It’s never too early to plan for the NFL season, especially with OTAs starting this week.
Every year, we see a lot of wide receivers have breakout seasons, whether it’s because of their raw talent or a better position. While we are unlikely to see a breakout like Rams standout Puka Nacua’s record-breaking rookie season in 2024, there will surely be wideouts who make big leaps forward, as Houston’s Nico Collins did in 2023.
With that in mind, here are three wideouts that are poised to shine during the 2024 season.
Garrett Wilson, New York Jets.
Despite being one of the NFL’s finest young wide receivers, Wilson has failed to truly break out, which can be linked to the difficult quarterback scenario he has faced early in his career. However, as long as quarterback Aaron Rodgers does not sustain another season-ending injury, Wilson’s performance should match his talent, culminating in his first career Pro Bowl selection.
Even with a revolving door of incompetent signal-callers throwing to him, Wilson still became the first Jets wideout to amass 1,000 receiving yards in each of his first two seasons, though he only has seven career touchdowns. If history is any indication, Wilson will set personal highs across the board this season and potentially exceed his career touchdown total now that he’s the No. 1 option of a Rodgers-led offense.
In the 13 seasons that Rodgers was healthy enough to start at least 15 games, the four-time MVP’s top wideout averaged 1,203.9 yards and 10.5 touchdowns for the year. While he might not post a 1,500-yard season like Davante Adams did twice with Rodgers, don’t be surprised if Wilson ranks inside the top 15 in receiving yards in 2024.
Khalil Shakir, Buffalo Bills
With Stefon Diggs and Gabe Davis out of the picture, 241 targets from last season are up for grabs for the new-look Bills receiving corps. While QB Josh Allen will rely on rookie wideout Keon Coleman and second-year tight end Dalton Kincaid to fill the void, Shakir could ultimately emerge as Buffalo’s leading receiver.
After finishing with 161 yards as a rookie, Shakir, a fifth-round pick in the 2022 NFL Draft, made significant strides last season, catching 39 passes for 611 yards and two touchdowns. Not only did Shakir drop just one pass in 2023, but his 133.6 passer rating when targeted was the second-highest among NFL wideouts, per Pro Football Focus.
During a recent appearance on the “Green Light with Chris Long” podcast, Bills GM Brandon Beane named Shakir Buffalo’s most underrated player on offense. If he takes advantage of his expanded role, it might not be long before Shakir is no longer considered underrated and instead becomes a household name.
Dontayvion Wicks, Green Bay Packers
Quarterback Jordan Love’s meteoric rise was one of the biggest surprises of the 2023 season, but he wouldn’t have been as successful without the help of his relatively unknown receiving corps. Although wideouts Romeo Doubs and Jayden Reed stood out, Wicks — the 159th overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft — quietly became a trusted target for Love once the opportunity arose.
In 15 games, including six starts, Wicks finished third on the Packers in targets (58), receptions (39) and receiving yards (581) and scored four touchdowns. Those stats might not jump off the page, but Wicks’ advanced metrics proved he was one of the NFL’s most underrated receivers last season.
Wicks, according to PFF’s Thomas Valentine, was highly proficient after the catch, gaining 5.6 YAC per reception, the 19th-highest among wideouts. Furthermore, according to Sleeper, Wicks was the top wide receiver in the league in getting open versus single-man coverage, with a 55.1% open rate. Wicks may not have 1,000 receiving yards this season, but with his dependable hands and excellent separation abilities, he might be among the league’s top receivers.
