Top 5 WRs

Another class in this draft that is seeping with talent, just not as many big names as there was in prior years. Regardless, there’s a lot of receivers that will be valued over the three days of the draft for different reasons. Some may fall lower than expected, some may go higher. Well, that’s just the draft. Let’s dive in.

5. Luther Burden. This man is higher on most people’s boards than mine, and that’s ok. The Missouri graduate made a name for himself through his twitchy, but strong frame. He is a phenomenal in contested catches, and he is extremely versatile within the scheme. He can run the ball, catch short passes, or stick to a traditional route tree. The playstyle is like Chris Olave and Kadarius Toney, guys with speed and can be placed anywhere in the offense, (Toney’s comparison seems hypothetical.) There are issues with Burden though. He is not super-fast and tends to get chased down. He also has trouble with balance, as sometimes trying to be extra-twitchy leads to misplaced footing. Finally, his route tree will need to be expanded as he makes it to the NFL, as he ran more basic routes in college.

4. Matthew Golden. Golden put everyone on notice with his 4.29 40-yard dash time. That is going to increase his stock tremendously. Golden has the obvious speedster traits. He’s got a burner, he can stretch the field vertically or horizontally, and he is deadly after the catch. He has some great hands and makes some tough hand catches with defenders draped on him. He is also a good blocker in the run game for his smaller size, but he knows how to use his speed, tempo, and change of direction to benefit him. He is going to be a threat in the NFL, but the concerns with Golden are valid. He missed some time in 2023 with a foot injury that required surgery, and some more time last year with rib injuries. His injury history, plus his smaller frame can be daunting. He also will need to improve his overall strength and blocking in the NFL, because it’s a whole new world out there. Size his hard to overcome, but his speed makes it worth it.

3. Tre Harris. I really love Tre Harris, I think he’s going to be one of the best WRs to come out of this draft. He is such a physical presence with such a wide frame, standing at 6’2, 206 lbs. He has a huge catch radius and is not afraid of any contact. His body control is something out of a museum, and his contested catch and jump ball ability is basically second to none. Not only that, but he catches with his hands, which believe it or not, is a huge thing. He accepts blocking and does better than most receivers, and he has a mentality that is hard to teach. He is just a dog that wants to fight for his team. Blocking, catching, running, whatever it may be, Harris is there. The only issues with Harris is his overall speed and beating the jam. Speed can be worked on, but he needs to be more effective off press coverage. Remaining strong in his balance working through the jam will be a challenge, but I think this guy has got it.

2. Emeka Egbuka. Egbuka has been a household name for a few years now. OSU always has a slew of talented receivers, and this year is no different. This guy is like water the way he flows. He is fluid in his movements, yet fundamental and technical. He is extremely athletic and can make grabs you would only hope your receiver could make. Let’s keep going though. He has some of the best hands in this class, he can discern coverages in real time and recognize the soft spots. He is a high IQ football player with a real competitive drive. He can make you miss after the catch, can work through traffic, and will fight for the ball. He is a special player. There are some concerns with his injuries and his smaller size, but this guy will be a bonafide starter in no time. Just watch.

1. Tetairoa McMillan. Better known as “Tet,” McMillan is seemingly the clear favorite for receivers this year. He is the biggest receiver in this year’s draft, coming in at 6’4, 219 lbs. So, there are some issues with his speed being a bigger body, and his ability to beat coverage off press, but those are things that can easily be remedied. He has the largest catch radius in the draft. He will make almost every contested catch, yes, with his hands. His ability to track the ball deep is special. His ability to do that in traffic is even more special. He has phenomenal hands and is very hard to bring down after the catch, as while he’s not a burner, he can still make you miss. He knows how to use his size against you, especially in the redzone. He is a special, special player, and any team that takes him will see why.