Best and Worst Landings Spots for Top WRs from 2025 NFL Draft

The top of the 2025 wide receiver class is built differently than recent groups, which creates an interesting tapestry to how the draft itself could play out once the first round begins.

In three of the last four classes, two or more wide receivers heard their names called among the top 10 picks. In two of the last five, no wide receiver went higher than 12th overall.

The incoming crop looks like it has a potential top-10 option followed by a handful of targets who could very easily find themselves outside of the top 15-20 depending on how the board falls.

Currently, the Bleacher Report Scouting Department has six wide receivers ranked among its top 50 prospects. Situation and fit matter when it comes to where each could and should fall, though not every incoming prospect will land in an the ideal situation.

With those six wide receivers in mind, plus the draft's wild card, B/R identifies where each would flourish or flounder.

Tetairoa McMillan, Arizona

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Best Fit: Carolina Panthers

Arizona's Tetairoa McMillan is the unicorn among this year's draft class, because he's the only pure wide receiver ranked among top 20 prospects. Furthermore, he's a legitimate X-receiver, with position versatility, based on his 6'4", 219-pound frame.

Some NFL teams will view him as a primary outside threat because of his size, body control and uncanny ability to work down the sidelines. Others may envision a power slot, who can physically overwhelm smaller defensive backs or safeties.

For the Carolina Panthers, McMillan can immediately take over as the team's No. 1 wide receiver, primarily as the squad's starting X, with complementary pieces around him in Adam Thielen and Xavier Legette.

Conversely, the New York Jets will likely be a run-first team with Justin Fields behind center. Despite needing anther quality target, Gang Green already has their WR1 in Garrett Wilson.

Worst Fit: New York Jets

Matthew Golden, Texas

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Best Fit: Dallas Cowboys

Texans' Matthew Golden consistently worked his way up the rankings throughout the evaluation process, to the point where's he's the B/R Scouting Department's WR2.

Golden made the most of lone season as part of the Longhorns program. The transfer set career highs after arriving from the Houston Cougars, with 58 receptions for 987 yards and nine touchdowns. The 21-year-old prospect is a crisp and explosive route-runner who plays bigger than his 5'11", 191-pound frame indicates.

The wide receiver's 4.29-second 40-yard dash speed is certainly intriguing as well.

In a best-case scenario, Golden remains in-state after the Dallas Cowboys select him with the 12th overall pick so he and CeeDee Lamb can from a dynamic receiving duo. The Denver Broncos are another team in need in another receiving threat, though quarterback Bo Nix doesn't necessarily have the arm talent to consistently take advantage of Golden's downfield playmaking ability.

Worst Fit: Denver Broncos

Tre Harris, Ole Miss

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Best Fit: Kansas City Chiefs

When assessing Ole Miss wide receiver Tre Harris, two things must be immediately taken into account.

First, Harris has the natural tools to succeed at the next level. He's a 6'2", 205-pound target who plays a physical brand of football in beating the jam, through his routes and after the catch.

Second, the Rebels offense doesn't translate all that well to the professional game. It's often oversimplified, which limited Harris' route tree and release package.

However, the Kansas City Chiefs coaching staff is as good as any team in the league at scheming around what a player does well compared to where he struggles. The Chiefs have yet to find a true No. 1 wide receiver. Harris could fit the bill.

In contrast, Harris is not the caliber of route-runner to thrive in Sean McVay's scheme with the Los Angeles Rams, where they may have moved on from Cooper Kupp but can still rely on Puka Nacua and the newly-signed Davante Adams.

Worst Fit: Los Angeles Rams

Emeka Egbuka, Ohio State

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Best Fit: Houston Texans

The Cincinnati Bengals just went all-out to retain Ja'Marr Chase and Tee Higgins. In Chase's case, his particular success is due, in part, to his rapport with quarterback Joe Burrow. Burrow wanted his favorite target and the organization obliged in the 2021 NFL draft.

While that's an ideal case, it's interesting that more teams don't try to pair their young quarterbacks with their favorite collegiate targets if the opportunity presents itself.

Emeka Egbuka certainly thrived when C.J. Stroud was Ohio State's quarterback. The receiver's best season on campus came during Stroud's final collegiate campaign. Now, Egbuka can be the reliable threat out of the slot that the Texans don't necessarily have because of Tank Dell's injury history.

The Green Bay Packers need a wide receiver, too, but they specifically require someone to be the X. Egbuka has primarily been a slot target, while Jayden Reed has been the Packers' best option over the last two seasons and also spends a lot of time working from the slot.

Worst Fit: Green Bay Packers

Luther Burden III, Missouri

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Best Fit: Washington Commanders

Entering this season, Missouri's Luther Burden III was viewed as a potential top-five-to-10-caliber prospect. The season didn't work out quite the way he hoped. Thus, his standing is nearly as much about value as fit.

Burden does have first-round talent. His 2023 tape shows a player every bit as good as Malik Nabers and Brian Thomas Jr. when the LSU Tigers played against Missouri.

Jayden Daniels was also on the field that day.

The Washington Commanders have already acquired Deebo Samuel via trade, but general manager Adam Peters shouldn't stop there. Burden can immediately fill the slot receiver role alongside Terry McLaurin and Samuel.

While Washington doesn't pick until later in the first round, Burden is good enough to warrant a selection on the draft's first day. If he were to slide into Day 2, disappointment would likely set in, even with the top pick of the second round.

The Cleveland Browns still have too much uncertainty at quarterback for Burden to be excited if he fell to them.

Worst Fit: Cleveland Browns

Elic Ayomanor, Stanford

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Best Fit: Las Vegas Raiders

Elic Ayomanor worked in anonymity most of the 2024 season despite being one of the nation's best wide receivers because the Stanford Cardinal managed only three wins.

Ayomanor proved to be a bright spot as a physical target with outstanding body control and ball skills. The Canada native presents an outstanding athletic profile, with a 9.78 relative athletic score, according to Kent Lee Platte.

The 2023 Jon Cornish Trophy winner (for top Canadian playing NCAA football) burst onto the season with 13 receptions for 294 yards and three touchdowns against the Colorado Buffaloes in Deion Sanders' first season at the helm.

The Las Vegas Raiders can give him Ayomanor an opportunity to be featured more often since they lack a true WR1. Granted, tight end Brock Bowers is the team's best offensive weapon. But veteran quarterback Geno Smith knows how to utilize big, physically gifted wide receivers.

The New Orleans Saints are looking for another weapon as well. But Chris Olave is already the top target there, and Derek Carr doesn't have the overall throwing ability to take full advantage of Ayomanor's skill set.

Worst Fit: New Orleans Saints

Travis Hunter, Colorado

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Best Fit: New England Patriots

Colorado's Travis Hunter is included as a bonus because he hasn't been shy about his intentions to continue playing on both sides of the ball.

"I'm going to play both," Hunter told reporters at the NFL Scouting Combine. "That's not my job to figure it out. I like to play both sides of the ball. If they give me the opportunity to play both sides of the ball, I'm going to play both sides of the ball."

Basically, Hunter needs to go somewhere that's completely open to the possibility while having needs at both positions.

The New England Patriots own a top-four pick. He'd immediately enter the lineup as a tremendous bookend to fellow cornerback Christian Gonzalez while also becoming the best wide receiver on the roster.

While the Jacksonville Jaguars also own a top-five pick and need to upgrade their secondary after finishing dead last in pass defense a year ago, Hunter's opportunities offensively would be limited because Brian Thomas Jr. has already established himself as the team's WR1. The organization also invested pretty heavily in Gabe Davis and Dyami Brown.

Worst Fit: Jacksonville Jaguars