I'm not sure the NBA G.O.A.T. conversation is one that's worth all the attention that it receives. Different eras, different positions, different styles of play. Different takes from prominent athletes and sports media figures that contradict other takes on both sides of the argument. It's a fun one, but it's a messy one that keeps popping up and getting nowhere.
But a current debate in another sport has gotten some traction lately and is one that I find worthy of discussion. Who's the best wide receiver in today's NFL? Now that's a debate. You've got players in the same position fulfilling the same role for their team. You've got different quarterbacks feeding them the ball, yes, but various analytics to make appropriate adjustments for receivers in different settings. And you've got a lot of names who come off as quality candidates and aren't afraid to voice their high opinions of themselves.
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Davante Adams, Julio Jones, DeAndre Hopkins, Michael Thomas, D.K. Metcalf, Antonio Brown... all of these stars, among others still, are guys who have vouched for themselves in the competition regarding the highest tier of wide receiver play. The route running, the hands, the speed, the strength... everything comes into play when determining who's best.
And who better to ask than former star wideout Brandon Marshall, who earned Pro Bowl recognition in six seasons throughout his NFL career, recording strong performances no matter where he went — even a stint with the New York Jets was largely successful.
Podcast co-hosts and NFL cornerbacks Patrick Peterson and Bryant McFadden asked Marshall that very question on the latest episode of "All Things Covered." But before he dove into his opinion, he explained the primary criterion in his analysis.
"It's like the cornerback debate," Marshall said. "I think being the best cornerback or the best wide receiver comes down to can you beat one-on-one, can you beat man-to-man, can you play one-on-one. If you [are] not in that discussion, if you [are] not playing like that, you can't even have this conversation. So let's just start there.
"At the end of the day, any wide receiver can sit in zone and be in that offense where a coach put you in perfect position. I wanna see you mano a mano."
This logic likely played a part in Marshall declaring Darrelle Revis the best cornerback in NFL history back in 2015, and largely influenced his decision here. Marshall listed Davante Adams as a guy who can beat defenders in man coverage on any given snap, though he mentioned that as little as two years ago, he would have put Julio Jones in that conversation as well. As for the very best in 2020?
"It comes down to DeAndre Hopkins, D.K. Metcalf... and Davante Adams," Marshall said. "If I had to pick one guy I'm going with on my team, I'm more of a D-Hop-type guy, a D.K. Metcalf-type guy. I like the slant route. I like the nine, I like the back shoulder. Just big-man ball, that's the type of guy."
However, Marshall wants to make sure that another receiver doesn't get lost in the shuffle — and frankly, before Marshall mentioned him, this player wasn't someone who I had typically seen brought up in this conversation.
"You can't forget about Stefon Diggs," Marshall said. "He's not the number one wide receiver, but we don't talk about him enough. That's a guy that can beat one-on-one coverage over, and over, and over again."
Over...
... and over...
... and over again.
After a nine-catch, 118-yard effort in Week 9, Diggs ranks atop the NFL in receptions and receiving yards. While Josh Allen may be capturing the headlines in Buffalo, and several other receivers are the first that people mention in the NFL's best debate, Brandon Marshall wants to make sure that Diggs doesn't undeservedly fly under the radar.
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