Wide Receiver Rankings ahead of the 2024 NFL Draft
My newest and largest big board of the year is out now. I shared my top 200 players in the 2024 NFL Draft, and now I'll be releasing my positional rankings for each position. Arguably, the deepest position group this year is WR. The class has talent for just about any WR need a team […]
My newest and largest big board of the year is out now. I shared my top 200 players in the 2024 NFL Draft, and now I'll be releasing my positional rankings for each position.
Arguably, the deepest position group this year is WR. The class has talent for just about any WR need a team could have, and it's deep enough for teams to attack at just about any time in the draft.
Below are my top 30 WRs in this talented class, all of whom earned a top 200 grade for me in this year's draft class.
2024 NFL Draft WR Rankings
1. Marvin Harrison Jr., Ohio State
2. Rome Odunze, Washington
3. Malik Nabers, LSU
4. Brian Thomas Jr., LSU
5. Xavier Worthy, Texas
While Texas WR Xavier Worthy was in headlines everywhere after he ran the fastest 40-yard dash in the history of the NFL Scouting Combine, many seem to be finding a way to use it against him as a prospect. You see many use phrases such as "There's more to playing WR than running a fast 40" or "Why would we draft John Ross 2.0?" To that, I say I can't agree more, so I guess it's a good thing Worthy is so much more than that.
To anyone that has watched Worthy's tape there was no question that he would crush the 40. He possesses both short speed and long speed and uses it to win routes quickly, as well as stretching the defense by forcing safeties to drop deep to respect his speed. Worthy has the ability to play on the outside as a Z WR and in the slot as a Y. If he lands with an innovative offensive mind, Worthy could hit the road (literally) running at the NFL level and will give NFL defense nightmares for years to come.
6. Troy Franklin, Texas
7. Keon Coleman, Florida State
8. Adonai Mitchell, Texas
9. Xavier Legette, South Carolina
10. Ladd McConkey, Georgia
11. Jermaine Burton, Alabama
There's no question how talented Alabama WR Jermaine Burton is. Burton is an excellent route runner who knows just how to use his speed and footwork to win at all three levels. If teams choose to put CBs in press coverage on Burton, he tends to make them pay off the snap and can be a real weapon at the NFL level. He seems to lack the mindset to be a willing blocker in the run game, which could limit his snap count early on.
Burton would be higher on this list if I was just considering his talent, but he also comes with some clear character concerns that have to be accounted for. Some of those concerns being his attempting to strike a female Tennessee fan during a field storm after an Alabama loss. It seems to be telling that he attended two juggernauts in college football in Georgia and Alabama, and there haven't been many, if any, people from either university who have come out defending Burton's character.
12. Roman Wilson, Michigan
13. Ricky Pearsall, Florida
14. Ja'Lynn Polk, Washington
15. Javon Baker, UCF
16. Devontez Walker, North Carolina
17. Brenden Rice, USC
18. Ainias Smith, Texas A&M
If I had to guess, Texas A&M WR Ainias Smith being this high is probably the biggest shock for many of you reading this list. But as this cycle has gone on and I've watched more of Smith's film, I've grown to like him more and more as a prospect. Smith spent time at WR and RB in college for the Aggies and ended his career with 180 catches for 2,407 receiving yards, 19 receiving touchdowns as well as adding 405 rushing yards, and four rushing touchdowns.
His best collegiate season as a WR came in 2023, where he set career highs as a WR with 53 catches and 795 yards. But his best overall season came in 2020 (sophomore season), where he best displayed his dual-threat ability, recording 293 rushing yards and four touchdowns on 49 carries. As well as adding 43 catches for 564 yards and six touchdowns (career-high). I believe Smith can be a dynamic pass catcher in the slot or out of the backfield at the NFL level, and with the NFL's new kickoff format, he is one of the most intriguing kick return options in this year's draft class.
