Bell: Ranking Top 15 Wide Receivers in 2025 NFL Draft
With the 2025 NFL Draft quickly approaching, it’s time to rank the top wide receiver prospects in the 2025 NFL Draft class. After watching over 20 draft-eligible players, I would describe this group as below-average overall in terms of both top-end talent and depth.
For context and comparison purposes, I have just three first-round grades this year compared to five in 2024, and one of them may not even play offense in the NFL. This year, my WR9 has an identical grade and projection as my WR14 last cycle.
Having said all of that, there are still plenty of playmakers with skill sets worth getting excited about. Most, if not all, of these guys will in-evidently end up inside my top-100 big board that will release soon. The Pittsburgh Steelers are actively doing their homework on several of these guys listed below. There’s a real possibility that they take another wideout even after the splashy acquisition of DK Metcalf.
Without further ado, here we go!
TOP 2025 NFL DRAFT WIDE RECEIVERS
1) Travis Hunter, Colorado
Two-way Superstar and naturally gifted athlete with exceptional ball skills and innate spatial awareness. Hunter is a highly intelligent, well-conditioned athlete with game-breaking ability and true All Pro potential at two different positions. Regardless of his preferred positional path, he’s a franchise-altering centerpiece that could become the new barometer for the term generational prospect.
2) Matthew Golden, Texas
Rapidly ascending three-level threat who took his game to new heights during his lone season at Texas. Golden is a masterful route runner, has quick feet to evade jams at the line of scrimmage and plays bigger than his size indicates at the catch point. He’ll need to prove his strong finish to 2024 isn’t a fluke but he’s alignment versatile and checks a ton of boxes as a player that doesn’t feel close to approaching his final form.
3) Tetairoa McMillan, Arizona
Sky-scraping prodigy with massive hands that make the highlight reel catches look routine on a consistent basis. Last season, McMillan advanced his game by sprinkling in some nuance as a route runner and becoming a legit YAC threat that was tough to bring down on first contact. Right now, he’s more well-versed against zone coverage but if he learns to weaponize his size, he could transform into a real nightmare for NFL defensive coordinators.
4) Emeka Egbuka, Ohio State
The games latest Power-Slot prototype who brings championship pedigree with him to the pros. Egbuka is a smooth and efficient mover and the ultimate teammate, evidenced how quarterback friendly he is in the intermediate area of the field and through his effort as a blocker. It’s true that he’s a more of a jack of all trades but master of none, but you know exactly what you’re getting from day one: a smart, tough player who contributes to winning.
5) Luther Burden III, Missouri
Dynamic weapon who is a terror in open space with the ball in his hands due to his rare combination of elusiveness and contact balance. Burden can hit the turbo button and boost past defenders vertically on slot fades and has underrated body control and ball skills that were noticeably underutilized in college. If Burden can lock in on a play by play basis, he offers one of the highest ceilings in the entire 2025 NFL Draft class, one that exceeds the gadget label often synonymous with his scouting report.
6) Kyle Williams, Washington State
Rhythmic route runner with impressive foot quickness coupled with an advanced release package to evade contact when facing press coverage. Williams is a threat to score from anywhere on any given play, with the ability to win downfield after stacking cornerbacks with his speed or showing off his creation capacity with the ball in his hands on screens and underneath targets. Regardless of concerns over his size, his game is too loud to ignore.
7) Elic Ayomanor, Stanford
Tone-setting bully who remained productive in a disastrous offensive ecosystem, showcasing an enticing mixture of play strength and vertical speed. Simply put, Ayomanor aspires to take souls in the run game and is the best blocking receiver in the draft by a significant margin, from an attitude and effectiveness standpoint. This is a player that is a bit rough around the edges all-around, but the mental makeup and physical profile are worth banking on come day two of draft weekend.
8) Jaylen Royals, Utah State
Well-rounded and trustworthy target who dominated the competition in back to back seasons while operating in a funky offensive system. Royals plays above his size at the catch point with excellent focus that led to a ton of success on deep contested catch chances but his instincts and toughness as a runner make him dangerous with the rock as well. Despite a drastic jump in competition, he profiles as an immediate complimentary piece with room to grow.
9) Jayden Higgins, Iowa State
Lanky possession receiver that possesses the body control for back-shoulder fades and is confident catching the football away from his frame with his 91st-percentile wingspan. Higgins is a crafty and somewhat slippery player for someone of his stature, but his real value comes from his ability to find voids in zone coverage in between the numbers. The testing numbers don’t match the tape, but his size and catch radius should still make him an asset, even if it means more reps in the slot.
10) Tre Harris, Ole Miss
Long-strider with build up speed to stretch the field vertically fused with good play strength in all phases of the game. Harris has an advanced understanding of how to create late separation for himself and his lower body flexibility signals real potential as a route runner beyond the unimaginative tree that was assigned to him in the Ole Miss offense. He’s more savvy than give credit and when you factor in the size, this is a projection worth gravitating towards.
11) Savion Williams, TCU
Freak show with a robust collection of tools that present an exhilarating ceiling, yet is lacking the basic requirements for the position.
12) Jaylin Noel, Iowa State
Speed slot that has the burners who consistently take the top off the defense and clear out space for others underneath but is currently pretty one-dimensional aside from that.
13) Tory Horton, Colorado State
Smart pass catcher with awesome spatial awareness and feel for how to make himself available for his quarterback but will be facing a drastic leap in competition level.
14) Jack Bech, TCU
Tough as nails with great hands and someone that you can trust over the middle of the field but his lack of athleticism dampens his upside.
15) Tai Felton, Maryland
Slender explosive play generator with jaw-dropping speed and quickness but must become more reliable to earn the trust of his offensive coordinator.