NFL Power Rankings: Top 5 New Passing Combinations

May 8, 2015; Tampa, FL, USA; Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Jameis Winston (3) works out for rookie mini camp at One Buc Place. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports

Most people can place the established quarterback-wide receiver combinations in any NFL power rankings. Tony Romo to Dez Bryant, Peyton Manning to Demaryius Thomas and Aaron Rodgers to Jordy Nelson come to mind right away.

So what about some potential new duos that could crop up in 2015 to take the league by storm? Here are five combinations to look out for.

#5: Alex Smith to Jeremy Maclin

He’s not normally known for putting up gaudy passing numbers, but Alex Smith can be productive when he has the right targets. Jeremy Maclin is coming off the best season of his career and has a chance to do good things with the Kansas City Chiefs, taking advantage of their dominant running game via play action. Smith may be more about managing the game, but he can deliver strikes when the situation calls. Don’t underestimate this tandem.

#4: Jameis Winston to Mike Evans

Most of his comments centered around Vincent Jackson, but it won’t take long for Jameis Winston to realize his future money rests in the hands of Mike Evans. The second-year receiver does all the things Jackson does and is years younger. Josh McCown had loads of success throwing to him last season despite having no offensive coordinator calling the plays due to medical issues. With that issue resolved and a more talented quarterback in place who knows how to use big receivers, the sky is the limit for Evans and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

#3: Jay Cutler to Kevin White

Few quarterbacks are more familiar with throwing to big targets than Jay Cutler. He’s sort of made it a career highlight given the success he had with Brandon Marshall and now Alshon Jeffery and Martellus Bennett. The one thing missing among all those solid targets is speed. None of them have truly been able to take advantage of that huge arm Cutler boasts. Enter Kevin White. Not only standing 6’3″ with good bulk, the West Virginia rookie runs a 4.3 in the 40-yards dash, demonstrating true vertical threat capability. If Cutler gets time to look downfield or even can get him the ball in space, White will turn them into big plays.

#2: Philip Rivers to Stevie Johnson

People forget that a few years ago Stevie Johnson was putting up 1,000-yard seasons with Ryan Fitzpatrick as his quarterback on the Buffalo Bills. Constant changes with the coaching staff never helped him and his one-year experiment in San Francisco ended when it came to light Colin Kaepernick will never be a true passer. That should change as Brown prepares to lock up with five-time Pro Bowler Philip Rivers and the San Diego Chargers. He’ll be under the watch of Mike McCoy, one of the most creative play callers and schemers going in the NFL. If Johnson can recapture that ability his showed four years ago, this combination will do some serious damage.

#1: Andrew Luck to Andre Johnson

He may not be the player he was five years ago, but Andre Johnson should still have one or two good years left in the tank. One thing to keep in mind is he’s never had a quarterback the caliber of Andrew Luck. While T.Y. Hilton remains the main name for the Indianapolis Colts, it should end up being Luck-to-Johnson that produces some of the key plays for a team that has pure Super Bowl aspirations in 2015. Keep this in mind. Reggie Wayne put up 1,344 yards at age 34 with a rookie Luck at quarterback. How much better can Johnson do at age 33 with an MVP level Luck?

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