De'Zhaun Stribling, 5 Rookie NFL WRs Who Will Outplay Their Draft Value

This year's wide receiver class featured five first-rounders, and then teams made a run at the position on Day 2 of the draft. Though a tier below the blue-chip prospects, several second-, third-, and fourth-round wideouts could outperform their draft value.

While we expect top receiver prospects to play in prominent roles, anyone selected after the first round will likely compete for snaps early in their rookie campaign.

However, like Luther Burden III, Jayden Higgins, Elic Ayomanor and Chimere Dike in the previous season, Day 2 and 3 receivers could make the most of limited opportunities or emerge in unsettled receiver groups.

Looking beyond Day 1 rookie receivers, six could exceed 2026 expectations because of a clear pathway to significant playing time or a specific role within their team's offense.

Zachariah Branch, Atlanta Falcons

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Atlanta Falcons third-round pick, Zachariah Branch

Anyone who favors size at receiver will overlook Zachariah Branch, though he's exactly what the Atlanta Falcons need at the position.

At 6'4", 215 pounds, Drake London is a massive target, but he doesn't have the speed to run away from defenders or quickly rack up yards after the catch in open space.

Jahan Dotson has been an underwhelming first-rounder from the 2022 draft class. Olamide Zaccheaus is entering his age-28 term as a career backup.

Although Branch is 5'9", 177 pounds, he's capable of providing a spark to an offense that needs his 4.35 speed in a complementary receiver role.

In college, Branch operated primarily out of the slot, though in the same role, he could be the Falcons' No. 2 receiver behind London and serve as a chain-mover for quarterback Michael Penix Jr. or Tua Tagovailoa.

Tagovailoa admitted that he struggles to see over offensive and defensive linemen. So Branch could be more productive with Penix under center. The speedy slot receiver frequently caught passes over the middle to beat zone coverage in college.

Caleb Douglas, Miami Dolphins

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Miami Dolphins third-round pick, Caleb Douglas

The Miami Dolphins waited until the third round to draft a wide receiver. They took Caleb Douglas at No. 75 and Chris Bell at No. 94.

Bell is working his way back into playing shape after tearing his ACL in November. Douglas will likely get the first shot to take on a big role in a receiver room that's undergone significant changes this offseason.

The Dolphins released Tyreek Hill, traded Jaylen Waddle to the Denver Broncos and signed Jalen Tolbert and Tutu Atwell in free agency.

Tolbert and Atwell were No. 3 or No. 4 receivers with their previous teams. So, Douglas will have a chance to claim a starting role with impressive showings through training camp.

After two modest years of production at Florida, Douglas transferred to Texas Tech, where he took on a sizable role. He led the Red Raiders in receiving yards last year and averaged 15.1 yards per catch with the program.

Many saw Douglas as a reach midway through the third round, but with a clear pathway to a starting position, the big-play wideout will have a chance to prove his critics wrong.

Bryce Lance, New Orleans Saints

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New Orleans Saints fourth-round pick, Bryce Lance

Coming out of North Dakota State, Bryce Lance is Trey Lance's younger brother. Apparently, athleticism runs in the family.

Lance looked impressive at the NFL Scouting Combine and recorded an athletic score ranked second among wideouts.

Yet scouts probably weren't surprised by Lance's testing scores. The 6'3", 204-pounder's unique traits were evident on the field.

Over the last two years, Lance looked dominant in stretches. He eclipsed 1,000 receiving yards in back-to-back collegiate terms and recorded 25 touchdown receptions in that span.

Some will question if Lance's production at an FCS program can translate to the pros. Coming from the same program, Christian Watson has posted decent numbers and would be more productive if he could stay healthy.

Lance will be behind Chris Olave and fellow rookie wideout Jordyn Tyson on the depth chart, but the latter has a notable injury history.

Because of his pro-ready body frame, Lance could be a fixture in the New Orleans Saints' red-zone and third-down passing offenses, notwithstanding Tyson's development.

Elijah Sarratt, Baltimore Ravens

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Baltimore Ravens fourth-round pick, Elijah Sarratt

The Baltimore Ravens need a No. 2 wide receiver—someone who can complement two-time Pro Bowler Zay Flowers.

Baltimore signed Rashod Bateman to a three-year extension after he posted career receiving numbers in 2024, but he faded in the passing attack last year, hauling in just 19 passes for 224 yards and two touchdowns.

The Ravens drafted wideouts with consecutive picks in the third round, taking Ja'Kobi Lane at No. 80 and Elijah Sarratt at No. 115.

Lane is a big-play receiver, while Sarratt projects as a physical chain-mover, though the latter produced with more consistency in college at James Madison and Indiana.

Sarratt recorded at least eight touchdown receptions in all three of his collegiate campaigns and led the Hoosiers across multiple receiving categories before Fernando Mendoza led the program to a national title in 2025.

ESPN's Jamison Hensley expects Sarratt to carve out a role in the slot. In that spot, he'll face less competition for snaps than Lane on the perimeter. The Ravens can deploy Flowers, Bateman and Sarratt in three-receiver sets.  

Also, with the departure of Isaiah Likely in free agency, Sarratt could see more looks in the red zone behind tight end Mark Andrews, who saw a significant drop-off in scoring production between 2024 and 2025.

De'Zhaun Stribling, San Francisco 49ers

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San Francisco 49ers' second-round pick, De'Zhaun Stribling

The San Francisco 49ers took De'Zhaun Stribling over Denzel Boston, who many considered a first-round pick, which came as an early Day 2 surprise.

However, Stribling's skill set aligns with what head coach Kyle Shanahan wants in a receiver and meets the team's needs at the position.

Stribling is a willing blocker, which will help him earn more snaps in Shanahan's run-centric offense. As a wideout, he's a potential deep threat in a receiver room of older possession, pass-catching veterans.

Ricky Pearsall is a young, explosive playmaker who can stretch gains, but his injury history is a concern. He's missed nearly half his games as a two-year pro.

Stribling's season-opening role may be limited behind Pearsall, Mike Evans and Christian Kirk, but all three wideouts missed four or more games last season. The rookie could fill gaps in the passing game and play a majority of the offensive snaps by the end of the 2026 campaign.

Antonio Williams, Washington Commanders

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Washington Commanders third-round pick, Antonio Williams

The Washington Commanders' top two pass-catchers in receptions from the previous season are still free agents. Deebo Samuel is one of the top veterans available. Zach Ertz is recovering from a torn ACL.

In 2025, Terry McLaurin missed seven games due to injuries. As a result, the Commanders had to rely on Samuel and Ertz in the passing game. Assuming both sign with new teams, Washington filled a major void by taking Antonio Williams in the third round.

Williams can take over the primary role out of the slot, though he could also be the No. 2 receiver on the perimeter. The versatile wideout played both roles in college. 

Williams isn't a dynamic athlete with rare speed or measurables, but he racked up solid receiving numbers for most of his four years at Clemson. The 5'11", 190-pounder led the ACC with 11 touchdown receptions in 2024.

Washington may have found its reliable secondary target who could develop in a similar mold to McLaurin, who was also a third-round pick in his class.

College statistics are provided by cfbstats.com.

Maurice Moton covers the NFL for Bleacher Report. You can follow him on Twitter @MoeMoton.