2025 NFL Draft position series: Wide receivers

Wed Apr 16 3:24pm ET
Field Level Media

Projecting the right position for Heisman Trophy winner Travis Hunter might not have a wrong answer.

Consider the Titans at No. 1 and Cleveland Browns right behind in the 2025 NFL Draft order disagree on which position best suits Hunter. At No. 3? That's the New York Giants, and general manager Joe Schoen publicly split the difference with his own draft assessment of Hunter on Wednesday.

"It would be hard to keep him off the field and he's motivated to play both ways," Schoen said, adding the concern of playing 100-plus snaps in a game would be injury, but, "he's a unique athlete who I think will be able to do both."

There's nothing traditional about Hunter or the No. 2 receiver in our rankings, a human highlight reel with a catch radius every quarterback would appreciate. But at 6-feet-4, Tetairoa McMillan is more than just another huge target.

Field Level Media looks at Hunter, McMillan and the rest of the top 10 prospects at wide receiver in the latest installment of the pre-draft position series.

FIELD LEVEL MEDIA 2025 Draft WR rankings:

1. Travis Hunter, Colorado

Is he a wide receiver, cornerback or can he do both? The answer is up to the team willing to draft Hunter, the Heisman Trophy winner insisting to continue his unheard of act of playing both ways in the NFL.

Arguably the closest to a unicorn prospect the league has scouted since Bo Jackson, Hunter's playmaking ability and ball skills rate at the top of his draft class.

He's not built to take a hit, but good luck squaring him up in the open field. Hunter processes action in front of him rapidly and is just as instinctive and creative with the ball in his hands.

Rare body control, balance on the move and at the contact point, and strong, powerful hands to secure the ball before anyone else gets a chance are winning assets no matter which position he calls home in the NFL. His wide receiver ceiling is a notch above former Alabama Heisman Trophy winner DeVonta Smith and their body types are similar.

2. Tetairoa McMillan, Arizona

Three seasons at Arizona was ample time for McMillan to put together a one-of-a-kind mix tape of highlight-reel catches. He caught 174 passes the past two seasons with 18 of his 26 career TD grabs, and entered the draft with a 16.1-yard average (213 receptions in 37 games). An All-American as a junior, McMillan was tops in the Big 12 with 1,319 receiving yards last season.

The pass-fail question from evaluators: How much of his college success and overall skill set translates to the NFL?

McMillan's athletic profile isn't prototypical. He's 6-4, 215 and ran a 4.53 40-yard dash. His narrow frame lacks bulk and mass to be a physically dominant presence, and he's not fast enough to run away from defensive backs and linebackers with elite speed.

Media comparisons for McMillan have included Ed McCaffrey (Broncos) and Drake London (Falcons). He's not a precise match to many predecessors but has ability and size similar to Bengals WR Tee Higgins, even if their body types aren't carbon copies.

Where McMillan wins is attacking the ball in the air, using his frame to wall off a defender and secure the ball with his hands. He's faster on the field than the stopwatch and better than a zero threat after the catch because of his footwork and long strides, prompting missed tackles and poor angles from smaller defenders in the secondary.

3. Matthew Golden, Texas

Golden fits as an "X" or "Z" receiver depending on the scheme. With easy acceleration and pure speed, he can be featured at some point in his career and is an option in the return game.

Golden compares to Stefon Diggs (Patriots) because of their on-the-move flexibility and run-after-catch skills. Dynamic athletes with movement skills and

fluid hips to be elusive in the open, Golden has similar proven playmaking ability. But he also shares issues with play strength and needed time to refine his routes. Golden can eventually grow into a role as a WR1 -- as Diggs did for the Minnesota Vikings and later Buffalo Bills.

4. Emeka Egbuka, Ohio State

Not every program can relate to Ohio State's problems. Consider Egbuka posted two 1,000-yard receiving seasons for the Buckeyes, with 24 career TD

catches, all without ever being viewed as the No. 1 option. Of course, Ohio State has produced elite talent at the position in recent seasons with Garrett Wilson, Chris Olave, Jaxon Smith-Njigba and Marvin Harrison Jr. -- who are all catching TDs for cash in the NFL.

Egbuka was overshadowed in 2024 by freshman phenom Jeremiah Smith, and in this class by bigger, stronger and faster prospects.

As one of the top-rated route runners in this draft, Egbuka might be off the board earlier than anticipated. His bust factor is minimal. Because he can separate in a variety of manners, play the slot and challenge defensive backs with pace and speed, he's an out-of-the-box starter with scheme versatility from a program known for turning out solid pros.

5. Luther Burden III, Missouri

There are segments of Anquan Boldin, Julian Edelman and Deebo Samuel in Burden's game and the similarities are greater than their running back or safety build. He's five inches shorter than Tetairoa McMillan but nearly the same weight.

With great explosiveness and twitch on a sturdy frame, Burden excels at generating YAC and breaking tackles. Unlike other gadget players who lack the refinement to be a true wide receiver, Burden has impressive ball skills, an evolved route tree and strong position blocking to be a full-time starter in the NFL.

6. Jaylin Noel, Iowa State

At 5-10, 194, the wrap on Noel is not unlike the knock on Tyler Lockett coming out of Kansas State. We're banking on similar consistency and production as a pro from Noel, too.

Quick and elusive, he's dangerous after the reception and can return punts. He scampers down the field in a hurry and can take the top off of a defense as a vertical threat. There were days when he looked uncheckable at the Senior Bowl, where teammates voted him the top wide receiver.

He also plays with the headiness of a veteran, exploits zone coverage well and has a good feel for splitting the safeties and giving himself room to work.

7. Jayden Higgins, Iowa State

Raw with immense upside potential, Higgins plays the position like an college basketball forward. His track (jumping events) and hoops background show through on film and he carries his 6-4, 215 pounds with ease. The natural size advantage becomes a greater mismatch concern for defensive backs because Higgins doesn't move like a big-framed target. He had a 1.54 10-yard split and 4.4 40 to go with his 80-inch wingspan and 39-inch vertical.

An unfinished product who said he models his game after former Chargers and Bears wide receiver Keenan Allen -- renowned for his disciplined, technical route-running acumen -- Higgins has natural playmaking skills and athletic traits as a baseline. His ceiling is off the charts, but brings a significant level of trust in the player and program (coach, scheme, position coach) to ensure he becomes the sum of his parts.

8. Jalen Royals, Utah State

By proving he's recovered from the foot injury that shortened his senior season, Royals placed himself in the thick of the second tier of the 2025 WR class.

There's still a projection with Royals coming from the FBS level, but scouts who trust what he has put on tape won't hesitate to endorse him as an option in the top 75. His compact build (6-0, 200, nearly identical to Lions WR Amon-Ra St. Brown), speed (4.4 40) and jitterbug quickness with the ball running routes and with the ball in his hands are NFL-caliber.

9. Tory Horton, Colorado State

Slap a Michigan or Georgia jersey on Horton and he's a demigod in cleats. A slick route-runner with multiple gears to uncover from man coverage and a vertical of almost 38 inches, Horton's production is called into question because it came against Mountain West competition.

Note in 2023 he saw a lot of a cornerback scouts seem to like -- Heisman winner Hunter -- and put up 16 receptions for 133 yards and a TD. In the 2024 rematch, Horton had two catches before exiting with a right knee injury that limited him to five games last season. One of those grabs was a horizontal pattern crossing from the left side of the formation to the right in front of Hunter.

There's no arguing his thin frame will cause concern. But the fifth-year senior topped out faster than Dolphins WR Tyreek Hill's peak straight-line speed in 2024 (22.23 on a 73-yard TD in Week 13) at 22.5 mph. With experience and production as a return man, Horton has a spot on the radar of NFL teams starting in the second round.

10. Tre Harris, Ole Miss

A tick faster than his official 4.54 40 time and Harris would be knocking on the door of the first round. Because he's 6-2 3/8, he'll be labeled a big receiver. But he's on the light side and is more dangerous than most defensive backs expect coming out of his breaks. Minus the sudden first step off the line to rock elite cover cornerbacks to their heels, evaluators are more than likely to peg him as a strong No. 2 wideout and red-zone demon because of a 38.5-inch vertical. The potential is there for Harris to put up elite numbers with a quarterback willing to pump the ball his direction.

2025 NFL Draft position series: Wide receivers

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