NFL groups took benefit of an distinctive class of playmakers a yr in the past, with eight of the league’s 32 first-round alternatives used on vast receivers and tight ends.
Anticipate roughly half that complete within the 2025 NFL draft with Penn State tight finish Tyler Warren the one prospect at both place prone to generate a top-10 decide.
A good finish being chosen earlier than the primary vast receiver within the NFL Draft is a rarity in itself, having occurred solely 5 occasions up to now 20 years.
However that is to not say there aren’t future NFL stars from this group. In actual fact, I see a baker’s dozen worthy of top-100 consideration, with all 13 ranked and graded under.
2025 NFL Draft WR and TE rankings
1. Tyler Warren, TE, Penn State (6-6, 261)
Prospect grade: High 10
Finest-case comp: Rob Gronkowski
Finest group match: New York Jets
Clearly essentially the most gifted pass-catcher within the 2025 NFL draft, Warren was understandably the point of interest of Penn State’s march to the School Soccer Playoffs final season and tasks as a Day 1 standout within the NFL, as effectively. Coming into final yr, Warren’s distinctive mixture of measurement, power, agility and memorable physique management already had him incomes early first-round grades from scouts.
And when his statistics exploded from 34 catches for 422 yards and 7 scores in 2023 to main the Large Ten with 104 grabs for 1,233 yards and eight touchdowns this previous yr, Warren emerged as one of many few true blue-chip prospects of this class. There are few tight ends in right now’s NFL who provide Warren’s all-around sport, warranting comparability to a similarly-sized and proficient future Corridor of Famer in Gronk.
2. Luther Burden III, WR, Missouri (5-11, 205)
Prospect grade: First spherical
Finest-case comp: Deebo Samuel
Finest group match: Pittsburgh Steelers
Provided that his statistics plummeted in 2024 (61 catches for 676 yards and 6 touchdowns in 12 video games) after a breakout sophomore marketing campaign (86-1,212-9 in 13), it’s simple to know why reward has been sluggish in coming for Burden. Nonetheless, the tape reveals a dynamic playmaker constrained by the restrictions of others at Missouri, not a one-year marvel.
Sporting a compact, virtually RB-like body, Burden possesses superb quickness, {smooth} acceleration to assault in any respect ranges of the sector, in addition to power, grit and imaginative and prescient to persistently generate yards after the catch. A former five-star recruit with the athleticism and competitiveness to suit into each NFL offense, Burden is the lone first-round “lock” of this yr’s wideout class.
3. Colston Loveland, TE, Michigan (6-5, 245)
Prospect grade: First spherical
Finest-case comp: Zach Ertz
Finest group match: Los Angeles Chargers
Michigan’s fame as a run-heavy offense could lead on some to stereotype Loveland as a conventional all-purpose tight finish. In actuality, he is extra of a “large receiver,” who makes use of his peak, lengthy arms and sneaky athleticism to overwhelm defenders within the brief to intermediate zones. He’s extra fast and artistic as a route runner than refined — improvising at occasions — however as soon as he develops a rapport together with his quarterback, Loveland ought to emerge as an actual power within the NFL.
A real junior who has flashed future NFL expertise since stepping onto the sector in Ann Arbor, Loveland caught 117 passes for 1,466 yards and 11 touchdowns for Michigan — numbers that might have been a lot increased had he been the point of interest of the offense.
4. Tre Harris, WR, Mississippi (6-3, 210)
Prospect grade: High 50
Finest-case comp: DK Metcalf
Finest group match: New England Patriots
Given his measurement and pace, Harris is arguably essentially the most bodily gifted wideout on this class. Nonetheless, on account of issues about how his sport (and sturdiness) translate to the NFL, he’s prone to be among the many extra polarizing prospects on this checklist. Like loads of larger receivers within the NFL, Harris is a long-strider who can get behind the protection on vertical routes and destroy undersized cornerbacks on brief throws, bullying opponents together with his measurement and power. Nonetheless, he lacks the clear footwork for extra intricate intermediate patterns, struggling to realize immediate separation on double-moves.
Harris started his school profession at Louisiana Tech, setting profession highs in receptions (65) and landing grabs (10) in 2022 earlier than hauling in 114 passes for two,015 yards and 15 touchdowns over two injury-marred years at Ole Miss. If groups are glad together with his medical analysis, Harris might sneak into the primary spherical.
5. Emeka Egbuka, WR, Ohio State (6-1, 205)
Prospect grade: High 50
Finest-case comp: Jaxson Smith-Njigba
Finest group match: Kansas Metropolis Chiefs
Arguably the most secure of this yr’s wideout prospects, Egbuka is a silky-smooth route runner who pairs gentle toes, physique management and tender arms to be a quarterback’s greatest buddy within the brief to intermediate zones. Although he might run effectively in exercises, on the sector, Egbuka wins with effectivity and quickness, fairly than explosive pace, probably maintaining him within the slot, the place he excelled with the Buckeyes, hauling in a mixed 24 touchdowns over the previous three seasons.
Ohio State’s current monitor report of manufacturing high-end NFL receivers is kind of actually in positive arms with Egbuka, whose athletic profile and elegance are paying homage to one other current Buckeye standout and former teammate.
6. Tetairoa McMillan, WR, Arizona (6-4, 212)
Prospect grade: High 50
Finest-case comp: Tee Higgins
Finest group match: Cincinnati Bengals (as a possible Higgins alternative)
A highlight-reel hero providing a singular mixture of measurement, {smooth} acceleration and savvy to haul in 26 touchdowns in simply 37 profession video games on the school degree, the Hawaiian-born McMillan seems destined to unfold the aloha within the NFL. He was featured at Arizona, exhibiting the soccer IQ to play in and out on the subsequent degree, alternately gliding by unsuspecting perimeter cornerbacks together with his build-up pace and boxing out undersized nickel cornerbacks from the slot together with his physique management and large catch radius.
That stated, McMillan is not persistently the sum of his components, failing to play as bodily with the ball within the air as his imposing measurement suggests and dropping seven passes (in keeping with PFF) in 2024, alone. Whereas undeniably gifted, there’s a passivity to McMillan’s sport that may make him a polarizing prospect amongst scouts. I like him higher as a complementary menace fairly than as a real No. 1.
7. Isaiah Bond, WR, Texas (5-11, 180)
Prospect grade: Second spherical
Finest-case comp: Jaylen Waddle
Finest group match: Tennessee Titans
Bond may be the aptly-named prospect of this yr’s pass-catcher crop as he’s a high-upside funding that might repay massively within the NFL. The traits are plain with Bond prone to show certainly one of this yr’s exercise wonders. He’s lightning-quick and accelerates in a flash, possessing the flexibility to show a easy dump-off right into a spotlight reel landing. For all of his traits, nevertheless, Bond not often paid off in three years on the school degree, catching a complete of 99 passes for a complete of 1,428 yards and simply 10 touchdowns — simply the bottom numbers amongst vast receivers on this article.
After transferring from Alabama to Texas this previous season, Bond was used largely as a decoy by Steve Sarkisian and the Longhorns, proving practically invisible within the postseason, catching simply two passes for a complete of 30 yards towards Georgia, Arizona State and Ohio State, respectively. Bond might require some endurance. He’s at present a greater athlete than nuanced receiver, however his upside warrants an early-round gamble.
8. Elic Ayomanor, WR, Stanford (6-2, 210)
Prospect grade: Second spherical
Finest-case comp: Davante Adams
Finest group match: Carolina Panthers
Whereas NFL draft followers and the media fawn over 40-yard sprint occasions and spectacular field scores, scouts understand that savvy route-running, physique management and catch radius are the traits that really translate to the professional sport. In these areas, Ayomanor ranks amongst this yr’s most underrated prospects, no matter place. The Stanford product wasn’t surrounded by the supporting forged that most of the different pass-catchers on this checklist benefited from, leading to considerably pedestrian numbers (125 receptions for 1,844 yards and 12 touchdowns) in two seasons of motion. Nonetheless, the precocious redshirt sophomore reveals a sophisticated sport that’s simple to venture into a professional scheme.
Ayomanor performs quick for a much bigger (and youthful) receiver, exhibiting the crisp footwork of an NFL veteran to create area, in addition to the core flexibility to contort in area and powerful arms to pluck past his body. I imagine he’ll wind up a greater, extra productive NFL receiver than among the flashier abilities chosen forward of him.
9. Jack Bech, WR, TCU (6-1, 214)
Prospect grade: Second spherical
Finest-case comp: DeAndre Hopkins
Finest group match: Seattle Seahawks
Profitable MVP of the Senior Bowl earlier this month has lastly given Bech (pronounced “Besh”) the nationwide recognition that his expertise deserves. Whereas many draft lovers are simply changing into accustomed to Bech, scouts have lengthy been followers of his pro-ready sport — courting again to 2021, when he led LSU with 43 receptions as a real freshman.
With the Tigers understandably prioritizing future first-round picks Malik Nabers and Brian Thomas Jr. in 2022, Bech later transferred to TCU and reminded the nation of his expertise, exploding for 62 receptions for 1,034 yards and 9 touchdowns after an injury-plagued 2023 marketing campaign in Fort Price. Bech lacks elite go off the snap, however the former prep basketball star performs quicker than you’d suppose and bins out with the very best of them, exhibiting the stability and core power to bully smaller corners and glorious arms to win above the rim.
10. Mason Taylor, TE, LSU (6-5, 250)
Prospect grade: Second spherical
Finest-case comp: Noah Fant
Finest group match: Philadelphia Eagles
The NFL has grown accustomed to proficient pass-catchers popping out of LSU, as among the league’s greatest vast receivers — like Justin Jefferson, Ja’Marr Chase and Brian Thomas Jr. — all hailing from this system. This yr, LSU’s prime ability place expertise is Taylor, the son of Corridor of Fame edge rusher Jason Taylor. Although he performs a special place than his well-known father, the youthful Taylor possesses most of the attributes which might be clearly NFL-caliber.
He strikes with a uncommon grace for a person of his measurement, simply accelerating and altering instructions. Additional, he has among the greatest arms of any participant on this class, dropping only one move (in keeping with PFF) in 83 targets this previous season. Furthermore, he is nonetheless rising into his body, getting into the draft as a baby-faced 20-year-old. Taylor is already a top quality participant, however the group that invests a Day 2 choice on him is banking on his upside.
11. Tez Johnson, WR, Oregon (5-09, 156)
Prospect grade: Day 2
Finest-case comp: Tutu Atwell
Finest group match: Dallas Cowboys
The inventive alignments and movement utilized by right now’s NFL playcallers have primarily widened the NFL discipline, permitting smaller, faster receivers to assault area. Relative “mighty mites” like Tank Dell (5-10, 165), Tutu Atwell (5-09, 165) and KJ Hamler (5-09, 178) have turn out to be big-play specialists for his or her respective NFL groups over the previous 5 years, and Johnson affords an analogous mix of agility and acceleration.
Johnson started his school profession at Troy — catching 141 passes for 1,809 yards and eight touchdowns — however exploded at Oregon the previous two seasons, totaling 169 receptions for two,080 yards and 20 scores in simply 26 video games. If surrounded by a few table-setters at receiver on the skin, Johnson profiles as a speedy slot goal capable of mop up manufacturing on fast possibility routes and bubble screens.
12. Savion Williams, WR, TCU (6-4, 225)
Prospect grade: Day 2
Finest-case comp: Laviska Shenault
Finest group match: New Orleans Saints
Groups in search of a mid-round lottery ticket will likely be particularly intrigued by Williams — a Swiss Military knife who combines imposing measurement, spectacular total athleticism and flashes of sticky arms. He performed all types of roles over his 5 seasons at TCU, lining up at cut up finish, Wildcat quarterback, operating again, fullback and kick returner in 2024, alone, whereas placing up his greatest total season with 933 all-purpose yards and 12 touchdowns (six receiving, six speeding).
Enjoying so many positions, nevertheless, has restricted Williams’ pro-readiness — he at present profiles as extra of a jack-of-all-trades, master-of-none sort whose most fast affect may be felt on particular groups. He was charged with eight drops in 2024 (greater than anybody else on this article), for instance. However there are catches (see each of his touchdowns towards Central Florida) that counsel his greatest soccer lies forward.
13. Jalen Royals, WR, Utah State (5-11, 210)
Prospect grade: Third spherical
Finest-case comp: Diontae Johnson
Finest group match: Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Royals proved with a powerful week of Senior Bowl observe that he’s over the foot harm that abruptly ended his 2024 season, making him a practical candidate to earn a top-100 choice this spring. He actually has the manufacturing to again up this projection. He led the Mountain West Convention with 15 touchdowns (on 71 grabs for 1,080 yards) in 2023 and was on tempo to shatter these numbers this previous season (55 catches for 834 yards and 6 touchdowns) earlier than happening in Week 7.
Whereas some have questions on Royals’ degree of competitors — maybe overlooking that he grew up within the talent-rich state of Georgia — the tape reveals a savvy route runner who pairs quickness and spatial consciousness to persistently create area for quarterbacks to feed him the ball. He might show to be a mid-round steal and Day 1 starter out of the slot.
My favorites of the remaining
- Gunnar Helm, TE, Texas (6-5, 250
- Jayden Higgins, WR, Iowa State (6-4, 217)
- Elijah Arroyo, TE, Miami (6-5, 251)
- JaCorey Brooks, WR, Louisville (6-2, 191)
- Kyle Williams, WR, Washington State (5-10, 182)
- Terrance Ferguson, TE, Oregon (6-5, 245)
- Ricky White III, WR, UNLV (6-1, 179)
- Oronde Gadsden II, TE, Syracuse (6-4, 247)
2025 NFL Draft Prospect Rankings
Rob Rang is an NFL Draft analyst for FOX Sports activities. He has been overlaying the NFL Draft for greater than 20 years, with work at FOX, Sports activities Illustrated, CBSSports.com, USA At this time, Yahoo, NFL.com and NFLDraftScout.com, amongst others. He additionally works as a scout with the BC Lions of the Canadian Soccer League. Comply with him on X @RobRang.
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