2025 NFL Draft prospect rankings: Sizing up the WR class

theScore's NFL draft prospect rankings series gives you everything you need to know about the top players on the board. Check back as we break down new position groups leading up to April's draft.

QB | RB | WR

Note: We had originally planned to save Travis Hunter for our cornerback rankings, in anticipation of his most likely NFL role, but where's the fun in that? The NFL's first two-way superstar deserves to be discussed at both spots.

Hunter will also be the top player in our cornerback rankings, which really drives home the type of unicorn prospect we're talking about here. It remains to be seen whether the Heisman Trophy winner will play both ways in the NFL - or at least to what extent - but there's Pro Bowl ability on each side of the ball. As a receiver, the playmaking traits are off the charts. Hunter's unique athletic ability is evident in the way he separates from coverage defenders, makes plays after the catch, and controls his body while attacking the ball in the air. He's also somehow already a proficient route-runner despite playing both sides throughout his college career. He's truly a one-of-a-kind prospect. Whether it's as a full-time pass-catcher, or perhaps only in certain packages while focusing on cornerback, Hunter can be a true game-changer on offense. His impact at two different and extremely valuable positions makes him the clear No.1 player in this draft.

McMillan is a contested-catch machine. The Arizona star has the size, body control, and ball skills to consistently win above the rim over opposing defensive backs. That's his main selling point, but he's certainly not one-dimensional. McMillan also shows better short-area quickness than you might expect for a player with his frame, evident in his ability to get in and out of his breaks efficiently. He's also an intelligent route-runner who knows how to work back to the ball. His playmaking ability after the catch really improved in 2024, as he tied for third among all receivers with 29 missed tackles forced on receptions, according to PFF. Average speed won't do him any favors when it comes to separating consistently at the next level, so further development of his routes and release packages may be required. But it's less of a concern for him than it may be for smaller targets. His rare ability at the catch point gives him the ultimate trump card. McMillan is a potential No. 1 receiver who will be making his fair share of highlight-reel plays in the pros.

Egbuka is the latest in a long line of outstanding Ohio State receiver prospects. He's a nuanced route-runner who has a knack for easily creating separation at all levels of the field. He's got strong hands at the catch point, the body control to make difficult adjustments, and he'll work back to the ball to make things easier on his quarterback. Egbuka is also a tough and creative runner after the catch, always giving himself a chance for extra yardage. While he's not the most sudden athlete and his overall profile could limit him almost exclusively to the slot, that's more a question of fit than value in today's game. He can be a high-volume impact receiver from that area, and his willingness to get involved as a run-blocker only furthers his potential for impact. Egbuka doesn't have many holes in his game. He could be a Pro Bowler sooner rather than later.

Burden will get a lot of Deebo Samuel comparisons based on the way he was utilized at Missouri. He certainly has the athleticism, vision, and elusiveness to be a game-wrecker after the catch. And that alone would make him an effective playmaker at the next level. But there's also potential for much more than he was able to show on a regular basis in college. Burden's speed allows him to stretch the field with ease when given the opportunity, and he demonstrates the tracking ability, body control, and ball skills to be a consistent factor there. He'll need to expand his route tree to be a high-volume NFL receiver, but everything he's shown in that regard suggests it won't be an issue. There simply aren't many athletes who can move the way he does. Landing with a creative play-caller could make Burden one of the most exciting playmakers in football.

Golden is a fascinating prospect. The consistency of production isn't in line with your typical first-round receiver, and he doesn't exactly have the frame of a prototypical No. 1 target on the outside. It may seem, then, that his stock rose largely because of a blazing 40 time at the combine. That's not quite the case, though. A sub-4.3 run is electric, to be sure, and that rare speed will be a central part of his value moving forward. But Golden is also an excellent route-runner. He creates instant separation off the line with a good release package and demonstrates impressive quickness at the top of his routes. He tracks the ball well, showing the ability to make adjustments for difficult catches downfield, and he's more competitive in contested-catch situations than most receivers his size. Don't overthink the statistical output here. His 2024 season could have been a lot better if quarterback play took advantage of his ability to stretch the field. Golden should have that in the NFL, giving him star potential.

Higgins has a chance to be one of the best receivers in this draft. The Iowa State product does all the things you might expect of a big-bodied target, consistently making his presence felt in contested-catch situations, but that's only a small part of his game. He's a far more savvy route-runner than most prospects of his size, demonstrating a good release package and the nuance to set up defenders and create separation at all levels of the field. Any questions about his speed or explosiveness should have been answered with the excellent athletic profile he put together in combine drills. Higgins is a versatile target who can contribute as a big slot in addition to a primary role on the outside. He probably doesn't have the suddenness to be a true threat after the catch, but that's a minor concern when the rest of the skill set is so well-rounded. Higgins could end up as a major steal.

Royals shouldn't be flying under the radar like he has been. The Utah State product is an excellent route-runner who makes great use of tempo and subtleties to set up defenders and create separation. He's a physical target with strong hands at the catch point, and he's an instinctive runner who can be extremely slippery after the catch. There's not much he doesn't do at a high level. And with inside-out versatility, he should be an easy fit in most offenses. Royals' vertical speed seemed average in college, but then he put together an incredible combine performance. Might the athletic testing suggest there's even more upside to be unlocked? Provided there are no lingering issues from his season-ending foot injury, Royals could end up as one of the draft's best value picks.

Noel is the second of two Iowa State receivers who figure to be big-time NFL contributors. He has the speed to take the top off the defense from any alignment, and his athleticism is a game-changer in confined spaces. Noel shows impressive explosiveness in and out of his breaks to create consistent separation at the top of his routes. He's also flashed the ability to parlay his athleticism into missed tackles and big gains with the ball in his hands, even if that wasn't a regular part of his production in college. Noel has battled drops at times, and dealing with the physicality of NFL corners could present a challenge. But he's a remarkably well-rounded prospect who should have every opportunity to be an impactful No. 2 receiver.

Meet the hidden gem of this year's receiver class. The names at the top are getting the majority of the attention, and deservedly so. Williams might be one whom the scouting community regrets missing out on. The Washington State standout is a sudden athlete with easy vertical speed. He's got an NFL-ready release package to create instant advantages off the snap, and quickness in and out of his breaks allows for separation at all levels of the field. The movement skills also make him a weapon after the catch. Williams doesn't have the size or strength to work through contact and make an impact in contested-catch scenarios, so some teams may not see him as a true outside receiver. He can separate and make plays no matter where he lines up, though, and there's a good chance he ends up outperforming his draft position.

Harris was incredibly productive as the top target in Ole Miss' high-powered offense, capping his college career with a 1,030-yard season despite playing in only eight games. There's some projection required looking ahead, as he wasn't asked to run a wide array of routes. But the nuance and savviness he showed in the assignments he did have bodes well for his chances of adjusting to a more expansive playbook. Harris sets up defenders well at the top of his routes. And while his timed speed may not be that of a deep threat, he runs with the kind of tempo that still allows him to create separation downfield. Factor in his contested-catch prowess and playmaking ability after the catch, and there are no shortage of ways for Harris to make an impact at the next level.

Bond's transfer from Texas to Alabama didn't yield better statistical results, as he finished his final year with 34 catches for 540 yards. Putting up 1,428 yards across three seasons is a far cry from top receiver prospect production, but numbers don't tell the full story. Bond is an outstanding athlete with the speed to take the top off the defense. Though his two stops were at prominent programs, playing with quarterbacks who are also part of this draft class, neither was able to consistently take advantage of that ability. Bond also demonstrates the short-area quickness to be an effective route-runner and make big plays after the catch. Those physical gifts, along with strong hands to consistently finish at the catch point, should allow him to overcome any size limitations. His production could be much better in the NFL than it was in college.

Bech catches absolutely everything thrown his way. He probably doesn't have the speed to stretch the field on the outside, so he'll likely be limited to a slot role at the next level. He's plenty comfortable navigating the middle of the field, though. Beck is a good route-runner with impressive short-area quickness. Even when he isn't able to separate, he's shown the ability to use his body to shield off a defender and finish at the catch point anyway. The play strength and physicality also show up with the ball in his hands, as he toughs out a lot of extra yards. Bech should be a reliable middle-of-the-field target who sees plenty of work on money downs.

Ayomanor is an interesting developmental receiver prospect. The Canadian has NFL-caliber athleticism, as confirmed by a strong combine performance. He's got a good feel for some of the finer parts of the position, too. An excellent release package allows him to handle press coverage with ease, and he shows some impressive nuance in his route running. He also makes his presence felt as a run-blocker whenever possible. His 294-yard, three-touchdown game against Colorado (and Travis Hunter) in 2023 was one of the more dominant performances you'll see from a wideout. The potential is there, but Ayomanor has to improve as a finisher. He has some issues tracking the ball downfield and his hands are far too inconsistent. Cleaning up in those areas could make him a nice No. 2 receiver.

Restrepo was Cam Ward's security blanket at Miami. He's an intelligent route-runner who sets up defensive backs well, separates with quickness at the top of his breaks, and has a knack for finding soft spots in zones. Though his size limits his catch radius, he's also got reliable hands. Speed is the big question here, as a 4.8-second 40-yard dash at his pro day undoubtedly set off alarm bells. Restrepo later explained the disappointing number was the result of a tight hamstring. The rest of the skill set is intriguing enough, and speed tends to be overrated for slot-only players, anyway. So he definitely still has a chance to translate his game to the NFL. But his draft stock was certainly impacted by the outlier time. Can Restrepo make that look silly when he gets on the field as a rookie?

Johnson's combine performance was a major red flag, as running a 4.51 40-yard dash at 154 pounds will disqualify him among many evaluators. The Oregon wideout declined to give it another shot at his pro day, though, suggesting his tape tells a different story about his game. He's probably right. Johnson was a difference-maker in college. His quickness and route-running skills were consistently too much for defensive backs to handle, allowing him to create easy separation. He was similarly dynamic after the catch and as a returner on special teams. Johnson continued to shine when it came time to go one-on-one with some top defensive backs at the Senior Bowl. Gambling on a player with this size will always carry some risk, and he'll need to mitigate contact against NFL defenders. But the eye test was good enough that Johnson is absolutely worth a shot.

Williams, first and foremost, is an exceptional athlete. There simply aren't many people who move the way he does at his size. Development is required as a route-runner, and he'll have to improve when it comes to both tracking the ball downfield and avoiding costly drops. But the upside is incredible. Williams can dominate in the contested-catch game, showing impressive body control and the ability to attack the ball at its highest point. He might have been further along as a receiver were he not used so much as a wildcat QB/gadget player, but it's tough to blame TCU considering the production. The playmaking ability we saw there should translate well in terms of physicality, elusiveness, and creativity after the catch. Williams can be a contributor with manufactured touches right away. There's lots of potential if his new coaching staff can help develop the finer points of his game.

Dan Wilkins is theScore's senior NFL writer.