The Philadelphia Eagles have owned the NFC East rankings thus far. They remained the top offensive line in the division because of the question marks the Dallas Cowboys have at offensive tackle. They took tight end by a large margin, and have a star running back in Saquon Barkley. Only Dak Prescott’s dominance at quarterback position has prevented a clean sweep to this point. The Washington Commanders and New York Giants continue the battle for the bottom of the division.
The receiver position was put on hold until after June 1st due to the anticipated trade of stud Eagles receiver, A.J. Brown. He has been a Top-10 player at his position, thus factoring too heavily in the hierarchy. Dallas still has two top-tier receivers, but Philadelphia could have a worse top receiving option than the Giants if Nabers is healthy or even Terry McLaurin from the Commanders. The rankings aren’t just the best No. 1 receiving option, but the depth at the position as well.
4: Washington Commanders
The Commanders don’t offer much at the receiver position. Terry McLaurin has been an underappreciated top receiver, but he is coming off a down season due to a holdout, injuries and loss of his QB. He had just 38 catches last year in 10 games.
Washington doesn’t have much behind him either. Luke McCaffrey has 29 receptions for 371 yards and three touchdowns in two seasons. Dyami Brown added 227 receiving yards and one touchdown in 2025, and Treylon Burks has 385 receiving yards and one touchdown combined over the last three seasons. The team drafted good run-after-catch Clemson prospect Antonio Williams in the third round this April.
Jayden Daniels is being asked to be a miracle worker in his third season, coming off an injury in Washington.
3: New York Giants
The Giants lost their WR2, Wan’Dale Robinson, to free agency, seeing his 92 catches and over 1,000 receiving yards head to Tennessee. Adding JuJu Smith-Schuster and Odell Beckham Jr. in early June adds little value to the Giants’ receiving room. They combined for 33 receptions for 345 yards and a touchdown in 2025. Jalin Hyatt has declined through each of his three seasons in the NFL. Darnell Mooney and Darius Slayton combined for less than 1,000 yards receiving and two combined touchdowns in 2025.
Malik Nabers is the Giants’ only star and a top-three receiver in the division, which keeps them out the basement, but it’s unknown when he will return from his major knee injury, and if he will be the same special player this year.
2: Philadelphia Eagles
Brown was arguably the best receiver in the division, considering he had a much worse quarterback than the one throwing to CeeDee Lamb and George Pickens. His loss will damage Philadelphia. Hurts has a nearly 80%-win percentage with Brown in the lineup and is under .500 without him. DeVonta Smith has averaged over 80 receptions for over 1,000 yards and seven touchdowns in his career with the Eagles. Still, he now takes on all the top coverage guys and shaded coverages, and it’s unknown how he manages that aspect of the Brown trade.
Their second receiver is rookie first-round pick Makai Lemon out of USC, who they traded up (with Dallas) to acquire. New OC Sean Mannion is preaching target distribution, so depth is vital in Philly. Newly acquired Dontayvion Wicks has seen his yardage decline all three seasons with the Green Bay Packers, while Hollywood Brown had over 500 yards and five touchdowns for the Kansas City Chiefs.
1: Dallas Cowboys
CeeDee Lamb went into the season as a top-five receiver, and George Pickens played like a top-five receiving option in 2025.
After averaging 1,100 snaps in 2022 and 2023, Lamb saw just 730 in 2025 and still put up 1,000 yards. Pickens had nearly 100 receptions, over 1,400 yards, nine touchdowns, and averaged over 15 yards per reception. Having two Top-10 receivers who could both end up as top five is unmatched in the NFL in 2026, but the Cowboys have phenomenal depth, too.
Ryan Flournoy showed himself as a capable second receiving option in his second season in the league. He had two 100-yard games, nearly 500 yards, and four touchdowns in only four starts. He may get 75% or more to 1,000 yards as the third receiver option all year. KaVontae Turpin is a unique fourth receiving option on a team because of his ability as a gadget guy. The speed to beat any corner deep and the ability to take any run or screen to the house are tough to defend from a fourth receiving option. Dallas has the best receiving unit in the league, much less the division, in 2026.
You can find Mike Crum on Twitter @cdpiglet or on YouTube at Across the Cowboys podcast
This article originally appeared on Cowboys Wire: Ranking NFC East wideout rooms is question of separation at this point
Reporting by Mike Crum, Cowboys Wire / Cowboys Wire
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By Mike Crum, Cowboys Wire | USA TODAY Network
