The demand – and price tag – for top wide receivers continues to skyrocket.
An exploding market at the position only got wilder this offseason, as the Cincinnati Bengals’ Ja’Marr Chase became the league’s highest-paid non-quarterback with his four-year, $161 million contract extension. Meanwhile, Tee Higgins (four years, $115 million) and Chris Godwin (three years, $66 million) scored major payouts while staying with their respective teams, and Stefon Diggs netted a three-year, $69 million pact to link up with the New England Patriots.
And while this year’s receiver class in the NFL draft might lack a player who measures up to the likes of Marvin Harrison Jr., Malik Nabers and Rome Odunze – all of whom heard their names called within the top 10 picks – there are more than a handful of players in the mix for the first round or early portion of Day 2.
For the purpose of this exercise, two-way star Travis Hunter will be designated as a cornerback rather than a receiver, even though his primary position remains very much up in the air. If the Heisman Trophy winner does end up focusing on the offensive side of the ball, the expected top-five pick could easily end up in the same class as last year’s top trio.
Here is USA TODAY Sports’ ranking of the top 10 wide receivers in this year’s draft:
1. Tetairoa McMillan, Arizona
Who would have thought that a 6-4, 219-pound receiver who was one of college football’s most productive pass catchers would prove to be so divisive throughout the pre-draft process? After McMillan posted 174 catches for 2,721 yards and 18 touchdowns in the last two seasons, he looked poised to be a top-10 pick and the surefire front-runner to be the first wideout selected. But there’s been a fierce debate regarding exactly how reliable of a prospect he is.
As a downfield target, McMillan can make magic happen with his comfort plucking passes out of the air and leveraging his massive catch radius. It’s getting to that point that’s the potential problem. McMillan doesn’t regularly create separation against man coverage, leaving the onus on him to box out defenders for contested catches. So far, that approach has produced massive gains, but it won’t be as consistently viable against more formidable defensive backs.
McMillan has been likened to Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Drake London for a playing style reminiscent of a power forward. The comparison doesn’t quite hold up, but McMillan’s comfort operating underneath and as an intermediate target could help raise his floor. He’s a particular weapon on slants thanks to his strength and sure hands, and he can build up speed to rack up yards after the catch. He also can make his mark against zone coverages, as he repeatedly finds openings.
Where does that leave him? McMillan might not be a fit for every offense and quarterback, which could give his draft stock some volatility. But he can be a massively productive presence, even if he doesn’t ever reach the level of becoming a go-to player.
2. Matthew Golden, Texas
Following his transfer from Houston, Golden stepped in for Xavier Worthy and Adonai Mitchell to average 17 yards per catch as the next dynamic weapon in the Longhorns’ attack. He then caught many by surprise at the NFL Scouting Combine by blazing a 4.29-second 40-yard dash – best among all receivers – even though he seldom displayed elite long speed on the field. But there’s no questioning his explosiveness, as he can fire off the line of scrimmage in an instant and then throw defensive backs off by varying his tempo or selling a different route. That package should make him a formidable threat down the sideline in the NFL, though he will have to prove he can hold his own at the catch point.
3. Emeka Egbuka, Ohio State
The latest standout in the Buckeyes’ unending parade of marquee pass catchers, Egbuka doesn’t measure up to his four first-round former teammates (Garrett Wilson, Chris Olave, Jaxon Smith-Njigba and Marvin Harrison Jr.) in pure physical ability. But the 6-1, 202-pounder became the school’s all-time leader in receptions (205) thanks to an advanced understanding of the position, and his savvy will surely serve him well at the next level. Egbuka compensates for pedestrian burst and suddenness with his crisp route running, which allows him to both create and find open space. As a safety valve out of the slot, he should endear himself to his next quarterback early on and see a high volume of targets.
4. Luther Burden III, Missouri
The former five-star recruit fizzled out a bit in his final season, finishing with just 676 yards and 11.1 yards per catch. Once seen as a strong candidate for the first round, Burden might be being overlooked a bit as he approaches what seems likely to be a Day 2 landing spot. With a 6-0, 206-pound build more befitting of a running back, he draws parallels to Deebo Samuel Sr. by taking quick-hit passes for big gains, typically displaying a physical finishing touch in the process. That usage has left him underdeveloped as a route runner, with Burden needing to become much more polished and precise before he can be counted on in a more traditional role. But for a team willing to feed him manufactured touches while working to craft him into a more consistent overall receiver, he could have explosive upside.
5. Jayden Higgins, Iowa State
There might not be a more physically imposing wideout than the 6-4, 214-pounder who ran a 4.49-second 40-yard dash and posted a 39-inch vertical leap. Despite his surprisingly smooth route running for a player of his size, Higgins might be limited to a possession receiver role. But he can tax defenses on in-breaking routes and mask some of his shortcomings if he operates as a big slot.
6. Tre Harris, Mississippi
The Rebels’ offense boxed Harris in, but it also allowed him to feast on hitches, screens and posts. That might be the playbook for how to utilize the 6-2, 205-pounder early on, with the vertical game being his calling card. Even if he remains a one-note deep threat, Harris’ ability to stretch the field is worth investing in for the right team.
7. Elic Ayomanor, Stanford
He might be best remembered as the receiver who torched Travis Hunter after the 6-2, 210-pound target posted an incredible 294 yards and three touchdowns on 13 catches – all of it coming after halftime – in a double-overtime win against Colorado in 2023. A product of Medicine Hat, Alberta, Ayomanor is less refined than many of his peers after limited work in high school and redshirting in 2022 due to a knee injury. But his blend of size, strength and speed at the position is hard to find, and his emerging feel for the subtleties of the position suggests he’s on the right developmental track to become a solid starter.
8. Jalen Royals, Utah State
Strong and smooth, Royals easily clears the bar of what NFL teams look for in their possession receivers. While the 6-0, 205-pounder doesn’t always display quick-twitch movements to consistently create big windows of separation, he thrives in traffic and can be a bully after the catch.
9. Jaylin Noel, Iowa State
At 5-10 and 194 pounds, he provided quite the contrast to the supersized Higgins in the Cyclones’ receiving corps. Noel has plenty of short-area explosiveness, which allows him to shake defenders from the slot in a hurry. But despite recording a 4.39-second 40-yard dash, he might have trouble on downfield looks given his limited catch radius and inconsistent hands. At the least, he should help an offense moves the chains consistently.
10. Tory Horton, Colorado State
A transfer from Nevada, Horton found his footing at Colorado State with two seasons of more than 1,100 receiving yards before a knee injury cut his 2024 campaign short. He’s one of the most polished and well-rounded pass catchers in this class, as he can free himself up with crafty fakes before securing deep shots. Press coverage is sure to follow the wiry wideout early in his career, and his ability to hold up against physical corners at the line of scrimmage and the catch point could go a long way toward determining his effectiveness.