route run. Collins still doesn’t get enough flowers as he has emerged as one of the best true X’s in the league.
Philadelphia Eagles – A.J. Brown/DeVonta Smith
Common games: 31
Combined yards/route run: 2.19 (4th)
A.J. Brown: 2.52 yards/route run (5th among top options) – 2,514 yards
DeVonta Smith: 1.88 yards/route run (6th among second options) – 1,934 yards
This goes to the heart of the Nick Wize/Chris Mathis debate. Brown and Smith have been two of the most consistent performers within their respective roles in the NFL. Bother are elite producers, and like Waddle and Hill, their skillsets lend to synergy within the offense. In 2024, Smith was a short area bucket-getter while Brown was the intermediate-to-deep threat.
Bucs WRs Chris Godwin and Mike Evans – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR
Tampa Bay Bucs – Mike Evans/Chris Godwin
Common games: 26
Combined yards/route run: 2.04 (7th)
Mike Evans: 2.18 yards/route run (11th among top options) – 1,785 yards
Chris Godwin: 1.91 yards/route run (1st among second options) – 1,685 yards
While their overall yards/route run is a bit lower than a few other teams that are ranked behind them, Evans and Godwin still qualify for the elite tier because of the quality of both options. Godwin is the top #2 by the yards/route run metric and Evans is in the second tier of top options. And as is the theme for the pairings listed so far, the two round out the offense together with Godwin working as the bucket-getter short and inside while Evans pushes the defense vertically and as the outside winner.
Detroit Lions – Amon-Ra St. Brown/Jameson Williams
Common games: 30
Combined yards/route run: 2.13 (5th)
Amon-Ra St. Brown: 2.42 yards/route run (6th among top options) – 1,094 yards
Jameson Williams: 1.74 yards/route run (11th among second options) – 835 yards
I had half a mind to swap Williams for tight end Sam LaPorta, who had a phenomenal rookie campaign, but saw his production fall off in 2024. I think that has everything to do with how Detroit would prefer the offense to run. Namely, that St. Brown is the engine while Williams is the secondary choice and LaPorta is the tertiary option. Williams is on the up after some injury and immaturity issues cost him games his first couple of seasons. If he continues his ascent into 2025, this duo could be near or at the top of this list next year.
Cincinnati Bengals – Ja’Marr Chase/Tee Higgins
Common games: 23
Combined yards/route run: 2.01 (8th)
Ja’Marr Chase: 2.21 yards/route run (8th among top options) – 2,028 yards
Jameson Williams: 1.78 yards/route run (9th among second options) – 1,427 yards
The talent of these two is undeniable. Chase may be the best receiver in the NFL right now. He just got paid as such coming off of a triple-crown season. Higgins would have undoubtedly become the Patriots’ X receiver. As it is, despite both rating high within the NFL consciousness, they don’t rank near the tippy top in yards/route run of these duos. Some of this is due to the unique system they work in and how defenses are trying to take the deep ball away from them. Both receivers win at similar depths, and neither was targeted deep very much last year.
Tier Two – At Least One Elite Element
Bucs ILB Lavonte David and Chargers WR Ladd McConkey – Photo by: USA Today
Los Angeles Chargers – Ladd McConkey/Quentin Johnston
Common games: 14
Combined yards/route run: 2.23 (3rd)
Ladd McConkey: 2.75 yards/route run (2nd among top options) – 1,146 yards
Quentin Johnston: 1.66 yards/route run (12th among second options) – 641 yards
Any list that includes Quentin Johnston as a part of a tier two weapons group is bound to be scrutinized. That is more than fair. But here are the facts. In games he played with McConkey, he averaged more yards per route run than Marvin Harrison Jr., Jordan Addison and Travis Kelce did in equivalent situations. Now much of that can be attributed to how dominant McConkey was last season and how much he opened things up for Johnston to take a step forward.
And Johnston did precisely that. He moved from non-starting caliber in his rookie year, to a volatile, but quasi-productive starter in year two. McConkey for his part was near unstoppable. And that invites the first debate of an elite #1 producer vs. two very good options. Despite having the third-best combined production, I kept this duo out of tier one but led off tier two with them.
Minnesota Vikings – Justin Jefferson/Jordan Addison
Common games: 26
Combined yards/route run: 2.05 (6th)
Justin Jefferson: 2.53 yards/route run (4th among top options) – 2,451 yards
Jordan Addison: 1.54 yards/route run (17th among second options) – 1,378 yards
This is one where name value probably exceeds production value. That statement is purely about Addison and in no way reflective of Jefferson. But there are fascinating levels to this. When Jefferson has been out of lineup, Addison has produced like a superstar. But when Jefferson is in the lineup, Addison has averaged just 53 yards per game. That’s not poor by any means, but it’s not excellent.
Atlanta Falcons – Drake London/Darnell Mooney
Common games: 16
Combined yards/route run: 2.01 (9th)
Drake London: 2.13 yards/route run (13th among top options) – 1,084 yards
Darnell Mooney: 1.88 yards/route run (4th among second options) – 992 yards
This would be a pair I would bet on to continue to ascend. It is also the first pair in this tier where the “elite” element is the secondary option. When I use the term elite, it is within the sense of the production for the weapon classification. Mooney is one of the best producing #2’s in this sample. Just a couple of short years ago Chicago thought highly enough of him to try and see if he could be a true X. London, for his part, started to level-up as offensive coordinator Zac Robinson moved him to the slot. A full season there could see him continue to elevate into another tier.
Ravens TE Mark Andrews and former Bucs S Keanu Neal – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR
Baltimore Ravens – Zay Flowers/Mark Andrews
Common games: 28
Combined yards/route run: 1.97 (10th)
Zay Flowers: 2.02 yards/route run (15th among top options) – 1,684 yards
Mark Andrews: 1.90 yards/route run (2nd among second options) – 1,232 yards
Quarterback Lamar Jackson’s presence has allowed Baltimore to operate without a legitimate star X receiver for many years. Instead, Jackson and the scheme have been able to elevate other elements. Flowers is a fantastic separator and Andrews, despite age and injuries starting to catch up with him, is still highly productive. They may not seem like a traditional top/producing tandem, but they generate offense like one.
Indianapolis Colts – Michael Pittman Jr./Josh Downs
Common games: 29
Combined yards/route run: 1.91 (12th)
Michael Pittman Jr.: 1.92 yards/route run (20th among top options) – 1,866 yards
Josh Downs: 1.88 yards/route run (3rd among second options) – 1,463 yards
Like Atlanta, the elite element here is in the complimentary piece in Downs. Pittman is a bucket-getter who can be counted on to move the chains but doesn’t offer the same big-play upside that many of the top guys above him bring to the table. This duo is the first on the list where the quarterback consideration can play heavily into moving them up.
Tier Three – Solid Pairings
Buffalo Bills – Khalil Shakir/Keon Coleman
Common games: 14
Combined yards/route run: 1.91 (13th)
Khalil Shakir: 2.20 yards/route run (10th among top options) – 731 yards
Keon Coleman: 1.59 yards/route run (15th among second options) – 498 yards
Raiders TE Brock Bowers – Photo by: USA Today
Las Vegas Raiders – Brock Bowers/Jakobi Meyers
Common games: 14
Combined yards/route run: 1.86 (15th)
Brock Bowers: 1.98 yards/route run (17th among top options) – 1,030 yards
Jakobi Meyers: 1.76 yards/route run (10th among second options) – 1,027 yards
New Orleans Saints – Chris Olave/Rashid Shaheed
Common games: 20
Combined yards/route run: 1.84 (16th)
Chris Olave: 1.99 yards/route run (16th among top options) – 1,256 yards
Rashid Shaheed: 1.78 yards/route run (8th among second options) – 1,032 yards
Arizona Cardinals – Trey McBride/Marvin Harrison Jr.
Common games: 16
Combined yards/route run: 1.89 (14th)
Trey McBride: 2.14 yards/route run (12th among top options) – 1,146 yards
Marvin Harrison Jr.: 1.63 yards/route run (13th among second options) – 840 yards
Green Bay Packers – Jayden Reed/Romeo Doubs
Common games: 32
Combined yards/route run: 1.82 (17th)
Jayden Reed: 2.10 yards/route run (14th among top options) – 1,581 yards
Romeo Doubs: 1.59 yards/route run (16th among second options) – 1,443 yards
New York Giants – Malik Nabers/Darius Slayton
Common games: 14
Combined yards/route run: 1.60 (20th)
Malik Nabers: 2.23 yards/route run (7th among top options) – 1,154 yards
Darius Slayton: 0.88 yards/route run (22nd among second options) – 394 yards
Shakir is phenomenal at creating quick space and Coleman should improve in year two. Bowers and Meyers are a bet I’m willing to take moving up several notches this year with competent quarterback play. They are a much more dangerous one-two punch than most might think. Olave and Sheed have been extremely productive when they are on the field together. That just seems to be more of an exception than a rule these days and their quarterback play is most likely going to take a dive in 2025.
McBride and Harrison Jr. should level up this year. Reed and Doubs may get broken up with the addition of first round draft pick Matthew Golden. Neither player is a coverage tilter and that’s what Green Bay hopes Golden can provide. Nabers is only limited by his quarterback and Slayton is well-regarded in NFL circles if he can get consistent play around him.
Tier Four – Needs Upgrading
Denver Broncos – Courtland Sutton/Devaughn Vele
Common games: 14
Combined yards/route run: 1.74 (18th)
Courtland Sutton: 1.96 yards/route run (19th among top options) – 970 yards
Devaughn Vele: 1.43 yards/route run (19th among second options) – 475 yards
Washington Commanders – Terry McLaurin/Zach Ertz
Common games: 20
Combined yards/route run: 1.66 (19th)
Terry McLaurin: 1.97 yards/route run (18th among top options) – 1,323 yards
Zach Ertz: 1.32 yards/route run (20th among second options) – 809 yards
Chiefs TE Travis Kelce and Bucs NCB Tykee Smith – Photo by: USA Today
Kansas City – Xavier Worthy/Travis Kelce
Common games: 19
Combined yards/route run: 1.50 (21st)
Xavier Worthy: 1.51 yards/route run (21st among top options) – 925 yards
Travis Kelce: 1.49 yards/route run (18th among second options) – 998 yards
Chicago Bears – D.J. Moore/Rome Odunze
Common games: 17
Combined yards/route run: 1.31 (22nd)
D.J. Moore: 1.44 yards/route run (22nd among top options) – 966 yards
Rome Odunze: 1.18 yards/route run (21st among second options) – 734 yards
Vele ran more routes last year than Marvin Mims, which is why I noted him as a part of Denver’s pairing. Mims was a much more productive and efficient receiver though. If Mims solidifies himself as the #2 option, then Denver made the upgrade that the tier denotes is needed. Washington made their effort to upgrade from Ertz as the secondary option by trading for Deebo Samuel. McLaurin is one of the most underrated receivers in the NFL. A healthy Samuel would go a long way to fully unlocking McLaurin.
Rashee Rice is expected back in Kansas City this year. He and Worthy should turn into the top two options for Patrick Mahomes, lessening his dependency on a declining Kelce and increasing the upside of that offense. Moore and Odunze’s production were both hampered by the presence and of Keenan Allen last year. His departure, paired with the introduction of new head coach Ben Johnson should push both players to produce more. Of all the duos in this category, this one has the best chance to jump all the way to the top.