Beats Powerbeats Pro review: Better than AirPods in every way except one

Great sound • Super long battery life • Really snug fit • Physical control buttons on both earbuds

Large charging case • Pricey

Compared to AirPods, Beats Powerbeats Pro sound better, have longer battery life, and fit better.

I’m going to get right to the point: Beats’ Powerbeats Pro wireless earbuds are terrific if AirPods don’t cut it for you.

Maybe you think AirPods look silly dangling out of your ears, or they don’t fit well, or they let too much ambient noise in, or the battery doesn’t last long enough, or you want physical controls on each earbud. All of these are valid reasons to not get AirPods!

If you’re nodding your head in agreement, I highly recommend the Powerbeats Pro. They’ve got the same Apple H1 chip technology that gives the AirPods 2 its convenient pairing with Apple devices (iOS and Mac), hands-free Siri voice controls, and long-lasting battery life, but have none of the aforementioned AirPods downsides.

The only things that might turn you off are the charging case and price. Compared to AirPods’ tiny dental floss-sized charging case, the one for Powerbeats Pro is huge; you won’t be fitting it in any skinny jeans. And at $249.95, the Powerbeats command a hefty premium over $159 AirPods.

Finally cable-free

Powerbeats Pro are larger and sportier than AirPods.

At first blush, the Powerbeats Pro look little more than a cable-free version of Beats’ popular Powerbeats 3 wireless earbuds.

But Beats went beyond simply cutting the cord connecting the two earbuds. The Apple-owned company actually redesigned the sporty wireless earbuds from the ground up for improved comfort and sound quality.

Compared to Powerbeats 3, the Powerbeats Pro are 23 percent smaller and 17 percent lighter. I’ve always found the Powerbeats 3 a little on the bulky side so it’s nice that the Powerbeats Pro are more compact. Beats also changed the acoustic housing so it’s angled and fits better in ears.

The earhooks design is great for keeping the earbuds in your ears.

All of these improvements make the Powerbeats Pro more comfortable to wear for hours. But more importantly, they make the earbuds comfier when you’re using them while working out or running.

It felt great not having a cable flapping around the back of my neck while running with the Powerbeats Pro. I also appreciated the in-ear design that sits deeper in your ears and helps keep them in place. I’ve never had a problem with AirPods falling out of my ears except in one place: on planes. Every time I nod off on a flight, one of my AirPods always gets knocked outta my ear. With Powerbeats Pro, I knew they would stay securely in place and not slip out thanks to the ear hooks.

I get that the ear hooks design might not be for everyone, but they feel better than they look. The ear hooks can also be tricky to wrap around your ears at first, but with a little practice, putting them on becomes easier.

The wireless earbuds are sorta smart, too, thanks to Apple’s H1 chip. As with AirPods, connecting the Powerbeats Pro to an iOS device is as simple as opening the case (Android users will need to go into the Bluetooth settings and manually connect).

Pairing with iPhone is as easy as opening the charging case.

Similarly, you can easily switch between iOS and Mac if you’re logged into your iCloud account on the latter. Furthermore, taking one earbud out of your ear automatically pauses the music and putting it back in resumes playback.

Each earbud has a volume rocker and a play/pause/Siri button (Beats logo).

Image: zlata ivleva / mashable

On AirPods, the only way to control the volume is to do so on the device it’s connected to or use Siri (who does this?). However, on Powerbeats Pro, there are physical volume buttons on both earbuds and the Beats logo also doubles as a play/pause and Siri activation button (long press).

Overall, I have no complaints about the Powerbeats Pro earbuds design and features. The have everything that makes AirPods feel “magical” and then some.

Bangin’ sound quality

As much as I love my AirPods, I admit they could sound better. The audio quality is fine — as good as wired EarPods — but they won’t knock your socks off if you want high-fidelity audio quality. Their tiny size doesn’t leave a whole lot of room for quality drivers that can push out better sound.

While Powerbeats Pro aren’t audiophile-grade wireless earbuds by any means, they sound noticeably better than AirPods in my opinion, and not just for bass-heavy music.

Listening to a variety variety of music genres — everything from EDM to classical to hip-hop — I found the Powerbeats Pro produced a wider audio range. Music sounds warmer with more distinguishable mids and highs and the low-end no longer drowns out everything. This improved sound is especially noticeable in a song like Childish Gambino’s “Summertime Magic,” where the bass doesn’t overpower the vocals as much as through AirPods.

The Powerbeats Pro come with four sizes of ear tips.

Back in the day, Beats headphones were notorious for prioritizing bass over all other frequencies. Those days are over. Beats president Luke Wood told me during a press preview that they now tune their headphones, including the Powerbeats Pro, to sound more like what it does in the recording studio.

Using new linear piston drivers, the Powerbeats Pro, produce cleaner sound with less distortion when the volume is cranked up.

Combined with the tighter sealing from the in-ear tips, the Powerbeats Pro really sound fantastic. The sound quality’s also not compromised during workouts or runs.

Beats has come a really long way from its bass-y days and it’s time consumers realize this.

All-day battery life

The Powerbeats Pro last up to nine hours on a single charge compared to the AirPods' five hours. — The Powerbeats Pro last up to nine hours on a single charge compared to the AirPods’ five hours.

Battery life is another way the Powerbeats Pro are better than AirPods. While I think most people agree AirPods get a respectable five hours of listening time on a single charge, Powerbeats last even longer with up to nine hours of listening from one charge.

On several days, I was able to leave them on during entire work days from around 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. before having to pop them back into the charging case. The charging case adds another 15 hours of listening time for a total of 24 hours.

Like AirPods, the Powerbeats Pro can be quick charged. Beats says this “Fast Fuel” charging with a five-minute charge giving you 1.5 hours of music playback and 15 minutes giving you 4.5 hours. In comparison, AirPods get up to three hours with a 15-minute quick charge. It’s definitely handy in a pinch!

Now, about the charging case: It’s big. The clam-shaped case is nearly four times larger than the AirPods charging case, which to be fair, is one of the smallest there is for true wireless earbuds.

Yeah...the case is pretty huge. — Yeah…the case is pretty huge.

The case isn’t a problem if you’ve got a backpack, purse, or jacket pockets to stash it in. But if you like going out with as little as possible in your pockets, you’re gonna hate that the case is large.

Are you supposed to just put the earbuds in your pocket when you wanna take them off? And pray they don’t get lost? As somebody who’s lost wireless earbuds because I put them in my pockets instead of back into their case, I can say this is not something you wanna do.

The case definitely won't fit in skinny jeans without bulging out. — The case definitely won’t fit in skinny jeans without bulging out.

Leaving the charging case isn’t as big of a deal if you’re taking the Powerbeats Pro out for a quick run or workout because the battery lasts pretty long (you’re not working out or running for nine straight hours are you?), but if you wanna take them off afterwards, you’ve got no choice but to hold them in your hands or put them in your pockets. At least with AirPods, the case is small enough to fit in your pocket.

AirPods or Powerbeats Pro?

So AirPods or Powerbeats Pro? Personally, I still prefer AirPods because I can’t stand the size of the Powerbeats Pro’s charging case, but that’s just me.

But if you can overlook the case because maybe you want better sound quality, a snugger fit, longer battery life, and physical controls, Powerbeats Pro are hard to beat and superior to AirPods. That said, at $250, there are also many wireless earbuds that offer arguably better sound and comparable comfort at similar pricing such as the $300 Master & Dynamic’s MW07 or $300 Sennheiser Momentum.

If you’re a runner or workout a lot, though, the Powerbeats Pro are a no-brainer in my opinion. For sports, Beats’ Powerbeats are considered the gold standard, mainly because of battery life and the Powerbeats Pro are no different.

Truthfully, you can’t go wrong with either. Pick the one that works best for you. As with headphones, there’s no one-size-fits-all for true wireless earbuds. What works for me might not for you since ears come in different shapes and sizes.

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Salmon: a critical reason not to mine in Alaska’s fat bear country

Massive bear 747 smells leftover salmon in August 2018.

Image: NPS / B. Mosbrook

By Mark Kaufman2019-05-24 13:00:00 UTC

Like the sun promises to rise each morning, hordes of crimson salmon — numbering in the tens of millions — faithfully return to Alaska’s Bristol Bay each summer.

This land of untrammeled rivers, streams, and lakes is home to the richest run of sockeye salmon on Earth. And largely for that reason, it’s also the realm of Alaska’s gloriously fat bears, who gobble the hefty 4,500 calorie fish — sometimes a dozen each hour — throughout the fleeting summer.

Yet, the Trump administration may allow a Canadian mining company to dig a gold and copper mine one mile wide and 1,970 feet deep into the heart of the Bristol Bay watershed, called the Pebble Mine. Previously, the Obama Administration effectively killed the mining plans, citing “significant and unacceptable adverse effects” to the biologically and economically valuable ecosystem, but the Trump administration has reversed course, and is officially reconsidering the quarry. It’s a move harshly questioned by Bristol Bay locals, scientists, and law experts alike. “How does helping this underfunded Canadian company make America great again?” wondered Joel Reynolds, a senior attorney at the Natural Resources Defense Council.

Razing 73 miles of streams and 3,458 acres of wilderness (while building two water pollution treatment plants) in a corner of Bristol Bay is of little environmental concern to the mining company, Northern Dynasty, whose PR organization’s spokesperson told Mashable in March that overall salmon population numbers would not be impacted. Yet, a new study published in the journal Science shows the stability and productivity of these Alaskan rivers is dictated by the vitality of smaller components of the greater watershed. A small portion of the river system may be incredibly productive one year, supporting or stabilizing a river’s salmon populaton while other areas see weaker fish numbers.

“Different chunks, components, and patches tend to be more or less important in a given year,” said Sean Brennan, a postdoctoral researcher at the University of Washington’s School of Aquatic and Fishery Sciences and lead author of the study. “Any given year, some really small area could be disproportionately important.”

“A landscape or entire river system doesn’t operate as a simple sum of its parts,” added Brennan, noting that different zones “flicker on or flicker off” over time.

This fluctuating activity has salient implications for the federal government’s environmental review of the Pebble Mine permit, which is administered by the Army Corps of Engineers (the agency is currently accepting comments from the public about the Environmental Impact Statement, or EIS). Brennan noted that the fish estimation surveys done in and around the proposed mining area (and interpreted by Pebble Mine to conclude that salmon populations won’t be impacted) do not capture the full story of how critical a relatively small area of water and streams are to the greater river system’s productivity.

“You’re not getting the full picture,” Brennan said. What surveyors get when trying to count fish over a two or three year period, is “a snapshot in time,” he explained. That “snapshot” doesn’t show how productive a particular river tributary is over time, as the zone “flickers” on or off. Rather, it’s an assumption that the area only produces a certain quota of fish each and every year.

“You’re not getting the full picture.”

“We show that assumption is on pretty shaky ground,” said Brennan. “Habitats and productivity of the habitats tend to fluctuate a lot.”

“When you cut off these little bits it might not sound like a big deal, but it can be a really big deal,” said Mike Fitz, an ecologist not involved in the study who has spent years observing the salmon, bears, and wildlife in the Bristol Bay watershed, particularly those in Katmai National Park (home to the famous bear cams).

“This study really reinforces that it’s hard to select different tributaries that we find unnecessary, given that they may be very important during specific years,” agreed Curry Cunningham, a quantitative ecologist who monitors salmon runs in the Bristol Bay each summer.

The bigger picture is clear.

“The study seems to definitely demonstrate that healthy runs of salmon are dependent on healthy, diverse watersheds,” said Fitz. And accordingly, healthy salmon runs mean healthy, fat bears. (Though, it’s unknown how, exactly, the Pebble Mine — which would operate for 20 years — will impact the bears and wildlife in and around the mining area. That depends on what ultimately happens to the salmon).

To gauge Bristol Bay’s fluctuating productivity, Brennan and his team caught some 1,400 salmon between 2011 and 2015 as the fish traveled up towards Bristol Bay’s Nushagak River watershed — one of the bay’s largest and most productive river systems. Each fish has an oval-shaped ear bone, which form rings as it grows, similar to a tree ring. This preserves the animals’ life history. The researchers used this bony data bank to measure chemical traces of an element, strontium, that naturally exists in the rivers. Critically, this element exists in different ratios in different parts of the river system — giving the researchers insight into where these fish lived and thrived during specific years. Brennan, then, saw how different regions of the river “flickered on” with productivity, while others “flickered off.”

“The earstones represent a chemical record, like a GPS tracker, of each fish’s life,” explained Brennan.

Ear bone measurements might seem like an unusual scientific tool to assess life history. But not to a fish scientist. “[The earbones] are particularly well-suited for addressing the goals of this research,” said Cunningham.

The Mine

Well before this study came out, the Pebble Mine incited a slew of environmental headaches.

Of note, the greater Bristol Bay region can boom with fish, but it can also bust; a food shortage in the ocean or disruptive weather patterns can drive fish numbers down. Accordingly, an ecologically harmful, or perhaps devastating, mine, can exacerbate the down years, and also hamper the recovery. “Why on top of [those bad years] would we want to risk really screwing this thing up?” wondered Bristol Bay resident Norm Van Vactor, president of the Bristol Bay Economic Development Corporation.

“At the end of the day, do we really want to risk what is truly one of mother nature’s wonders of the world for copper and gold? I don’t think we do,” Van Vactor told Mashable in March.

A vibrant fishing industry, valued at $1.5 billion each year, is critical to the Bristol Bay region. “It’s economically important, it’s culturally important, it’s nutritionally important,” said Brennan.

And beyond the economic bounty of the richest sockeye salmon fishery on the planet, there’s an unparalleled wilderness, something that’s vastly diminished in our heavily-developed society. The Lower 48’s wilderness, particularly the rivers, is a shell of its former self.

“Basically every major river system in the U.S. is modified by humanity in a significant way,” said Fitz. “Very few people alive today know what a free-flowing Colorado River is like.”

But in Bristol Bay, the rivers are untrammeled, and the natural world is flourishing. “Nothing really compares to the productivity we’re currently experiencing in Bristol Bay,” said Fitz. Consider, for example, rivers red with salmon and bears so rotund their bellies nearly scrape the ground.

This productivity is now on display each summer, as the Explore.org live webcams show Katmai National Park’s brown bears gobbling up bounties of fish, and growing profoundly fat.

The Army Corps of Engineers will soon weigh a plethora of comments from the U.S. public about the impact of a mine in the heart of the Bristol Bay region. Aside from the public comments, the 1,400-page EIS contains a number of scientific assessments about the region’s fisheries, but, according to the study’s authors, doesn’t responsibly account for the mine’s impact to fish.

“The Pebble Mine environmental impact statement, which is supposed to be a mature, state-of-the-science assessment of risks, really does a poor job of assessing risks of this specific project,” Daniel Schindler, a professor at the University of Washington School of Aquatic and Fishery Sciences and study coauthor, said in a statement.

When asked if the Army Corps of Engineers would consider this new Bristol Bay research, an agency spokesperson did not give a definitive answer, but said that “new data that is received through the course of the public comment period and made aware to the Corps is taken into consideration leading up to development the Final Environmental Impact Statement.”

“We can’t keep killing watersheds with death by 1,000 cuts.”

It’s likely, though, that each portion of the greater Bristol Bay watershed, however small, plays a sizable role in sustaining one of the richest, and purest, places left on Earth.

Yet one open pit mine, with its 188-mile pipeline, water treatment plants, and roads is how the transformation starts. It’s how it’s always started.

“We can’t keep killing watersheds with death by 1,000 cuts,” said Fitz, pointing at the devastated salmon fisheries in New England and the Pacific Northwest.

“What we consider normal today is a degraded environment,” he said. “We just accept it because that’s what we’ve grown up with.”

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Ranking Every NFL Receiving Corps Heading into the 2019 Season

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Gerald Herbert/Associated Press

A high-flying offense can’t rely on a singular threat to be effective. The units that are hardest to defend have multiple reliable and dynamic targets to expose defensive weaknesses.

A great receiver can be taken away by well-devised defensive schemes. Coordinators will roll coverage or bracket those top options to slow them down or shut them out of the game plan. Today’s offenses require threats at each of the wide receiver and tight end positions.

The best receiving corps features multiple skill sets to exploit mismatches. It’s great to have Jerry Rice. It’s even better to have John Taylor and Brent Jones to complement that elite target.

On average, teams used 11 personnel (three wide receivers and one tight end) on 66 percent of last season’s offensive snaps, according to Sharp Football Stats’ Warren Sharp. That number increased to 75 percent on passing plays. Only the San Francisco 49ers didn’t use three wide receivers at least 53 percent of the time.

Each position requires a different skill set. Outside receivers must be able to beat the jam and provide a vertical presence. Slot receivers, who are starters in today’s game, must work through traffic and display short-area quickness. Tight ends use their size and athleticism to out-leverage linebackers or defensive backs.

All of this and more is necessary to feature a complete passing game, and a holistic view helps show which organizations feature the league’s best receiving corps. Previous production, depth and potential all play a part in anointing the top units as the 2019 campaign approaches.

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Nick Wass/Associated Press

Receivers: Josh Doctson, Paul Richardson Jr., Trey Quinn, Terry McLaurin, Brian Quick, Kelvin Harmon, Robert Davis, Jehu Chesson, Cam Sims, Darvin Kidsy, T.J. Rahming, Steven Sims

Tight Ends: Jordan Reed, Vernon Davis, Jeremy Sprinkle, Manasseh Garner, Matt Flanagan, J.P Holtz

Thankfully, the Washington Redskins feature a talented backfield because their receiver corps leaves much to be desired. The team will go into the 2019 campaign with a new starting quarterback—whether it’s Case Keenum or Dwayne Haskins—and very little help on the outside.

Doctson is well on his way to earning bust status. The 2016 first-round pick set career highs last season with a meager 44 receptions for 532 yards. Richardson has played all 16 games only once in his five-year career.

Unless McLaurin, the organization’s third-round pick, continues his rapport with Haskins from their collegiate days, Reed will be the only reliable weapon in Washington’s passing attack. The tight end led the team last season with 54 receptions for 558 yards. Unfortunately, he’s never stayed healthy and has missed 17 games over the last three seasons.

Washington’s passing attack could set the league back 20 years.

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Sam Greenwood/Getty Images

Receivers: Dede Westbrook, Marqise Lee, Chris Conley, DJ Chark Jr., Keelan Cole, Tyre Brady, C.J. Board, Raphael Leonard, Dredrick Snelson, Michael Walker

Tight Ends: Geoff Swaim, Josh Oliver, James O’Shaughnessy, Ben Koyack, Pharoah McKever, Charles Jones, Michael Colubiale

The Jacksonville Jaguars did everything in their power to secure Nick Foles‘ services at quarterback. The franchise got its guy yet failed to provide him with an adequate surrounding cast.

Westbook led the offense last season with 66 receptions for 717 yards. Beyond him, none of the returning targets produced more than 491 yards. General manager David Caldwell signed Conley to supplement the group, but he hasn’t managed more than 530 yards in any of his four seasons. Lee’s return from a season-ending knee injury will provide the biggest boost.

Tight end is suspect at best. Jacksonville invested a third-round pick in Oliver, but expectations should be tempered for any rookie tight end. Swaim and O’Shaughnessy don’t threaten opposing defenses.

Foles should help elevate this group to a degree, but the unit lacks dynamic traits.

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Tom Szczerbowski/Getty Images

Receivers: Albert Wilson, Kenny Stills, DeVante Parker, Jakeem Grant, Isaiah Ford, Brice Butler, Preston Williams, Trenton Irwin, Reece Horn

Tight Ends: Nick O’Leary, Mike Gesicki, Dwayne Allen, Clive Walford, Durham Smythe, Chris Myarick

A new coaching staff means a fresh start. Sometimes a situation just stinks, though.

The Miami Dolphins will enter the 2019 campaign without a single receiver who managed more than 553 yards last season. Some talent is present, but head coach Brian Flores and offensive coordinator Chad O’Shea will be hard-pressed to find a receiver capable of consistently getting open to serve as a top target.

Wilson played well through the first seven games, but he’s coming off a season-ending hip injury. Stills never developed into anything more than a downfield option. Parker will receive yet another opportunity to prove he’s not a first-round bust.

Miami drafted Gesicki in last year’s second round because of an exceptional physical profile (6’6″, 245 lbs), but he managed just 22 caches and should cede the starting role to O’Leary after the two traded off the job throughout 2018.

Maybe Josh Rosen or Ryan Fitzpatrick can get more out of this group, but it’s unlikely.

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Tom Szczerbowski/Getty Images

Receivers: Robert Foster, John Brown, Cole Beasley, Zay Jones, Andre Roberts, Da’Mari Scott, Isaiah McKenzie, Ray-Ray McCloud III, Victor Bolden Jr., Duke Williams, Cam Phillips, David Sills, Nick Easley

Tight Ends: Tyler Kroft, Dawson Knox, Lee Smith, Tommy Sweeney, Jason Croom, Moral Stephens, Mik’Quan Deane

To the Buffalo Bills’ credit, the organization went out and surrounded quarterback Josh Allen with more talent than he had last year. But it’s all relative.

Buffalo entered the offseason with the league’s worst skill positions. They’re no longer the worst, just incrementally better.

General manager Brandon Beane signed Brown, who led the Baltimore Ravens with 715 receiving yards last season, and an effective slot receiver in Beasley.

Foster is the wild card as a potential No. 1 target. All but 30 of the rookie’s 541 receiving yards came in the second half of the season, which included three 100-yard games. According to Pro Football Focus, he led the NFL in average depth of target (20.9 yards).

The team also signed Kroft to start at tight end. Unfortunately, he suffered a broken foot in OTAs and doesn’t have a timetable for a return.

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Chris Graythen/Getty Images

Receivers: DJ Moore, Torrey Smith, Curtis Samuel, Chris Hogan, Aldrick Robinson, Terry Godwin, Jarius Wright, Rashad Ross, DeAndrew White, Mose Frazier, Andre Levrone, Damion Jeanpiere

Tight Ends: Greg Olsen, Ian Thomas, Temarrick Hemingway, Chris Manhertz, Cole Hunt, Jason Vander Laan, Ethan Wolf, Marcus Baugh

The Carolina Panthers built their passing attack from the inside.

Olsen has consistently been Cam Newton‘s favorite target, though the veteran tight end missed 16 games over the last two seasons due to a broken foot.

“I’m here now. I feel good. I feel ready to rock,” the 34-year-old target said, per ESPN’s David Newton. “I haven’t taken a lot of snaps over the last two years as I had prior, so maybe that will give me a little juice at this point in my career.”

Furthermore, the team’s 2018 first-round receiver, Moore, spent the bulk of his snaps in the slot. The same can be said of Hogan, who signed with Carolina in free agency. Samuel is a hybrid player.

Smith is the team’s only true outside threat after Devin Funchess left to sign with the Indianapolis Colts, and that’s not enough.

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James Kenney/Associated Press

Receivers: Corey Davis, A.J. Brown, Adam Humphries, Taywan Taylor, Tajae Sharpe, Cameron Batson, Kalif Raymond, Darius Jennings, Jalen Tolliver, Cody Hollister, Joseph Parker, Anthony Ratliff-Williams, Darius Jennings

Tight Ends: Delanie Walker, Jonnu Smith, Anthony Firkser, McCole Pruitt, Cole Wick, Keith Towbridge, Parker Hesse

The Tennessee Titans are still searching for the right combination to maximize Marcus Mariota’s potential. The quarterback will enter his fifth season with his best supporting cast so far, but questions still linger.

It’s time for Davis to determine which direction his career will go. The 2017 fifth overall pick showed improvement between his first and second seasons, but will he continue his progression or regress? As of now, he hasn’t lived up to expectations.

Since Tennessee selected a hobbled Jeffery Simmons in this year’s first round, Brown becomes the Titans’ de facto top pick. At 6’0″ and 226 pounds, Brown is a bid-bodied target. How he transitions from primarily playing the slot to an outside role will be significant since the Titans signed Humphries.

Tight end is a bit of a mess, too. Delanie Walker suffered a fractured ankle last season, while Jonnu Smith is still dealing with the aftereffects of an MCL tear.

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Ted S. Warren/Associated Press

Receivers: Larry Fitzgerald, Christian Kirk, Andy Isabella, Hakeem Butler, Chad Williams, Kevin White, KeeSean Johnson, Pharoh Cooper, Damiere Byrd, Trent Sherfield, A.J. Richardson

Tight Ends: Charles Clay, Ricky Seals-Jones, Maxx Williams, Caleb Wilson, Darrell Daniels, Drew Belcher

The Arizona Cardinals’ passing attack under new head coach Kliff Kingsbury has a chance to become ultra-successful or a spectacular failure once he implements a variation of the Air Raid scheme. Whatever the case, the franchise loaded up on young receiver talent to ease the transition.

Before we go any further, Fitzgerald remains an ageless wonder. The 35-year-old receiver led the team last season with 69 receptions for 734 yards and six touchdowns. He won’t touch Jerry Rice’s record, but the 11-time Pro Bowler has a chance to pad his standing as the NFL’s second all-time leading receiver.

Christian Kirk looked like Fitzgerald’s heir apparent before he suffered a broken foot in Week 13.

Additionally, general manager Steve Keim drafted three receivers—Isabella, Butler and Johnson—who have varying skill sets to fit specific roles. Isabella tied for the fastest 40-yard dash among wide receivers in this year’s class. Butler is a massive target (6’5″, 227 lbs). Johnson, meanwhile, creates after the catch.

How Kingsbury plans to use the team’s tight ends might be the most interesting question. Clay and Seals-Jones will likely serve as oversized slot receivers.

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Rich Schultz/Associated Press

Receivers: Golden Tate, Sterling Shepard, Russell Shepard, Darius Slayton, Corey Coleman, Bennie Fowler, Cody Latimer, Brittan Golden, Alonzo Russell, Alex Wesley, Reggie White Jr.

Tight Ends: Evan Engram, Rhett Ellison, Scott Simonson, Garrett Dickerson, C.J. Conrad

No one outside of general manager Dave Gettleman and—maybe—head coach Pat Shurmur knows what the New York Giants’ organizational plan is. This is evident with their approach to the wide receiver position.

Obviously, the staff wasn’t enamored with having Odell Beckham Jr on the roster. But the group certainly should have seen his value as a player because he’ll be sorely missed.

After trading Beckham to the Cleveland Browns, Gettleman loaded up on slot receivers.

Tate and Sterling Shepard are at their best working inside the formation. The same can be said of Engram as a detached tight end. Tate, in particular, is fantastic in the role and led all wide receivers last season with 23 forced missed tackles, according to Pro Football Focus.

How the Giants are going to win outside the numbers is unknown. Russell Shepard and some combination of Coleman, Fowler and Slayton must find ways to threaten opposing defenses or the entire field will constrict.

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Ron Schwane/Associated Press

Receivers: Marquise Brown, Willie Snead IV, Miles Boykin, Jordan Lasley, Chris Moore, Seth Roberts, Jaleel Scott, Michael Floyd, Quincy Adeboyejo, Jaylen Smith, Antoine Wesley, Sean Modster, Joe Horn Jr.

Tight Ends: Hayden Hurst, Mark Andrews, Nick Boyle, Cole Herdman, Charles Scarff

New Baltimore Ravens general manager Eric DeCosta did a wonderful job turning his team’s nothingburger of a wide receiver corps into an intriguing complementary unit this offseason.

“We played a lot of teams, really good offenses this year [and] I had a chance to sit up in the press box and watch some of these offenses. One of the main common denominators is speed,” DeCosta said, per ESPN’s Jamison Hensley. “… I think our vision, collective vision, for the offense is to add more guys like [quarterback Lamar Jackson] to make it really challenging on the defense.”

DeCosta realized his plan by drafting Brown and Boykin in the first and third rounds, respectively. Brown creates unbelievable separation. Boykin is a big target (6’4″, 220 lbs) with 4.42-second 40-yard-dash speed. The first-year receivers must deliver since Baltimore will rely heavily on both.

Speed on the outside will significantly help last year’s rookie tight ends, Hurst and Andrews, work the middle of the field in their second seasons.

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Seth Wenig/Associated Press

Receivers: Robby Anderson, Jamison Crowder, Quincy Enunwa, Josh Bellamy, Charone Peake, Deonte Thompson, Deontay Burnett, Tim White, J.J. Jones, Quadree Henderson, Greg Dortch, Jeff Smith

Tight Ends: Chris Herndon, Trevon Wesco, Eric Tomlinson, Daniel Brown, Neal Sterling

The New York Jets passing game will be as effective as Anderson allows it to be. The 26-year-old is on the cusp of big things. During the last four weeks of the 2018 campaign, the third-year receiver caught 23 passes for 336 yards and graded fifth-best among wide receivers with 20 or more targets, according to Pro Football Focus.

Anderson’s downfield prowess will make the entire offense better.

New York signed Crowder, who is a proven slot receiver. He can work the middle of the field as long as coverage isn’t squeezing the underneath routes. The same can be said of Enunwa, whose greatest strength is creating after the catch.

Herndon’s development makes the tight end New York’s most interesting option. As a rookie, the 2018 fourth-round pick finished second on the team with 39 receptions for 502 yards. Plus, the Jets drafted Trevon Wesco in this year’s fourth round to provide a more physical complement.

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Otto Greule Jr/Getty Images

Receivers: Tyler Lockett, DK Metcalf, David Moore, Gary Jennings, Jaron Brown, John Ursua, Amara Darboh, Jazz Ferguson, Keenan Reynolds, Malik Turner, Caleb Scott, Terry Wright

Tight Ends: Will Dissly, Ed Dickson, Nick Vannett, Jacob Hollister, Tyrone Swoopes, Justin Johnson

Lockett is already one of the league’s best, and very few know it. According to USA Today‘s Doug Farrar, he provided a perfect passer rating when targeted with the highest DVOA (defense-adjusted value over average) recorded for a wide receiver since 1986.

But after Doug Baldwin’s retirement, concerns reside within the rest of the group

“I don’t think we replace Doug,” head coach Pete Carroll said, per the Tacoma News Tribune‘s Gregg Bell. “… Somebody else will do something a little bit differently and will make their own spot for him.”

The Seahawks drafted Metcalf, Jennings and Ursua. Metcalf is a physically impressive deep threat. Jennings’ game relies on precision. Ursua is a slot receiver. One, two or all three will have to produce.

In addition to the uncertainty at wide receiver, Seattle’s second-year tight end, Dissly, is coming back from a torn patellar tendon.

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Justin Edmonds/Getty Images

Receivers: Courtland Sutton, Emmanuel Sanders, DaeSean Hamilton, Tim Patrick, Juwann Winfree, Brendan Langley, Aaron Burbridge, Fred Brown, River Cracraft, Trinity Benson, Romell Guerrier, Kelvin McKnight

Tight Ends: Noah Fant, Jeff Heuerman, Jake Butt, Troy Fumagalli, Bug Howard, Austin Fort

The Denver Broncos’ receiving corp finds itself in transition.

The 32-year-old Sanders led the offense last season with 71 receptions for 868 yards. But he suffered a torn Achilles tendon in early December. As the veteran recovers, he’s setting the table for the team’s second-year wide receivers, Sutton and Hamilton.

“He’s coaching me up in a way that I ran a route that he saw at practice, or he’s telling me something that he would have done in his situation or that he saw has worked or has worked for me,” Hamilton said, per 247 Sports’ Zack Kelberman. “… He’s obviously been a great mentor since we came in.”

Denver thrust Sutton into the spotlight when the organization traded Demaryius Thomas to the Houston Texans. He will now be asked to take over the role of No.1 receiver, whether he’s ready for it or not.

Fant’s presence is significant since the new offensive scheme under coordinator Rich Scangarello should feature the first-round tight end.

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Tony Avelar/Associated Press

Receivers: Allen Robinson II, Taylor Gabriel, Anthony Miller, Riley Ridley, Cordarrelle Patterson, Javon Wims, Marvin Hall, Thomas Ives, Tanner Gentry, Emanuel Hall, Jordan Williams-Lambert, Taquan Mizzell Sr.

Tight Ends: Trey Burton, Adam Shaheen, Ben Braunecker, Dax Raymond, Ellis Richardson, Jesper Horsted, Ian Bunting, Bradley Sowell

The Chicago Bears experienced an impressive turnaround last year, primarily because of their defensive prowess. Head coach Matt Nagy’s passing offense ranked 21st overall, but the second year running the system should have a great impact on the unit’s efficiency.

“Being together and being able to watch our own clips from last year, being able to own our mistakes [allows us to] get better and grow on what we did really well,” quarterback Mitchell Trubisky said, per the Chicago Tribune‘s Rich Campbell.

More importantly, the receivers know Trubisky’s tendencies and can now establish a better rapport. Last season, none of the top targets found a rhythm. Robinson and Gabriel finished with fewer than 800 receiving yards. Miller battled through injuries yet managed seven touchdowns. Both Burton and Shaheen could be used more effectively.

The Bears’ receiving corps has all the pieces; the group must now come together to experience significant improvement.

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Ron Jenkins/Associated Press

Receivers: Amari Cooper, Michael Gallup, Randall Cobb, Tavon Austin, Allen Hurns, Noah Brown, Cedrick Wilson, Reggie Davis, Jalen Guyton, Jon’Vea Johnson, Lance Lenoir Jr., Devin Smith

Tight Ends: Jason Witten, Dalton Schultz, Blake Jarwin, Rico Gathers, Codey McElroy

The Dallas Cowboys offense looks vastly different today than it did at the start of the 2018 campaign.

First, the organization’s midseason decision to trade a first-round pick for Cooper paid major dividends since 725 of the receiver’s 1,005 yards came with the Cowboys. The 24-year-old wideout provides the offense with the true No. 1 target owner Jerry Jones desperately wanted after Dez Bryant‘s downturn.

Second, Witten returns to the field after a year in the Monday Night Football booth. Yes, the tight end is 37 years old, but he understands the game and should be able to find soft spots in zone coverage.

“The work that he’s done in the weight room in the off-season program has been outstanding,” head coach Jason Garrett said of Witten, per the Fort Worth Star-Telegram‘s Clarence E. Hill, Jr. “His testing numbers and all of that are what they’ve been or even better.”

Dallas also hopes Gallup will continue to progress, Cobb still has something left and one of the tight ends can effectively spell Witten.

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Jeff Haynes/Associated Press

Receivers: Kenny Golladay, Marvin Jones Jr., Danny Amendola, Travis Fulgham, Tommylee Lewis, Andy Jones, Chris Lacy, Brandon Powell, Jordan Smallwood, Deontez Alexander, Tom Kennedy, Jonathan Duhart

Tight Ends: T.J. Hockenson, Jesse James, Michael Roberts, Logan Thomas, Isaac Nauta, Jerome Cunningham

The Detroit Lions feature a solid threesome in Golladay, Jones and Amendola, who the organization signed in free agency. Each has a specific role. Golladay broke through last season with 1,063 yards as the unit’s X-receiver. Jones can play flanker with Amendola in the slot.

But the Lions were still missing something, and the coaching staff thinks it’s been found in this year’s eighth overall pick, Hockenson.

“We’re trying to do everything we can on offense to be multiple, be able to get into different packages, put as much stress on the defense as possible,” head coach Matt Patricia said, per Pride of Detroit’s Jerry Reisman. “Right now the game is always moving towards the tight end position. That’s the mismatch that everyone is trying to figure out.”

Hockenson’s development will determine whether the Lions achieved their goal.

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Mark J. Terrill/Associated Press

Receivers: Dante Pettis, Deebo Samuel, Marquise Goodwin, Jalen Hurd, Kendrick Bourne, Trent Taylor, Jordan Matthews, Richie James Jr., Max McCaffrey, Shawn Poindexter, Malik Henry

Tight Ends: George Kittle, Garrett Celek, Levine Toilolo, Kaden Smith, Ross Dwelley, Tyree Mayfield

George Kittle is amazing. The 49ers star set an NFL record for tight ends last season with 1,377 receiving yards.

But he can’t carry the entire offense.

San Francisco is still searching for a wide receiver capable of filling a featured role. Pettis and Goodwin both shined at points in 2018, but they’ve also dealt with injuries.

Enter Samuel. The 49ers chose the rookie target with the 36th overall pick, and he’s an ideal fit in Kyle Shanahan’s offensive scheme.

“Look at his body [5’11”, 214 lbs],” the head coach told reporters. “Look how he runs with the ball. It hurts for people to tackle him. It doesn’t hurt him as bad. That’s a physical receiver, to me, and a big guy and when you have the hands like that and you have the speed [4.48-second 40-yard dash].”

The potential at wide receiver is present; it just needs to blossom.

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Jeff Roberson/Associated Press

Receivers: Julian Edelman, N’Keal Harry, Demaryius Thomas, Phillip Dorsett, Dontrelle Inman, Matthew Slater, Maurice Harris, Braxton Berrios, Damoun Patterson, Ryan Davis, Jakobi Meyers, Gunner Olszewski

Tight Ends: Austin Seferian-Jenkins, Ben Watson, Ryan Izzo, Stephen Anderson, Matt LaCosse, Andrew Beck

Attrition occurs after championship runs, though not often in the way the New England Patriots lost talent.

The greatest tight end of all time, Rob Gronkowski, retired. The Josh Gordon experiment ended before the franchise’s latest Super Bowl run. Neither player can be replaced.

However, the Patriots will find new ways to move the ball effectively.

Edelman is basically uncoverable. In his last 16 contests between the regular season and playoffs, the slot receiver caught 105 passes for 1,325 yards and six touchdowns, as Rotoworld’s Evan Silva noted.

Head coach and de facto general manager Bill Belichick even did the unthinkable—he drafted a first-round wide receiver for the first time. Harry, like the veteran additions of Thomas and Inman, should provide the team with a bigger target who can out-physical defensive backs.

The tight end position will never be the same, but Seferian-Jenkins hasn’t tapped into his full potential. Meanwhile, Watson is still capable, even at 38 years old.

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Seth Wenig/Associated Press

Receivers: Davante Adams, Geronimo Allison, Marquez Valdes-Scantling, Equanimeous St. Brown, Trevor Davis, J’Mon Moore, Jake Kumerow, Jawill Davis, Allen Lazard, Teo Redding, Darrius Shepherd

Tight Ends: Jimmy Graham, Marcedes Lewis, Robert Tonyan, Evan Baylis, Davis Koppenhaver

Personnel shuffling almost always ensues when a new coach implements a different system.

For the Green Bay Packers, Adams will remain the scheme’s top option under new head coach Matt LaFleur. The 26-year-old wide receiver is a two-time Pro Bowl performer coming off of a 1,386-yard campaign. Other roles haven’t been determined—specifically slot receiver after Randall Cobb’s departure.

“They can be [interchangeable],” LaFleur said, per the Wisconsin State Journal‘s Tom Oates. “I think it’s, are you asking the guy to run a choice route or are you asking him to take the top off and run a vertical route? That’s why I think it’s important to assemble your receiving corps similar to how you would a basketball team.”

Allison, Valdes-Scantling, St. Brown, Davis and Moore all have a chance to expand their roles. If the team’s young wide receivers don’t respond, quarterback Aaron Rodgers can always throw to the 32-year-old Graham.

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Frank Victores/Associated Press

Receivers: A.J. Green, Tyler Boyd, Alex Erickson, John Ross, Cody Core, Josh Malone, Auden Tate, Kermit Whitfield, Stanley Morgan, Hunter Sharp, Damion Willis, Ventell Bryant

Tight Ends: Tyler Eifert, C.J. Uzomah, Drew Sample, Cethan Carter, Jordan Franks, Mason Schreck, Moritz Böhringer

A.J. Green might be the most excited man in professional football thanks to the Cincinnati Bengals’ decision to fire Marvin Lewis after 16 seasons and hire Zac Taylor as head coach.

“I’m so excited to be a part of that offense, that high-flying, down-the-field, big-chunks offense, man, I just can’t wait,” Green said, per the Sporting News’ Thomas Lott. “With Zac, he’s an unbelievable teacher, very intelligent guy the way he teaches us.”

Green battled a toe injury last year that cost him seven games. His health is of the utmost importance because the 30-year-old target could post significant numbers in a wide-open attack. His return will also give the Bengals an impressive one-two punch since Boyd developed into a 1,000-yard receiver.

Eifert’s health is also less of a concern after Uzomah re-signed and the organization drafted Sample with a second-round pick.

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Don Wright/Associated Press

Receivers: JuJu Smith-Schuster, Donte Moncrief, James Washington, Diontae Johnson, Ryan Switzer, Eli Rogers, Johnny Holton, Tevin Jones, Trey Griffey, Diontae Spencer

Tight Ends: Vance McDonald, Xavier Grimble, Zach Gentry, Kevin Rader, Christian Scotland-Williamson, Trevor Wood

Let the Smith-Schuster era begin.

Antonio Brown is no longer a member of the Pittsburgh Steelers, which is both a positive and negative. The Steelers wanted to rid the organization of a malcontent. At the same time, it traded away the league’s most productive wide receiver. Furthermore, Brown’s presence demanded a certain level of respect.

Smith-Schuster posted big numbers last season with 111 receptions for 1,426 yards. How he handles added attention will define how good Pittsburgh’s receiving corps really is, because Moncrief, Washington and Johnson are unknowns.

Moncrief signed as a free agent, but he hasn’t had a single standout campaign. Washington needs to show he can handle the speed of the game after a disappointing rookie season. Johnson is an incoming rookie with plenty of potential, but he needs to establish himself first.

McDonald does provide a physical presence at tight end if none of the secondary receiver options develop as expected.

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Ben Margot/Associated Press

Receivers: Antonio Brown, Tyrell Williams, J.J. Nelson, Marcell Ateman, Dwayne Harris, Hunter Renfrow, Ryan Grant, Keon Hatcher, Saeed Blacknall, Rico Gafford, Keelan Doss, Brian Burt

Tight Ends: Darren Waller, Foster Moreau, Luke Willson, Derek Carrier, Paul Butler

The Oakland Raiders entered the offseason with a simple, albeit grand plan.

“We don’t want to have a good receiving corps, I want to have the best receiving corps in football, and I think in order to have the best you have to have the best, and in my opinion we added the best wide receiver in football,” head coach Jon Gruden said, per Pro Football Talk’s Michael David Smith.

Of course, Gruden is speaking of Brown’s acquisition. No one can touch Brown’s production over the last six seasons (686 receptions for 9,145 yards and 67 touchdowns). But the front office didn’t stop there.

Williams posted a 1,059-yard season in 2016 when opportunities arose due to injuries. Now, he’ll serve as the Raiders’ No. 2 target.

Nelson is a speed demon to stretch opposing defenses.

Oakland’s biggest downfall is uncertainty at tight end. Jared Cook led the team in receptions, receiving yards and touchdowns last season, but he signed with the New Orleans Saints in free agency.

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Justin Edmonds/Getty Images

Receivers: Keenan Allen, Mike Williams, Travis Benjamin, Geremy Davis, Artavis Scott, Andre Patton, Dylan Cantrell, Justice Liggins, Jason Moore, Trevion Thompson

Tight Ends: Hunter Henry, Virgil Green, Sean Culkin, Vince Mayle, Matt Sokol, Daniel Helm

Allen is already one of the league’s premier wide receivers, as he’s had 199 receptions and 2,589 yards over the last two seasons. Williams could find himself in similar territory.

“He had a great year for us,” general manager Tom Telesco told reporters at the NFL Scouting Combine, “but we’re also in an offense where we have a lot of guys to get the football to, so he didn’t have 80, 90 or 100 catches, but he has that type of ability.”

The 2017 seventh overall pick caught 66 passes for 664 yards and 10 touchdowns in his second season. Plus, his target share should increase after Tyrell Williams signed with the Oakland Raiders in free agency.

Benjamin will continue in his role as a vertical threat. Henry is also back, healthy and running well after missing all of last season with a torn ACL.

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AJ Mast/Associated Press

Receivers: T.Y. Hilton, Devin Funchess, Parris Campbell, Chester Rogers, Deon Cain, Daurice Fountain, Krishawn Hogan, Marcus Johnson, Zach Pascal, Jordan Veasy, Steve Ishmael, Penny Hart, Ashton Dulin

Tight Ends: Eric Ebron, Jack Doyle, Mo Alie-Cox, Ross Travis, Gabe Holmes, Billy Brown, Hale Hentges

Chris Ballard has worked wonders as the Indianapolis Colts’ general manager. The organization continues to build an impressive group of talented players through smart decisions.

Of course, the Colts already had Hilton on the roster, which significantly helps. The four-time Pro Bowl wide receiver averaged 1,206 receiving yards over the last six seasons. His consistency provides Indianapolis with a go-to target.

The rest of the cast improved around Hilton. Indianapolis placed a priority on signing Funchess as a free agent.

“When I watch his tape, what I see is a big man (6’4″ and 225 pounds) who is really athletic,” head coach Frank Reich told reporters.

Campbell’s 4.31-second 40-yard-dash speed should complement Hilton’s route running and Funchess’ size.

Plus, the team can rely on its two talented tight ends, Ebron and Doyle. At this time a year ago, Ebron was a first-round disappointment. He resurrected his career by posting a 13-touchdown effort in his first year with the Colts.

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Wesley Hitt/Getty Images

Receivers: Robert Woods, Brandin Cooks, Cooper Kupp, Josh Reynolds, Mike Thomas, JoJo Natson, KhaDarel Hodge, Austin Proehl, Nsimba Webster, Johnathan Lloyd, Jalen Greene, Alex Bachman

Tight Ends: Tyler Higbee, Gerald Everett, Johnny Mundt, Keenan Brown, Kendall Blanton, Romello Brooker

The Los Angeles Rams offense evolved into a unit heavily reliant on 11 personnel (three receivers and one tight end). In fact, Sean McVay’s scheme used 11 personnel on a league-leading 87 percent of last season’s snaps, according to Sharp Football Stat’s Warren Sharp.

Thus, a heavy burden falls on the receivers when the same look is provided, yet they’re still required to get open through numerous different route combinations.

Woods and Cooks were the NFL’s leading duo with 2,423 combined receiving yards. Kupp is quarterback Jared Goff’s favorite target, but the slot receiver suffered a torn ACL in Week 10. Reynolds stepped in with 29 receptions for 402 yards.

Tight end is a glaring hole found within the scheme. Both Higbee and Everett are solid contributors, but neither forces a defense to account for his presence. The position becomes an afterthought at times.

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Harry How/Getty Images

Receivers: Adam Thielen, Stefon Diggs, Laquon Treadwell, Dillon Mitchell, Olabisi Johnson, Jordan Taylor, Jeff Badet, Chad Beebe, Brandon Zylstra, Alexander Hollins, Davion Davis

Tight Ends: Kyle Rudolph, Irv Smith Jr., David Morgan, Tyler Conklin, Cole Hikutini, Brandon Dillon

Thielen and Diggs are one of two returning wide receiver duos to both top 1,000-receiving yards last season. Those two are the certainties within the Vikings offense. The uncertainties could make the difference this fall.

Minnesota lacks a true third receiver. Treadwell is a disappointment after Minnesota selected him a 2016 first-round pick. The 23-year-old target managed 35 receptions for 302 yards in his third year.

Tight end can be considered a strength if the Vikings retain Rudolph, which isn’t a given. The nine-year veteran has been the subject of trade rumors. Minnesota could release him. Talk of a contract extension hasn’t gone away, either.

With Rudolph and Smith on the field together, the Vikings offense would look quite different.

“It’s something, an element that we’ve never had here in my nine years being here,” Rudolph said, per ESPN.com’s Courtney Cronin. “It forces defenses to play with three linebackers, and that allows us to control the game.”

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Eric Christian Smith/Associated Press

Receivers: DeAndre Hopkins, Will Fuller V, Keke Coutee, DeAndre Carter, Vyncint Smith, Jester Weah, Isaac Whitney, Steven Mitchell Jr., Johnnie Dixon, Tyron Johnson, Stephen Louis, Floyd Allen

Tight Ends: Jordan Akins, Jordan Thomas, Darren Fells, Kahale Warring, Jerell Adams

The Houston Texans may have trouble protecting Deshaun Watson, but the quarterback has a plethora of weapons at his disposal if he stays upright.

Hopkins staked his claim last season to be named the NFL’s best wide receiver. Only the Texans target finished top five overall in receptions (115), receiving yardage (1,572) and receiving touchdowns (11). To top it off, Hopkins didn’t drop a single pass, according to Pro Football Focus.

Fuller is a dynamic second option. However, he’s recovering from a torn ACL. Coutee struggled as a rookie, though the Texans expect more from the speedster in his second campaign.

“You never know what he’s going to do with the ball in his hands,” Watson said of Coutee, per NFL Network’s James Palmer.

Tight end is especially deep. Akins and Thomas are both big and athletic targets. Fells is a veteran in-line blocker. Houston invested a third-round pick in Warring. Expect plenty of two-tight end sets.

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David Banks/Associated Press

Receivers: Alshon Jeffery, DeSean Jackson, Nelson Agholor, J.J. Arcega-Whiteside, Mack Hollins, Shelton Gibson, Charles Johnson, Braxton Miller, Greg Ward, DeAndre Thompkins, Marken Michel, Carlton Agudosi

Tight Ends: Zach Ertz, Dallas Goedert, Richard Rodgers, Will Tye, Joshua Perkins

A few special offensive attacks are driven by their tight ends. Not many at the position can excel as a No. 1 target because few have the combination of size, athleticism and speed needed to be a consistent mismatch. Zach Ertz, though, thrives as the league’s best pass-catching tight end. In fact, the two-time Pro Bowl performer finished second overall in receptions and set an NFL record for tight ends last season with 116 catches.

“I said I wanted to be one of the best to ever play the tight end position, not only in this organization, but anywhere,” Ertz said, per Philly.com’s Paul Domowitch. “… People are saying there are one or two guys that are better than me. My goal is to be the best. So I have a huge chip on my shoulder going into this year.”

Ertz might be Carson’s Wentz’s favorite target, but the Philadelphia Eagles receivers are quite talented. Alshon Jeffery and Nelson Agholor combined for 1,579 yards last season. Backup tight end Dallas Goedert managed 33 receptions in his first year. Plus, the organization re-acquired DeSean Jackson, who is still a premier vertical threat, and drafted the J.J. Arcega-Whiteside in this year’s second round.

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Bill Feig/Associated Press

Receivers: Michael Thomas, Tre’Quan Smith, Ted Ginn Jr., Austin Carr, Cameron Meredith, Travin Dural, Simmie Cobbs, Keith Kirkwood, Cyril Grayson Jr., Lil’Jordan Humphrey, Deonte Harris, Emmanuel Butler

Tight Ends: Jared Cook, Josh Hill, Dan Arnold, Garrett Griffin, Alize Mack

“Can’t guard Mike” isn’t just a witty Twitter handle; NFL defenses can’t guard Thomas.

The New Orleans Saints’ top target led the league last season with 125 receptions. Two traits make Thomas so effective. First, the receiver rarely drops balls. Second, he creates after the catch. According to Pro Football Focus, Thomas forced the third-most (17) missed tackles among wide receivers last season.

The offense’s secondary options are questionable. Smith is an interesting developmental receiver, while Ginn enters his 13th season. Cook’s free-agent acquisition makes all the difference after the tight end made his first career Pro Bowl in 2018.

“I think he gives us a threat opposite of Mike,” head coach Sean Payton said of Cook, per ESPN.com’s Mike Triplett.

“I think he can run. I think he’s a really good receiver in space. I think he does a good job with his yards after the catch.”

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Ron Schwane/Associated Press

Receivers: Odell Beckham Jr., Jarvis Landry, Antonio Callaway, Rashard Higgins, Damion Ratley, Derrick Willies, Jaelen Strong, Dorian Baker, Ishmael Hyman, Blake Jackson, D.J. Montgomery, Damon Sheehy-Guiseppi

Tight Ends: David Njoku, Demetrius Harris, Seth DeValve, Pharaoh Brown, Stephen Carlson

On paper, the Cleveland Browns already feature an elite receiving corps. Potential only goes so far, though.

Beckham and Landry are arguably the league’s best wide receiver duo, though we won’t be sure until they take the field. Beckham became the fastest player to reach 5,000 receiving yards in the Super Bowl era. Landry set the record for the most receptions (481) through his first five seasons.

The rest of the group must develop to make this top-five group the best the NFL has to offer.

Callaway enters his sophomore season as a dynamic downfield threat, albeit still learning his craft. Higgins is a Baker Mayfield favorite. Njoku is a big-bodied and athletic tight end who already scares defenses with his ability to run the seam and create red-zone mismatches.

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Jason Behnken/Associated Press

Receivers: Mike Evans, Chris Godwin, Breshad Perriman, Justin Watson, Scotty Miller, Bobo Wilson, DaMarkus Lodge, Anthony Johnson, K.J. Brent, Bryant Mitchell, Spencer Schnell, Cortrelle Simpson

Tight Ends: O.J. Howard, Cameron Brate, Donnie Ernsberger, Antony Auclair, Jordan Leggett, Tanner Hudson

Two of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ biggest 2018 producers at wide receiver are no longer with the organization. Adam Humphries left via free agency and the front office traded veteran DeSean Jackson.

It’s a still potent group.

The 6’5″, 231-pound Evans is a matchup nightmare. The 25-year-old wide receiver finished third overall last season with 1,524 receiving yards and second with 26 receptions of 20-plus yards.

Evans’ running mate, Godwin, played extremely well in the second half with three 100-plus-yard games. He’s in line for a breakout campaign, courtesy of an increased target share.

Perriman, meanwhile, experienced a career revival in Cleveland last season.

The tight ends make the difference for the Buccaneers. Both Howard and Brate are difficult to handle in the passing game. The two combined for 11 touchdown receptions last season. No team features a better duo.

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Patrick Smith/Getty Images

Receivers: Tyreek Hill, Sammy Watkins, Mecole Hardman, Demarcus Robinson, Byron Pringle, Marcus Kemp, Gehrig Dieter, Jamal Custis, Felton Davis, Rashard Davis, Davon Grayson, Cody Thompson

Tight Ends: Travis Kelce, Blake Bell, Deon Yelder, John Phillips, David Wells, Joe Fortson

The Kansas City Chiefs’ receiving corps could be ranked No. 1 overall after last season’s offensive explosion. But the unit remains in limbo because of Hill’s uncertain status. A criminal case involving Hill was reopened after KCTV5 obtained a recording that appears to have Hill’s fiancee, Crystal Espinal, paraphrase their three-year-old son by saying “Daddy did it” in regards how the boy suffered a broken arm.

“We will not interfere (with the court proceeding),” NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell said Wednesday, per The MMQB’s Albert Breer. “The priority here is the young child.”

On the field, Hill is the game’s most dynamic receiving threat. His speed is second-to-none, which led to 1,479 yards at 17 yards per reception. But the Chiefs don’t know if he’ll be available this season. Right now, he’s still on the roster, but the second overall ranking reflects the uncertainty. Hill is weighted as a partial inclusion since a suspension is expected, even if he’s cleared. A year-long suspension or release would drop the Chiefs out of top 10 altogether.

Besides Hill, the Chiefs do have other talented targets. Kelce is arguably the NFL’s best tight after Rob Gronkowski’s retirement. Sammy Watkins can create big plays. General manager Brett Veach traded up in the second round to acquire Mecole Hardman, whose skill set is similar to Hill’s.

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Jason E. Miczek/Associated Press

Receivers: Julio Jones, Mohamed Sanu, Calvin Ridley, Justin Hardy, Russell Gage, Devin Gray, Christian Blake, Olamide Zaccheaus, C.J. Worton, Kahlil Lewis, Shawn Bane

Tight Ends: Austin Hooper, Logan Paulsen, Eric Saubert, Luke Stocker, Alex Gray, Jaeden Graham

While other areas of the Atlanta Falcons organization deteriorated since the team’s Super Bowl LI berth, the receiving corps remains as strong as ever.

Julio Jones is the standard by which all incoming wide receivers are judged. The 6’3″, 220-pound target amassed at least 1,409 receiving yards in each of the last five seasons, including leading the league in the category twice. Last season, Jones topped all receivers with 1,677 yards.

One superstar doesn’t make an entire unit, though.

Sanu is a consistent and reliable No. 2 target. He set a career high last year with 838 receiving yards. Ridley, whom the Falcons selected 26th overall in the 2018 draft, led all rookies with 821 receiving yards and 10 receiving touchdowns. Hooper ranked fourth among tight ends with 71 receptions.

The Falcons feature the league’s most complete receiving corps.

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Ranking Every NFL Receiving Corps Heading into the 2019 Season

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Gerald Herbert/Associated Press

A high-flying offense can’t rely on a singular threat to be effective. The units that are hardest to defend have multiple reliable and dynamic targets to expose defensive weaknesses.

The best receiving corps features multiple skill sets to exploit mismatches. It’s great to have Jerry Rice. It’s even better to have John Taylor and Brent Jones to complement that elite target.

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Nick Wass/Associated Press

Receivers: Josh Doctson, Paul Richardson Jr., Trey Quinn, Terry McLaurin, Brian Quick, Kelvin Harmon, Robert Davis, Jehu Chesson, Cam Sims, Darvin Kidsy, T.J. Rahming, Steven Sims

Tight Ends: Jordan Reed, Vernon Davis, Jeremy Sprinkle, Manasseh Garner, Matt Flanagan, J.P Holtz

Washington’s passing attack could set the league back 20 years.

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Sam Greenwood/Getty Images

Receivers: Dede Westbrook, Marqise Lee, Chris Conley, DJ Chark Jr., Keelan Cole, Tyre Brady, C.J. Board, Raphael Leonard, Dredrick Snelson, Michael Walker

Tight Ends: Geoff Swaim, Josh Oliver, James O’Shaughnessy, Ben Koyack, Pharoah McKever, Charles Jones, Michael Colubiale

The Jacksonville Jaguars did everything in their power to secure Nick Foles‘ services at quarterback. The franchise got its guy yet failed to provide him with an adequate surrounding cast.

Foles should help elevate this group to a degree, but the unit lacks dynamic traits.

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Tom Szczerbowski/Getty Images

Receivers: Albert Wilson, Kenny Stills, DeVante Parker, Jakeem Grant, Isaiah Ford, Brice Butler, Preston Williams, Trenton Irwin, Reece Horn

Tight Ends: Nick O’Leary, Mike Gesicki, Dwayne Allen, Clive Walford, Durham Smythe, Chris Myarick

A new coaching staff means a fresh start. Sometimes a situation just stinks, though.

Maybe Josh Rosen or Ryan Fitzpatrick can get more out of this group, but it’s unlikely.

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Tom Szczerbowski/Getty Images

Tight Ends: Tyler Kroft, Dawson Knox, Lee Smith, Tommy Sweeney, Jason Croom, Moral Stephens, Mik’Quan Deane

To the Buffalo Bills’ credit, the organization went out and surrounded quarterback Josh Allen with more talent than he had last year. But it’s all relative.

Buffalo entered the offseason with the league’s worst skill positions. They’re no longer the worst, just incrementally better.

General manager Brandon Beane signed Brown, who led the Baltimore Ravens with 715 receiving yards last season, and an effective slot receiver in Beasley.

The team also signed Kroft to start at tight end. Unfortunately, he suffered a broken foot in OTAs and doesn’t have a timetable for a return.

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Chris Graythen/Getty Images

Receivers: DJ Moore, Torrey Smith, Curtis Samuel, Chris Hogan, Aldrick Robinson, Terry Godwin, Jarius Wright, Rashad Ross, DeAndrew White, Mose Frazier, Andre Levrone, Damion Jeanpiere

Tight Ends: Greg Olsen, Ian Thomas, Temarrick Hemingway, Chris Manhertz, Cole Hunt, Jason Vander Laan, Ethan Wolf, Marcus Baugh

The Carolina Panthers built their passing attack from the inside.

Olsen has consistently been Cam Newton‘s favorite target, though the veteran tight end missed 16 games over the last two seasons due to a broken foot.

Furthermore, the team’s 2018 first-round receiver, Moore, spent the bulk of his snaps in the slot. The same can be said of Hogan, who signed with Carolina in free agency. Samuel is a hybrid player.

Smith is the team’s only true outside threat after Devin Funchess left to sign with the Indianapolis Colts, and that’s not enough.

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James Kenney/Associated Press

Tight Ends: Delanie Walker, Jonnu Smith, Anthony Firkser, McCole Pruitt, Cole Wick, Keith Towbridge, Parker Hesse

Tight end is a bit of a mess, too. Delanie Walker suffered a fractured ankle last season, while Jonnu Smith is still dealing with the aftereffects of an MCL tear.

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Ted S. Warren/Associated Press

Receivers: Larry Fitzgerald, Christian Kirk, Andy Isabella, Hakeem Butler, Chad Williams, Kevin White, KeeSean Johnson, Pharoh Cooper, Damiere Byrd, Trent Sherfield, A.J. Richardson

Tight Ends: Charles Clay, Ricky Seals-Jones, Maxx Williams, Caleb Wilson, Darrell Daniels, Drew Belcher

Christian Kirk looked like Fitzgerald’s heir apparent before he suffered a broken foot in Week 13.

How Kingsbury plans to use the team’s tight ends might be the most interesting question. Clay and Seals-Jones will likely serve as oversized slot receivers.

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Rich Schultz/Associated Press

Receivers: Golden Tate, Sterling Shepard, Russell Shepard, Darius Slayton, Corey Coleman, Bennie Fowler, Cody Latimer, Brittan Golden, Alonzo Russell, Alex Wesley, Reggie White Jr.

Tight Ends: Evan Engram, Rhett Ellison, Scott Simonson, Garrett Dickerson, C.J. Conrad

Obviously, the staff wasn’t enamored with having Odell Beckham Jr on the roster. But the group certainly should have seen his value as a player because he’ll be sorely missed.

After trading Beckham to the Cleveland Browns, Gettleman loaded up on slot receivers.

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Ron Schwane/Associated Press

Tight Ends: Hayden Hurst, Mark Andrews, Nick Boyle, Cole Herdman, Charles Scarff

New Baltimore Ravens general manager Eric DeCosta did a wonderful job turning his team’s nothingburger of a wide receiver corps into an intriguing complementary unit this offseason.

Speed on the outside will significantly help last year’s rookie tight ends, Hurst and Andrews, work the middle of the field in their second seasons.

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Seth Wenig/Associated Press

Receivers: Robby Anderson, Jamison Crowder, Quincy Enunwa, Josh Bellamy, Charone Peake, Deonte Thompson, Deontay Burnett, Tim White, J.J. Jones, Quadree Henderson, Greg Dortch, Jeff Smith

Tight Ends: Chris Herndon, Trevon Wesco, Eric Tomlinson, Daniel Brown, Neal Sterling

Anderson’s downfield prowess will make the entire offense better.

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Otto Greule Jr/Getty Images

Receivers: Tyler Lockett, DK Metcalf, David Moore, Gary Jennings, Jaron Brown, John Ursua, Amara Darboh, Jazz Ferguson, Keenan Reynolds, Malik Turner, Caleb Scott, Terry Wright

Tight Ends: Will Dissly, Ed Dickson, Nick Vannett, Jacob Hollister, Tyrone Swoopes, Justin Johnson

But after Doug Baldwin’s retirement, concerns reside within the rest of the group

In addition to the uncertainty at wide receiver, Seattle’s second-year tight end, Dissly, is coming back from a torn patellar tendon.

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Justin Edmonds/Getty Images

Tight Ends: Noah Fant, Jeff Heuerman, Jake Butt, Troy Fumagalli, Bug Howard, Austin Fort

The Denver Broncos’ receiving corp finds itself in transition.

Fant’s presence is significant since the new offensive scheme under coordinator Rich Scangarello should feature the first-round tight end.

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Tony Avelar/Associated Press

Tight Ends: Trey Burton, Adam Shaheen, Ben Braunecker, Dax Raymond, Ellis Richardson, Jesper Horsted, Ian Bunting, Bradley Sowell

The Bears’ receiving corps has all the pieces; the group must now come together to experience significant improvement.

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Ron Jenkins/Associated Press

Tight Ends: Jason Witten, Dalton Schultz, Blake Jarwin, Rico Gathers, Codey McElroy

The Dallas Cowboys offense looks vastly different today than it did at the start of the 2018 campaign.

Dallas also hopes Gallup will continue to progress, Cobb still has something left and one of the tight ends can effectively spell Witten.

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Jeff Haynes/Associated Press

Tight Ends: T.J. Hockenson, Jesse James, Michael Roberts, Logan Thomas, Isaac Nauta, Jerome Cunningham

But the Lions were still missing something, and the coaching staff thinks it’s been found in this year’s eighth overall pick, Hockenson.

Hockenson’s development will determine whether the Lions achieved their goal.

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Mark J. Terrill/Associated Press

Receivers: Dante Pettis, Deebo Samuel, Marquise Goodwin, Jalen Hurd, Kendrick Bourne, Trent Taylor, Jordan Matthews, Richie James Jr., Max McCaffrey, Shawn Poindexter, Malik Henry

Tight Ends: George Kittle, Garrett Celek, Levine Toilolo, Kaden Smith, Ross Dwelley, Tyree Mayfield

George Kittle is amazing. The 49ers star set an NFL record for tight ends last season with 1,377 receiving yards.

But he can’t carry the entire offense.

San Francisco is still searching for a wide receiver capable of filling a featured role. Pettis and Goodwin both shined at points in 2018, but they’ve also dealt with injuries.

Enter Samuel. The 49ers chose the rookie target with the 36th overall pick, and he’s an ideal fit in Kyle Shanahan’s offensive scheme.

The potential at wide receiver is present; it just needs to blossom.

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Jeff Roberson/Associated Press

Tight Ends: Austin Seferian-Jenkins, Ben Watson, Ryan Izzo, Stephen Anderson, Matt LaCosse, Andrew Beck

Attrition occurs after championship runs, though not often in the way the New England Patriots lost talent.

The greatest tight end of all time, Rob Gronkowski, retired. The Josh Gordon experiment ended before the franchise’s latest Super Bowl run. Neither player can be replaced.

However, the Patriots will find new ways to move the ball effectively.

The tight end position will never be the same, but Seferian-Jenkins hasn’t tapped into his full potential. Meanwhile, Watson is still capable, even at 38 years old.

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Seth Wenig/Associated Press

Receivers: Davante Adams, Geronimo Allison, Marquez Valdes-Scantling, Equanimeous St. Brown, Trevor Davis, J’Mon Moore, Jake Kumerow, Jawill Davis, Allen Lazard, Teo Redding, Darrius Shepherd

Tight Ends: Jimmy Graham, Marcedes Lewis, Robert Tonyan, Evan Baylis, Davis Koppenhaver

Personnel shuffling almost always ensues when a new coach implements a different system.

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Frank Victores/Associated Press

Receivers: A.J. Green, Tyler Boyd, Alex Erickson, John Ross, Cody Core, Josh Malone, Auden Tate, Kermit Whitfield, Stanley Morgan, Hunter Sharp, Damion Willis, Ventell Bryant

Tight Ends: Tyler Eifert, C.J. Uzomah, Drew Sample, Cethan Carter, Jordan Franks, Mason Schreck, Moritz Böhringer

A.J. Green might be the most excited man in professional football thanks to the Cincinnati Bengals’ decision to fire Marvin Lewis after 16 seasons and hire Zac Taylor as head coach.

Eifert’s health is also less of a concern after Uzomah re-signed and the organization drafted Sample with a second-round pick.

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Don Wright/Associated Press

Receivers: JuJu Smith-Schuster, Donte Moncrief, James Washington, Diontae Johnson, Ryan Switzer, Eli Rogers, Johnny Holton, Tevin Jones, Trey Griffey, Diontae Spencer

Tight Ends: Vance McDonald, Xavier Grimble, Zach Gentry, Kevin Rader, Christian Scotland-Williamson, Trevor Wood

Let the Smith-Schuster era begin.

McDonald does provide a physical presence at tight end if none of the secondary receiver options develop as expected.

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Ben Margot/Associated Press

Receivers: Antonio Brown, Tyrell Williams, J.J. Nelson, Marcell Ateman, Dwayne Harris, Hunter Renfrow, Ryan Grant, Keon Hatcher, Saeed Blacknall, Rico Gafford, Keelan Doss, Brian Burt

Tight Ends: Darren Waller, Foster Moreau, Luke Willson, Derek Carrier, Paul Butler

The Oakland Raiders entered the offseason with a simple, albeit grand plan.

Williams posted a 1,059-yard season in 2016 when opportunities arose due to injuries. Now, he’ll serve as the Raiders’ No. 2 target.

Nelson is a speed demon to stretch opposing defenses.

Oakland’s biggest downfall is uncertainty at tight end. Jared Cook led the team in receptions, receiving yards and touchdowns last season, but he signed with the New Orleans Saints in free agency.

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Justin Edmonds/Getty Images

Receivers: Keenan Allen, Mike Williams, Travis Benjamin, Geremy Davis, Artavis Scott, Andre Patton, Dylan Cantrell, Justice Liggins, Jason Moore, Trevion Thompson

Tight Ends: Hunter Henry, Virgil Green, Sean Culkin, Vince Mayle, Matt Sokol, Daniel Helm

Allen is already one of the league’s premier wide receivers, as he’s had 199 receptions and 2,589 yards over the last two seasons. Williams could find himself in similar territory.

Benjamin will continue in his role as a vertical threat. Henry is also back, healthy and running well after missing all of last season with a torn ACL.

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AJ Mast/Associated Press

Tight Ends: Eric Ebron, Jack Doyle, Mo Alie-Cox, Ross Travis, Gabe Holmes, Billy Brown, Hale Hentges

Chris Ballard has worked wonders as the Indianapolis Colts’ general manager. The organization continues to build an impressive group of talented players through smart decisions.

The rest of the cast improved around Hilton. Indianapolis placed a priority on signing Funchess as a free agent.

“When I watch his tape, what I see is a big man (6’4″ and 225 pounds) who is really athletic,” head coach Frank Reich told reporters.

Campbell’s 4.31-second 40-yard-dash speed should complement Hilton’s route running and Funchess’ size.

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Wesley Hitt/Getty Images

Receivers: Robert Woods, Brandin Cooks, Cooper Kupp, Josh Reynolds, Mike Thomas, JoJo Natson, KhaDarel Hodge, Austin Proehl, Nsimba Webster, Johnathan Lloyd, Jalen Greene, Alex Bachman

Tight Ends: Tyler Higbee, Gerald Everett, Johnny Mundt, Keenan Brown, Kendall Blanton, Romello Brooker

Thus, a heavy burden falls on the receivers when the same look is provided, yet they’re still required to get open through numerous different route combinations.

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Harry How/Getty Images

Receivers: Adam Thielen, Stefon Diggs, Laquon Treadwell, Dillon Mitchell, Olabisi Johnson, Jordan Taylor, Jeff Badet, Chad Beebe, Brandon Zylstra, Alexander Hollins, Davion Davis

Tight Ends: Kyle Rudolph, Irv Smith Jr., David Morgan, Tyler Conklin, Cole Hikutini, Brandon Dillon

With Rudolph and Smith on the field together, the Vikings offense would look quite different.

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Eric Christian Smith/Associated Press

Receivers: DeAndre Hopkins, Will Fuller V, Keke Coutee, DeAndre Carter, Vyncint Smith, Jester Weah, Isaac Whitney, Steven Mitchell Jr., Johnnie Dixon, Tyron Johnson, Stephen Louis, Floyd Allen

Tight Ends: Jordan Akins, Jordan Thomas, Darren Fells, Kahale Warring, Jerell Adams

The Houston Texans may have trouble protecting Deshaun Watson, but the quarterback has a plethora of weapons at his disposal if he stays upright.

Fuller is a dynamic second option. However, he’s recovering from a torn ACL. Coutee struggled as a rookie, though the Texans expect more from the speedster in his second campaign.

“You never know what he’s going to do with the ball in his hands,” Watson said of Coutee, per NFL Network’s James Palmer.

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David Banks/Associated Press

Tight Ends: Zach Ertz, Dallas Goedert, Richard Rodgers, Will Tye, Joshua Perkins

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Bill Feig/Associated Press

Tight Ends: Jared Cook, Josh Hill, Dan Arnold, Garrett Griffin, Alize Mack

“Can’t guard Mike” isn’t just a witty Twitter handle; NFL defenses can’t guard Thomas.

“I think he gives us a threat opposite of Mike,” head coach Sean Payton said of Cook, per ESPN.com’s Mike Triplett.

“I think he can run. I think he’s a really good receiver in space. I think he does a good job with his yards after the catch.”

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Ron Schwane/Associated Press

Tight Ends: David Njoku, Demetrius Harris, Seth DeValve, Pharaoh Brown, Stephen Carlson

On paper, the Cleveland Browns already feature an elite receiving corps. Potential only goes so far, though.

The rest of the group must develop to make this top-five group the best the NFL has to offer.

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Jason Behnken/Associated Press

Receivers: Mike Evans, Chris Godwin, Breshad Perriman, Justin Watson, Scotty Miller, Bobo Wilson, DaMarkus Lodge, Anthony Johnson, K.J. Brent, Bryant Mitchell, Spencer Schnell, Cortrelle Simpson

Tight Ends: O.J. Howard, Cameron Brate, Donnie Ernsberger, Antony Auclair, Jordan Leggett, Tanner Hudson

Two of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ biggest 2018 producers at wide receiver are no longer with the organization. Adam Humphries left via free agency and the front office traded veteran DeSean Jackson.

It’s a still potent group.

The 6’5″, 231-pound Evans is a matchup nightmare. The 25-year-old wide receiver finished third overall last season with 1,524 receiving yards and second with 26 receptions of 20-plus yards.

Evans’ running mate, Godwin, played extremely well in the second half with three 100-plus-yard games. He’s in line for a breakout campaign, courtesy of an increased target share.

Perriman, meanwhile, experienced a career revival in Cleveland last season.

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Patrick Smith/Getty Images

Receivers: Tyreek Hill, Sammy Watkins, Mecole Hardman, Demarcus Robinson, Byron Pringle, Marcus Kemp, Gehrig Dieter, Jamal Custis, Felton Davis, Rashard Davis, Davon Grayson, Cody Thompson

Tight Ends: Travis Kelce, Blake Bell, Deon Yelder, John Phillips, David Wells, Joe Fortson

“We will not interfere (with the court proceeding),” NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell said Wednesday, per The MMQB’s Albert Breer. “The priority here is the young child.”

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Jason E. Miczek/Associated Press

Receivers: Julio Jones, Mohamed Sanu, Calvin Ridley, Justin Hardy, Russell Gage, Devin Gray, Christian Blake, Olamide Zaccheaus, C.J. Worton, Kahlil Lewis, Shawn Bane

Tight Ends: Austin Hooper, Logan Paulsen, Eric Saubert, Luke Stocker, Alex Gray, Jaeden Graham

While other areas of the Atlanta Falcons organization deteriorated since the team’s Super Bowl LI berth, the receiving corps remains as strong as ever.

One superstar doesn’t make an entire unit, though.

The Falcons feature the league’s most complete receiving corps.

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Netflix’s ‘What/If’ is a melodramatic soap worth diving into: Review

The following is a spoiler-free review of Netflix’s What/If.

Contemplating a binge watch of Netflix’s What/If this weekend? Rest assured, your interest in the most melodramatic television event since ABC’s Revenge is not misplaced.

Outrageous and juicy, the 10-hour limited series from Revenge creator Mike Kelley is jam-packed with betrayals, agreements, twists, turns, and (sexy) surprises. The soapy series will bait you into soaking up every minute of its ludicrous self-indulgence — delivering just enough real-world bite to leave you wanting that next episode.

Starring Renée Zellweger as evil venture capitalist Anne Montgomery, What/If is essentially a gender-swapped, serialized version of the 1993 film Indecent Proposal.

Lisa and Sean Donovan, played by Jane Levy and Blake Jenner, are a happily married but financially limited couple. Struggling to get their respective dreams of running a successful medical startup and joining the San Francisco Fire Department off the ground, the Donovans begin the series hopelessly out of options.

Enter Anne. She’s willing to give Lisa the $80 million dollars she needs to kickstart her company, but only if Jane is willing to give Anne one night alone with Sean. Gasp!

According to Netflix, what follows is a “neo-noir social thriller” that explores “what happens when acceptable people start doing unacceptable things.” According to me, what follows is an impeccably crafted soap opera, with less self-awareness (and notably fewer surgical mesh PSAs) than its daytime competitors.

Playing out the majority of its dramatic twists with deadpan sincerity, this world is serious about its stakes, and it wants nothing more than to have you along for the whole ride. What/If makes big moves early and often. Should you start to lose your investment, there are helpful signs posted at practically every intersection where your emotions might wander. Orchestral swells tell you when to cry. Shadowy confessions tell you when to gasp. Romantic embraces tell you when to swoon.

Cast members similarly slide into their assigned soapy stereotypes with commitment. Levy embodies her mousy-turned-ballsy underdog role, right down to the power bangs. Jenner takes his trophy husband/dreamboat part at face value, not even beginning to overthink it.

And then there’s Zellweger. An Academy Award winner with a massive year ahead of her, Zellweger can’t help but act circles around her co-stars — even when saddled with the series’ worst dialogue and most ludicrous plot points. (Only an exceptional artist can make CEO vs. CEO fencing, indoor archery lessons, and the planning of an event called “the détente” seem genuinely consequential.)

All in all, What/If isn’t an excellent bit of television, but it is an excellent soap. If you’re into that kind of thing, then you’re in for a hell of a weekend.

And if you’re not into that kind of thing? Just imagine… What/If you were?

What/If is streaming on Netflix now.

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Explosion targets mosque in Pakistan’s Quetta

Local police official Tauseef Farman told Al Jazeera the explosive device went off next to the prayer leader, who was among those killed. [Naseer Ahmed/Reuters]

Islamabad, Pakistan – At least two people have been killed and 25 wounded after an explosion at a mosque in the western Pakistani city of Quetta.

The explosion took place inside a mosque before Friday prayers, city police chief Abdul Razzaq Cheema told Al Jazeera by phone, adding that at least three of the wounded were in critical condition.

Local police official Tauseef Farman told Al Jazeera the explosive device went off next to the prayer leader, who was among those killed.

The area was cordoned off by security forces shortly after the explosion, and a bomb disposal unit was conducting investigations, Cheema said.

Video footage from the scene showed debris from the blast strewn within the mosque, with ceiling tiles lying smashed on the floor.

Regular violence

Quetta is the capital of Balochistan, Pakistan‘s largest and least populated province that is also rich in mineral and fuel resources.

It has seen regular violence in recent years, with attacks claimed by Baloch separatists, Pakistan Taliban and local affiliates of the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIL or ISIS).

The province has been at the centre of a series of recent attacks that have killed at least 10 people.

Last week, at least four policemen died when their vehicles were targeted by an explosion as they stood guard outside a mosque during evening prayers.

On May 12, Baloch separatist attackers stormed a five-star hotel in the southern port city of Gwadar, killing at least five people, including a Navy soldier.

Pakistani security forces engaged in an hours-long gun battle with the attackers, with the siege ending after three attackers were killed.

Balochistan is seeing a number of new infrastructure projects erected, including the port at Gwadar, as part of the $60bn China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) project, a joint venture between the Pakistani and Chinese governments.

SOURCE:
Al Jazeera News

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Theresa May quitting does not change EU’s Brexit stance: Commission

U.K. Prime Minister Theresa May makes a statement outside 10 Downing Street on May 24, 2019 in London, England | Peter Summers/Getty Images

Leaders express sadness at UK prime minister’s resignation but are committed to Withdrawal Agreement.

The EU’s position on the Brexit Withdrawal Agreement has not changed as a result of U.K. Prime Minister Theresa May’s resignation announcement, officials warned on Friday.

May fended off her political demise for so long that it still landed with an element of shock when she finally surrendered to Brexit defeat on Friday. And EU leaders who long regarded May as their best hope of achieving an orderly departure quickly began issuing tributes.

But they also issued a stern warning to those who might want to succeed May at No. 10 Downing Street, by reiterating their commitment to the existing Brexit Withdrawal Treaty that the British parliament has refused to ratify.

“President [Jean-Claude] Juncker followed Prime Minister May’s announcement this morning without personal joy,” European Commission spokeswoman Mina Andreeva said. “The president very much liked and appreciated working with Prime Minister May and, as he has said before, Theresa May is a woman of courage for whom he has great respect. He will equally respect and establish new relations with any prime minister, whomever they may be, without stopping his conversations with Prime Minister May.”

As for the EU’s negotiating positions on Brexit, Andreeva said: “There is no change to that.”

“Respect to Theresa May, who fought for a stable solution and a viable deal” — Manfred Weber, conservative European People’s Party nominee for Commission president

Pressed by a reporter, she replied: “Indeed, we have set out our position on the Withdrawal Agreement on the Political Declaration, the European Council in Article 50 format has set out its position and we remain available for anyone else who will be the new prime minister.”

She said the EU was still operating on the basis that the U.K. would leave the bloc on the new deadline of October 31.

“The working assumption is still that Brexit happens on the 31st of October, as the willingness has been expressed by the voters in the United Kingdom,” Andreeva said. “So this is our working assumption. In terms of preparedness, I think we have issued enough preparedness communications, legislative acts, contingency planning. So we are ready. We have been ready. We continue to be ready whatever the scenario is.”

“Of course,” she added, “our continued preference, as expressed by the president, is an orderly withdrawal on the basis of the Withdrawal Agreement that has been negotiated with the U.K.”

Michel Barnier, the EU’s Brexit negotiator, tweeted: “I would like to express my full respect for @theresa_may

and for her determination, as Prime Minister, in working towards the #UK’s orderly withdrawal from the EU.”

“Theresa May strove to chart a new future for the United Kingdom. I want to wish her the very best for the future” — Leo Varadkar, Irish Prime Minister

National capitals also reacted swiftly to May’s teary speech setting her departure date for June 7.

An Élysée Palace official said May “has led courageous work to implement Brexit in the interest of her country and earned the respect of the her European partners. The president sent her a personal message of support and thanks.”

“It is up to the U.K., according to its procedures, to designate a new PM. France is ready to work with the new British PM on all European and bilateral issues. Our relationship with the U.K. is essential in all fields. It is too early to speculate on the consequences of this decision,” the official said.

“The EU’s principles will continue to apply, namely the priority of preserving the good functioning of the EU, which requires a speedy clarification. This should also remind us, at the moment of an important choice, that votes of rejection without an alternative project lead to an impasse,” the official added.

Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte said on Twitter: “Just expressed my thanks and respect to Theresa May. The United Kingdom and the Netherlands are closely linked. The agreement reached between the EU and the United Kingdom for an orderly Brexit remains on the table.”

Irish Prime Minister Leo Varadkar offered up a large heap of praise in a statement posted on his official website.

Prime Minister Theresa May makes a statement outside 10 Downing Street on May 24, 2019 in London, England | Leon Neal/Getty Images

“I got to know Theresa May very well over the last two years,” Varadkar said. “She is principled, honorable, and deeply passionate about doing her best for her country, and her party. Politicians throughout the EU have admired her tenacity, her courage, and her determination during what has been a difficult and challenging time. Theresa May strove to chart a new future for the United Kingdom. I want to wish her the very best for the future.”

The Irish leader added, “And I look forward to working closely with her successor.”

Manfred Weber, the conservative European People’s Party nominee for Commission president, issued a statement saying that May’s resignation only highlighted the broader Brexit mess: “Brexit is a total disaster,” he said.

“Respect to Theresa May, who fought for a stable solution and a viable deal,” Weber wrote on Twitter. “We have once more for a constructive approach from our British partners. I appeal to the U.K.’s sense of responsibility and leadership in these times of great uncertainty.”

Rym Momtaz contributed reporting from Paris.

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‘Resident Evil 4’ is still a top horror action game

Resident Evil 4 was re-released on Nintendo Switch May 21 (along with the original Resident Evil and Resident Evil 0), making this the perfect time to revisit one of the greatest games of all time.

Resident Evil 4 is a masterpiece of action horror. Released for the Nintendo GameCube in 2005, this game reshaped the landscape of the genre into what it looks like today.

After nearly 15 years, the game still holds up wonderfully. It was given the HD treatment back in 2011 and has since seen released on nearly every major platform including PC, Xbox One, and PlayStation 4, making it accessible to just about anyone who plays video games.

It’s no wonder Resident Evil 4 has been remastered and re-released so many times — it’s one of the most memorable games you’ll encounter in your life.

The story

Resident Evil 4 stars Leon S. Kennedy, a cop-turned-hero who, after surviving the Raccoon City incident of Resident Evil 2, has been dispatched to Spain in search of the president’s kidnapped daughter.

Resident Evil 4 is one of the best and most impactful action horror games of all time

The inciting incident is a bit hacky, but what unfolds is an intriguingly terrifying tale full of twists and turns wrapped inside a remarkably gripping environment.

The residents of this Spanish village that Leon finds himself in are relentlessly violent. They will stop at (almost) nothing to tear him apart, but they aren’t zombies like in previous Resident Evil games. No, they look normal and they’re still alive and much smarter than your average undead.

Eventually, you learn that they’ve been infected with a monstrous little creature that turns them into zombie-like pawns to a greater evil figure, someone who wants to take control of people’s minds around the world.

Leon winds his way through the treacherous village, a sinister castle, and beyond to get to the bottom of this threat, encountering traps, ambushes, and hordes of enemies that want to remove the life from his eyes (and sometimes the head from his body).

While the story does a great job of driving progression, Resident Evil 4 is best-known for its atmosphere and set pieces.

Perfectly executed vibes

Resident Evil 4 has such a foreboding presence that even walking through areas you know you cleared out is unnerving.

The world is decorated with the creepiest landscapes and even more disturbing accouterments. Wells buzz with flies, blood and bile stain countless surfaces, buildings sit in abandoned disarray. Look in the wrong place and Leon will come face to face with a corpse — or pile of corpses —that tell a tale unseen.

Bubbling beneath it is a soundtrack worthy of an award on its own, amping up the mood at all the right moments. It’s intense, to say the least, setting a scene of constant fear without using cheap scare tactics.

Punctuating the steady stream of horror are some incredible set pieces.

There are the moments when enemies pour in from all around and Leon is forced to run away to momentary safety to take a few shots before the distance closes again and other enemies appear from behind. There’s the chainsaw guy whose unmistakable revving will turn your blood to ice, knowing that if he gets too close he’ll remove Leon’s head in a bloody, violent spray.

The Prisoner is a blind boss with some interesting mechanics.

And then there are the boss fights and special encounters. The first big fight Leon faces is a giant monster that lives in a lake and he’s forced to improvise with harpoons as he’s dragged around the water in a rowboat. There’s El Gigante, who uses his absurd size and strength to pummel Leon around a makeshift arena. There’s the Big Cheese, who traps Leon in a burning barn and turns out to be more monster than man.

There are others I won’t spoil, but each one is so memorable that even without the story you’d want to keep playing just to see what they came up with next.

Expert design decisions

Resident Evil 4 is one of the best and most impactful action horror games of all time, marking a point in the genre where few games that followed could match its expertise in so many areas.

Opting for an over-the-shoulder camera rather than the fixed camera angles seen in past Resident Evil games, Resident Evil 4 delivered a deeper sense of connection between players and the main character. Players can’t see what’s happening behind Leon just as much as Leon can’t, giving an extra claustrophobic spin on every single moment of the game.

Is something chasing Leon? Might as well keep sprinting just in case.

Developers also made the decision to go in an unconventional direction in terms of combat. Where most third-person shooters use one analog stick to move and the other to aim, Resident Evil 4 forces players to stop in their tracks in order to aim and shoot. There’s no running and gunning in Resident Evil 4, making every action sequence that much more intense.

It’s what differentiates it between regular action games and its own brand of action horror and part of what makes it so worth playing almost 15 years after its initial release.

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Two Teslas race, one above ground, one underground. Guess the winner.

In 2016, while stuck in dreadful LA traffic, Elon Musk envisioned a faster way of transportation in busy cities — by driving underneath them.

Soon after that, Musk started the Boring Company, dedicated to alleviating traffic issues by building underground tunnels, just wide enough for a Tesla car to blaze through.

Now, Boring Company has put Musk’s original idea through the test, by racing two Tesla cars; one through normal traffic, and the other through the company’s test tunnel in Hawthorne, California.

The company posted the results in a video, below.

Even though the drive is quite short (either way), the underground Tesla reaches its goal in about one and a half minutes. It takes more than four and a half minutes for the other one to arrive at the same spot.

The video is a cool illustration of just how fast driving underground could be, but it doesn’t take into account other factors which will surely play a part once the Boring Company’s tunnels go commercial, such as wait times at the tunnel elevator.

One interesting tidbit from the video is the lack of any sort of platform or wheel guide for the car in the tunnel, which were planned in initial design. One commenter asked whether the car is driving “127mph in a narrow tunnel just in autopilot,” and Elon Musk said that this is “pretty much” the case.

The Boring Company won its first commercial contract yesterday — it will be building two tunnels to connect the four halls of the Las Vegas Convention Center (LVCC), with the deadline being January 2021.

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‘A Plague Tale: Innocence’ is like ‘Dishonored’, if you squint: Review

The apocalypse has become the preferred narrative setting for masochistic catharsis in fiction, whether in movies (A Quiet Place), shows (Walking Dead), or games (The Last of Us — and countless others).

Yet we don’t actually go to these stories for the overwhelming dread inherent to these post-catastrophe settings. What we want, really, is to feel the moments of relief in these stories — some glimmer of hope that we’ll make it out alive of our own rapidly deteriorating real-life world.

And that’s where Plague Tale: Innocence, an overall well-crafted mid-sized stealth game from French design team Asobo Studio, makes its biggest mistakes.

Being visually stunning can't save 'Plague Tale' — Being visually stunning can’t save ‘Plague Tale’

To be clear, grimness is to be expected from a story that’s literally crawling with plague, infestation, corruption, and a medieval darkness that stems from both social as well as supernatural decay.

You play as Amicia, the daughter of a nobleman in 14th century rural France, whose idyllic life abruptly comes crumbling down when a confusing combination of rat plague and an evil Inquisition attacks your château. After her parents (and household) are murdered, it’s up Amicia to save her strange, sick little brother Hugo from the world of death and chaos they now suddenly live in — made more difficult by the fact that he is somehow the mysterious key to the occult conflict.

If you think I’ve spoiled any of this game for you, then you’ve discovered Plague Tale: Innocence‘s first flaw: Its story bites off way more than it can chew. Relatedly, it expects you to feel invested in its often over-complicated premise without ever really giving you any solid foundation to build on.

Its story bites off way more than it can chew.

All of that plot summary occurs in the relatively short first chapter of this 17-chapter journey. Before it gives you any chance to get your bearings or establish any attachment to its visually lush world, characters, emotional stakes, tone, setting, or place, Plague Tale: Innocence immediately overstuffs its world with rat swarms and the convoluted plots that come with them.

Despite its insistent theme on the loss of innocence (it’s in the title!), Plague Tale does not invest in any vision of its world or young characters before they were drowning in rot and rat tails. There’s no sense of loss, because you never experienced anything except tediously dull decay.

Your objective is to protect Hugo. You do so with stealth and a slingshot, solving puzzles to avoid Inquisition guards or rat hordes. As literally the only mechanic that takes up 80 percent of your time and interactions, that stealth system is astoundingly shallow.

Sure, you get new tools as you progress, making the main gameplay momentarily more interesting form time to time. But bells and whistles can’t save you from the absolute monotony of the main gameplay loop, which turns nasty hordes of writhing rat king piles into chores rather than anything even a little scary. The problem is the clear lack of tension in every encounter. Without it, the game doesn’t even achieve the dread it so desperately wants to imbue, instead delivering pure boredom.

I needed more time with what makes 'Plague Tale' beautiful in order to miss it later. — I needed more time with what makes ‘Plague Tale’ beautiful in order to miss it later.

Arguably, that’s not just the fault of the mechanics. The narrative does little to set up stakes that might’ve given what you’re doing a sense of larger purpose.

To start, Plague Tale wildly overestimates players’ tolerance for entire game-spanning escort missions. It seems to believe you’ll grow emotionally attached to Hugo by rendering him a sack of potatoes that you drag around through the rat-infested mud, only with less practical use or personality.

To start, Plauge Tale wildly overestimates players’ tolerance for entire game-spanning escort missions.

There’s also the curious lack of attention given to making the central bond between Hugo and Amicia feel believable. In the beginning it’s established that he and Amicia have been estranged since his birth, since their mother (an alchemist) isolated him in an attempt to cure his odd blood disease.

Yet when disaster strikes, suddenly the two of you become immediately close and bonded, throwing out the possibility of exploring any interesting wrinkle in their dynamic.

That’s how lot of Plague Tale‘s narrative plays out: A complicated or seemingly vital plot point is introduced, only for the characters to hand wave away any need to explain what they mean to the audience. Concepts like the “Macula,” “Inquisition,” and “thresholds” are casually dropped in conversation as centerpieces of the main conflict. Yet while the characters seem to know what they are, players are left to wonder what cut scene or NPC dialogue they missed.

By the end, some of it gets explained — sort of. But it happens in a way that makes you wonder why the game was withholding any information about in the first place. There’s a difference between withholding information from players to create intrigue and mystery, versus explaining just enough to ruin the intrigue yet not enough to be anything but confusing.

There are glimmers of a better game in 'Plague Tales' dreariness — There are glimmers of a better game in ‘Plague Tales’ dreariness

In certain moments, I see what Plague Tale meant to do — and there’s a good example of how leaving things unexplained adds to the story and environment.

In a castle you come to call home base, there’s a tomb that Amicia and Hugo often pray to for comfort, thanking the castle’s owner for protection. You never learn more about who the person was, but those quiet moments of hope and gratitude do more to build your relationship with Hugo than the hours spent dragging him through mud.

But ultimately it’s a very bad sign when, way past midway point of a story, you have close to zero grasp on the most basic forces operating the fictional world. Yet that’s exactly what you get with Plague Tale, whether it’s questions about the magic, what’s at stake, how any of this began, why you’re doing any of it, or who the main villain even is. In fact, you don’t see the face of the villain until Chapter 10, so the majority of the time you’re supposed to feel invested in hating a faceless Inquisition along with (possibly unrelated?) piles of rats.

It’s a very bad sign when, way past midway point of a story, you have close to zero grasp on the most basic forces operating the fictional world.

I can’t even praise the game’s commitment to that dreary impersonal atmosphere or tone, because it even squanders the potential to make swarms of rotting carcasses and rats feel anything but rote.

Plague Tale doesn’t build a world that’s falling apart, but rather a series of disparate and unconnected levels where the art direction seems to have amounted to “super gnarly.” None of the locations feel lived in prior to their total collapse, aside from a few notable exceptions in Act 4. Without any transformation, progression, or change to the world until the very end, there’s little emotional anchor to care about its destruction. And, I dunno, giving your world some humanity to lose feels pretty integral to a story about the loss of innocence.

None of that is to say that Plague Tale is without merit. In fact, it is precisely its great potential that make its missed opportunities so hard to ignore.

Despite failures to aptly communicate the experience or world, Plague Tale is undeniably a smart game. Its problem is that it might be too smart for its own good, aloof and presumptuous about how much its audience can deduce without explaining more of itself. And it’s to the detriment of its many admirable ambitions.

Somewhere buried beneath the rat-infested piles of rubble of its shaky foundation is a much better version of Plague Tale. Despite its flaws, there’s still a lot to love and appreciate about the game. Many times, especially when it focuses on the characters relationships rather than convoluted plots, it even flirts with excellence — which is why it’s such a shame that its moment to moment experience feels decidedly lackluster.

But for many, that promise is enough, no matter how poorly executed in its totality. Lovers of narrative-driven stealth games will find a lot of similarities with the Dishonored series (though far less mechanical or narrative complexity). At its best Plague Tale is the story Dishonored told, only from the perspective of the kids whose futures were robbed.

Overall, though, the infestation of problems overpower all that is good in the game, leaving behind only a bloody husk of bones.

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