Lamb & Pickens vs. Brown & Smith: Who's the NFL's Best Receiver Duo in 2025?

[JW82]

IMO any team would take Lamb over Brown and the same goes for Pickens over Smith.

 

[jazzcat22]

You’re going to get embarrassed this season.

I’ve been saving receipts.

well, ok then.

 

[Bamx]

I care about winning and proven ability to play together.

If Dallas traded Lamb and Pickens for Brown and Smith today my answer would still be the same.

Give me the proven product over the “looks good on paper” product.

Part of the production and winning you're referring to comes with also having such a great overall team and organization. You switch the roles and it's very possible that Lamb/Pickens would overshadow Brown and Smith

 

[jazzcat22]

I care about winning and proven ability to play together.

If Dallas traded Lamb and Pickens for Brown and Smith today my answer would still be the same.

Give me the proven product over the “looks good on paper” product.

Hindsight always 20/20.

 

[MountaineerCowboy]

Part of the production and winning you're referring to comes with also having such a great team and organization. You switch the roles and it's very possible that Lamb/Pickens would overshadow Brown and Smith

Sure, but we don’t know that.

It could also be a disaster.

Why can’t I just pick the proven product over the unproven one? Is that really a controversial take? lol

 

[mcmvp]

Your point is valid, but looking at *pure-talent* alone Pickens and Lamb do hold the advantage.

Many would disagree (including me). I think some forget that Devonta Smith won the Heisman Trophy…and was a top 10 overall draft selection. He would be a number one on most teams…despite his size.

 

[jazzcat22]

Sure, but we don’t know that.

It could also be a disaster.

Why can’t I just pick the proven product over the unproven one? Is that really a controversial take? lol

Understandable.
Brown / Smith proven over the past few seasons.

Lamb / Pickens proven on respective teams. But have not played together yet.
So really based on potential. But it is a pretty good perspective they will a top WR duo.

Chase and Higgins in Cincinnati are pretty dang good as well. And they have a top what, 5 QB there. Maybe top 3. If they get an OL, definitely top 3.

 

[Bamx]

Many would disagree (including me). I think some forget that Devonta Smith won the Heisman Trophy…and was a top 10 overall draft selection. He would be a number one on most teams…despite his size.

Not taking anything away from D Smith, but winning the Heisman Trophy isn't symbolic of having a good career in the NFL. Plenty of players who entered the NFL after winning the Trophy didn't amount to much.

 

[KingCorcoran]

Using career production doesn't make sense given that they haven't all been in the league the same length of time, plus Pickens spent 2 years with Pickett, Rudolph and Trubiski as rotating QB's.

Smith has always been WR2 and in an offense that does not give up on the ground game. He knows his role, is signed through 2028. Hurts is not considered one of the NFL’s most gifted passers.

It will be interesting to see if Pickens is satisfied playing second fiddle to Lamb. It will be interesting to see if he’ll accept compensation similar to Smith. It will be interesting to see if Prescott is actually a better thrower of the ball than Hurts.

It will be interesting to see who Pickens signs with for the 2026 season.

 

[blueblood70]

The NFL has no shortage of elite wide receiver pairings, but two duos stand out in 2025: the Dallas Cowboys’ CeeDee Lamb and George Pickens and the Philadelphia Eagles’ A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith.

Let’s compare them across production, skill sets, efficiency, and impact.

Career Production Comparison (Through 2024)​

Player	Receptions	Yards	Touchdowns	Yards/Rec	Games Played
CeeDee Lamb	520	6,655	39	12.8	81
George Pickens	184	2,978	13	16.2	48
A.J. Brown	487	7,624	54	15.7	90
DeVonta Smith	351	4,606	27	13.1	63

Key Takeaways:​

• Brown + Smith have the edge in combined production and playoff success.
• Pickens has the highest yards per catch, showing explosive potential.
• Lamb is the most productive volume receiver overall

​

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Lamb & Pickens, Brown & Smith’s Skill Sets​

• CeeDee Lamb is an elite yards-after-catch (YAC) receiver, especially effective on short and intermediate routes. Lamb had a 5.6 YAC compared to an expected YAC of 3.4.
• George Pickens thrives on vertical routes, averaging 13.5 total air yards and contested catches at 57.3%.

https://insidethestar.com/lamb-pickens-vs-brown-smith-whos-the-nfls-best-receiver-duo-in-2025

Well here's the thing I might take the Vikings three top receivers over hours also I haven't really looked through The Rams duo but I'm pretty sure the Rams have a pretty good couple of wide receivers , but I think I might make my list,

1.Vikings IF JJM is any good
2. cowboys bias lol
3. Philly
4. rams

 

[mcmvp]

Not taking anything away from D Smith, but winning the Heisman Trophy isn't symbolic of having a good career in the NFL. Plenty of players who entered the NFL after winning the Trophy didn't amount to much.

I understand that…but most Heisman winners that don’t pan out played the QB position. There’s only been a handful of WRs to even win it. So no… It’s not exactly the same thing.

 

[AstroPilota]

Right now, based on what we have seen on the field, it's Chase/Higgins. Prescott is a wild card at this point and how the Lamb/Pickens combo works out (with Prescott) is an unknown. Let's see how it looks after a few games.

 

[Bamx]

I understand that…but most Heisman winners that don’t pan out played the QB position. There’s only been a handful of WRs to even win it. So no… It’s not exactly the same thing.

I don't disagree, and Barry Sanders was probably the best player who won the Heisman. However, the statement I provided was more of a general point that the Heisman doesn't guarantee a successful NFL career for any player. If you wanted to argue semantics that's pretty much where it went.

 

[blueblood70]

ehh.... not in tennesee he didn't. philly sure, but even then his opportunities weren't all that limited. not nearly the volume as ceedee obviously.

I agree people just don't see it aj Brown was very good in Tennessee but as the quarterback carousel started in there his number started suffering they weren't terrible but he was going through a very similar thing that AJ went through, Pickens has gone through in Pittsburgh and then Pickens goes to the Cowboys and I'm betting surprisingly even as the number two he'll still be very good.

AJ's numbers obviously went up with a better team as the number one guy is nothing to sneeze at but he's not better than CD Lam in my opinion CD Lamb is more versatile he does more things so I have to give the edge to the Cowboys I know it seemed bias but I think lamb and Pickens has a slight edge not much I mean you can call it a wash if you want but I'm giving the tie to my own team..

But clearly the Vikings have the best 1-2 punch how they can go three deep -now if you want to bring in the 3rd wide receiver maybe the Cowboys also have the edge because Tolbert's probably better than the Eagles third, but the Vikings are pretty good at all three on the depth chart,

 

[blueblood70]

Right now, based on what we have seen on the field, it's Chase/Higgins. Prescott is a wild card at this point and how the Lamb/Pickens combo works out (with Prescott) is an unknown. Let's see how it looks after a few games.

He said the nfc were talking just about the nfc and the nfc east we're not bringing in the AFC into this conversation right now...

 

[TheMarathonContinues]

Many would disagree (including me). I think some forget that Devonta Smith won the Heisman Trophy…and was a top 10 overall draft selection. He would be a number one on most teams…despite his size.

We don't know that though. That's the thing. It's unfair for him but we have no idea how he'd look if he was the #1 with no second option. Brown, Lamb and Pickens have showed that. Devonta the only one who hasn't.

 

[SoupcanSam]

The NFL has no shortage of elite wide receiver pairings, but two duos stand out in 2025: the Dallas Cowboys’ CeeDee Lamb and George Pickens and the Philadelphia Eagles’ A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith.

Let’s compare them across production, skill sets, efficiency, and impact.

Career Production Comparison (Through 2024)​

Player	Receptions	Yards	Touchdowns	Yards/Rec	Games Played
CeeDee Lamb	520	6,655	39	12.8	81
George Pickens	184	2,978	13	16.2	48
A.J. Brown	487	7,624	54	15.7	90
DeVonta Smith	351	4,606	27	13.1	63

Key Takeaways:​

• Brown + Smith have the edge in combined production and playoff success.
• Pickens has the highest yards per catch, showing explosive potential.
• Lamb is the most productive volume receiver overall

​

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​

Lamb & Pickens, Brown & Smith’s Skill Sets​

• CeeDee Lamb is an elite yards-after-catch (YAC) receiver, especially effective on short and intermediate routes. Lamb had a 5.6 YAC compared to an expected YAC of 3.4.
• George Pickens thrives on vertical routes, averaging 13.5 total air yards and contested catches at 57.3%.

https://insidethestar.com/lamb-pickens-vs-brown-smith-whos-the-nfls-best-receiver-duo-in-2025

The issue with smith is that he often disappeared in more games than he should have last season. He isn't consistent at all. Imo brown and the TE gordart are a better dou tbh.

The only reason I can't say who is better is because lamb and Pickens haven't played a season together yet.

 

[TheMarathonContinues]

The issue with smith is that he often disappeared in more games than he should have last season. He isn't consistent at all. Imo brown and the TE gordart are a better dou tbh.

The only reason I can't say who is better is because lamb and Pickens haven't played a season together yet.

I think a lot of those games Smith disappeared in wasn't because of skill it was because of all the weapons they have...and they are a run first team...Smith is gonna suffer at times because of it.

 

[beware_d-ware]

Lamb vs Brown is a push. They're both monsters, and even as a Cowboys fan, I could hear a case for either one.

Devonta is way better than Pickens though. Pickens is strictly a low-volume deep guy who doesn't separate well underneath, and of course he runs hot and cold. He was the unquestioned #1 in Pittsburgh and I don't think he ever caught more than 60 passes in a season. Smith is a 3 level dude who would post way bigger stats if he ever got #1 volume.

 

[MarcusRock]

oh whoa, you said it before? lol. the literal same could be said about ceedee.

It could be, yes. It'd also be wrong, yes.