Scouting wide receivers is basically an exercise in lying to yourself until the tape forces you to be honest. We see a 6'4" frame and think "MegaCalvin," or we see a 4.38 forty and immediately start dreaming of Tyreek Hill. But the 2025 nfl draft wide receiver rankings are a different beast entirely. It’s not a class defined by one "generational" freak like Marvin Harrison Jr. was. Instead, it’s a bunch of high-floor technicians and massive human beings who might actually be better in the pros than they were on Saturday afternoons.
Honestly, if you're looking for a consensus, you won't find one. One scout will tell you Tetairoa McMillan is the clear WR1 because you simply can't coach that kind of height. The next guy will swear Luther Burden III is the second coming of Deebo Samuel.
Here is the truth about where these guys actually stand as we head toward April.
The Big Two: McMillan vs. Burden
It’s a classic "size vs. playmaking" debate.
Tetairoa McMillan (Arizona) is a giant. Standing nearly 6'5", he’s the kind of receiver who makes cornerbacks look like they’re playing a different sport. He’s not a burner—don't expect a sub-4.4 forty—but his ball skills are stupidly good. He led the FBS in contested catches over the last two years for a reason. He just boxes people out like an NBA power forward. If a quarterback is in trouble, they just chuck it toward his zip code and he usually comes down with it.
Then you have Luther Burden III (Missouri).
Burden is built like a running back. He’s thick, he’s explosive, and he is a nightmare to tackle in the open field. Some people got down on him because Missouri’s offense looked a bit clunky in 2024 with injuries to Brady Cook, but the talent hasn't gone anywhere. He forced 30 missed tackles on just 61 catches last year. That’s a video game stat. He’s primarily a slot guy right now, but he has the "dog" in him to win on the outside if a creative coordinator moves him around.
Why Emeka Egbuka Is the Safest Bet in the Draft
If you want a guy who won't get you fired, it’s Emeka Egbuka.
The Ohio State machine just keeps churning these guys out. Egbuka isn't as flashy as Garrett Wilson or Chris Olave, but he’s probably more polished than both were at this stage. He left Columbus as the school's all-time leader in receptions and yards. Think about the names he passed to get that record.
He’s a "7/11" receiver—always open. His understanding of zone coverage is basically PhD-level. He finds the soft spot, sits down, and catches everything. He might not be a perennial All-Pro, but he’s going to have 80 catches for 1,000 yards for a decade and nobody will notice until the season is over. He’s the ultimate high-floor prospect.
The Speed Seekers and the Risky Bets
Speed is the one thing NFL GMs can't help themselves around.
- Matthew Golden (Texas): This guy is a rocket. After transferring from Houston, he became the deep threat the Longhorns needed. He’s one of the few guys in this class who can legitimately claim sub-4.3 speed. He’s more than just a track guy, though; his kick return ability and wiggle after the catch make him a multi-purpose weapon.
- Tre Harris (Ole Miss): Harris is the "forgotten" man sometimes, but the Los Angeles Chargers sure didn't forget him when they grabbed him in the second round. He averaged over 100 yards per game in the SEC. That doesn't happen by accident. He’s a big-bodied target who plays with a lot of physical nastiness.
- Isaiah Bond (Texas): Bond is polarizing. He’s fast, sure, but he’s thin. There are legitimate concerns about whether he can handle press coverage from NFL cornerbacks who are going to try to bully him at the line of scrimmage. He’s a "scheme dependent" player—you need to give him free releases to let that speed eat.
The Evan Stewart Conundrum
We have to talk about Evan Stewart.
Coming out of high school, he was the guy. The five-star, the No. 1 recruit. His time at Texas A&M was a mess because that whole program was a mess. He moved to Oregon to find stability, and while he had some massive games (like that 149-yard explosion against Ohio State), he decided to stay for his senior year in 2025.
Wait, why does that matter for 2025 rankings? Because his "return to school" shifted the entire landscape. He was a projected first-rounder who decided he wasn't done. It thinned out the top of this class, which is why guys like Matthew Golden and Tre Harris saw their stock soar. Stewart is betting on himself to be the WR1 in 2026, but his absence this year left a void that teams are scrambling to fill with "projection" picks.
What This Means for Your Team
This isn't the 2024 class. You aren't getting a Marvin Harrison Jr. or a Malik Nabers who looks like a superstar on Day 1.
Instead, the 2025 nfl draft wide receiver rankings represent a "choose your own adventure" style of drafting. Need a red-zone threat? You take McMillan. Need a YAC monster? You go Burden. Need a reliable chain-mover? Egbuka is your man.
The depth is where the value is. You can find starters in the third and fourth rounds this year because the gap between the No. 4 receiver and the No. 12 receiver isn't actually that big. It’s all about the fit.
Actionable Insights for Draft Day:
- Look for the "Big Slot": Teams are moving away from tiny speedsters in favor of guys like Burden who can break tackles.
- Value the Records: Don't overthink Egbuka. Production at Ohio State is the most reliable predictor of NFL success we have right now.
- Watch the Medicals: Several top names, including Tre Harris, dealt with nagging injuries in 2024. Their combine medical checks will determine if they stay in the top 50.
- Size Matters Again: After a few years of "small and fast" being the trend, the success of guys like Drake London has made McMillan a top-10 lock.