2025 NFL Draft Wide Receiver Rankings

Christian Williams analyzes the top wide receivers in the 2025 NFL Draft and gives his final rankings.

Every year, NFL teams show how valuable the wide receiver position is. Seven wideouts left the board before the first night of the 2024 NFL Draft was over, and another three came off the board in the next five picks when the draft restarted the next night. Just four went off the board in the first round in 2023, a notably mediocre class. The bad news is that the 2025 class more closely resembles 2023, and it’s actually closer to 2019, when Marquise Brown and N’Keal Harry were the only two wideouts off the board in the first round, at least when projecting draft capital. The top of the class is stronger than 2019, but the depth is…

Here’s how I see the 2025 wide receiver class.

Quality NFL Starters

Tetairoa McMillan | Arizona

6041 | 219 LBS | RAS: N/A | Position Rank: 1 | Prospect Grade: 81.91

McMillan has arguably been the nation’s top receiver for two straight years, accumulating over 1400 yards in 2023 and improving on a per-game basis early in 2024. McMillan will get Mike Evans comparisons, but he more closely resembles Drake London. His bread and butter is 50-50 balls, as he’s one of the better catch-point wideouts I’ve evaluated in the last seven years. His vertical, long arms and box-out ability make him a nightmare to defend. He has some of the strongest hands in the class, but his work as a route runner and ball carrier puts him in the elite tier of prospects. While he could add some functional strength to beat press coverage more precisely, McMillan has strong footwork. His short routes are often crisp, especially his in-breakers and comebacks. He won’t “wow” anyone with his release packages, but he does enough to gain NFL-level separation, especially considering how strong he is in contested catch situations. McMillan won’t be a field stretcher on speed alone, but he has enough juice to win vertically and come down with the football. Maturity concerns are present, with some scouts concerned over work ethic and desire. Still, McMillan has No. 1 option upside, and he should succeed wherever he lands.

NFL Comparison: Drake London

Emeka Egbuka | Ohio State

6007 | 202 LBS | RAS: 9.70 | Position Rank: 2 | Prospect Grade: 80.60

Egbuka never once played as the top option in the Ohio State offense, yet his continuous production and development push him into the upper echelon of this wide receiver class. He’s an elite athlete with a phenomenal burst off the line of scrimmage and as a ball carrier. He has crisp routes, with suddenness to confuse defenders and acceleration into his breaks, generating exceptional separation. He’s a natural catcher of the football, winning more contested-catch opportunities than a normal 6’1, 190-pound wideout should, and constantly plucking the ball with ease. His late hands are an asset, as he flashes them as late as possible to keep corners who fail to turn their heads guessing. He’s an elite run blocker, inviting physicality and embracing contact, virtually ensuring he’ll be on the field even on run downs. His best role is likely a power slot, as getting him free releases and allowing him to eat up space will get the most out of his skill set. Still, his play strength is above average, and he could play outside if he had to. Utilizing him in a role similar to Amon-Ra St. Brown or Jaxon Smith-Njigba would give his new team’s offense the most upside, with the ability to stretch vertically out of the slot.

NFL Comparison: Jaxon Smith-Njigba

NFL Starters

Matthew Golden | Texas

5110 | 191 LBS | RAS: N/A | Position Rank: 3 | Prospect Grade: 77.89

Golden was one of the NFL Combine’s most prominent winners after running a 4.29-second forty-yard dash, but his performances down the stretch put him on the radar. He’s one of the best route runners in the class, with sharp, sudden cuts that leave defenders in the dust. He’s twitchy off the line of scrimmage, making it challenging for cornerbacks to get hands on him. His elite speed rarely showed up on film, but his quarterback’s deep-ball accuracy is to blame. When Golden is on, he makes ridiculous catches; one-handed, reaching back, toe-taps, and other catches that leave evaluators’ jaws on the floor. He’s more reliable in contested catch situations than a typical sub-200 player, with a wide catch radius and elite body control. Routine plays often come harder, with frustrating and often untimely drops on wide-open balls. When he does pluck the ball, he’s dangerous after the catch. His suddenness translates to yard-creation, with the ability to dodge, duck, and weave between oncoming tacklers. His speed appears more after the catch than on his route stems, as he can run away from even the fastest defenders. Golden showed off an extensive route tree, regularly winning on every type of route. He can be the top option for an offense, and he should be an excellent value for a team in the 2025 NFL Draft.

NFL Comparison: Stefon Diggs

Luther Burden | Missouri

6000 | 206 LBS | RAS: N/A | Position Rank: 4 | Prospect Grade: 77.89

Burden’s 2024 season was disappointing, primarily because of the lack of production. Burden’s 676 yards were nearly half what he achieved in 2023, with most of the blame on the quarterback and overall offensive failures. Still, Burden’s play was lackluster and disengaged at times in 2024, moving him down many boards and drawing attention to his off-field questions. At his best, he’s a top-ten player in the class with a Ja’Marr Chase-esque skill set. At his worst, he’s an elite yards-creator, regularly generating explosives from screens and underneath routes. His routes are precise, shifty, and separation-generating when he's locked in. He has excellent play strength and contact balance, sometimes carrying the ball like a running back. His body control and adjustment skills on downfield throws rarely showed up on film, but that’s more a usage problem than a skill problem. His ability to contort and shield defenders from the ball offers hope that he can be more than just a screen and underneath player. He constantly plucks the ball at its highest or most desirable point, showing off the elite talent that made him a top player in his recruiting class. He’s an elite athlete and should be able to shake most cornerbacks at the NFL level. Desire questions aside, Burden’s floor is a solid No. 2 wideout.

NFL Comparison: DJ Moore

Tre Harris | Ole Miss

6023 | 205 LBS | RAS: 9.21 | Position Rank: 5 | Prospect Grade: 76.59

Harris’s season was cut short due to an injury, but his 2024 film was a marvel, and it matches the steady growth he’s shown since transferring to Ole Miss in 2023. For a 6’2, 205-pound player, Harris is excellent at generating separation. He’s not the twitchiest route runner, but he operates with patience and subtlety, allowing him to create just enough space to finish the play. His patience and balance at the top of his stems before he breaks might only generate a yard, but that’s all he needs. Harris has elite hands, plucking the ball no matter its placement and getting upfield quickly. He’s one of the class’s best contested catch players, offering a box-out mentality in the red zone and a bully mentality when operating between the 20s. It’s rare to find a player who has a consistently impressive release but lacks suddenness in his routes, but Harris is a great example. His first-step explosiveness allows him to attack leverage and get into an advantageous position, whether running a vertical route or a comeback. Harris isn’t a burner, but his 4.54-second forty-yard dash and 1.57-second 10-yard split (73rd percentile) offer enough juice to be a three-level threat. His first-step explosiveness showed up in his jumps, with a 91st-percentile vertical and 84th-percentile broad. Harris is a physical player with excellent body control, and it’s clear that he hasn’t yet hit his ceiling, despite an extensive college career. He’s a prototypical X-receiver, offering a unique skill set in a class full of question marks.

NFL Comparison: Nico Collins

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