The wide receiver in the NFL is the target man, the player who needs to catch the quarterback's passes and go for goal and score that all important touchdown. Some wide receivers are known for their footwork, others for their speed, and others for their ability to catch the ball.
This season in the NFL these WR’s will be very important to their teams, some are ready to continue to produce Pro Bowler seasons, others need to bounce back after a few years of disappointments. However you look at it these players are big investments for their teams.
Here are the NFL’s highest paid wide receivers for the 2021 NFL season, players from such teams like the Giants, Cardinals, Chargers, Cowboys, and NFL champions Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
15. Chris Godwin - $15.9 million
Chris Godwin had a big season for the Super Bowl champions Tampa Bay Buccaneers finishing the regular season at 65 receptions for 840 yards and seven touchdowns. In 2021 Godwin has a franchise tag and will be key for the Bucs offense in 2021.
14. Adam Thielen - $16 million
Adam Thielen had his best overall season in 2020 with 14 touchdowns, the most since Randy Moss had 17 in 2000 (receiving touchdowns). Thielen is entering his eighth season with the Vikings, a franchise player Thielen will be key in the offense if he can reproduce his 2020 season.
13. Brandin Cooks - $16.2 million
Brandin Cooks’ $16.2 million salary may raise a few eyebrows, the journeyman wide receiver now with the Houston Texans had a disappointing first season, with 6 touchdowns. Cooks will need to produce more to earn that salary.
12. Robert Woods - $16.250 million
The versatile wide receiver is able to play make and go long to catch deep plays. Robert Woods is on a four-year deal with the Rams and with a little more help could be quite an impressive wide receiver. Woods is very underrated as his work rate is top notch.
11. Mike Evans - $16.5 million
Coming off of a big 2020 Mike Evans will be just as important for the champions as Tom Brady. Evans scored 13 touchdowns last season, his best output since 2016. Look for yet another 1,000 receiving yards season from Evans.
10. Tyler Lockett - $17.250 million
Tyler Lockett is a franchise player for the Seahawks, recently signing a four-year contract extension. In 2020 Lockett scored 10 touchdowns and ran over 1,000 receiving yards for Seattle.
9. Allen Robinson - $17.8 million
It’s been a disappointing last few years for Allen Robinson, gone are the numbers from 2015, and last season he ran over 1,000 yards and scored half the touchdowns of 2015 for Chicago. Robinson is on a high salary and has been the victim of some poor QB support.
8. Odell Beckham, Jr. -$18 million
Odell Beckham, Jr. is looking to bounce back after a rather uneventful 2020, playing only 7 games, the Browns wide receiver is ready for a comeback year. The question is can he stay healthy and recapture the level of play of past seasons.
7. Tyreek Hill - $18 million
Tyreek Hill is coming off of a career year with Kansas City, scoring 17 TDs and 87 receptions going well over 1,000 receiving yards. Hill is looking to make 2021 his year and at $18 million he is well worth his high salary.
6. Kenny Golladay - $18 million
The Giants Kenny Golladay comes to New York after four seasons with the Lions. Golladay was money in 2019, but before and after has been largely disappointing. Now in New York, the Giants showed they have faith in the 27-year-old, can he pay it back by finding his 2019 form?
5. Michael Thomas - $19.250 million
Michael Thomas has been a solid contributor for the Saints but had a 2020 to forget, injuries and punching C. J. Gardner-Johnson in practice were all she wrote last year for Thomas. He will need to rebound big time in 2021, but Thomas will be out for at least one third of the season due to injury.
4. Amari Cooper - $20 million
The 20-million-dollar man, Amari Cooper is one of the Cowboy’s main offensive pieces, in 2020 he finished the season with a career-high 92 receptions for 1,114 yards and five touchdowns. In 2021 Cooper is off to a fast start with 2 touchdowns after 1 game.
3. Keenan Allen - $20 million
Keenan Allen is a 4-time Pro Bowler and one of the Chargers main pieces of offense. Allen tied his best output with 8 touchdowns and 100 receptions in 2020. Allen is on a four-year deal with the Chargers and is ready to make 2021 his year.
2. Julio Jones - $22 million
The 32-year-old veteran still has spice in those legs as Julio Jones enters his eleventh season in the NFL. Last year Jones had an injury plagued season but still managed to score 3 touchdowns in 9 games. Jones will make a tough one-two punch with AJ Brown.
1. DeAndre Hopkins - $27.250 million
The highest paid WR in the NFL DeAndre Hopkins has some of the best hands in the NFL, the man is just a football magnet and can make some dazzling catches. Hopkins will hope to get more touchdowns but at the moment he is on top of the mountain in the NFL.
