The 2025 NFL Draft is right around the corner, and with the marquee weekend of the offseason nearly here, the hype and excitement surrounding this year's event is already heating up.
Over the last several weeks, we've taken a look at some position groups in this year's class while examining a handful of names to know. Here's what we've covered so far:
We'll wrap up this series with this year's class of wide receivers.
Six Names to Know
Depending on where you look, the various experts from around the web have identified a handful of players who are widely considered the top wide receiver prospects in this year's class.
Here's a look at six players to know.
Tetairoa McMillan – Arizona
Measurables: 6-foot-4, 219 pounds
Snapshot: One of the top receivers in all of college football last season, McMillan ranked third in the FBS with 1,319 receiving yards in 2024. His 3,423 receiving yards over the course of his three-year career are the most in school history.
Big Board Rankings:
Pro Football Focus (Post-Combine): No. 3 overall (No. 1 WR)
Daniel Jeremiah (NFL.com) Top 50 (April 2): No. 18 overall (No. 3 WR)
Dane Brugler (The Athletic) Top 100: No. 12 overall (No. 1 WR)
Expert Analysis:
NFL.com: "McMillan is a tall, rangy receiver with a Drake London-like skill set. He primarily lines up outside, though he'll take some reps in the slot…He's a smooth, easy mover. His tape is littered with contested catches…He has outstanding body control and high-point skills. His catch radius is a real weapon in the red zone. He's been productive after the catch because of his strength and physicality."
PFF: "McMillan has All-Pro potential because of his length, athleticism and football intelligence. He's a smooth criminal of a receiver who was the focal point of Arizona's offense. He is a unique talent who deserves to be considered in the top 10 of the 2025 NFL Draft."
The Athletic: "He is a long and limber athlete with exceptional tracking and ball-winning instincts. He fits the Tee Higgins mold as a unique playmaker, because of his size and catch-point skills."
For more on McMillan, check out his draft profile at NFL.com.
Luther Burden – Missouri
Measurables: 6-foot-0, 206 pounds
Snapshot: A native of St. Louis and a star at Mizzou, Burden compiled a breakout season in 2023 with 86 catches for 1,212 receiving yards and nine touchdowns. His numbers weren't quite as lofty in 2024, but his efforts still earned First-Team All-SEC honors.
Big Board Rankings:
Pro Football Focus (Post-Combine): No. 15 overall (No. 2 WR)
Daniel Jeremiah (NFL.com) Top 50 (April 2): No. 33 overall (No. 4 WR)
Dane Brugler (The Athletic) Top 100: No. 27 overall (No. 3 WR)
Expert Analysis:
NFL.com: "Burden is a quick, athletic slot receiver. He received a lot of quick hitters in Missouri's offense. He excels on underneath option routes that allow him to combine his feel to create space and his suddenness to generate yards after the catch. He has outstanding body control, giving him the ability to contort and haul in poorly thrown balls. He is at his best with the ball in his hands. He can stop/start in a hurry and possesses the agility to make defenders miss in tight quarters…Overall, Burden is a fun player to study and reminds me of Stefon Diggs coming out of college."
PFF: "Burden is an ideal "five-tool," multi-sport athlete for the receiver position in the NFL. The first-round talent is as well-rounded as they come, displaying the ability to succeed at any receiver spot in any offense."
The Athletic: "He holds a master's in creating with the ball in his hands, because of his explosive speed and competitive toughness. For an NFL team targeting a YAC weapon with upside to be more, he will be an appealing option early."
For more on Burden, check out his draft profile at NFL.com.
Matthew Golden – Texas
Measurables: 5-foot-11, 191 pounds
Snapshot: Golden led the Longhorns with 987 receiving yards in 2024, tallying nine touchdowns in the process. His 4.29-second 40-yard dash was the second-fastest of any player at the NFL Scouting Combine.
Big Board Rankings:
Pro Football Focus (Post-Combine): No. 22 overall (No. 4 WR)
Daniel Jeremiah (NFL.com) Top 50 (April 2): No. 16 overall (No. 1 WR)
Dane Brugler (The Athletic) Top 100: No. 15 overall (No. 2 WR)
Expert Analysis:
NFL.com: "He plays with tremendous polish, instincts and toughness. He spends a lot of time operating out of the slot. He can defeat press coverage with quickness or strength. He understands how to tempo routes and sets up defenders down the field. He can change gears when the ball goes up and he tracks it naturally. He does a nice job of staying grounded through the catch when working on crossers. He has the utmost confidence in his ball skills. After the catch, he is very strong/sturdy to pull through tackles and he can make defenders miss in space. I love his temperament on the field -- he plays with an edge."
PFF: "Golden is a talented player whose movement skills should translate well to the NFL. His advanced avenues of success -- whether through beating press, impressive footwork, after-the-catch ability or kick-return prowess -- make him a player who could be a high-end WR2 in the league."
The Athletic: "Golden doesn't have any glaring flaws to his game that would keep him from becoming a productive pro. He can play inside or outside and become the go-to target for an NFL offense."
For more on Golden, check out his draft profile at NFL.com.
Emeka Egbuka – Ohio State
Measurables: 6-foot-1, 202 pounds
Snapshot: A productive player throughout his career in Columbus, Egbuka wrapped up his final year in school with 81 catches for 1,011 receiving yards and 10 touchdowns. His 205 career catches are the most in school history.
Big Board Rankings:
Pro Football Focus (Post-Combine): No. 19 overall (No. 3 WR)
Daniel Jeremiah (NFL.com) Top 50 (April 2): No. 17 overall (No. 2 WR)
Dane Brugler (The Athletic) Top 100: No. 28 overall (No. 4 WR)
Expert Analysis:
NFL.com: "Egbuka is a strong, physical receiver with the ability to play inside or outside. He's quick in his release, and he can fight his way through press coverage. He is more of a one-speed route runner, but he's very comfortable working in traffic. He attacks the ball in the air in the middle of the field. On vertical routes, he tracks the ball well and has a knack for utilizing late hands to prevent defenders from playing the pocket and poking the ball away. He has a great feel for working in zones and adjusting his route if the play is prolonged. After the catch, he relies more on toughness than pure speed to create extra yards. He's earned rave reviews from NFL teams for the knowledge and leadership he's shown when they meet with him. Overall, I view Egbuka as an impact slot receiver in the mold of former Buckeye Jaxon Smith-Njigba."
PFF: "There seems to be some draft fatigue with Egbuka, who has been talked about as an NFL prospect for three years. Don't fall for it. He's a high-floor, versatile and savvy receiver as a borderline WR1/WR2."
The Athletic: "Overall, Egbuka is a very quarterback-friendly target — not because he is bigger, stronger or faster than defenders, but because he understands detailed subtleties to uncover and command the catch point. Though he can line up outside, he would thrive in a Rashee Rice-like slot role, where he can expand a play-calling menu with his diverse skill set."
For more on Egbuka, check out his draft profile at NFL.com.
Jaylin Noel – Iowa State
Measurables: 5-foot-10, 194 pounds
Snapshot: A Kansas City native who attended Park Hill High School, Noel saw his production increase in each of his four years at Iowa State, culminating in an 80-catch, 1,194-yard and eight-touchdown season in 2024.
Big Board Rankings:
Pro Football Focus (Post-Combine): No. 78 overall (No. 12 WR)
Daniel Jeremiah (NFL.com) Top 50 (April 2): Not Ranked
Dane Brugler (The Athletic) Top 100: No. 42 overall (No. 5 WR)
Expert Analysis:
PFF: "Noel is a compact and powerful slot receiver who wins with a good first step and can succeed in an NFL offense where the quarterback holds the ball a little longer in the pocket."
The Athletic: "Overall, Noel is a smaller target but very quarterback-friendly, because of the confidence he has in his hands and his athletic versatility, which makes him tough to cover. His scouting report and college tape give flashbacks to those of Christian Kirk when he was an NFL Draft prospect. Noel can have a similar pro career."
For more on Noel, check out his draft profile at NFL.com.
Jalen Royals – Utah State
Measurables: 6-foot-0, 205 pounds
Snapshot: A former zero-star recruit who worked his way to becoming one of the top receivers in college football, Royals emerged on the scene in 2023 with a 71-catch, 1,080-yard season in 2023 while tallying the second-most receiving touchdowns (15) in the FBS. He hauled in 55 grabs for 834 yards and six scores last season.
Big Board Rankings:
Pro Football Focus (Post-Combine): No. 61 overall (No. 8 WR)
Daniel Jeremiah (NFL.com) Top 50 (April 2): Not Ranked
Dane Brugler (The Athletic) Top 100: No. 63 overall (No. 7 WR)
Expert Analysis:
PFF: "He is a strong possession receiver who can line up anywhere with plus after-the-catch ability."
The Athletic: "Overall, Royals combines smooth footwork with athletic body control, physical play strength and tracking skills to be a three-level threat as he expands his route tree. He has the talent to emerge as a team's WR2 within his first few NFL seasons."
For more on Royals, check out his draft profile at NFL.com.
