The Best Wide Receiver Classes in NFL Draft History | News, Scores, Highlights, Stats, and Rumors
The Headliner: No. 89 pick Terrell Owens (1,078 receptions, 15,934 yards, 153 TD, 165 AV)
There were quite a few antics and controversies throughout T.O.'s career, but he was largely worth the trouble. Only Jerry Rice and Larry Fitzgerald have more career receiving yards than Owens, and the only players with more touchdowns are Rice and Randy Moss.
Strangely enough, Owens never led the league in receiving yards, but he eclipsed 1,000 yards nine times. He was No. 1 in receiving touchdowns three times during his six-time Pro Bowl, five-time All-Pro career.
And though he never got a Super Bowl ring, he did have one of the most heroic performances of all time, recording nine catches for 122 yards in Super Bowl XXXIX just seven weeks after undergoing surgery to repair a broken leg and torn ligaments in his ankle.
Supporting Act: No. 19 pick Marvin Harrison (1,102 receptions, 14,580 yards, 128 TD, 161 AV)
Harrison is also top-10 in all-time receiving yards, sitting at No. 9 on that list. Unlike Owens, Peyton Manning's go-to guy twice led the league in yards in 1999 (1,663 yards) and 2002 (1,722 yards). From 1999-2006, he had at least 1,100 yards and 10 touchdowns in eight consecutive seasons. He was selected to the Pro Bowl in all eight years.
Undercard
No. 43 pick Muhsin Muhammad (860 receptions, 11,438 yards, 62 TD, 106 AV)
No. 1 pick Keyshawn Johnson (814 receptions, 10,571 yards, 64 TD, 98 AV)
No. 24 pick Eric Moulds (764 receptions, 9,995 yards, 49 TD, 93 AV)
No. 18 pick Eddie Kennison (548 receptions, 8,345 yards, 42 TD, 86 AV)
No. 34 pick Amani Toomer (668 receptions, 9,497 yards, 54 TD, 85 AV)
No. 7 pick Terry Glenn (593 receptions, 8,823 yards, 44 TD, 82 AV)
No. 135 pick Joe Horn (603 receptions, 8,744 yards, 58 TD, 81 AV)
I mean, come on. This is ridiculous.
There are 87 players in NFL history with at least 8,300 career receiving yards, and more than 10 percent of them came from this one draft class. In addition to the 14 Pro Bowls garnered by Owens and Harrison, this septet combined for 13 such honors—and the best touchdown celebration ever.
Had it just been Jerry Rice and Andre Reed vs. Owens and Harrison, 1985 would have won this battle comfortably. But because of Muhammad, Johnson and the rest of the undercard, it wasn't even remotely a difficult decision to put 1996 in the top spot.
