10 All-Time Greatest Wide Receivers

You’re arguing with your friends and everyone is taking bets on the ten all-time greatest wide receivers. You would be safe with this list anytime and anywhere.  All you’d have to do is look at what these guys have accomplished.

1. Jerry Rice- What more can you say? The guy played for twenty years with the 49ers and had two of the best quarterbacks playing the game in Joe Montana and Steve Young. Though he came from a small college, Mississippi Valley State, and people could barely understand him when he got to San Francisco, he spoke volumes with his work ethic and amazing all-time hall of fame performances.
2. Michael Irvin- This former Miami Hurricane and Dallas Cowboy was known to work hard and play hard. Despite his off field adventures, Irvin was one of the most fearless receivers to ever run a crossing pattern. He terrorized defenses with his size and strength. Most receivers don't like going into the middle where oversized linebackers and hard-hitting safeties lurk, but that's where Irvin thrived.
3. Chris Carter- Another big strong receiver, Carter was explosive off the ball and was almost impossible to jam. As a Viking legend, he could run the deep route or the out route, and once inside the opposing twenty yard line, was a shoe in to go up and grab a touch down with his acrobatics.
4. Steve Largent– Mr. Clutch. Anytime, anywhere, any weather, against any team. He could pick up a quick first down or go over the top for a big gain. Playing in Seattle and never having an all-star quarterback, Largent seemed to accomplish the incredible, somehow catching balls that were either too high or too low.
5. Lynn Swann- The original human highlight reel of the 70's, as far as wide receivers went, he helped make Terry Bradshaw and the Steelers look great. Swann was a high flyer who seemed to be able to fly with his enormous leaping ability and one armed, fingertip catches. With four super bowl rings how could he not be on this list?
6. Art Monk- Nobody ran the slant route like Monk. As a Redskin, he played in the age of smaller receivers but was perfect to get underneath the coverage in front of the linebackers, then turn on the speed and convert a ten yard pass into a thirty yard gain. Although his size played to his disadvantage when a tenacious Lester Hayes shut him down in the Super Bowl, playing bump and run Hayes would barely let Monk off the line.  When Monk did get off Hayes smothered him like a wet blanket. A blemish on an otherwise heroic career.
7. Terrell Owens- Another big, strong, powerful receiver. He became the definition of physical prowess. Built more like a boxer, with broad shoulders and abs of steel, he barely felt tacklers in his heyday. He was also know to have hands like glue and rarely dropped a pass. Temperamental and often misunderstood, T.O. was, and still is, a great competitor. His best years were spent under Jerry Rice’s tutelage with the 49ers.
8. Cliff Branch- Also playing in the age of the smaller receiver, Branch was a Raiders standout. Another high flyer, known to chase down passes and frustrate defenses, he was a smart player with precision routes
9. Randy Moss- Football player, basketball player, and track star rolled into one, he took the Vikings to new heights. Tall and lanky, Moss could go up high and catch any ball over most defenders. Sometimes he didn't even use both hands, just fending the defender off with one and catching the football with the other. The catch was only the beginning of the thrill because once Moss had it, he was headed for the end zone and often outran and embarrassed many a defensive back.
10. James Lofton- A Packers great. Smart, durable and the ultimate team player. You'd have to be durable catching passes in the freezing Green Bay temperatures where the ball feels more like a brick.