Wide receiver has grown into a premium position because of the importance of playmakers in today's wide-open game. Unlike quarterback, offensive tackle, pass-rusher or even elite corner, scarcity isn't the driving force behind the wide receiver's ascension. Today's group of NFL wide receivers are deeper and more talented than ever.

Every team fields a dynamic weapon or two. Figuring out which group is the best is as much about depth as it is top-shelf quality.

A total of 27 wide receivers eclipsed 1,000 yards last season. Comparatively, that number is up from 23 when looking at the same category 10 years ago and 14 two decades ago.

Organizations understand they need multiple weapons to truly threaten defenses. As such, massive investments—both financially, through trades and via the draft—continue to be made in wide receivers to create outstanding duos and trios.

That movement has shifted the landscape of the league's best wide receiver corps. Every unit among the projected top-five wide receiver groups for the 2024 campaign here either drafted a first-round WR and/or traded for a big-time target within the past two years.

Just Missed the Cut

Cincinnati Bengals

A year ago, the Bengals ranked No. 1 overall on Bleacher Report's top wide receiver units. So, why do they find themselves outside of the Top 5 now? Slot receiver Tyler Boyd left via free agency, which means Andrei Iosivas or third-round rookie Jermaine Burton must step into that role. Tee Higgins is coming off career lows after an injury-plagued campaign, and his long-term future with the team is in doubt after being placed under the franchise tag.

Green Bay Packers

The Packers field one of the NFL's most exciting young group of skill-position performers, starting with quarterback Jordan Love and extending to his targets. Green Bay's wide receiver contingent of Christian Watson, Romeo Doubs, Jayden Reed and Dontayvion Wicks could be really good this fall. But each must stay healthy and provide it on the field. The potential to be a top group is certainly present.

Los Angeles Rams

When healthy, Cooper Kupp is arguably the game's best wide receiver, but he turns 31 next month after working through two injury-plagued campaigns. Puka Nacua's rise complements Kupp and even gives Los Angeles another top target if the veteran isn't on the field. The lack of a guarantee with Kupp's health and middling third third target in Demarcus Robinson keep the Rams off the board.

Philadelphia Eagles

AJ Brown and DeVonta Smith both eclipsed 1,000 receiving yards in back-to-back seasons, but the entire offense experienced a downturn last season. Another new offensive coordinator will now take over. Meanwhile, the Eagles still lack a true third threat among their wide receivers. Their offense should be better this fall, but it still might not be as good as when the team made the Super Bowl.

San Francisco 49ers

Brandon Aiyuk and Deebo Samuel are both excellent playmakers. There's no reason to think they can't continue to be major threats in Kyle Shanahan's offense, unless they're not on the team together. Persistent trade rumors have floated all offseason, which indicates the 49ers may be ready to move on from one of them. The first-round draft pick of Ricky Pearsall signals the team wanted a different skill set at the position, though his selection has been viewed as a reach.

5. Minnesota Vikings

Let's start with the game's best wide receiver. The Minnesota Vikings must be included because Justin Jefferson is on the roster.

Some may scoff at the previous statement, but the 24-year-old was on track to lead the league in receiving during back-to-back seasons if not for a hamstring injury that limited him to 10 games. But he averaged enough yards per contest to eclipse 1,800 yards had he been healthy.

His record of five games with 140 or more receiving yards was only one fewer than Tyreek Hill posted despite appearing in six fewer contests.

Jefferson is a special talent, but the Vikings' group of wide receivers doesn't end with him.

The Vikings added Jordan Addison with last year's first-round pick. In his first season, he caught 70 passes for 911 yards and led all rookie wide receivers with 10 touchdown receptions. The expectation is that he'll improve going into Year 2.

Minnesota isn't entirely settled for its third wide receiver, though. Brandon Powell emerged as a viable option last season after bouncing around five different teams during the previous five seasons. His figure of 324 receiving yards needs to improve during his second season in the system.

Really, the overall effectiveness of this particular group depends on the Vikings' new quarterback room. Kirk Cousins is gone, meaning Sam Darnold and rookie J.J. McCarthy must manage the ball efficiently and distribute it.

The surrounding cast is fantastic. Whoever starts at quarterback simply needs to be a cog.

4. Houston Texans

The Houston Texans know they have something special in C.J. Stroud, and they're not going to sit idly by during his formative (i.e. cheap) years by not surrounding him with exceptional talent.

A season ago, the quarterback formed a strong bond with Nico Collins, who finished eighth in the NFL with 1,297 receiving yards despite missing two regular-season games. His rapport with his young signal-caller should only grow as they spend more time together.

Tank Dell looked great as a rookie as well, with 709 receiving yards before suffering a broken fibula. The wide receiver was also the victim of senseless violence when he suffered a minor wound during a shooting at a Florida restaurant in April.

"It looks like Tank will make a full recovery," Texans owner Cal McNair told reporters on Monday. "We saw him in the office the other day and he looked good, in good spirits. But he'll have to rehab and get back to where he was."

A healthy Dell gives Houston a slippery game-breaker capable of consistently creating separation.

The real difference in this group is the addition of Stefon Diggs.

The four-time Pro Bowler, 30, has long been considered one of the game's best targets. He has a current streak of six straight 1,000-yard campaigns. Houston essentially traded a second-round pick to acquire its new top target.

Stroud can enter elite status with this group of targets around him.

3. Miami Dolphins

When it comes to the best pure wide receiver duo currently playing in the NFL, no team beats the Miami Dolphins.

Tyreek Hill's field-tilting speed is without peer. He led the league in 2023 with 1,799 receiving yards and has now posted back-to-back 1,700-yard campaigns since joining the Dolphins.

In total, the five-time first-team All-Pro has six 1,000-yard seasons. He's instant offense any time the ball flies in his direction, with the potential for a huge play at a moment's notice.

Jaylen Waddle isn't too shabby, either. In building the league's fastest skill-position group, He is only a step or two behind Hill. The 2021 sixth overall draft pick posted at least 1,014 yards in each of his three seasons.

Those two are spectacular and the primary reason behind the league's No. 1 passing offense last season.

However, these rankings are about all-around wide receiver rankings.

A legitimate third target could make the Dolphins offense unstoppable, hence why the organization signed Odell Beckham Jr. on Wednesday. To be clear, he is nowhere near the player he once was. But he's still an upgrade over Cedrick Wilson Jr., who left in free agency.

Whatever Beckham, 31, can provide will help determine exactly where these Dolphins receivers fall during the upcoming season. Although, the sixth-round selection of Malik Washington could be a surprise contributor since he fits well in Mike McDaniel's offensive scheme.

2. Seattle Seahawks

The Seattle Seahawks are the slow and steady presence among this group, with DK Metcalf and Tyler Lockett now going into their sixth year playing together.

Since joining up, the two lead in the league in receptions and receiving touchdowns.

Metcalf is, arguably, the league's most physically intimidating wide receiver, with three 1,000-yard campaigns in the last four seasons. Lockett, meanwhile, has been criminally underrated throughout his career as an elite route-runner, whose streak of four consecutive 1,000-yard seasons was snapped last year.

Jaxon Smith-Njigba enters his second season after being the Seahawks' first-round pick in the 2023 draft. He overcame some lingering injuries to play in all 17 games last season and recorded 63 passes for 628 yards. Those numbers should increase this fall based on a receiver's normal developmental curve.

The biggest addition to Seattle's passing offense came via new offensive coordinator Ryan Grubb. While head coach Mike Macdonald still wants to be a physical, Grubb led college football's best passing offense over the last two seasons at Washington.

The play-caller should devise new ways to expand the scheme and capitalize on Seattle's tremendous talent at wide receiver.

"They're amazing," Grubb told reporters earlier this offseason. "I'm excited. I'm really excited. I think those guys are focal points of the offense and I think they're smart, tough and dependable guys, and I think that the sky's the limit when you got some guys like that..."

1. Chicago Bears

A shocking squad takes the top spot, with the Chicago Bears legitimately piecing together an elite group of wide receivers this offseason.

DJ Moore was already a 1,300-yard receiver in the league's sixth-worst passing offense last season. Granted, he received primary attention and targets as the Bears' only real threat.

At the same time, though, the 27-year-old was still able to create despite defenses keying on him and not having the best players and talent around him.

With the Bears' decision to make a change at quarterback and select USC's Caleb Williams at No. 1 overall, general manager Ryan Poles made sure his next signal-caller was well-equipped with the tools to succeed.

First, he traded a fourth-round pick to acquire Keenan Allen.

The 32-year-old veteran may not have a ton of juice, but he's still one of the game's best pure route-runners. He's the perfect leader for a developing offense and to serve as a reliable target for a rookie quarterback. With him and Moore both on the roster, the Bears feature the league's only pair of wide receivers to eclipse 1,200 yards last season.

Then, the general manager chose Washington's Rome Odunze with this year's No. 9 overall draft pick.

The 6'3', 212-pounder might have been the third wide receiver drafted, but he could have been WR1 in multiple other classes.

Odunze's inclusion creates a complementary group of targets. Moore has always been at his best creating at the catch. Allen will work the short to intermediate portions of the field with efficient and reliable routes. The incoming rookie is a big target and legitimate vertical threat.

Tyler Scott's big-play potential can be thrown into the mix for good measure.

Two years ago, the Bears fielded arguably the league's worst group of wide receivers. Now, they're on the verge of claiming the best once they're on the field and working together.