There might be some major names at the quarterback position in the AFC North. But make no mistake about it, there’s also star power at the wide receiver position in the rugged north.
Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins in Cincinnati continue to be the headliners, but DK Metcalf is joined in Pittsburgh by Michael Pittman Jr. Meanwhile, the Cleveland Browns added some big-name rookies in the 2026 NFL Draft to pair with Jerry Jeudy. Zay Flowers also returns in Baltimore fresh off a Pro Bowl season in which he looked like the next budding star at the position.
After struggles at the position last year for some teams, particularly the Browns and Steelers, all four AFC North squads should feel great about the receiver position moving forward. So, how does it shake out from a rankings perspective?
Let’s take a look in this edition of Ranking The Rooms: AFC North WRs.
1. CINCINNATI BENGALS
For the third year in a row, the Bengals remain at the top of the charts at wide receiver. Is it really any surprise?
Even without Joe Burrow for much of the season, Chase and Higgins produced once again. Chase hauled in 125 passes for 1,412 yards and eight touchdowns, earning Pro Bowl and first-team All-Pro accolades. He led the NFL with 185 targets, too.
Chase is a legitimate No. 1 weapon and arguably the best receiver in football. It helps having a running mate like Higgins. The veteran finished 2025 with 846 yards and 11 touchdowns on 59 receptions. Though his numbers declined a bit, he was a weapon in the red zone for the Bengals.
Behind those two, the Bengals have done well to keep the cupboard stocked. Andrei Iosivas is a nice No. 3. He hauled in 33 passes for 435 yards and two touchdowns last season. Higgins made some key plays in matchups against the Steelers, including on Thursday Night Football.
The Bengals also drafted Colbie Young out of Georgia, adding another big-bodied receiver to mix, one who can make plays downfield. Mitchell Tinsley returns for another season having put together some solid performances last year, finishing with eight receptions for 116 yards and a touchdown in limited action.
Cincinnati also has Charlie Jones in the mix as a special teams ace and return specialist, while former Steelers return man Ke’Shawn Williams will challenge him for the job. Elsewhere in the receiver room, Xavier Johnson, Dohnte Meyers, Jordan Moore, Kendrick Pryor and UDFA Noah Thomas will battle for practice squad roles.
2. PITTSBURGH STEELERS
The Steelers were No. 3 in these rankings last season, even while having some issues at WR2 behind DK Metcalf. That isn’t the case this season after the Steelers traded for Michael Pittman Jr., giving Pittsburgh a dependable veteran option opposite Metcalf.
Metcalf needs to have a bounce-back season. Last year as the No. 1 for Pittsburgh, Metcalf had just 59 receptions for 850 yards and six touchdowns. Outside of the touchdowns, his numbers declined across the board. He has a strong running mate in Pittman now, which should take the attention off him and lead to more production this season.
Pittman can be the power slot for the Steelers and should be a great fit in Mike McCarthy’s scheme. He wins quickly off the line of scrimmage and had great hands in contested-catch situations. He’s not going to offer much after the catch, but he’s as steady as they come and is QB-proof. He’ll produce regardless of who is under center.
The Steelers did well to add to the room in the NFL Draft, too, trading up in the second round to land Germie Bernard out of Alabama. Many have called him the best route runner in the draft class, and he can win from any alignment on the field. He’s not a burner, but he’s good after the catch and has great hands. He has the play style of a true Steeler.
Behind the top three, there is some intrigue centered on Roman Wilson. Under McCarthy, Wilson could tap into his potential as a receiver. He made some plays last year but wasn’t always on the same page with Aaron Rodgers, leading to him being a healthy scratch late in the year. This is a make-or-break year for him, though.
Ben Skowronek is a special teams ace coming off a Pro Bowl season. He doesn’t offer much as a receiver, but he has a good relationship with Rodgers and could be utilized as a blocker offensively. Fourth-round selection Kaden Wetjen profiles as more of a returner only, but he had some great moments at the Shrine Bowl as a receiver and could be a dynamic slot weapon.
Brandon Smith, Cole Burgess, Brandon Johnson and A.T. Perry round out the room ahead of OTAs. It projects as a room that could add one more piece in free agency, but right now things look rather solid for Pittsburgh.
3. BALTIMORE RAVENS
Zay Flowers looks like the next great receiver. He’s an elite-level route runner and is dynamic after the catch. Last season, he hauled in a career-high 86 passes for 1,211 yards and five touchdowns. He’s become that true No. 1 weapon in the passing game the Ravens envisioned when they drafted him, and he continues to get better.
But Flowers will need someone to emerge opposite him to take the pressure off. The Ravens have plenty to work with in Rashod Bateman and Devontez Walker, but both are painfully inconsistent. Bateman is a big-time vertical threat who can hit the home run from anywhere on the field. He’s just hit or miss. Same with Walker, who has great speed and can take the top off of any defense.
Baltimore took two receivers in a loaded draft class, landing USC’s Ja’Kobi Lane then doing very well to get Indiana’s Elijah Sarratt on Day 3. Sarratt profiles as a good possession receiver for Lamar Jackson in new offensive coordinator Declan Doyle’s offense. He won’t win downfield much, but he’s going to thrive in contested-catch situations.
LaJohntay Wester comes back as the explosive kick and punt returner for the Ravens, holding down the special teams role in the room. Other names battling for potential special teams and practice squad roles include Cornelius Johnson, Xavier Guillory, Octavian Smith Jr., Dayton Wade and Cortez Braham Jr.
4. CLEVELAND BROWNS
A year from now, this ranking will undoubtedly change, especially if the young receivers the Browns drafted in KC Concepcion and Denzel Boston hit like they are projected to. For now, though, it’s hard to rank the Browns over the Ravens.
Jerry Jeudy is back for another season on the shores of Lake Erie. He’s coming off a tough 2025 season in which he hauled in just 50 passes for 602 yards and two touchdowns, seeing his numbers crater from 2024. Quarterback play was certainly an issue for Cleveland last season, but Jeudy wasn’t getting open as much and struggled with his hands at times.
Boston and Concepcion project as solid WR 2-3 options behind Jeudy in Year 1, with the expectation they can be the 1-2 punch moving forward. They pair nicely together with Boston as the big-bodied weapon and Concepcion as the smaller, shiftier playmaker.
Isaiah Bond is back in the room, too. He finished 2025 nicely with 18 receptions for 338 yards, averaging nearly 20 yards per catch. That included a 52-yard catch against Las Vegas and a 47-yarder against the Bears. Cedric Tillman is back, too, looking to shake off a tough year. Tillman had just 21 receptions for 270 yards and a score, seeing his numbers decline from 2024.
Jamari Thrash, Tylan Wallace, Gage Larvadain, Luke Floriea, Malachi Corley and undrafted free agent Kole Wilson round out the room. With two big-time rookies, things look better on paper long-term. It’s all about development now for the Browns.
2025 AFC North WR rankings:
No. 1 – Cincinnati Bengals
No. 2 – Baltimore Ravens
No. 3 – Pittsburgh Steelers
No. 4 – Cleveland Browns
Related Items:AFC North, Baltimore Ravens, Cincinnati Bengals, Cleveland Browns, DK Metcalf, Ja'Marr Chase, Jerry Jeudy, Michael Pittman Jr., Pittsburgh Steelers, Tee Higgins, Zay Flowers
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