Big Board
12/20/24
9 min read
2025 NFL Draft: Early Ranking Top 10 Wide Receiver Prospects
The 2025 NFL Draft has been a major pipeline of wide receiver talent over the past several seasons. While this year's class is a good one, it does feel like it falls a bit short of the star power of recent classes that have infused superstars quickly into the league.
It will be fascinating to watch how the league responds. Will these top players get gobbled up more quickly than ever as a result? Or will teams spend more on free agency for veteran options because there is scarcity in the draft pipeline this season? Teams will often tell you what they think of a draft class by how they spend their money in March.
So, with that in mind, let's meet the current top of the group for this year's wide receivers and what kinds of fits they may provide in the NFL.
Early Top 10 2025 NFL Draft WR Rankings
1. Travis Hunter, WR, Colorado 
Hunter's abilities have been thrust under the microscope over the better part of the last month in the build-up to his Heisman Trophy win. And while I do believe that Hunter is a better cornerback prospect moving forward than he is a wide receiver, he's still someone whose stock I'd buy on either side of the football.
Hunter showcases some of the best hands in the class. He's been hitting above his weight class in contested situations for each of his two seasons at Colorado and has the explosiveness to run away from man coverage. Of course, he has room to grow as a route runner and with his release packages against press coverage. But the total package of physical skills is here to be a receiver charged with changing the outlook of a passing offense.
Travis Hunter's Full Scouting Report, Pro Comp
2. Tetairoa McMillan, WR, Arizona Wildcats 
McMillan has the size and ability to run and stack down the field. That, plus assertive hands and surprising smoothness and body control, gives McMillan the kind of foundation you'd like to see in a wide receiver that you can isolate in formations and serve as the X-receiver while winning against all different kinds of coverages.
I do believe McMillan's route running needs improvement to help him complete his skill set, however. He struggled with separation at times and saw notable dips in his target efficiencies against man coverage — but he moves well enough and has the physicality to play through contact.
It feels more like a need for growth and not a physical handcuff he can't overcome. If he does, he'll boast the most complete skill set of anyone in the class.
Tetairoa McMillan's Full Scouting Report, Pro Comp
3. Isaiah Bond, WR, Texas Longhorns 
Quicker than a hiccup. Isaiah Bond's profile as a college player reminds me of Jaylen Waddle's coming out of Alabama. There are production questions worth asking, and Bond is battling an ankle injury that had him in a walking boot after the SEC Championship Game. His production profile also changed each time Quinn Ewers or Arch Manning was on the field, as the quarterbacks attacked different areas of the field — all building up to a quiet two months for Bond.
But I can't help but watch him play, see the way he moves, see how dangerous he is with the ball in his hands, and believe that this dude is going to be a highly effective player in the pros. He can align in either the slot or on the perimeter, has a big-time explosive twitch, and can effortlessly snap off route stems.
Isaiah Bond's Full Scouting Report, Pro Comp
4. Luther Burden III, WR, Missouri Tigers
Burden III is a strong blend of explosiveness and power who boasts an impressive run-after-catch resume in the Missouri offense.
Projecting him forward, Burden III is best continuing to get opportunities in the slot. There, he'll be afforded more space to operate and uncover and be given free releases into the secondary. He's a natural playmaker for sure but lacks the agility and refinement of some of the names listed in front of him — making him a bit more of a projection as he leaps to the NFL level.
Luther Burden's Full Scouting Report, Pro Comp
5. Emeka Egbuka, WR, Ohio State Buckeyes
Don't let a good thing pass you by just because it's been on the scene a while. That's Emeka Egbuka, who has been a buzzy name in the draft space since his sophomore season in 2022 when he posted more than 1,100 yards and 10 touchdowns playing with C.J. Stroud.
The two years that have passed since haven't been as kind to Egbuka's raw numbers, but this is probably the most polished player in the top five of this year's wide receiver rankings.
He's primarily a slot option, but if you're looking for a good route runner with reliable hands, enough athleticism to create separation against all comers, the football savvy to win consistently against all kinds of coverages, and enough density to give you some value as a blocker from the slot, Egbuka is your guy.
Emeka Egbuka's Full Scouting Report, Pro Comp
6. Tre Harris, WR, Ole Miss Rebels
Harris's monster season was derailed by injury, but this former high school quarterback has enjoyed a potent two years in the Lane Kiffin offense. The vertical receiving skill set, ball tracking skills, and athleticism are needle-moving traits on which Harris' draft resume is built.
With loose body control and the ability to elevate for the football, he profiles as a back-shoulder, go ball, and free-access, quick-game player underneath. He's shown active hands to fight through contact and made plays, creating separation through contact despite having plenty of room to grow and build out his game.
Harris has maxed his game out in the Ole Miss offense — it's time for him to spread his wings and leave the nest so he can further develop.
Tre Harris' Full Scouting Report, Pro Comp
7. Xavier Restrepo, WR, MIami Hurricanes
Restrepo won't win any superlative awards for best athlete or fastest 40-yard dash times. But he knows how to play wide receiver. He's tough. He blocks. He's got superb hands. He moves the chains.
Granted, Restrepo is a slot extraordinaire and should be valued accordingly — but don't mistake his stature for a measure of his play. He is an above-average receiver through contact and shows excellent concentration on errant throws. He's probably the least dynamic player on this list, but he makes up for it with prime instincts and route running.
Xavier Restrepo's Full Scouting Report, Pro Comp
8. Jalen Royals, WR, Utah State Aggies
Royals saw his season come to a crashing halt with a foot injury in October, but his body of work speaks for itself, with nearly 2,000 receiving yards in the last one and a half seasons at Utah State.
And with 40 receptions in his final four games, it looked like he was on his way to a whole different level in 2024. Royals, who was an underrecruited talent and former basketball player at the prep level, has the kind of natural ability that you want to buy into.
He's got a slashing running style with the ball but has point-guard crossover ability to force missed tackles and generate big-time run after catch. He's not overly physical and can improve in this phase to be a more consistent player, but Royals is a high-ceiling talent who has the potential to be an impact player.
Jalen Royals' Full Scouting Report, Pro Comp
9. Jack Bech, WR, TCU Horned Frogs
Bech is physical, first and foremost. It is easy to love the way he attacks the ball down the field, how angry he runs with the ball in his hands, and how well he throws defensive backs around in the secondary — either at the line of scrimmage or as a run blocker.
Bech has great ball skills and has always flashed potential, going all the way back to his true freshman season at LSU. But he's realized his potential as a big play outside threat this year and is easily the best run blocker on this list for those who subscribe to the value of receivers who block.
Jack Bech's Full Scouting Report, Pro Comp
10. Jayden Higgins, WR, Iowa State Cyclones
The Iowa State offense boasts two NFL wide receivers, Higgins and Jaylin Noel. Higgins came to Iowa State as a transfer from Eastern Kentucky and is a player with good size and body control.
He's cut from the same cloth as Tre Harris, an impressive big-bodied athlete who has more fluidity to his game than you'd expect. Higgins checks the box for a projection for a perimeter role but also flashed some more ability this season to move around and win from the slot.
This is where the talent pool in the 2025 class starts to get crowded, but Higgins gets a current nod for his reliability at the catch point.
HONORABLE MENTIONS
- Tez Johnson, Oregon Ducks
- Savion Williams, TCU Horned Frogs
- Jaylin Noel, Iowa State Cyclones
- Elic Ayomanor, Stanford Cardinal
- Evan Stewart, Oregon Ducks
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