With the NFL evolving into more and more of a passing league, elite pass catchers are at a premium. Fortunately for teams around the league, the upcoming draft class has plenty of talented wideouts ready to contribute at the next level. Today, we’re ranking the top five WRs for the upcoming NFL Draft class.
5. Isaiah Bond, Texas
Speed, speed, and more speed. Bond is maybe the fastest player in the entire class, and that will make him a top target for teams looking to add to their receiving corps. The former Alabama commit transferred to Texas last offseason. His timing with starting QB Quinn Ewers was off all year.
The duo missed on a few big plays downfield throughout the year. However, Bond’s ability to separate and put pressure on defenses was evident. We saw another Longhorn speedster go in the first round last year — Xavier Worthy — and teams will have a similar interest in adding Bond’s game-breaking talent.
4. Emeka Egbuka, Ohio State
LSU and Alabama get most of the praise, but the Buckeyes have produced their fair share of gifted wideouts over the years. Before Marvin Harrison Jr. last year, it was Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Garrett Wilson, and Chris Olave. Egbuka isn’t quite as good of a prospect as some of those names, but he shares a lot of the same traits as former Buckeyes who were drafted in the first round.
He’s as steady as they come and is adept at getting open and making plays after the catch. His numbers were a bit down in ’24 as he took a backseat to electric true freshman Jeremiah Smith, but that could mean an NFL team is getting a discount on a talented receiver who will immediately be able to contribute.
3. Tetairoa McMillan, Arizona
Arizona’s McMillan has the most eye-popping profile of any receiver in the class. The Hawaii native is listed at 6-foot-5, runs well, and consistently wins at the catch-point. There’s no such thing as a bad pass when QBs target McMillan. His enormous catch radius enables him to haul in any throw in his vicinity.
The question on McMillan will be his ability to separate. Everybody is a great athlete in the NFL — especially guys who play defensive back. McMillan won’t be able to just get by with height, weight, and speed. We’ve seen it work for some. Mike Evans doesn’t have the most expansive route tree but consistently produces at a high level.
However, even Evans knows how to set corners up and create openings. Some mocks have McMillan being selected in the top-5. If he slips at all, it’s because teams are wary that he won’t be able to get open consistently.
2. Luther Burden, Missouri
Getting open is not a problem for Luther Burden. The Mizzou standout is extremely crafty as a route runner and doesn’t just rely on his speed. That being said, Burden has great wheels and is an absolute monster after the catch. He’s one of the best pure athletes in the entire class.
Burden’s production slipped in ’24, and that can be primarily attributed to the lack of strong QB play for the Tigers. Starting quarterback Brady Cook was in and out of the lineup, and was generally worse than he was a year ago.
What could make Burden slip in the draft is teams looking at him as solely a slot receiver due to his size. He’s not the tallest wideout in the class (listed at 5-foot-11), but he has a strong build (208 pounds), can shed arm tackles, and has shown the ability to win jump balls.
1. Travis Hunter, Colorado
Hunter’s production as a receiver in ’24 was impressive even if you don’t factor in that he was exerting a ton of energy on the other side of the ball. He ended the year fifth in receptions (92), sixth in yards (1,152), and second in touchdowns (14).
Among Power 4 Conference WRs, his rankings in those categories were second, third, and first. Imagine what he could have done if he was solely focused on playing receiver.
Hunter’s ball skills are elite. It’s evident when he plays offense or defense. He wins at the catch point routinely and has the explosiveness to turn a short gain into a big play.
He may not be the best “pure” receiver in the draft. There are questions about whether Hunter’s a better wideout or corner. Teams will certainly have plenty of discussions with the Heisman Trophy winner leading up to the draft as it pertains to his long-term outlook.
With that being said, he will be the first wideout taken off the board in April and can provide a whole lot on the offensive side of the ball.
