Ranking the 2010 NFL Passing Offenses (mine)

[nj meadowlands]

Ranking the 2010 NFL Passing Offenses

This list attempts to rank from 1-32 the NFL's best passing offenses. The focus of the rankings was the (talent of) teams' receiving corps, but it also takes very much into account the teams' tight ends and, of course, quarterbacks. Admittedly, this list does not pay great attention to the teams' offensive lines (see: #4), but it is assumed that the pass protection will be at least passable for all of the top teams. Enjoy!

1. Indianapolis – Reggie Wayne, Pierre Garcon, Austin Collie. TE: Dallas Clark. QB: Peyton Manning

With Peyton Manning, Reggie Wayne, and Dallas Clark all still essentially in their primes, this group is still the class of the NFL.

2. Dallas – Miles Austin, Roy Williams, Dez Bryant, Patrick Crayton. TE: Jason Witten. QB: Tony Romo

By midseason, if not sooner, Dez Bryant will have surpassed Roy Williams as Tony Romo’s #2 target (#3 if you count Jason Witten, probably the best all around TE in the game today)

3. New Orleans – Marques Colston, Devery Henderson, Robert Meachem, Lance Moore. TE: Jeremy Shockey. QB: Drew Brees

Quarterbacks count for something in this ranking, and Drew Brees has finally cemented himself in the public eye as being as good as they come. The corps of Colston, Henderson, and Meachem has been stellar for a few years now.

4. Cincinnati – Chad Ochocinco, Terrell Owens, Antonio Bryant, Andre Caldwell, Jordan Shipley. TE: Jermaine Gresham. QB: Carson Palmer

Last year Carson Palmer sputtered a little bit. This year, he adds a hall of famer, a 1,000 yard receiver in 2010, and a first round talent at TE, and a scrappy rookie slot receiver. If Ocho and TO get along, and Palmer plays like Palmer, this ranking is more than justified.

5. Minnesota – Sidney Rice, Bernard Berrian, Percy Harvin. TE: Visanthe Shiancoe. QB: Brett Favre

Let’s be honest: Brett is coming back. And Rice, Berrian, and Harvin might be the best trio in the NFC.

6. New England – Randy Moss, Wes Welker, Julian Edelman, Torry Holt. TE: Alge Crumpler. QB: Tom Brady

Sorry, Jet fans. This ranking is entirely contingent on the condition of Wes Welker’s knee. When healthy (and trying), Moss and Welker are the league’s best duo. Tom Brady keeps this group ahead of the Jets’.

7. New York Jets – Braylon Edwards, Santonio Holmes, Jerricho Cotchery. TE: Dustin Keller. QB: Mark Sanchez

Speaking of, what a job by Mike Tannenbaum to put together this unit for a 2010 run. Maybe the only unit in the league possessing 3 WR’s with #1 potential. They get a full offseason to work with developing/emerging QB Mark Sanchez, and Dustin Keller is primed for huge things.

8. Baltimore – Anquan Boldin, Derrick Mason, Donte Stallworth, Mark Clayton. TE: Todd Heap. QB: Joe Flacco

In his third NFL season, Delware product Joe Flacco is the goods. He gets to throw to three guys, Boldin, Mason, and Heap, who are talented and tough as nails.

9. Atlanta – Roddy White, Michael Jenkins, Harry Douglas. TE: Tony Gonzalez. QB: Matt Ryan

Tony Gonzalez still has a lot in the tank, and Roddy White has developed into one of the premier talents in the NFC.

10. Houston – Andre Johnson, Kevin Walter, Jacoby Jones. TE: Owen Daniels. QB: Matt Schaub

Kind of seems absurd to have the league’s top QB-WR tandem ranked so low, but the options for Schaub after Andre Johnson aren’t that impressive.

11. Green Bay – Donald Driver, Greg Jennings, Jordy Nelson. TE: Jermichael Finley. QB: Aaron Rodgers

This might be the year when Aaron Rodgers makes Packer fans everywhere forget Brett Favre. He’s worked with Driver and Jennings for years, and Jermichael Finley is an emerging talent.

12. Arizona – Larry Fitzgerald, Steve Breason, Early Doucet. TE: Ben Patrick. QB: Matt Leinart

Losing Warner and Boldin is devastating, but the Cardinals still have the National Football League’s most purely talented receiver. Steve Breaston has developed as well. But if Matt Leinart sputters, it won’t matter.

13. New York Giants – Steve Smith, Hakeem Nicks, Mario Manningham. TE: Kevin Boss. QB: Eli Manning

The Giants have one of the NFL’s best young receiving corps, and a solid TE option. If Eli Manning plays with confidence, it certainly won’t be the passing game that holds this team back.

14. Pittsburgh – Hines Ward, Mike Wallace, Arnaz Battle, Antwaan Randle El. TE: Heath Miller. QB: Ben Roethlisberger

Even without Santonio Holmes, this group’s ranking would be higher if not for the questions surrounding Big Ben. Mike Wallace is primed for a breakout year and Heath Miller is as good a pass catching tight end in the AFC. Can’t say enough about Hines Ward, either.

15. San Diego – Vincent Jackson, Malcolm Floyd, Legedu Naanee. TE: Antonio Gates. QB: Philip Rivers

Another group that might be higher if not for question marks, here regarding Vincent Jackson, who’s suspended for a drug violation and unhappy with his contract. When they’re all on the field, however, these guys are a “tall” order for opposing secondaries. Philip Rivers is as explosive as any QB in the AFC… Manning and Brady included.

16. Tennessee – Kenny Britt, Justin Gage, Nate Washington. TE: Bo Scaife. QB: Vince Young

This group has potential to fly into the top 10 with the development of Britt, Gage, and Vince Young.

17. Seattle – TJ Houshmanzadeh, Deion Branch, Golden Tate. TE: John Carlson. QB: Matt Hasselbeck

Matt Hasselbeck will be pushed this year from the get-go by Charlie Whitehurst. If he heeds the warnings, he has a good group to throw to.

18. Miami – Brandon Marshall, Brian Hartline, Davone Bess. TE: Anthony Fasano. QB: Chad Henne

A trouble-free Brandon Marshall is as good as they come in the AFC, and the Dolphins have other good young options. But perhaps Miami fans have been drinking a little too much Chad Henne kool-aid, who still needs time.

19. Carolina – Steve Smith, Dwayne Jarrett, Brandon Lafell. TE: Dante Rosario. QB: Matt Moore

Is Steve Smith still a premier NFL wideout? Is he still the best WR in the NFL named Steve Smith? Regardless, he keeps the Panthers in the top 20. Jarrett and Lafell have high ceilings and will learn from the best, but Matt Moore is a huge question mark, especially with Jimmy Clausen breathing down his neck.

20. Detroit – Calvin Johnson, Nate Burleson, Bryant Johnson. TE: Tony Schefller. QB: Matt Stafford

Within a few years, Matt Stafford to Calvin Johnson could be a nightmare for the rest of the NFC North.

21. Kansas City – Dwayne Bowe, Chris Chambers, Lance Long. TE: Leonard Pope. QB: Matt Cassell

The Chiefs are hoping Matt Cassell 2010 is more like the 2008 version than 2009. Chris Chambers as the #2 option isn’t very settling.

22. San Francisco – Michael Crabtree, Josh Morgan, Jason Hill. TE: Vernon Davis. QB: Alex Smith

The 49ers seem to be more sold on Alex Smith than are a lot of others around the league. Either way, Michael Crabtree and Vernon Davis are freakish young talents.

23. Philadelphia – DeSean Jackson, Jeremy Maclin, Jason Avant. TE: Brent Celek. QB: Kevin Kolb

DeSean Jackson is the real deal and Jeremy Maclin showed flashes last year, but first year starter Kevin Kolb could be in for some growing pains. Brent Celek looks like the real deal at tight end.

24. Denver – Eddie Royal, Jabar Gaffney, Demaryius Thomas. TE: Daniel Graham. QB: Kyle Orton

All Tim Tebow jokes aside, Denver has a decent group to throw to, even without Brandon Marshall. Demaryius Thomas was an under the radar draft pick that might pay big dividends.

25. Chicago – Devin Hester, Johnny Knox, Devin Aromashodu. TE: Greg Olsen. QB: Jay Cutler

Although Devin Hester is a great playmaker, and Greg Olsen is a legitimate target from the TE position, there is not a number one (or arguably a #2) receiver to be found on this roster. Jay Cutler needs a big year to avoid early windy city boos.

26. Jacksonville – Mike Sims-Walker, Mike Thomas, Jarett Dillard, Troy Williamson. TE: Marcedes Lewis. QB: David Garrard

Jacksonville has a receiving corps that, although unproven, has a lot of young talent and potential. The Jags will hope that tough veteran David Garrard can groom them.

27. Washington – Santana Moss, Malcolm Kelly, Devin Thomas, Joey Galloway. TE: Chris Cooley. QB: Donovan McNabb

Sideline Santana may have earned himself a suspension for HGH use, and if he has, that leaves the Skins’ receiving corps with two hugely disappointing first rounders and an ancient Joey Galloway. However, Donovan McNabb finds a way to move the football, and he’ll have the aid of the ever-solid Chris Cooley.

28. Buffalo – Lee Evans, Steve Johnson, James Hardy. TE: Shawn Nelson. QB: TBD

You get the feeling that Lee Evans’ star has been kind of wasted in upstate New York the past few years. With this uncertain QB situation, that won’t change this year.

29. Tampa Bay – Mike Williams, Arrelious Benn, Sammie Stroughter. TE: Kellen Winslow. QB: Josh Freeman

Kellen Winslow is this group’s lone bright spot.

30. Cleveland- Mohammed Massaquoi, Brian Robiskie, Chansi Stuckey. TE: Ben Watson. QB: Jake Delhomme

This group of receivers is not good enough for me to believe that Jake Delhomme will succeed here, meaning the Colt McCoy era in Cleveland is rapidly approaching.

31. St. Louis – Donnie Avery, Laurent Robinson, Mardy Gilyard. TE: Daniel Fells. QB: Sam Bradford

It’s a good thing the Rams invested in second rounder Roger Saffold to protect Sam Bradford, because I’m not sure if any of these guys can get open.

32. Oakland – Chaz Schilens, Darrius Heyward-Bey, Louis Murphy. TE: Zach Miller. QB: Jason Campbell

Another year, another offensive coordinator, another system. Poor Jason Campbell. At least he has Darrius Heyward-Bey to throw to. Oh wait…

[nj meadowlands]

Really? Nothing?

[MadBacker Prime]

Really? Nothing?

You typed a lot.

Your sig says F You JETS, why?