Ranking the top 25 wide receivers in NFL history…
2. Randy Moss
Drafted 21st overall by the Minnesota Vikings in the 1998 NFL Draft out of Marshall University, Moss burst onto the scene as a revolutionary deep threat, setting rookie records.
In his first seven seasons with the Vikings (1998-2004), Moss tallied 587 receptions for 9,316 yards and 90 touchdowns, including a rookie-record 17 scores in 1998, earning Offensive Rookie of the Year.
His 2003 season featured 111 catches for 1,632 yards and 17 touchdowns. After a lackluster stint with the Oakland Raiders (2005-2006), Moss was traded to the New England Patriots in 2007, where he set an NFL single-season record with 23 touchdown receptions alongside Tom Brady, helping the team to a perfect 16-0 regular season. Brief returns to the Vikings and Titans in 2010, and a final year with the San Francisco 49ers in 2012, rounded out his career, including a Super Bowl XLVII appearance.
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Moss’ career totals stand at 982 receptions, 15,292 yards (fourth all-time) and 156 touchdowns (second all-time) over 218 games. He earned six Pro Bowl selections, four first-team All-Pro nods and induction into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2018, plus spots on the NFL 2000s All-Decade Team and NFL 100th Anniversary All-Time Team.
Moss’ standout attributes included blazing speed (4.25-second 40-yard dash), a 6-foot-4 frame with an absurd 47-inch vertical and exceptional ball-tracking ability, making him nearly uncoverable on deep routes. His playing style was that of a game-changing vertical threat: effortless deep speed, acrobatic catches in coverage and a never-before-seen ability to high-point balls over defenders.
Though sometimes critiqued for inconsistent effort, his impact popularized the deep ball and elevated any/every QB he played with. Moss retired in 2013, his legacy defined by unmatched explosiveness.
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But who ranks ahead of Moss at No. 1 all-time?