Which premier pass-catchers will your QB be hitting up next fall?
After what many called a "generational" WR class in 2024, it's safe to say a drop-off in talent for 2025 was all but inevitable. However, there are still plenty of promising names set to hear their names called this year- and a handful with the potential to create a legacy on par with the top receivers in the league today.
Tetairoa McMillan-JR- Arizona
Background: McMillan seemed predestined for great things in the world of football, coming from Servite High to Arizona as their highest-rated recruit ever. Once there, he proved the hype was real time and time again, showcasing a bond with high school teammate Noah Fifita on the way to over 1400 yards and a 2nd team All-American berth. He has continued on a similar track this year, sitting at 6th in the FBS with 684 yards and 4 TDs at the time of writing.
The Good:
- Elite size, hands, and body control give him great odds in any contested catch situation
- Has the ability to completely take over a game (see 304y 4 TD performance vs New Mexico)
-Runs routes at a high level for his size, allowing him to separate against all but the best college DBs
-Has the ability to line up on the outside or in the slot, setting him up for YAC versus man or zone coverages
The Bad:
-Occasionally plays too tall through his routes, especially on hitches
-Prone to overusing his physicality at times instead of winning in other ways
-Run blocking could use refinement at the next level
Outlook:
McMillan's size already makes him a weapon in any offense, but it's his route-running and intellectual savvy that make him a truly promising talent. Arizona has struggles recently due to not having a true WR2 opposite McMillan, but that should absolutely change in a NFL WR room. Overall, I view McMillan as a prototypical X receiver who can improve an offense both by himself and by creating extra chances for his teammates.
Grade: High First Round
Ideal Team Fit: New England Patriots
Tre Harris- SR- Ole Miss
Background: Coming out of Ovey Comaux High School as a QB and heading to Louisiana Tech, Harris took some time to develop, but burst onto the scene in 2022 with almost 1000 yards and a first team C-USA berth. After transferring to Ole Miss following that year, he quickly became QB Jaxson Dart's favorite weapon, showcasing his skills in the loaded SEC conference. He got out to a red-hot start on 2024 as well, leading the CFB with 987 yards through just 7 games at the time of writing.
The Good:
-Adequate size and build for either the slot or the outside, measuring at 6'2 and 205 pounds
-Elite jump-ball skills and ability to adjust make him almost unbeatable on deep balls and in the red zone
-As stated above, consistently elite production is nice for any team to lean on
- Able to shrug off defenders and keep his feet moving in the open field for extra yards
The Bad:
-Route running is fine but not amazing, which sometimes makes it harder on his QB to find him open
-Occasionally loses possession of the football in jump-ball situations
-Will be a 23 year old rookie
Outlook:
Some tend to label Harris as a "one-trick pony" when it comes to his game, but does that matter when that trick is so consistently good? In 2024, Harris has definitely improved his route-running and YAC to go with his deep-ball skills, showing his elite production is no accident. Overall, I think Harris can be a decent WR1 or elite WR2 in a well-rounded offense geared toward his strengths.
Grade: Mid-Low Round 1
Ideal Team Fit: Detroit Lions
Luther Burden III- JR- Missouri
Background: Burden lived up to his 5-star expectations early on at Missouri, using his multipurpose skillset to score TDs through the air, on the ground, and on a punt return. After the following season, Burden earned the label as the top WR of the class, racking up over 1200 yards on the way to a 1st team all-SEC berth. While he has fallen a little short of the hype in his third year, the threat of him taking it to the house every play has made the Missouri offense must-watch football.
The Good:
-Elite explosiveness and straight-line speed helps him separate from the defense early and maintain the space
-Solid frame, balance, and shiftiness make him almost impossible to corral without multiple defenders in the area
-Possesses big-time versatility in the mold of Deebo Samuel or Jayden Reed
-Willing and able blocker in the run game
The Bad:
-Size concern at 5'11 likely restricts him to the slot for a majority of NFL snaps
- Hands could stand to improve slightly
-Struggled to produce versus press coverage, especially this season.
Outlook:
Burden's upside is obvious to see, as a guys who can make plays for your team in basically every way imaginable. While the size is a slight issue for me, it still feels like it's hard to go wrong by just getting him a variety of touches in a game. As long as he lands in a situation where the coaches can utilize him effectively, Burden can easily become much more than just a gadget player, and end up as the crown jewel of a NFL offense
Grade: Low 1st round
Ideal Team Fit: Pittsburgh Steelers
Tez Johnson- SR- Oregon
Background: Coming out of Pinson Valley High a few years behind adoptive brother Bo Nix, Johnson initially started his career at Troy, where he steadily improved over two seasons as their WR1. After reuniting with Nix at Oregon, however, Johnson took his game to another level, going for 1182 yards and 10 TDs to boost the Ducks to an impressive 11-2 record. Johnson has again been consistently dominant in the Big 10 this year, as a big part of Oregon's undefeated season till date.
The Good:
- Exceptional speed and agility make him a constant YAC threat
-Flashes brilliant deep-ball tracking, allowing him to make plenty of highlight-reel grabs
-Has the instincts to find soft spots versus zone coverage, making it easy for QBs to find him
-Body control on balls thrown over the shoulder is a plus
The Bad:
- Much like former Duck Troy Franklin, slender build is an injury risk
- Occasionally gets thrown off his routes in traffic, losing his concentration
-Could improve slightly as a route runner
Outlook:
It's not as necessary to be a big-bodied X to succeed in the NFL in recent years, and Johnson seems poised to prove that once more. His build poses some limitations, but his speed, instincts, and hands give more than enough upside to counteract that. Overall, I think Johnson could find success as a deep threat WR2 who can beat you with his routes one play and his engine the next.
Grade: High 2nd Round
Ideal Team Fit: Denver Broncos
Emeka Egbuka- SR- Ohio State
Background: Joining the Buckeyes as the high school player of the year coming out of Washington, Egbuka has been a part of one of the greatest groups to come out of one school at one position in Ohio State's receiver core. He proved his value quickly, excelling at kick/punt returns and racking up over 1100 receiving yards in 2022. While he struggled mightily in 2023, he is back and looking as good as ever this year, creating a nice 1-2 tandem with standout freshman Jeremiah Smith.
The Good:
-The most polished player covered yet in terms of nuances to route-running and getting open in zone
-While he doesn't sometimes show it, possesses legit 4'3 speed that makes him a weapon going deep and for YAC
-Very high IQ prospect who excels both in the classroom and on the field
-Consistent hands over the middle of the field set him up for a lot of short to mid range completions
The Bad:
-Lack of length sometimes necessitates extra accuracy to find him when unable to separate
-Similarly, not particularly good at winning contested catches versus taller DBs
-Injuries have severely limited him in the past
Outlook:
It feels like every good NFL team these days has a receiver much like Egbuka, who does the dirty work play in and play out to get the football to the endzone. He might get overlooked by some for his slight frame, but his value as a consistent playmaking WR2 for any team should not be underestimated in my opinion.
Grade: High 2nd Round
Ideal Team Fit: Atlanta Falcons
Xavier Restrepo- RS SR- Miami(FL)
Background:
Coming out of Deerfield Beach High in Florida, Restrepo had no shortage of offers, but was rewarded for his choice to stay home in Miami. Injuries have slowed his development somewhat, but he looks poised to have his 2nd straight 1000 yads season for the Hurricanes this season, and possibly compete for the Biletnikoff award at that. His bond with standout QB Cam Ward is a major reason why Miami remains undefeated on the season.
The Good:
- Profiles as a "QB's best friend" and a constant outlet route when plays break down
-Impressive explosiveness allows him to separate both near the line of scrimmage and deep
-Terrific body control lets him adjust well to balls thrown outside his radius
-Willing blocker in the run game
The Bad:
-Playstyle and height at just 5'10 likely limits him to the slot in the league
-Has been hampered by injuries in the past
-Press coverage does a good job of slowing him down for opposing defenses
Outlook:
Even with the influx of passing in some college offenses, it's hard to find WR prospects with the level of consistent production that Restrepo has had recently. His game tape backs this up as well, showing another polished prospect much in the mold of Chris Olave. Overall, Restrepo can easily be a productive receiver in the NFL, as long as he lands with an offense that reliably schemes him touches.
Grade: Late 2nd Rd
Ideal Team Fit: Tennessee Titans
Isaiah Bond- JR- Texas
Background:
Coming out of high school as a 4 star recruit, Bond first went to Alabama, where he steadily improved over 2 years as their deep threat WR. After transferring to be the de facto WR1 at Texas, Bond did not disappoint, racking up catches no matter which Longhorns QB was throwing him the football. He has made his game more versatile since the transfer as well, winning via his releases and route-running as well as the elite deep speed.
The Good:
- Track speed and acceleration makes him impossible to corral with a running start
- Nice shiftiness along with explosiveness sets him up for positive YAC
-Route-running has improved this season, giving him another way to beat quicker DBs
The Bad:
-While he has gotten better, still needs work as far as separating from DBs in other ways than just his agility
-At just 5'11, not really the guy you want when it comes to contested catches
- Not a natural hands catcher, sometimes using his body to reel in easy grabs
-Could stand to improve as a run blocker
Outlook:
Bond's highlight reel is as impressive as any WR on this list, using his wide skillset for big play after big play. With that said, he is still a somewhat raw prospect, and would definitely benefit from molding himself into a more versatile prospect. I think Bond can find success in the NFL, but it might take an established WR room for him to land in, where he can start in more of a gadget role.
Grade: Late 2nd Rd
Ideal Team Fit: Miami Dolphins
Elic Ayomanor-RS SO- Stanford
Background:
A rare prospect not from the States, Ayomanor hails from Canada, where he lived before moving to Deerfield Academy for academics and athletics. Starring in both football and track, he interestingly chose to attend Stanford, who do not boast a history of talented NFL WRs. After a brutal knew injury in 2022, Ayomanor bounced back in a big way in 2023, earning Freshman All-American honors from PFF and surpassing 1000 yards, a first for any Cardinal receiver in 5 years.
The Good:
-Towering 6'2 frame combined with his ball-tracking and vertical skills make him a menace in contested catch situations
-Has ability to completely take over a game versus good competition (see 294 yard performance in 2023 vs Colorado and Travis Hunter)
-Precise route-runner for his size, utilizing his catch radius to box out defenders
- Production, while very inconsistent, can somewhat be blamed on bad QB play
The Bad:
-Creates very little separation, even in one-one-one matchups
-Drops are a nagging issue on occasion
- Still limited as a route-runner despite decent ability, running a limited route tree.
Outlook:
Ayomanor's upside is obvious, as a true vertical X who is very challenging to guard vertically. However, as competition gets steeper in the NFL, Ayomanor needs to refine other aspects of his game in order to make a consistent impact week in and week out. If he can fix issues with his hands and cuts to create separation, he could easily be one of the biggest risers of 2025 as draft season rolls around.
Grade: Mid 3rd Round
Ideal Team Fit: Dallas Cowboys
Honorable Mentions:
While there wasn't space for everyone I wanted to include, here are a few more names who can certainly crack these rankings sooner rather than later. Tai Felton from Maryland is a nuanced route-runner who can also win jump balls, but his slender frame and late production are a concern. Evan Stewart possess elite speed and polished hands to go with them, but a size concern and inconsistent production have me viewing him as a one-trick pony for the time being. The Clemson Tiger Antonio Williams is a nice consistent target who separates impressively well, but a lack of great timed speed limits his upside at the next level. Finally, Squirrel White, one of my favorite WRs of the class, possesses elite quickness and YAC ability to be dangerous from the slot, but a diminutive frame raises questions about his ability to take hard hits at the next level.
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