Dez Bryant. Alonzo Adams-USA TODAY Sports

Dez Bryant names NFL's top five receivers

By Bruce Ewing | Last updated 8/16/23

When asked to name the top five active wide receivers in the NFL, former Cowboys receiver Dez Bryant had four good picks but dropped the ball at No. 5.

Speaking to Felipe Fontes of The Game Day NFL, Bryant named Justin Jefferson of the Minnesota Vikings as the NFL’s top wide receiver. No argument here. Jefferson led the league with 1,809 yards and 128 receptions last year, and he’s been flying off the board as the No. 1 pick in fantasy drafts all summer long.

The NFL’s second-best receiver, according to Bryant, is the Las Vegas Raiders’ Davante Adams. Once again, Bryant makes a fine choice. The former Packer had 14 touchdowns to lead the league in 2022, three more than any other receiver.

Odell Beckham Jr. in the top 5?!

How do you feel about @DezBryant's top 5 NFL wide receivers?@TheFelipeFontes pic.twitter.com/yTWi2R6pxp
— The Game Day NFL (@TheGameDayNFL) August 16, 2023

Cincinnati Bengals star Ja'Marr Chase is next on the list. With 1,455 yards and 14 touchdowns, Chase was named AP Offensive Rookie of the Year in 2021. He missed five games in 2022 but still had nine touchdowns and more than 1,000 yards.

CeeDee Lamb’s 1,359 yards were sixth-most in the NFL last year and good enough for fourth place in Bryant’s rankings. Kudos to Bryant for being objective here. It would have been easy for the former Cowboy to put Dallas' top receiver in the top three.

He should have stopped there but after a long pause, and with a straight face, Bryant named the Ravens’ Odell Beckham Jr. as the league’s fifth-best wide receiver. For the record, Beckham didn't play at all in 2022 thanks to an ACL injury and has just 856 yards since 2020.

Beckham’s best year came in 2015 when he had 1,450 yards and 13 touchdowns for the New York Giants. So what was Bryant thinking? According to reports, Beckham is looking good in camp, but is he really better than Philadelphia’s A.J. Brown or Miami’s Tyreek Hill?

Perhaps it’s wishful thinking. Bryant had his fair share of adversity in his playing days, maybe he just wants Beckham to succeed after missing an entire season. He should do well with Lamar Jackson throwing him the ball, but the fifth-best receiver? Come on, Dez.

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