Wide receiver is one of the most valuable positions in the NFL based on wins above replacement and how impactful it is for the overall success of a team. The counterpoint to that is how easy it is to find capable players, which can’t be said about offensive and defensive linemen, for instance.

And this year’s free agency is a reflection of those premises. There aren’t truly elite players on the market, because teams extend those early, but there are several good contributors.

Chris Godwin, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

The Bucs are inclined not to franchise tag Godwin again going into his third NFL contract. He is coming off an ankle dislocation, but otherwise has been an impressively productive receiver. Between 2019 and 2023, he had four 1,000-yard receiving seasons, plus a big playoff campaign in 2020 when the Bucs won the Super Bowl. If he's fully healthy, Godwin is clearly the best option in free agency at 29.

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Stefon Diggs, Houston Texans

Diggs was acquired by the Texans to elevate their offense, but missed the second half of the season with a knee injury. He has to get back from the ACL and is 31, factors that add uncertainty to the situation. But last year he was still producing at a decent level before the injury, finishing the season with 496 yards and three touchdowns in eight games.

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Amari Cooper, Buffalo Bills

Cooper is 30 and had a down season in 2024. He had 250 yards in six games for the Cleveland Browns, then was traded and had 297 yards in eight games for the Buffalo Bills. In the playoffs, the veteran was basically a non-factor, with 41 yards in three games. However, he's had four 1,000-yard seasons over the past six years, including 1,250 yards in 2023. The regression may be a concern, but there are solid reasons to think he can still have something left in the tank.

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Marquise Brown, Kansas City Chiefs

Hollywood is a good combination of age (27), talent, and production. He missed almost the entire season in 2024 with a sternoclavicular injury suffered during the preseason, but was healthy enough to play two regular season games and the playoffs. The Chiefs want him back, but he might generate interest around the league as a good value in free agency.

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Darius Slayton, New York Giants

Slayton doesn't have a high ceiling, but he has a well-established floor, and that has value. He had at least 700 yards in four of his five NFL seasons, including the last two, but at the same time hasn't had a season with over 800 yards. A former fifth-round pick, he's been with the New York Giants since 2019 and is 28, so he might have at least two seasons of decent production before age truly hits.

Other options: Keenan Allen, DeAndre Hopkins, Diontae Johnson, Brandin Cooks, Mack Hollins, DJ Chark, Elijah Moore, Dyami Brown, Marquez Valdes-Scantling, JuJu Smith-Schuster.

Darius Slayton can finally reach his true potential thanks to the value he represents in upcoming NFL free agency

The wide receiver market has exploded over the years, but that shouldn't be the case with New York Giants wide receiver Darius Slayton. It has nothing to do with the talented receiver's skillset or anything like that, either. It's mostly due to the fact he's had to deal with Daniel Jones at quarterback and a […]