Ranking the Alabama wide receivers in the NFL
There is no debate whether Alabama sends great players to the league. Alabama head coach Nick Saban and his staff send some of the best players to the NFL year after year.
The Tide has paved the way for success at the NFL level specifically at the wide receiver position. Many have coined Alabama as “Wide Receiver U,” and while many debate which school truly is WRU, it’s hard to argue with the Crimson Tide’s resume.
The 2022-2023 season was a good one for former members of the Tide. The wide receivers represented their respective teams and Alabama to the highest standard.
Today, Roll Tide Wire ranks the Alabama wide receivers in the NFL following the 2022-2023 season.
Cam Sims
Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports
2022-2023 Stats: 8 rec, 89 yards
Cam Sims entered his fifth season with the Washington Commanders as primarily a backup wide receiver. That was his role as the season progressed as well. Sims’ stats are not mind-blowing. However, he made some catches and crucial blocks during the 2022-2023 season.
Jameson Williams
Mike Mulholland/Getty Images
2022-2023 Stats: 1 rec, 40 yards, 1 TD; 1 carry, 40 yards, 1 TD
Many expected Jameson Williams to burst onto the scene in Detroit. That is not what happened. Williams spent most of the season recovering from the torn ACL he suffered in the 2022 College Football Playoff. Williams began to make an impact toward the end of the season. He will be given the reins at wide receiver heading into his second season with the Lions.
Julio Jones
Tim Heitman-USA TODAY Sports
2022-2023 Stats: 24 rec, 299 yards, 2 TDs; 5 carries, 45 yards
Jones may not be the same player most fans remember from his days with Alabama and the Atlanta Falcons. However, Jones is still making plays. During his 12th NFL season, Jones contributed enough to the Buccaneers offense to help them reach the playoffs.
Jerry Jeudy
Matthew Stockman/Getty Images
2022-2023 Stats: 67 rec, 972 yards, 9 TDs; 4 carries, 40 yards
The final four wide receivers on this list are interchangeable in my eyes. Jerry Jeudy comes in at No. 4. Jeudy was the focal point of the Broncos’ offense for almost the entire season. He was Russell Wilson’s go-to guy. His role in Denver will continue to increase.
Amari Cooper
David Dermer-USA TODAY Sports
2022-2023 Stats: 78 rec, 1,160 yards, 9 TDs
There is no true explanation for why Amari Cooper is No. 3. As I mentioned before, the top four on this list are just too good to rank correctly. Cooper made numerous positive contributions to the Browns offense in his first year in Cleveland. As chemistry grows between him and Deshaun Watson, his impact on the field will increase as well.
Jaylen Waddle
Leon Halip/Getty Images
2022-2023 Stats: 75 rec, 1,356 yds, 8 TDs
The Tagovailoa to Waddle connection continued to grow for the Dolphins this past season. First-year head coach Mike McDaniel placed an emphasis on getting his playmakers the ball, and he did that by exploiting Waddle’s skills in multiple ways. Waddle has surpassed the 1,000-yard mark in each of his two seasons in the league.
DeVonta Smith
Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports
2022-2023 Stats: 95 rec, 1,196 yds, 7 TDs
There is no denying the impact DeVonta Smith had in the Philadelphia Eagles reaching the Super Bowl. Smith was one of the most important players on the Eagles roster. He stepped up and made play after play in his second NFL season. Smith tops this loaded list of wide receivers as the top Alabama wide receiver in the NFL following the 2022-2023 season.
