Five 2nd-Year WRs Primed to Break Out in 2025 NFL Season

The 2024 NFL draft class was loaded with talent, especially at the wide receiver position, where analysts witnessed elite breakout performances from Malik Nabers and Brian Thomas Jr.

Some, like Marvin Harrison Jr., disappointed, but hope remains.

After a full offseason as an NFL receiver, expectations change, as do player trajectories. Today, we have five wide receivers from last year's draft who are primed to break out in 2025.

Ricky Pearsall, San Francisco 49ers

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Ricky Pearsall was a surprise first-round pick in the 2024 draft. Before his rookie season could get off the ground, he was a victim of an attempted robbery and shooting. This kept him off the field until October.

Pearsall played in 11 games and started four of them. He accounted for 400 yards, three touchdowns and 31 receptions. The 24-year-old showcased flashes of why he was a first-round selection. His best game came against the Detroit Lions in Week 17, when he caught eight passes for 141 yards and one touchdown.

Pearsall is an instinctive, nuanced route-runner who understands the value of getting open quickly, and his quarterback, Brock Purdy, is a timing-based passer. Needless to say, Pearsall's skill set meshes well with Purdy's style of play and strengths.

Fast forward to this offseason, and the 49ers traded do-it-all weapon Deebo Samuel to the Washington Commanders. With Brandon Aiyuk returning from a torn ACL, there will be more onus placed on Pearsall to step in early and be an impact player. He runs crisp routes against man coverage and is a space finder against zone defenses. He is an underrated year-two wide receiver breakout candidate to keep an eye on in 2025.

Roman Wilson, Pittsburgh Steelers

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Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Roman Wilson underwent a frustrating rookie season because of multiple injuries that cut his season short. Wilson suffered a high-ankle sprain at the beginning of last year's training camp before a Week 6 hamstring injury landed him on IR.

He entered the 2024 draft with national championship pedigree and shined at the Senior Bowl. Even getting the best of future Super Bowl champion and rising star corner, Quinyon Mitchell, one-on-one rep to end practice.

Wilson was expected to bring explosiveness and route running to the WR2 position opposite George Pickens (now with the Dallas Cowboys). He never gained any momentum because of those injuries.

Heading into the 2025 training camp, the Steelers have a new WR1, DK Metcalf, from their trade with the Seattle Seahawks earlier this offseason. Wilson is healthy and possesses the traits and versatility to potentially fill the "Randall Cobb" role with Aaron Rodgers under center at quarterback.

Like Cobb, Wilson can align all over the formation to generate mismatches in coverage and has the open-field speed and acceleration for yards after the catch.

The Steelers' receivers outside of Metcalf are uninspiring, to say the least. Wilson has the chance to earn a starting or high-snap role in the offense and break out in a big way, if Rodgers plays well.

Keon Coleman, Buffalo Bills

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Keon Coleman was a divisive wide receiver prospect during the '24 draft cycle. Recently, Coleman described his rookie season in one word: "trash."

The former Florida State standout expounded on what he needs to improve upon this season. His self-criticism—based on what he saw on the game tape—is a good indicator Coleman has been working this offseason.

Unfortunately, he only played 12 games because of a late-season wrist injury. Coleman caught 29 of his 57 targets for 556 yards and four touchdowns. He averaged 19 yards per catch, but only caught 51 percent of his targets. Coleman accounted for five drops and had a drop percentage of 13.5, per Pro Football Focus.

Cleaning up the drops will increase Josh Allen's trust in him during high-pressure moments. As a prospect, Coleman was an ideal 50/50 contested catch receiver, but as a rookie, he struggled to bring in those challenging targets. Efficiency will be key for Coleman heading into his second year.

He is the Bills' projected starting X-receiver, and he still has a high ceiling. With all-around improvement, Coleman's impact in this offense can help elevate them to another level, especially in the postseason, where they continue to fall short.
Allen is an elite quarterback, and having at worst a dominant big-body receiver on the outside will only help when it matters most.

Rome Odunze, Chicago Bears

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Rome Odunze's rookie season was good, not great. For a top-10 pick, expectations may have been a little over the top. He didn’t join a receiving corps where he was the unquestioned WR1, like Malik Nabers or Marvin Harrison Jr. did. The Bears paired Odunze with DJ Moore, Cole Kmet at tight end and veteran receiver Keenan Allen. There were a lot of mouths to feed for rookie quarterback Caleb Williams.

Factoring in the porous coaching we all witnessed last year, a lot did not go in Odunze's favor. Now, Ben Johnson is the new head coach and offensive mastermind coming from NFC North rivals, the Detroit Lions. This offense is surely going to look and operate cleaner and more crisp with a confident second-year quarterback at the helm.

Odunze should be the Bears' WR1 for the foreseeable future. His ability to play all of the receiver positions to create unique matchups for exploitation should help Williams with pre-snap coverage recognition. Odunze finished his rookie campaign with 54 receptions, 734 yards, and three touchdowns. Not a bad season for the rookie. This statline is a key reason, he is a breakout candidate.

Without Keenan Allen commanding starts, snaps, and targets, Odunze's target share should increase. More importantly, the quality of his targets within this new offense will dictate everything. Odunze is slated to take a step forward this season, and his stock should be up heading into training camp.

Xavier Legette, Carolina Panthers

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Heading into year two, the Carolina Panthers offense NEEDS Xavier Legette to have a breakout season. Yes, Tetairoa McMillan should be utilized as their best receiver due to his top-ten draft capital. Adam Thielen is the wily veteran and Bryce Young's safety blanket but Legette is their x-factor.

His combination of strength, speed, and yac creation will open this offensive passing attack. Young is not a good deep ball thrower, completing only 38.6% of his passes 20+ air yards, per NFL Pro. So, Legette becoming a reliable short and intermediate receiver for Young will do wonders for both of their confidence.

Legette came into his rookie season with expectations to be the team's top or best receiver—lofty expectations for a prospect who was a little rough around the edges. In 16 games, he reeled in 49 receptions for 497 yards and four touchdowns. His biggest issue stems from eight drops and a 14% drop percentage, per Pro Football Focus. After a disappointing rookie season, Legette should see lesser corners and better matchups.

This season, Legette should continue to get open because that wasn't an issue for him, but catching the football is a non-negotiable. The former first-round pick has all of the physical traits and work ethic to develop into a well-rounded weapon for the Panthers.

He battled injuries during the season and needed surgery for his wrist injury. Staying healthy and securing his targets at a higher rate are paramount for a successful second-year. Legette has everything in place to have a major impact for the Panthers in 2025.