Matthew Golden is the most well-rounded receiver prospect. While he’s not an elite athlete in a singular category, he still does all of the little things at a high enough level to carve out a role within an offense. Golden may never emerge as a primary target in the NFL, but he’s balanced enough to be a fantastic WR2 or WR3 on a team. His ability to create consistent separation with his speed or quick feet makes him a reliable target. He also made a number of highlight-worthy catches in his final few games of the season. His length and size mean he has a reduced catch radius, and can be easily brought down by defenders. However, there is plenty of upside in his profile thanks to his speed and efficient route running.
Tetairoa McMillan possesses very good size and overall athleticism for the position. He is a versatile receiver who can line up outside, in the slot, and even attached to the hip of the tight end all so he can maximize mismatches against nickel corners and linebackers. McMillan is a big-bodied pass catcher with an outstanding catch radius and hands. He has rare ball skills and is an outstanding contested catch and red-zone threat, but he has the athleticism of a receiver who is smaller in stature and can make plays with the ball in his hands. While he has sufficient speed for a receiver with his size, he lacks the third gear to consistently generate separation down the field in the NFL and can struggle with creating separation off breaks at times.
Luther Burden III is a slot receiver with an impressive combination of speed, power, and agility. His 2023 campaign showed that he’s more than capable of taking on a high workload. His natural playmaking skills make him dangerous in space, and he has ball skills to spare when allowed to stretch the field vertically. As a route runner, Burden has shown progress but still needs additional development. Granted, part of that comes down to the way he was used in college, but his route salesmanship still needs some work. Burden should end up being an instant starting wide receiver at the NFL level. He has some inside-outside versatility with the ability to thrive on jet sweeps and end-arounds, and his YAC ability is arguably the best of any wide receiver in the 2025 NFL Draft class.
Emeka Egbuka is a well-built slot receiver who projects as a reliable chain mover at the next level. He offers good overall size for the position and has good strength and athleticism. He primarily aligned in the slot while at Ohio State, and that is where he will likely call home at the next level. Egbuka is an excellent route runner and understands how to use head and body fakes to create separation and is outstanding in using his hands to keep his body clear throughout the stem of his route. He is a third-down machine who consistently gets open and moves the chains. He has extremely strong hands and outstanding body control, ball skills, and strength to make catches in contested situations and over the middle of the field. He is tough and competitive with the ball in his hands and runs like a running back rather than a receiver. Egbuka will likely never be a home-run threat at the next level as he lacks the deep speed to stress NFL-caliber corners vertically. He struggles to stack defensive backs consistently and will need to be creative with his routes to separate at the next level. He will be best utilized as a team’s No. 2 option who can excel as a reliable slot receiver playing opposite a true big-play threat.
Tre Harris is a physically imposing wide receiver celebrated for his exceptional body control and ability to secure contested catches. After transferring from Louisiana Tech to Ole Miss, he made an immediate impact, recording 60 receptions for 1,030 yards and seven touchdowns in the 2024 season. Harris excels in high-pointing the football, effectively using his frame to shield defenders and make difficult catches in traffic. However, his route tree remains somewhat limited, relying heavily on vertical stems, and he can round off his cuts at times, particularly on comeback routes. Harris' combination of size, strength, and reliable hands makes him a valuable asset in contested catch situations and red-zone opportunities.
