NFL.com + has a feature, "Greatest WR Class Ever?" which features the 2014 draft. I don't have access to the article, but the sub-title contains the following: "A new era of wide receivers emerged at the 2014 NFL Draft! Odell Beckham Jr., Mike Evans and Davante Adams headlined a WR draft class truly like no other in NFL history."
That got me thinking. Was the 2014 WR draft class truly the best ever, better even than 1996? (Coincidentally, both draft classes had 33 WRs.)
What's your vote: 1996 or 2014?
Prospect / Overall Draft No.
1996 Draft (33 Prospects)
Keyshawn Johnson / 1
Terry Glenn / 7
Eddie Kennison / 18
Marvin Harrison / 19
Eric Moulds / 24
Alex Van Dyke / 31
Amani Toomer / 34
Bryan Still / 41
Muhsin Muhammad / 43
Bobby Engram / 52
Derrick Mayes / 56
Terrell Owens / 89
Stepfret Williams / 94
Reggie Barlow / 110
Charlie Jones / 114
Jahine Arnold / 132
Joe Horn / 135
Mercury Hayes / 136
Jermaine Lewis /153
Patrick Jeffers / 159
Iheanyi Uwaezuoke / 160
Terry Guess / 165
Dietrich Jells / 176
Nilo Silvan / 180
Chris Doering / 185
James Roe / 186
Phillip Riley / 199
Toderick Malone / 204
Donnell Baker / 217
Clarence Jones / 227
Gregory Spann / 228
DeAndre Maxwell / 250
Brice Hunter / 251
2014 Draft (33 Prospects)
Sammy Watkins / 4
Mike Evans / 7
Odell Beckham Jr. / 12
Brandin Cooks / 20
Kelvin Benjamin / 28
Marqise Lee / 39
Jordan Matthews / 42
Paul Richardson / 45
Davante Adams / 53
Cody Latimer / 56
Allen Robinson / 61
Jarvis Landry / 63
Josh Huff / 86
Donte Moncrief / 90
John Brown / 91
Jalen Saunders / 104
Bruce Ellington /106
Shaq Evans / 115
Martavis Bryant / 118
Kevin Norwood / 123
Ryan Grant / 142
Devin Street / 146
Jared Abbrederis / 176
Robert Herron / 185
T. J. Jones / 189
Matt Hazel / 190
Walt Powell / 196
Quincy Enunwa / 209
Michael Campanaro / 218
Jeff Janis / 236
James Wright / 239
Tevin Reese / 240
Jeremy Gallon / 244
Not close?
1996 very good to hall of fame wide receivers
Keyshawn Johnson
Terry Glenn
Marvin Harrison
Eric Moulds
Amani Toomer
Mushin Muhammad
Bobby Engram
Terrell Owens
Joe Horn
2014 very good to hall of fame wide receivers
Sammy Watkins
Mike Evans
Odell Beckham Jr
Brandin Cooks
Kelvin Benjamin
Davante Adam's
Jarvis Landry
You can argue one class over another, but to say it's not close? Marvin Harrison and Terrell Owens alone accomplished more than anyone in the 2014 class.
The 1996 class was better full through. Joe Horn is better than most of all the 2014 class. There is also the 1985 class featuring Jerry Rice and Andre Reed, which is also better.
from the Class of 1996 is simply amazing.
Receptions / Yards / Yds per Catch / TDs
Terrell Owens / 1,078/ 15,934/ 14.8/ 153
Marvin Harrison / 1,102/ 14,580/ 13.2/ 128
Muhsin Muhammad / 860/ 11,438/ 13.3/ 62
Keyshawn Johnson / 814/ 10,571/ 13.0/ 64
Eric Moulds / 764/ 9,995/ 13.1/ 49
Amani Toomer / 668/ 9,497/ 14.2/ 54
Terry Glenn / 593/ 8,823/ 14.9/ 44
Joe Horn / 603/ 8,744/ 14.5/ 58
Eddie Kennison / 548/ 8,345/ 15.2/ 42
Bobby Engram / 650/ 7,751/ 11.9/ 35
Link - ( New Window )
You’re right. It’s not even close.
Completely disagree
It's 96. And if you think it's 2014 you need to share what you're smoking. Really don't get the comparison seriously
It's embarrassing that Sharpe isn't in the HoF. One of the greatest WRs in his generation who had his career cut short by injury.