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Travis Hunter (12) of the Colorado Buffaloes runs with the ball for a touchdown during the first quarter against the North Dakota State Bison at Folsom Field in Boulder, Colo., on Aug. 29, 2024. Andrew Wevers/Getty Images
Outside of quarterback, no position on the field is making more money in the NFL than receivers. And the passing game dominating the league makes finding the right player even more paramount for organizations that want to put points on the board.
Receivers come in all shapes and sizes. There are big guys who can play outside, small guys who slide into the slot and there are players who can impact the run game as well as catch the ball outside. Whether you’re tall or short, it’s about doing something with the ball in your hands, and this year’s class has some fascinating options.
And the No. 1 headliner is a player who might not even get drafted to play receiver as his primary position.
Here are the top eight receivers expected to hear their name called during the 2025 NFL Draft.
Travis Hunter
University of Colorado
6-foot-1, 185 pounds
Receiving: 74 receptions, 911 yards, 9 touchdowns
The biggest question with Hunter is if he can play both corner and receiver at the NFL level—and if there’s an NFL team that’s willing to allow him to try to be football’s Shohei Ohtani and do something new. The follow-up question is: How good could Hunter be at one of his positions if he focused on only that? He’s a transcendent talent the likes of which we’ve rarely, if ever, seen.
If you’re looking for the prototype big-body receiver on the outside, McMillan is your guy. He was at or near the top of every draft list before the season started, and has done nothing but confirm that he has the tools to be an elite NFL receiver next season.
Luther Burden III
University of Missouri
5-foot-11, 208 pounds
Receiving: 53 receptions, 574 yards, 5 touchdowns
Rushing: 115 yards, 2 touchdowns
Burden will get compared to Deebo Samuel all day because of his build and ability to be used as a versatile weapon in the offense. His receiving numbers aren’t enormous this year, but he had 1,212 yards and nine touchdowns as a sophomore, which raised his stock going into this season.
Emeka Egbuka
Ohio State University
6-foot-1, 205 pounds
Receiving: 49 receptions, 612 yards, 8 touchdowns
Egbuka has been a very good receiver—when healthy—for three years. He was one of the top underclassmen in the country in 2022 when he blew up for 74 catches, 1,151 yards, and 10 touchdowns, but his numbers haven’t been as big since because of injuries and other receivers emerging. He’s taken a back seat to Jeremiah Smith this season. But he’ll still get plenty of attention leading up to the draft, because the skill is there to make an impact at the next level.
Tre Harris
University of Mississippi
6-foot-3, 210 pounds
Receiving: 59 receptions, 987 yards, 6 touchdowns
After three years at Louisiana Tech, two of which were very productive, Harris moved to Ole Miss and has been terrific. He’s had over 900 receiving yards for three straight seasons and made 24 touchdowns over those three seasons. Harris also has the ideal size to be an outside threat in the NFL.
Savion Williams
Texas Christian University
6-foot-5, 225 pounds
Receiving: 54 receptions, 580 yards, 6 touchdowns
Rushing: 232 yards, 2 touchdowns
Williams is a fascinating player to consider in the upcoming NFL draft class. He’s a fifth-year senior at TCU who hasn’t put up gaudy overall numbers receiving; his 54 receptions, 580 yards and six touchdowns are all career highs. But the fact that he has also been used in the running game frequently (34 rush attempts) with his size makes him a potential combine climber in the spring.
Isaiah Bond
University of Texas
5-foot-11, 180 pounds
Receiving: 30 receptions, 483 yards, 5 touchdowns
Rushing: 95 yards, 1 touchdown
Bond has the potential to be a game-changing athlete; his 95 rushing yards have come on only three carries. He isn’t a big receiver and likely profiles as a dynamic slot option at the next level. He spent two years at Alabama before transferring to Texas this year. He had 888 yards and 5 touchdowns in two years with the Crimson Tide.
Jalen Royals
Utah State University
6-foot-0, 205 pounds
Receiving: 55 receptions, 834 yards, 6 touchdowns
Royals isn’t at the premiere program that some others are on this list, but he’s a bona fide NFL prospect. He had 1,080 yards and 15 touchdowns for Utah State in 2023 and has maintained his 15.2 yards per reception average this season. He has good size, though not overwhelming.
Tab Bamford has been writing about sports for two decades. He has worked with the National Baseball Hall of Fame, Big Ten Conference, Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame and been credentialed for all-star events and postseason games in MLB, the NFL, NHL, NBA and NCAA.
