2025 Pre-Draft Rookie WR Rankings

1. Tetairoa McMillan, Arizona

McMillian is the best pure receiver in this class, with excellent size and good route-running ability and speed. He absolutely can be a team’s number 1 X WR, and despite dealing with poor QB play this past season, he continued to dominate at Arizona. His upside is Mike Evans, but even if he doesn’t reach that profile he should be a very good NFL starting receiver and make a big impact as a rookie.

I will be overweight on McMillian as I think his skill set is unique and he has major TD upside. It will be interesting to see where he lands in the draft as you hope he finds his way with a good QB.

 

2. Luther Burden, Missouri

Burden is a highly talented prospect, who unfortunately didn’t get the passing game support at Missouri (particularly this past season). Some will knock him for that, but the speed, route-running, and big play ability are legitimate. He can operate both in the slot and outside, and has Amon-Ra St. Brown upside.

Burden isn’t getting the hype he should be getting as I think people are too focused on how he was used in college. I think there is a lot more to his game, and he shouldn’t be held accountable for playing in a bad offense. I want to be well overweight on him, as if he lands with a good situation he could have a monster rookie year.

 

3. Emeka Egbuka, Ohio State

Egbuka has constantly been overshadowed at Ohio State with bigger-name receivers, but that doesn’t make him an unworthy prospect. At most schools he would have been the clear alpha receiver for the last 3 years. He profiles more as a number 2 receiver, but he’s NFL-ready and should be a plug-and-play prospect. Likely a late 1st round prospect he could even end up with a better landing spot if he gets paired with a good QB.

 

4. Matthew Golden, Texas

Golden is a technician as a route-runner and had a breakout season after transferring to Texas. He profiles as a receiver who should be able to contribute as a rookie and earn a starting job either in the slot or outside. He projects as a late 1st/early 2nd round prospect, so he will be likely drafted with an opportunity to start.

I am absolutely on board with Golden, and will at least be with the field with drafting him.

 

5. Tre Harris, Mississippi

Harris has probably the most upside out of the McMillian, Hunter, and Burden. He was extremely productive this past season at Mississippi despite dealing with injuries, and looks to have the whole package in terms of great hands, good size and speed, and open field ability. His route-running is his weakest spot right now, but it appears to be more of a product of how he was used in college vs a true lack of ability.

Mississippi receivers can be a mixed bag as they jump up to the NFL level, but I’m a believer in Harris’ upside. I think he can start as a rookie, and make an impact. I will be higher on him than the field pre-draft.

 

6. Jayden Higgins, Iowa State

Higgins is a big physical receiver, who I think can start right away at the next level. He might be a big slot or a guy who stays on the outside and dominates in the intermediate area and Red zone. I see him as a real TD producer at the next level, which could really spike his fantasy potential.

 

7. Travis Hunter, Colorado

Hunter is the toughest guy to project in this class, which is odd since he’s likely the first name on this list off the board. The problem of course is he is likely to be drafted as a two-way player. While he claims he wants to play both WR and CB full-time, it’s more likely he is only a part-time player at one of those positions. If he ends up being a part-time receiver, he might not even be worth drafting in fantasy contests. On the other hand, if he ends up a full-time WR, he arguably should be the top name and going 5 rounds earlier than he’s going.

For me, at this current ADP I am taking him a decent amount. I think it’s a fair spot in case he’s only a 60-70% WR, and you are getting great value if he’s a 90% guy. You do run a risk that he is only a limited wideout, but I don’t think it hurts you too much here.

 

8. Jalen Royals, Utah State

Royals is one of the more consistent and safer prospects in this class. He isn’t ever going to be a number 1, but he could be a solid number 2 or 3 WR. Royals isn’t elite in any area, but he also doesn’t appear to have a real weakness. I see him going in the late 2nd/3rd round of the draft, and he could surprise some people as a rookie. He’s a guy I probably won’t be overweight on, but I do want some exposure.

 

9. Isaiah Bond, Texas

Bond is a bit of an enigma. He flashes at times his big play ability due to his incredible speed, but the consistency is not what you want to see. He was banged up a bit this year, missing 2 games and not 100% in a few others, but it’s not ideal that he didn’t dominate more.

I still want to take some shots on him, since he’s a guy who could give you a few spike weeks. I prefer drafting him now, as he could explode at the Combine and see his ADP rise considerably.

 

10. Jack Bech, TCU

Probably no player has helped himself more than Bech over this past season. He had a breakout year for TCU and was the team’s leading weapon. He followed that up with a great Senior Bowl week, including earning player of the week/game honors. He might not be the fastest receiver, but he still can get vertical. Where he wins is with his ball skills and route running. Add in good size and you have a receiver who can play inside and outside.

Bech looks NFL ready, and is absolutely the type who could produce as a rookie. I’m on board taking him now, because his stock will only likely rise after the Combine and definitely after the draft if he ends up a 2nd round pick.

 

11. Tez Johnson, Oregon

Johnson weighed in at the Senior Bowl at 5’9″ 1/4 and 156 pounds. The height was slightly better than expected, but his weight is what will keep him held back. If he was 170-175 he would probably be considered top 6. The reason is that talent and speed are undoubtedly there. He has such impressive footwork and route-running that he always seems like he’s open. The question is can he hold up at the NFL level at this weight, and if he adds weight will he lose his edge?

My view is the talent is real and I will bet some on that talent finding a way to make it work. Give me some late-round shots on a guy who has some fun upside.

 

12. Savion Williams, TCU

Listed as a WR, Williams is more of a pure athlete who also saw time at RB for TCU. He’s big and super athletic, but he’s going to need a creative system to get the most out of his fantasy potential. At the high-end he’s a poor man’s Deebo Samuel, as a receiver who also contributes quite a bit on the ground. The receiving side of that is a bit harder to project, especially as a rookie.

I will take him some, but he’s not a guy I’m going to go overboard on, as he might be mainly a special teamer as a rookie.

 

13. Xavier Restrepo, Miami

Restrepo is a high-floor player, who will probably be a slot-only guy, but one who should have little issue playing at the NFL level. Not the biggest or the fastest, he’s a guy who wins with his technique and route-running. He probably won’t offer many spike weeks, but he’s a safer prospect and could have multiple usable weeks.

 

14. Tai Felton, Maryland

Felton doesn’t get a lot of hype, but I think he’s a solid prospect. He outproduced his highly touted teammate Prather, the past two seasons, including a 1,100 yards this past year. He’s got good size and nice hands, so I think there is a lot to work with here. I don’t mind taking a late-round shot on him, in the hopes that the landing spot is strong.

 

15. Elic Ayomanor, Stanford

If this was a Dynasty ranking Ayomanor would be much higher in the 5-10 range, as he’s a young prospect with tantalizing size/speed and has at times dominated at the college level. The issue is he’s probably one of the most raw prospects in this class. He might have 2nd round draft capital, but I’d be very wary of him making an impact as a rookie.

I think he’s being overdrafted in both the NFL and Big Board drafts, so I won’t have much exposure to him at this point. I won’t say zero because a great landing sport might give him enough value at this ADP, but it won’t be much.

 

16. Jaylin Noel, Iowa State

Noel is an interesting mid-round receiver prospect. He got a little overshadowed by his teammate Higgings, but Noel is a quality receiver in his own right. More of a speed/route running type, he should be ready to contribute early at the next level, and with the right landing spot you can see him producing as a WR3 as a rookie. I will take some shots on him now, as he could see his stock rise after the draft.

 

17. Ricky White, UNLV

White has been insanely productive these past two years with a combined 2,500 yards and 19 TDs on a UNLV team that doesn’t throw the ball a ton. He checks the boxes from a size and route running standpoint. If his athleticism checks out he could be a riser after the Combine. He’s a sleeper I don’t mind taking some shares of late.

 

18. Kaden Prather, Maryland

Prather is a size/speed guy who will make NFL teams excited about his upside and potential, and that upside should keep him drafted in the 3rd-4th round range. The issue is despite being a starter and productive for three seasons, he never dominated or led his team in receiving. He’s the type that can contribute as a rookie but likely won’t put up huge numbers. His skill set does make him a spike-week guy, so I will maintain some late-round interest.

 

19. Pat Bryant, Illinois

Bryant got the chance to be the alpha receiver at Illinois this past year and he produced with a strong line of 54 catches 984 yards and 10 TDs. He’s got the size to play outside and some downfield ability, but his best role might be the big slot type. Likely to go in the 3rd or 4th round, he’s the type of receiver who could contribute as a a rookie. Whether that is fantasy viable will depend some on the landing spot, but I will take a few late-round shots on him.

 

20. Ja’Corey Brooks, Louisville

Brooks right now is being overlooked in the scouting community and most projections have him as a late Day 3 selection. Perhaps that is where he ends up, but he’s a player to watch particularly with his athletic testing at the Combine.

Brooks was Alabama’s TD leader in 2022 with Bryce Young as a true Sophomore. He wasn’t overly dominant that season, but he put up good production in the SEC as an underclassman. That is typically a good sign of success. In 2023 he didn’t play much due to a shoulder injury, but he transferred to Louisville this past year, and blew up for over 1,000 yards and 9 TDs.

Brooks has good size, and shows above-average route running, hands, and decent athletic ability. On paper, he’s a guy you’d expect to have more of top 100 vibe, but most projections see him as a 6th or 7th rounder.  I’m not going to draft him a lot right now, but if he checks the boxes at the Combine I might take some shots. He could be more productive early in his NFL career, and if the landing spot fits he could give you some usable fantasy weeks.

 

21. Tory Horton, Colorado State

Horton is a good receiver prospect and shows a lot of NFL traits that still could see him go in the 3rd-4th round. The concern I have that has me avoiding him in drafts is that he suffered a season-ending knee injury in mid-October. Until we get a clear update on his timeline coming back from the injury, he’s a risky guy to take. The talent is there, but NFL teams might still risk a mid-round pick, even if they have the intention to stash him on IR all season. Ideally, there is more clarity after the Combine, at which point I might look to draft him some.

 

22. Nick Nash, San Jose State

Nash is a highly productive WR out of a small school. On the plus side, I don’t think he needs much refinement as a route runner or with his hands. He’s unlikely to get great draft capital and his athleticism is probably average to above average at best. Right now I’m not drafting him as he probably profiles best as a 4th-5th WR who helps on special teams and can fill in multiple roles. If he ends up testing better at the Combine and it appears his stock is on the rise, maybe I’d reconsider him.