Wes Welker Not As Good As Calvin Johnson, Larry Fitzgerald, Says Jerry Rice

Wes Welker‘s statistics may say he’s the best receiver in the game today.

However, the best receiver in NFL history Jerry Rice thinks otherwise, according to an interview on ESPN Radio via Pro Football Talk.

“I wouldn’t say he’s the best because I’m leaning a little bit more toward Megatron [Calvin Johnson] or even Larry Fitzgerald,” Rice said. “But you would have to put him somewhere in the top five.”

The argument is that while Welker’s skill set is tailor-made for his role in New England’s offense, Johnson and Fitzgerald’s skill sets would make them a fit in any offense.

“[Welker]’s a slot guy and it’s more difficult to try to double a guy inside,” Rice said of Welker. “He’s not the guy that’s going to be lined up outside because then you can put a guy like [Darrelle] Revis on him and make it just a little bit easier to cover him.”

It also helps to have Tom Brady throwing him the ball, but that’s another story entirely.

Welker is ahead of both Johnson and Fitzgerald in receptions and yards, and leads the league in both categories. Johnson leads the league in touchdowns with nine, three ahead of Welker.

As of Week 6, Welker is on pace for 2,093 yards, which would break Rice’s single-season record for receiving yards (1,848).