Rating Our Playmaker Wide Receivers Since 1975

[atlantacowboy]

Yeah. Not saying he was on Drew's level but he was closer than most give credit. For their careers they had nearly identical numbers.

Pearson: 489 catches, 7822 yards, 16.0 avg. 48 TDs (11 seasons)
Hill: 479 catches, 7988 yards, 16.7 avg. 51 TDs (10 seasons)

They were an incredible duo the 6 years they started across from each other.

Agreed. Thats my favorite cowboy duo of all-time. Its amazing how little respect Hill got. I was surprised by the numbers you posted. I didn't realize he actually compared favorably to Drew. I guess Drew just had the more memorable plays. .

 

[cowboyec]

Agreed. Thats my favorite cowboy duo of all-time. Its amazing how little respect Hill got. I was surprised by the numbers you posted. I didn't realize he actually compared favorably to Drew. I guess Drew just had the more memorable plays. .

agreed.
my all-time favorite 1/2 combo...drew/tony hill.
michael/harper my 2nd.

 

[Whyjerry]

Dez Bryant is chronically overrated by Cowboys fans. 9 years in the league. 3 were very good. Maybe 1 that was great. Especially considering the stats modern WRs put up these days. The other seasons were riddled with injury, sulking and dramatic underperformance. The guy never won a thing in the league. Usually a headache.

His impact on the franchise was a net negative.

 

[Mannix]

1a Playmaker 1b Onkyo TX-903

2a Pearson 2b Hill

3 Kmart

4 Laurent Robinson

100 Miles Austin

500 Noah Brown

 

[ryanbabs]

I am looking for the clutch playmakers. Guys who broke the backs of defenders, guys who could always get open, who other teams dreaded playing against. Guys who made their teams better. 1975-present

This is my list.

1. Michael Irvin My all-time favorite. A winner. I saw him carry the Univ of Miami team with Jimmy Johnson, where he earned the eternal name of THE PLAYMAKER. A vocal and spiritual leader on and off the field. He could get open against any CB on any down. Was always open on 3rd downs and clutch moments. He would break the backs and minds of defensive backs. Getting separation was perfomed by him better than most speedy receivers. Played on Emmit Smith run-dominating teams. High of 111 catches in 1995. Had two years of averaging over 20 yards a catch. Broke the Buffalo Bills' backs and set the tone with two early TD's in first half of the first of two Super Bowl games. When the ball was up in air, Michael would seize it. His mold is almost impssible to recreate.

2. Drew Pearson- Hall of Famer speaks all. Roger the Dodger's favorite WR. Like Michael after him, he could get open anytime against anyone. Great hands, smart player. Succeeded Joe Theisman as a QB for a NJ high school. In the Hail Mary game against the Vikings, playoffs after the 1975 season, caught three pases covering all 91 yards. A true Mr. Clutch.

3. Terrell Owens 245 catches, 38 TD's in 3 seasons is upper stratosphere production. Tony Romo made great by long passes to T.O. His nutcase personality would not lead to longevity with Boys or any other team. Was basically unable to be covered by DB's his entire career.

4. Dez Bryant- Great performer, impact player earlier in his career. Lost all speed and quickness prematurely. In his best 3 years, 2010-2012, averaged 92 catches and 14 TD's per year. His nutsy personality and unacceptable behavior on sidelines diminished his stature.

5. Tony Hill, underrated 2nd receiver to Drew. Was great after the catch. Tremendous quickness to get open. Averaged 16.7 yards per catch in his career.

6. Cee Dee Lamb. He may rise higher in time.

7. Amari Cooper: not making the impact like he did in the first 6 games when he came over. Not consistently open. Carrying too many nagging injuries. Not very vocal leader. Not the consistent gamebreaker, game after game. Does not take over games like numbers 1-4 did consistently. High of 8 TD's in one season not enough for a superstar.

Why is everything about Cooper negative? He’s a very good player.

 

[Mannix]

Why is everything about Cooper negative? He’s a very good player.

When he feels like it.

 

[Cowboysheelsreds053]

Butch Johnson was not bad.

 

[ryanbabs]

When he feels like it.

There is some truth to that.

 

[tyke1doe]

So why 1975, why not the complete history.

Bob Hayes not only made the team better. But he changed NFL history as well.
DC's had to adjust and come up with ways on how to defend him.

Didn't teams create the "zone" defense because of Bob Hayes?

 

[jazzcat22]

Didn't teams create the "zone" defense because of Bob Hayes?

Yes they did.

 

[Wolfpack]

Terry Glen is a top 5 guy on that list.

 

[Crown Royal]

Dez Bryant is chronically overrated by Cowboys fans. 9 years in the league. 3 were very good. Maybe 1 that was great. Especially considering the stats modern WRs put up these days. The other seasons were riddled with injury, sulking and dramatic underperformance. The guy never won a thing in the league. Usually a headache.

His impact on the franchise was a net negative.

You aren't wrong about his whole body of work, but the Cowboys haven't really had a pass catcher other than Jason Witten that was great for them for more than 3 years since Michael Irvin.

Owens by far had the better career, but I'd say that Bryant's three years at his peak were a touch better than Owens' 3 years. By just a hair, but still. There is a reason they traded for Roy Williams in 2008.

 

[DFWJC]

Alvin Harper?

 

[DFWJC]

Terry Glen is a top 5 guy on that list.

Not as a Cowboy though. I think that's probably what he means
4 seasons (2003-2006) averaging about 825 yards a season in Dallas...

 

[DFWJC]

Yeah. Not saying he was on Drew's level but he was closer than most give credit. For their careers they had nearly identical numbers.

Pearson: 489 catches, 7822 yards, 16.0 avg. 48 TDs (11 seasons)
Hill: 479 catches, 7988 yards, 16.7 avg. 51 TDs (10 seasons)

They were an incredible duo the 6 years they started across from each other.

Hill is tragically underappreciated by some.

 

[Whyjerry]

You aren't wrong about his whole body of work, but the Cowboys haven't really had a pass catcher other than Jason Witten that was great for them for more than 3 years since Michael Irvin.

Owens by far had the better career, but I'd say that Bryant's three years at his peak were a touch better than Owens' 3 years. By just a hair, but still. There is a reason they traded for Roy Williams in 2008.

I hear what you are saying but Owens is a sure fire HOFer. He was a knucklehead but a game changer. Dez was never, even at his best, that dominant. I will say I would rather have any of our current top 3 guys than Dez. Gallup is a push but I think he has the same ability to go up and get the ball without the Dez immaturity. I truly think Dez was a great high point guy. That’s it.

 

[KJJ]

For me, flip CDL and Cooper for now.

I would agree. CeeDee is closing the gap on Coop but he’s not there yet.

 

[links18]

Our offense was never the same after Harper left in 1995. Granted, his departure was not the only reason for that, but Jerry spent the rest of the 90s chasing another Harper and never really found him; firrst, thinking he could co cheap and have Kevin Williams play that role; then, trying to make Deion a WR, signing a complete waste of a roster space in Anthony Miller and hyping guys like Stepfret Williams. He passed on Moss in 1998, which only compounded the problem with Gailey convincing Jerry guys like Ernie Mills, Jeff Ogden and Billie Davis could do the job. Jerry came close to finally rectifying the lack of a true #2 signing The Rocket in 1999, but that was five years after Harper left and Irvin's last injury shortened year. The next year was the horrendous Galloway trade and we never really had truly complementary receivers again until TO was paired was Terry Glenn and that lasted all but a year.

 

[Whiskey Cowboy]

Weird list. You didn't say a single positive thing about Coop, yet as proven this year and on occasion in the past, this offense lives and dies with his presence on the field. CeeDee had his chance to show he was on that level, and failed. Is this post a bash Coop session in disguise?

 

[khiladi]

Cooper is better than Dez Bryant period, taking into account career and skill set.. how can one even rate Lamb above Cooper, based on years here? Cooper single-handed it saved Dak’s career, which is a hard task to do..