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Tony Avelar/Associated Press

We don't like to think about what the NFL will look like without Calvin Johnson or Larry Fitzgerald or even Brandon Marshall; but it will happen. And it'll happen soon.

My generation didn't want to think about an NFL without Jerry Rice or Cris Carter, but along came the next wave of wide receivers in the form of A.J. Green, Julio Jones, Megatron and Fitzgerald. We didn't want the game without Reggie Wayne or Marvin Harrison, but along came Antonio Brown and Martavis Bryant. No more Tim Brown? Here's Amari Cooper. The game moves on, and legends walk away.

Looking ahead to the next generation, who will be the best wide receiver in the year 2020?

That's what this signature series aims to answer—our "20 for '20" covers who the top 20 wide receivers will be five seasons from now. And if you're looking for guys like Fitzgerald or Steve Smith—who will be well over 30 years old in 2020—we have to project a few retirements and a few declines.