Next on the list of position rankings to finalize: receiver. Everyone loves the flashiness of a good receiver, and their importance to offenses has only grown over the years. The strength of his group is in its depth, not at the top — while the first-round talents aren’t as strong as they have been in recent years, the depth is elite. The gap between the receivers you could draft in the second through fourth rounds isn’t large at all.
It’s time to tally that up and rank the top 20 receivers in this class. The top 10 have full scouting reports, and the rest of the list have shorter write-ups that should still give you an excellent idea of who these prospects are and why I have them ranked a certain way. As always, stay tuned for more draft coverage, and check out the other final position rankings below:
Final Position Rankings:
1: Travis Hunter, Colorado
The 2024 Heisman winner, Hunter is coming off a truly unprecedented season in college football history. The No. 1 overall recruit in the class of 2022, Hunter stands at 6-0, 188. He shocked the world when he committed to Deion Sanders and Jackson State as a consensus five-star player out of high school, and followed Sanders to Colorado where he’s played both ways over the last two seasons. He caught 96 passes this season for 1,258 yards and 15 touchdowns, adding 35 tackles, 4 interceptions and 11 passes defensed as a cornerback.
When discussing Hunter, it’s always important to remember some context: he played a jaw-dropping 1,529 snaps in 2024 alone, by far the most for any one player in a season since at least 2014 (and it’s not close). Playing full-time on offense and defense takes a greater physical toll on the body, though to Hunter’s credit, he held up quite well, even down the stretch.
What makes Hunter such a special prospect, beyond just his versatility, is his movement skills and ball-tracking ability. I’ve never seen someone follow the ball down the field the way Hunter does, he effortlessly moves underneath deep passes and comes back for underthrown or back-shoulder throws. At the catch point, he’s an excellent hands catcher, securing the ball away from his body and drawing it in. The natural ball skills Hunter displays are otherworldly, and it’s so pretty to watch. He locates and tracks the ball well, timing his jumps to maximize his reach and keep defenders at bay.
He moves so well in space, consistently getting clean releases off the line of scrimmage and torching corners in open space. Hunter gains separation at all three levels of the field, accelerating and decelerating with suddenness and ease in and out of his breaks. He’s effective after the catch, as well, gliding through the defense to pick up extra yards. The way Hunter moves is rare and it’s just special — it’s a big reason he’s so tough to defend.
If there’s one critique of Hunter’s game, it’s that he needs to play with more power. When facing press coverage, he can be knocked off his spot and jammed at the line a little too easily. Though Hunter is usually too quick and skilled to allow that to happen, there will be times in the NFL when he needs to power through on a release or make a physical catch against a handsy corner and that’s an area he could stand to improve in.
One of the big questions facing Hunter is where he’ll play in the NFL. He insists he wants to be given a chance to play both ways, but that will be difficult to do in the NFL. Setting aside the physical concerns, the mental side of things could be a problem. These meetings and practices are happening at the same time, and he can’t be in two places at once. For this to work, he would need to play corner full-time and have set packages and responsibilities on offense, which is what he did at Colorado. He practiced at corner all week, met with the defense, and would have his routes called in from the sideline on Saturdays when he was on offense.
Where Hunter plays will also be dictated by which team selects him. While he was the best player in college football last season, he could fall as far as No. 4 on draft night, as two quarterbacks and Penn State ED Abdul Carter could be taken above him. I stand by the fact that I think Hunter will be a better NFL cornerback than receiver. I think he’s a rarer prospect at that position, but he’d be a phenomenal receiver as well. If he’s taken by a team with a big need at wide receiver, that’s where he’ll play, and he should thrive.
2: Tetairoa McMillan, Arizona
I had McMillan as my WR1 over the summer and post-college football season, and while Hunter has overtaken that top spot in my final rankings, that takes nothing away from how phenomenal a prospect McMillan is. A 6-4, 219-pound receiver from Waimanalo, Hawaii, McMillan was a five-star high-school player and the highest-rated recruit in Arizona history. Since arriving on campus, he’s looked every bit the part of an elite talent, ringing in 702 yards as a true freshman before back-to-back 1,300+ yard seasons to close his college career.
McMillan’s game is defined by elite size and body control. The way he can contort his massive frame mid-route to adjust to passes and maximize his catch radius is just special. He caught over 50 percent of his contested catches in 2024 — whether it’s back-shoulder throws, corner fades, or congested crossers over the middle, it doesn’t matter. McMillan is bigger and more athletic than the defense, and he plays with a focus and determination at the catch point that’s simply unstoppable.
For a man of his size, he displays good burst off the line of scrimmage, gaining quick separation on short routes. Not every prototypical X-receiver is a good fit for quick-game concepts, but that’s not a concern with McMillan. Down the field, he displays nuanced route-running ability, particularly at the apex of his routes. When he reaches his breaks, he has a quickness and twitch in his movements that provides him clear separation at the top of his routes. He also has proven production across the lineup, with significant slot work in addition to his bread-and-butter on the outside.
While he has good long speed and knows how to stack defensive backs down the field, McMillan isn’t a burner by NFL standards. He didn’t run at the Combine or his pro day, raising concerns about his top speed. The only other negative note I have in his scouting report is that I’d like to see him diversify his releases a bit more. He plays so powerfully off the line that it never really mattered in college, but it’s a little too easy for cornerbacks to get their hands on him in press. If he got a little better at staggering his releases and using his long wingspan to get the first punch in, his game would get that much better.
McMillan’s stock has slipped somewhat over the last month or so. While he once seemed like a lock to go in the top 10, the consensus is pushing him more and more towards the teens, and some mocks are even projecting him in the 20s. I think this is a mistake. While he’s not one of the elite, surefire studs we’ve seen at receiver in recent drafts, McMillan is every bit a WR1 at the NFL level. A team looking to supercharge their passing offense should absolutely give him a look in the top 10. In a draft with a lot of talented slot receivers and secondary targets, McMillan is a true alpha in an offense and can do anything you ask of him.
3: Matthew Golden, Texas
A late riser in this receiver class, Golden committed to Houston out of high school and became a star as both a receiver and return specialist. He had 988 receiving yards and 13 touchdowns in two seasons with the Cougars before transferring to Texas for his junior year, earning a starting spot out of camp. Golden put together a great campaign for the Longhorns as their top receiver, totaling 987 yards and nine touchdowns, but he truly broke out in the College Football Playoff. Golden dominated down the stretch for Texas, opening eyes on the national stage and making his mark on this draft class, rising all the way to a projected first-round pick.
At 5-11, 191 pounds, Golden isn’t the most physically imposing presence on the outside, but he isn’t undersized, either. He ran an impressive 4.29 40-yard dash at the Combine, fastest of any receiver at the event, highlighting his game-changing speed. It makes him a great vertical threat, and he pairs his high-end speed with smooth acceleration and deceleration abilities. When running routes, Golden knows how to create space by regulating his speed, getting clean separation on his routes by stopping and starting on a dime. Strong hands allow him to reel in tough catches, using his athleticism to elevate over defenders to snag hard-to-reach balls. Golden is comfortable playing through contact and isn’t afraid to assert himself physically on his routes or at the catch point.
It’s worth emphasizing just how good a route runner Golden is — it’s probably his greatest strength as a receiver. He was mostly just a vertical threat at Houston, but last year at Texas he ran a full route tree and the Longhorns’ passing offense ran through him. He wins cleanly off the line of scrimmage and controls the pace and break of his routes to win downfield. After the catch, he can turn on the burners and weave through the defense, pulling from his old kick return skills. His athleticism isn’t limited to before or after the catch, as he knows how to maximize his physical skills with or without the ball in his hands.
Some teams won’t love Golden’s lack of attention in the blocking game. Physically, he should hold up fine, but there isn’t much refinement or “want-to” when he’s blocking, particularly on the perimeter. On occasion, he’ll drop passes due to lack of focus, something that will frustrate coaches and teammates if he doesn’t clean up. Lastly, he’s a little too comfortable playing through contact, particularly in press coverage. He doesn’t fight free well enough and is often willing to run his routes with the defender on his hip and just win at the catch point, which he doesn’t need to do. If he broke free, he could better use his speed during the route.
I didn’t get to watch Golden for the previous iteration of this article, which was clearly an oversight. He’s one of the best receivers in this draft and might be the first true receiver taken on draft night. There’s potential for him to be taken near the top 10, and he shouldn’t fall below the mid-20s. I think McMillan is the more complete receiver, but some evaluators gravitate towards Golden as the faster player and better separator. Regardless of your opinion between them, both are worthy WR1 candidates in the NFL.
4: Emeka Egbuka, Ohio State
A 6-1, 202-pound receiver from Washington, Egbuka has quietly put together a monster career for the Buckeyes. Always seemingly overshadowed by a higher-profile receiver next to him in the lineup, Egbuka has over 2,500 career receiving yards across three major seasons of play. Just this past year, he had 81 receptions for 1,011 yards and 10 touchdowns, elevating his play in the biggest moments of Ohio State’s season.
Egbuka is an elite route runner. With quick-twitch lateral agility, he shoots off the line and can cut on a dime, but it’s not just physical ability with him. He knows how to set up coverage defenders in man or break down zones. When pressed, he uses his quick feet and smart hands to keep his chest clean and get down the field. He catches the ball smoothly without breaking stride, making himself a reliable target for his quarterback.
After the catch, Egbuka almost turns into a running back, using his plus vision and agility to rip off huge gains from seemingly mundane routes. He has the speed to take the top off a defense and the power to make tough contested catches seem easy. What would make a normal receiver wary barely makes Egbuka flinch — he’s a truly fearless player.
The main issue for Egbuka is that he’s likely limited to the slot in the NFL. He plays all over the formation at Ohio State, but he doesn’t have the profile to be productive out there in the pros. That said, he’s big for a slot receiver and can create a ton of mismatches from that alignment. He’s the rare prospect who can be among an offense’s top weapons despite playing primarily inside.
Egbuka offers consistent, solid production from a plus athlete. What’s not to love? Slot-only players usually struggle to go in the top 10, but as a later first-round pick, he offers everything you could want in a wide receiver. He’s been discussed for two years now and newer names are often more exciting, but there’s nothing boring or routine about how Egbuka plays the game.
5: Elic Ayomanor, Stanford
A redshirt sophomore and former three-star recruit from Alberta, Ayomanor turned heads towards the end of last season when he had over 200 yards against Colorado, many of them coming when matched up against Hunter. Though the Cardinal’s offense has struggled to get Ayomanor the ball at times, he is coming off back-to-back 60-catch seasons, with 1,844 yards between them.
If you’re drafting Ayomanor, it’s because you want an outside, downfield threat who can reliably beat press coverage. At 6-2, 206, he’s got the presence for it. He gets up to top speed quickly and knows how to stack defensive backs down the field. There isn’t a better prospect in this class at beating press coverage, as his physicality and technique give him the desired releases, and his frame is ideal for this role. An elite contested catch receiver, he sets the tone at the catch point, not the defense. He boxes out his opponents and uses his strong hands to high-point the ball and bring it in.
For a player of his size, he has remarkable yards-after-catch ability. His speed is a real factor, especially at that size, as he’s just as capable of blowing past the defense as he is running through them. He’s a phenomenal route runner, and he can be a volume target in the short and intermediate games. Unafraid of contact and with a nose for the football, Ayomanor can move the chains over the middle of the field, an area he dominates. He also excels at beating zones, finding soft spots in the coverage and not running into defenders’ areas.
All Ayomanor’s speed and size means he can’t come to a quick stop. Once that much mass gets a lot of momentum, it’s simply difficult to slow it down. This means that he usually struggles to create underneath separation, operating in traffic and through contact instead. He’s excellent at it, but it’s much harder to thrive doing that in the NFL. He’ll need to adjust to the size and speed of the NFL — maybe more than other prospects — but I think he can do it.
After repeatedly torching Hunter when Stanford played Colorado in 2023, Ayomanor was seen as the next great wide receiver prospect. He was coming off a major knee injury that season and with another year removed from the surgery, we had every reason to believe he’d dominate. Although he didn’t quite take the leap in production we were hoping for, much of that was due to the ill-equipped Stanford offense. Normally, I hesitate to believe in receivers who thrive in contest catch situations and operate through contact more than not. But Ayomanor’s a unique case. His speed and route running profile at his size is impressive, and he has a chance to be a first-round pick in a few weeks.
6: Jaylin Noel, Iowa State
Just a three-star high-school recruit, Noel made an impact early in his Iowa State career, making 38 catches as a freshman. His production grew year over year, culminating in an 80-catch, 1,194-yard senior season in which he caught eight touchdowns and was honorable mention All-Big 12. At 5-10, 194 pounds, Noel isn’t the biggest receiver, but he certainly isn’t undersized either.
When you watch Noel on the field, it’s easy to see how his game translates to the next level. His twitchy, explosive lower half allows him to create quick separation off the line of scrimmage, getting open in an instant in the short and intermediate parts of the field. He plays with choppy feet, always moving and making it difficult for defenders to get a read on him. As a route runner, he’s already playing like an NFL veteran, using head fakes, fluid hips and rapid deceleration to come open in an instant whenever he wants. Against zones, he displays an intelligent understanding of defensive principles, capable of sitting down in soft spots in coverage quickly and making himself available to his quarterback.
After the catch, he regularly extends plays, accelerating in an instant and employing his smooth movement skills to make defenders miss in the open field. He’s a plus-plus catcher of the football, with soft hands and an iron grip in traffic. Noel’s draft stock will benefit from his versatility. He can play all over the formation, with experience getting off press coverage on the outside and returning kicks as well. His best work is done in the slot, however.
Noel does, unfortunately, have several limitations to his game when projecting it to the NFL. There are a few too many drops on his tape, especially for someone who’s usually so sure-handed. In one-on-one, contested catch situations, Noel’s lack of prototypical size shows up, limiting his catch radius. There’s a level of physicality he needs to add to his game to be an every-down receiver in the pros, though he can certainly get there.
As far as slot receivers go, Noel is about as good as they come. He has proven production in big games against top college competition, to go with strong athletic traits and a versatile skillset that can translate immediately. He offers teams alignment versatility, special teams ability, and a dog mentality that coaches will love. One of my favorite receivers in this draft, Noel can have a Ladd McConkey-type of impact at the top of the second round for a drafting team.
7: Jayden Higgins, Iowa State
A transfer from Eastern Kentucky, Higgins was a two-star recruit from Miami. Joining the Cyclones after his sophomore year, he put together monster junior and senior campaigns, with 140 catches, 2,166 yards, and 15 touchdowns between them. Higgins earned second-team All-Big 12 honors his senior season, as Iowa State made the Big 12 championship, and he turned heads at the Senior Bowl and Combine, as well.
At 6-4, 214 pounds, Higgins is a big dude. He uses his frame well, maximizing his catch radius with his huge wingspan. In the red zone, he’s practically unstoppable, as he can box defenders out at the catch point or simply reach over them. His hands are strong and trustworthy — he almost never drops passes, securing catches quickly and reliably. After the catch, he’s more nimble than you’d expect, and he creates additional yards for the offense.
Higgins’ route running is among his best skills. He showcases an advanced understanding of how to manipulate defenders and create before he receives the ball. This is best seen in the short and intermediate parts of the field, where he creates easy separation off his routes. He’s a master of using subtle fakes and quick movements to sell his double-moves and create space to operate. Against zones, he makes himself available to the quarterback through savvy exploitation of the gaps in the defense. He has some lineup versatility, as well, with experience out wide and in the slot.
I wouldn’t describe Higgins as a twitched-up athlete. He has good long speed, but he builds up to it, and I don’t think he has the smoothest hips. This shows up most in the underneath route department, where he can struggle to cut and decelerate quickly enough to create consistent separation. For all his size and route-running ability, he can struggle against physical corners when releasing, getting jammed and knocked off his route a little too often. This can lead to timing issues, especially since he’s best on in-breaking routes.
I really like Higgins as a WR2 at the next level. He’s strong, smart, and dependable, the sorts of traits that make a receiver a quarterback’s best friend. It seems unlikely he’ll hear his name called in Round 1, but some team will be very happy drafting him in Round 2. There’s WR1 potential here, even if I think he’ll be best-suited to a secondary role right away.
8: Jalen Royals, Utah State
A seismic riser over the last two seasons, Royals started his college career at Georgia Military College before transferring to Utah State. Though his 2024 season was cut short by injury, he still had 834 yards and six touchdowns across just seven games, and he was a thousand-yard receiver (and had a school-record 15 touchdowns) in 2023. At 6-0, 205, he has solid size and often plays bigger than his listed measurements.
The best deep threat in this draft, Royals is a threat to burn a defense on every play. He’s blazing fast, and not just on the track either. His game speed pops on film and he excels tracking the ball down the field, able to make plays away from his route when needed. In contested situations, he fights for the ball, with great body control and the ability to make catches outside of his frame.
He accelerates in an instant and has quick feet and impressive lateral agility, gaining separation at all levels of the field. Royals knows how to manipulate zone defenders, showcasing an advanced understanding of leverages and defensive responsibilities to get himself open. In terms of easy yards, he can provide his quarterback with quite a few, as he makes himself a ready target when he gets open. He’s a weapon after the catch, cutting through the defense and making people miss.
It’s not that he can’t operate underneath, but Royals’ route tree is certainly underdeveloped. Early in his career, he’ll be mostly relegated to designated downfield routes and targets, until he can hone his game in other areas of the field. Physical defenders can sometimes knock him off his spot, but some refinement in his hand-fighting techniques can help with this.
Royals might be my favorite receiver in this draft, just on a personal level. I love his game. He burns defenders downfield, playing with personality and fight on every route, and showcases a veteran’s understanding of stacking defenders and manipulating leverage. Coming from such unheralded beginnings, he seems to still be out to prove himself, and that’s evident from the tape alone. He’s a Day 2 prospect and an excellent complementary weapon in an NFL offense.
9: Luther Burden III, Missouri
An uber-productive receiver for the Tigers, Burden was a consensus five-star in high school who chose to stay home and play at Missouri. Measuring in at 6-0, 206, Burden kicked off his college career with six touchdowns as a freshman before absolutely exploding as a sophomore. With 86 receptions, 1,212 yards, and nine touchdowns, he was named a second-team All-American. His junior season didn’t live up to those lofty standards, but he was still productive, totaling over 600 yards and another six scores.
Burden’s athleticism is off the charts. An explosive first step gives him immediate separation off the line, breezing past underneath coverage. He has a lot of production on deep passes, tracking the ball well and making plays down the field. Elite body control makes him a nightmare matchup for defensive backs, as he can jump and twist from seemingly impossible angles to secure catches.
A powerful outside blocker, Burden elevates running games when he’s out there. He’s not afraid to stick his nose in and get physical, clearing space behind him. Burden is at his best with the ball in his hands, often utilized in screen and jet sweep actions to get him in space, where he can use his sudden acceleration and elite bend to weave through defenses. That physicality translates here, as well, where he’s not afraid to run through contact and lower his shoulder to get extra yardage.
I’m a bit lower on Burden than the consensus, and here’s why. He’s likely limited to the slot in the NFL, as he struggles against press and against bigger corners down the field. His offensive coordinator will need to work to get him free releases in the NFL, something easier said than done. Additionally, while Burden is fast, he’s not an elite speed threat. A 4.41 40-yard dash is a great time, but he’s not going to be able to just rip the top off a defense or run away from coverage reliably.
Perhaps most importantly, Burden isn’t a refined route runner. He can do some things, but it’s not like he can break down a defense out of the slot or use his plus athleticism to put a corner in the dirt off a cut without the ball in his hands. He’s bordering on more of a gadget player than a true receiver, a significant red flag in a scouting report, as the hit rates for those types of players are not high. These are the same issues I noticed on tape over the summer, and it seems he’s largely still the same player.
But all that said, there’s still so much to like with Burden’s game. He’s an elite creator at the receiver position and he plays a brand of fierce, tough football. Burden is still seen as a potential first-round pick by the consensus, though it seems more people are ranking him in the 20-40 range rather than the top 15. Creative offensive schemes can do a lot with him, and I hope he goes to a place that can maximize his skillset. If he does, there might not be a more fun player to come out of this entire class.
10: Tez Johnson, Oregon
A transfer from Troy, Johnson joined his adoptive brother, Bo Nix, at Oregon in 2023. Nix advocated for Johnson to be brought on board, and he responded with an 86-catch, 1,182-yard season. He had 10 touchdowns in back-to-back years at Oregon, maintaining consistency despite all the offensive changes the Ducks underwent this offseason. The lightest player in Combine history, he’s listed at just 5-10, 154, but that hasn’t stopped him yet.
Johnson is a master route-runner, and it’s the hallmark of his game. Explosive short-area quickness lets him beat press coverage off the line when necessary and gain immediate separation whenever he wants it. He shows no fear operating over the middle of the field, absorbing contact and making plays. Against zone, he knows where to find the gaps and settles into prime areas to create opportunities for big plays.
Surprisingly for a player of his size, Johnson excels in contested catch situations. He has incredible flexibility and body control, often outmuscling defenders for the football or even just jumping over them. After the catch is when he’s at his most dangerous, as he plays with a running back’s vision and all the speed and agility that got him there. He has plenty of experience returning kicks, which no doubt helps.
Because he’s only 154 pounds, he lacks the frame and presence to play out wide in the NFL. He struggles against press coverage and has some durability concerns, especially with the injuries we’ve seen small receivers suffer in recent years. His lack of top-end speed is a concern, but I have no doubts about Johnson’s ability to play at the next level.
It’s been an up-and-down pre-draft process for Johnson. He showed out at the Senior Bowl, dominating much bigger cornerbacks and even beating press coverage, as well as showcasing his impressive route-running skills. But he only ran a 4.51 40-yard dash at the Combine, raising red flags for a player his size. I still buy the tape and the Senior Bowl performance, but there’s no doubt that being the smallest receiver in Combine history with only average speed is a major blow to his stock. He’s not as good a prospect as Texans WR Tank Dell was two years ago out of Houston, but he’s the comp everyone will make. Dell’s success in the NFL is a good sign for Johnson’s prospects, and I’d guess he goes somewhere in the third or fourth round. Whoever drafts him is getting a true baller and someone I believe will outplay their draft position.
The Next Ten
11 — Jack Bech, TCU:
A 6-1, 214-pound senior from Louisiana, Bech dominated the Senior Bowl and turned heads with his ability to make plays in traffic. He’s a nightmare for defenses over the middle of the field, as he’s a master of timing his jumps and elevating to secure tough catches. He has strong hands and runs a complete route tree, finding soft spots in zone coverages and manipulating man defenders to gain separation at the apex of his routes.
Bech isn’t fast on tape, and he didn’t run at the Combine — likely because it would have hurt his draft stock. He can struggle to create separation at times and doesn’t have the bendiest hips, allowing corners to stick with him through his breaks. That said, his performance at the Senior Bowl was eye-opening, and he can contribute as a starting slot receiver right away.
12 — Kyle Williams, Washington State:
A versatile 5-11, 190-pound receiver from California, Williams wins off the line of scrimmage extremely well. Choppy feet and twitchy hips let him beat corners one-on-one routinely, gaining an immediate advantage off the snap. He’s deadly on deep routes and underneath targets, as he tracks the ball well downfield and can stack corners on vertical routes, but can also cut through a defense with the ball in his hands like a knife through hot butter. He can line up all over the formation and wins over the middle of the field, beating man coverage as easily as zone.
The main issue with Williams’ game is his lack of physicality and discipline. He can get pushed around a bit by bigger corners, and he doesn’t possess the hand-fighting techniques to really defeat them when they get into his chest. Additionally, Williams can drift upfield out of his route breaks, letting defenders back into the play and making these passes more difficult. Still, I love Williams’ physical ability and the way he beats coverages consistently.
13 — Tai Felton, Maryland:
A burner on the outside with the production to match, Felton stands at 6-1, 183 pounds. He’s a natural route runner, with an advanced ability to create separation through subtle fakes and sharp cuts. With the quick-twitch athleticism to leave unwary defenders in the dust, Felton combines his route-running chops with his movement skills to win at all levels of the field. He manipulates defensive leverage constantly, gaining advantages against man or zone by putting defenders in disadvantageous positions.
If there’s one thing Felton struggles with, it’s physicality. He can’t get off press coverage reliably, and he can be bullied at the catch point. I’d like to see him add some mass to his frame to better handle the toughness NFL defensive backs will present. But I like Felton’s game a lot and think he can be a WR2 in the NFL, even though he’ll likely go sometime in the middle rounds.
14 — Kobe Hudson, Central Florida:
Checking in at 6-1, 193 pounds, Hudson is best described as a big slot. He plays with savviness and nuance when running his routes, with a veteran’s understanding of how to manipulate leverage and outmaneuver a defense. He has fluid, smooth hips and sharp feet to make quick cuts and gain separation, winning on deep routes and over the middle.
Hudson can get undisciplined in his route running at times, cutting routes short or drifting upfield. This, in turn, means he creates less separation than he would otherwise. He also has some frustrating drops on film, but nothing that can’t be cleaned up. He’s a solid mid-round pick with the potential to be an NFL starter down the line.
15 — Tre Harris, Ole Miss:
The premier contested-catch weapon in this class, Harris stands at 6-2, 205, and he dominates at the catch point. His ball-tracking, leaping, and box-out abilities make 50/50 passes tilt significantly in his favor. With strong hands and some refined ability to sell fakes on his routes, Harris seems destined for a primary deep-threat role early in his NFL career.
He struggles to create separation against man coverage, largely due to his average speed and explosiveness. Against zone, he knows where to settle down to maximize space, but there’s a reason he spends so much time in contested situations. He also has a limited route tree and mostly attacks downfield, limiting his options to contribute in the NFL right away. But he’s a fun player with a good pedigree and strong track record of production, and probably hears his name called on Day 2.
16 — Savion Williams, TCU:
Despite being an older prospect, Williams is new to the receiver position. He was a high-school quarterback who made the switch in college, and his year-over-year development is impressive. At 6-4, 222, Williams is a beast out wide, and might be the most athletic receiver in this class. Despite his inexperience, he’s already got an advanced release package and route running ability, showcasing strong separation skills. He flies off the line of scrimmage, getting into top gear immediately and leaving defenders in the dust on his cuts. After the catch, he’s a demon with the ball, bulldozing defenders or simply outrunning them.
There are quite a few “receiver skills” Williams is still learning. He’s not a natural catcher, with a lot of drops on his tape in a variety of scenarios. Not unsurprisingly, he runs a limited route tree, and his inexperience rears its head most frequently on intermediate and in-breaking routes. If he can continue to improve in these areas, though, the sky’s the limit.
17 — Nick Nash, San Jose State:
Another converted quarterback, Nash didn’t make the position switch until 2022. Despite only three years at receiver, he was a Biletnikoff finalist behind a 104-reception, 1,382-yard, 16-touchdown season. At 6-2 and a half, 203 pounds, Nash has the frame of an NFL receiver and the production to go with it. He is a smooth mover out there, gliding through cuts and breaks without sacrificing speed. His time as a quarterback gave him an advanced understanding of defensive coverages, and he uses it to exploit defensive mismatches and punish defenders for leaving open space. He’s tough over the middle of the field and holds up in contested catch situations despite his lack of experience.
Although Nash is still learning the position, I love his game. He needs to improve his strength off the line of scrimmage, as it’s too easy for corners to disrupt his rhythm and knock him off his spot. His footwork and route techniques need refinement, but that should come with time. Despite being an older prospect, he’s only played wide receiver for three seasons, and has a lot of development potential ahead of him.
18 — Tory Horton, Colorado State:
One of college football’s best vertical threats over the last few seasons, Horton checks in at 6-2 and a half, 196 pounds. A fifth-year senior, Horton eats defenses alive deep down the field, consistently stacking defenders off the line of scrimmage and maintaining leverage throughout his route. He knows how to avoid contested catches by reaching for the ball at the last second, reeling it in before the defender can react. After the catch, Horton maintains his quick feet and deep speed, able to pick up chunks of extra yards. He’s good in contested catch situations, too.
Horton can be bothered by physicality and has a leaner frame than you’d like to see. He struggles to get off press coverage consistently and likely needs free releases to maximize his impact. As with many college deep threat specialists, Horton runs a limited route tree, almost exclusively vertical routes. To stick in the NFL, he’ll need to diversify his skillset and become a threat at other areas of the field. Still, for a mid-round pick, Horton offers a lot to like.
19 — Xavier Restrepo, Miami:
A 5-10, 209-pound slot receiver, Restrepo had a fantastic Senior Bowl week. Much like Bech, Restrepo thrived over the middle of the field, getting clean separation with nuanced route-running skills. In traffic, he rarely loses focus, making tough catches through contact and turning upfield for extra yards. Against zone, Restrepo is devastating, as he can manipulate defenders to maximize spacing and give his quarterback easy throws.
Restrepo ran an abysmal 4.83 40-yard dash at his pro day. He claims he was dealing with a hamstring issue that slowed him down, but regardless, his lack of speed shows up on tape. He doesn’t cut with the speed to gain separation against NFL-caliber defensive backs consistently, and he struggles to reel in passes outside of his frame. It wouldn’t surprise me at all to see Restrepo succeed in the NFL due to his savvy and toughness, but he’ll face some struggles against the athletes in the league.
20 — Isaiah Bond, Texas:
A 5-11, 180-pound traitsy receiver from Georgia, Bond has a sprinter’s background and uses his athletic advantages to win on the football field. He’s dangerous when cutting or changing direction, as he has elite acceleration and deceleration abilities to cut on a dime and create instant separation. After the catch is when he’s at his most dangerous, as he can house routine passes and run through an entire defense.
Unfortunately, Bond’s natural ability hasn’t translated to on-field production yet. With only one 100-yard receiving game in his college career, Bond is an undisciplined route runner and fails to make a consistent impact on tape. Whoever drafts him will be betting they can turn an athletic specimen into an actual NFL wide receiver, but those traits will get him drafted much higher than his production would suggest.
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