The importance of wide receivers to an NFL team's success is reflected in their rising salaries, with top receivers now earning around $40 million per year. While the conversation around this draft class has suggested it lacks the talent of previous years, I believe the difference lies more in the lack of compelling storylines than in actual ability. This group has the potential to produce true household names—players who will make a significant impact in the NFL for the next decade.
Check out how I rank the top 10 WRs in the 2025 NFL Draft class:
2025 NFL Draft's Top 10 WRs
Last Updated: April 17 2025 1:19 pm| Rank | Name | School | Report |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Travis Hunter | Colorado | Link |
| I believe Hunter's greatness as a receiver is overshadowed by the conversation around him playing both ways. I've watched Hunter in person, and there isn't a more naturally gifted receiver to enter the draft in the past few years. From route running to ball skills to making spectacular plays, Hunter has all the traits to become a high-end receiver in the NFL. | |||
| 2 | Matthew Golden | Texas | Link |
| Golden's stamp of approval from most of the community came with his 4.29 40-yard dash. But I've always been high on Golden because of what shows up on film. He’s a sharp route-runner with explosive speed, and his hand-eye coordination to make spectacular catches is elite. | |||
| 3 | Tetairoa McMillan | Arizona | Link |
| If I felt the only way McMillan could win was by trying to outrun defenders, then I’d be worried about his speed. But McMillan has many more tools in his bag. He’s a savvy route-runner who knows how to use his big frame to shield defenders from the ball. He flat-out thrives in contested catch situations, going up and over defenders. McMillan has the potential to become a true big-bodied X receiver in the NFL—think Mike Evans. | |||
| 4 | Emeka Egbuka | Ohio State | Link |
| Egbuka simply gets the job done, and there’s a ton of value in that. He may not have any off-the-charts measurables, and his career might lack the highlight moments of predecessors like Marvin Harrison Jr., Garrett Wilson, or Chris Olave, but I believe he’ll be a workhorse receiver. In the right offense, the passing attack can run through him as a true No. 1 option. | |||
| 5 | Jaylin Noel | Iowa State | Link |
| Every year, there's a smaller wide receiver taken on Day Two who plays above his size and makes an immediate impact in the NFL. Two years ago, it was Tank Dell. Last year, it was Ladd McConkey. This year, I think that receiver is Noel. He’s an electric route-runner who consistently makes clutch plays and can line up both in the slot and on the boundary. Whoever drafts Noel could be getting a day-one playmaker. | |||
| 6 | Luther Burden III | Missouri | Link |
| Burden entered the year in the conversation for WR1 in this draft class. But due to missed games, production concerns, and other factors, his stock has slipped a bit. Still, I believe there's real value in what Burden can be as a wide receiver prospect. The talent he showed on film during the 2023 season is a glimpse of what he’s capable of becoming. There’s still tremendous upside for Burden to develop into a high-end playmaker in the NFL. | |||
| 7 | Jayden Higgins | Iowa State | Link |
| Higgins is the second “big-bodied receiver” on this list at 6-foot-4, 215 pounds—and deservingly so. He has surprising short-area quickness for his size and is a fluid mover who often catches defensive backs off guard with how smoothly he moves at that frame. I believe an NFL team can draft him as a strong No. 2, with the upside of developing into a WR1, big-bodied X receiver for a franchise. | |||
| 8 | Jalen Royals | Utah State | Link |
| Royals played well in his final two years in the Mountain West Conference at Utah State. Then, during the pre-draft process, he went on to perform well at the Senior Bowl. Royals has a sturdy frame that makes him an ideal candidate for run-after-the-catch situations or screen-heavy offenses. He brings a clear floor, with a ceiling that could make him a true playmaker at the next level. | |||
| 9 | Savion Williams | TCU | Link |
| I don’t believe there’s a better bet on raw physical traits at receiver in this draft than Williams. He showed up to the combine at 6-foot-4, 222 pounds and ran a 4.48—those are elite physical tools. The knock on Williams is his lack of refinement at the position, but instead of thinking of him as a traditional receiver, I want people to picture a 6-foot-4, 222-pound version of Deebo Samuel. In his final college season, Williams lined up as a wildcat QB, running back, slot receiver, and true wideout. With his fluid movement and explosiveness, I see no reason why he can’t bring that same versatility to the NFL. | |||
| 10 | Tre Harris | Ole Miss | Link |
| Harris has been a workhorse for the Ole Miss Rebels, consistently showing up as their No. 1 receiving option over the past two years. What he lacks in downfield speed, he makes up for with toughness and grit. Harris wins with physicality, using his strength to overpower defenders. He should enter the NFL as a reliable possession receiver, with the potential to develop into a true X receiver for a team. | |||
