2025 NFL Draft wide receiver debate completely overlooks impressive talents who could defy mock draft and expert expectations
The 2025 NFL Draft class is perceived to have a weaker wide receiver group this year. Even some of the top talents like Tetairoa McMillan, Emeka Egbuka, and Luther Burden have been falling in recent mock drafts as critiques get completely out of hand due to prospect fatigue.Is this class really that bad? Or are […]
The 2025 NFL Draft class is perceived to have a weaker wide receiver group this year. Even some of the top talents like Tetairoa McMillan, Emeka Egbuka, and Luther Burden have been falling in recent mock drafts as critiques get completely out of hand due to prospect fatigue.
Is this class really that bad? Or are there actually a handful of underrated talents that should be considered much better than they are by the masses?
Our A to Z Sports team of NFL Draft analysts took a dive into some of their favorite wide receivers in the 2025 NFL Draft they have rated higher than consensus to help fans realize that there is still hope yet for the pass catchers in this class.
Kyle Williams, WR Washington State
Washington State’s Kyle Williams doesn't get nearly the level of recognition he deserves. It seems like people are starting to realize that he is worthy of being drafted in the second or third round, but I’d urge people to prepare themselves to hear his name called inside the top 40 picks. A very twitchy route runner who is a YAC machine, Williams may not be as popular as some of the players considered near the consensus top wide receiver in the class, but he's going to end up being drafted before many other favorite WR prospects. So try to not act surprised when you hear his name called early in the NFL Draft. – Destin Adams
Tai Felton, WR Maryland
Kyle Williams would be my pick, but I appreciate that Destin selected him, so I'll go with Tai Felton. Look, there was a time after the first month of games last when Felton was making his way into the top 40 picks of mock drafts for a reason. Then the Big Ten schedule hit, leading to Felton's volume and quality of targets dipping significantly.
His film still showed a twitched-up talent though. At 6-foot-1, 183 pounds, with 4.37 speed, Felton presents a unique vertical threat with slot experience. His best downfield plays should translate to a healthier, more threatening offense compared to Maryland's. And I like that he succeeded in multiple roles, proving to be someone who is a reliable playmaker adjusting to his situation as well as he could. – Ian Valentino
Tre Harris, WR Ole Miss
Tre Harris was accurately ranked in the 2025 NFL Draft class several months ago before the end of the 2024 college football season, but for some reason he continues to drop down consensus boards ahead of draft day. Following his 1000-yard explosion in just the first seven games last fall, Tre Harris soared up NFL Draft boards. Unfortunately he got injured against LSU, missing almost the entire rest of the season. At the time, only Travis Hunter (Colorado), Tetairoa McMillan (Arizona), Luther Burden (Missouri), and maybe Emeka Egbuka were considered better wide receiver prospects. It was thought by many that he could go inside the first round.
Now? He’s considered a fringe round two or three prospect for some reason, despite no new information surfacing that should incite significant doubt. Harris posted more than five yards per route run last season, three straight years over 950 total yards, and extremely impressive efficiency marks across the board. Somehow there are still a ton of doubters.
When I spoke with Harris at the NFL Combine he broke down how the complex pre and post-snap reads in the Ole Miss Rebels’ scheme that helped prepare him to be an instant-impact professional at the NFL level (as you can see in the post below). Given his incredible mix of skill, intelligence, production, and adequate athleticism Harris should be at worst the WR5 in the class, if not higher. Not just barely good enough to sneak into round two or three. – Travis May
Jaylin Noel, WR Iowa State
It's almost unbelievable to think that there are two Iowa State wide receivers projected to go very high in the 2025 NFL Draft class, a school that doesn’t have a great reputation for developing the position. While Jayden Higgins gets more love from the media side, I’m enamored with Jaylin Noel and the impact he could have at the next level. He took the typical Iowa State developmental track we have seen–an under recruited kid who steadily adds good weight to his frame while his game develops. That’s what the former three-star recruit out of Kansas City has accomplished.
When you see a player at 5-10 and 196 pounds, assumptions quickly come to mind. It’s reasonable to think that Noel is probably good after the catch, and a pretty good route runner. Both are true. What takes you off guard is how well he adjusts to the football in the air and finishes through contact. That unique skill set is pretty comparable to former Carolina Panthers great Steve Smith Sr. – Ryan Roberts
Matthew Golden, WR Texas
I know, many view Matthew Golden as a top half of the first round guy in this year's class. However, consensus belief is that he would be a fringe first-rounder (at best) in most classes. I don’t see that. I see a big play threat who can also sink his hips impressively enough to get in and out of breaks smoothly, all inside of a 6-0. 190-pound frame, paired with a set of wheels that top out at 4.29 in a laser-tested forty-yard dash. He’s my WR1 in the class if you view Hunter as a hybrid, and I don’t think it’s very close. – Rob Gregson
Tory Horton, WR Colorado State
Colorado State’s Tory Horton hasn’t gotten a lot of love in this class, but he should be getting a lot more. He suffered a knee injury early in the 2024 season that limited him to just six games in 2024, but Horton’s been a production machine over the course of his career, which started in 2020 at Nevada.
Part of the high octane 2021 Nevada offense with Carson Strong and Romeo Doubs, Horton flashed in a big way before posting back-to-back dynamite seasons with the Rams where he had over 1,000 yards and eight touchdowns each year.
Horton can attack defenders on all three levels of the field with nuance and precision. Horton also has great hands, with just 16 career drops (only one season above four drops). He is also great at the catch point, converting 24 catches on 45 contested targets, thanks to his ability to high-point the football and come down strong. He likely goes in the third or fourth round at the earliest, but he should be in the discussion to go top 50 with his ability. – Tyler Forness
Jaylin Lane, WR Virginia Tech
Kyle Williams was taken (almost twice already in this article) so I’ll flip to a different receiver in Virginia Tech’s Jaylin Lane. He’s an expected Day 3 player due to his lack of size, but he can be a dynamite player in the open field. Virginia Tech used him a lot on gadget plays but I thought his workout at the NFL Combine showed his ability to play with a full route tree and track the football downfield. Bringing legit 4.3 speed and good overall route-running to his game, Lane screams productive slot wide receiver who can earn a steady dose of targets early on in his career. – AJ Schulte
We'll be back with more NFL Draft coverage here at A to Z Sports soon! Follow me (@FF_TravisM) and A to Z Sports (@AtoZSportsNFL) on X for all the latest football news!
If you want to see why Tre Harris should still be considered a possible first round talent instead of falling down draft boards like he has in recent weeks you can find some of his best plays in the highlights video below.
