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The wide receiver position is one of the most intriguing groups in the entire 2025 NFL draft class. That's good news for a Patriots team that could use more offensive firepower for second-year quarterback Drake Maye.
Even after signing Stefon Diggs, the Patriots clearly need a future No. 1 receiver. Whether it's an explosive playmaker, a technician or a physical possession target, this class offers a wide variety of skill sets and upside. If they pick right, they should be able to come away with an immediate contributor on offense.
I've ranked and evaluated the top quarterbacks and running backs in previous pieces. Today, we're going to list and evaluate the 10 best available options at wide receiver in this year's draft.
Jalen Royals is a true field stretcher with twitch, burst and body control that shows up immediately on tape. At six feet and 205 pounds, he plays primarily on the outside but offers some positional flexibility. Royals is a natural hands catcher with a basketball background, which shows in his ability to change direction, attack the ball in the air and work in tight windows.
He’s dangerous after the catch and can create explosive plays on short and intermediate routes alike. He has a good feel for finding soft spots and settling in against zone. The biggest knock on Royals is the competition level. He didn’t consistently face elite corners, and he needs refinement in his route tree, physicality and blocking technique. Still, for teams looking for a high-upside Day 3 developmental receiver, Royals fits the mold. He offers shades of Demario Douglas — an exciting toolsy prospect who will fall because of competition.
Elic Ayomanor is a name that’s been gaining steam, and for good reason. The 6-foot-2, 206-pound Stanford product ran a 4.44 forty and combines size, speed and sharp route running with toughness and saviness. Ayomanor is a high-end tactician who works all levels of the field and thrives in the middle of the field using his frame to box defenders out.
He’s a hands catcher with good vertical ability, solid body control and YAC potential. He’s a physical and willing blocker, making him a well-rounded receiver. That said, he has concentration drops and occasionally looks upfield too early. His breaks could be sharper, and his release package needs work. Still, Ayomanor is a rock-solid mid-round receiver who profiles as a possession target with vertical upside — a steady, dependable weapon in the right offense.
At 5-foot-11 with 4.39 speed, Jaylin Noel is a slot weapon with quick feet, precise routes and special teams value. He’s a natural separator who thrives in the intermediate game, often manipulating defenders with deceptive stems and sharp cuts. Noel is a versatile alignment player who can move across the formation and find space consistently.
His footwork and suddenness make him a problem for nickel corners, and his YAC ability adds another layer to his game. He does struggle with concentration drops. His 7.2 percent drop rate is a red flag, and physical corners can reroute him. But if deployed properly as a Z/slot receiver, Noel could shine. There’s a little Skyy Moore and Marvin Mims Jr. in his game, and he projects as a productive third or fourth-round pick who can contribute early.
Tre Harris is one of the better pure X receivers in this class and has been a personal favorite throughout the evaluation process. At 6-foot-3 and 210 pounds, Harris brings excellent size and physicality to the perimeter. He’s elite at the catch point, with great body control, strong hands and a knack for timing his leaps and winning contested throws.
He’s a savvy route-runner who understands leverage, uses subtle shifts to manipulate defenders and brings toughness and clutch playmaking to the table. While he lacks elite play speed (4.54 forty) and can struggle to accelerate off the line, Harris makes up for it with his football IQ and catch radius. He has a limited route tree and may need development against press, but he profiles similarly to a high-ceiling version of DeVante Parker. For a team needing a physical, chain-moving perimeter target — like the Patriots — Harris is a perfect second or third-round option.
Once considered the WR1 in this class, Luther Burden III remains one of the most dangerous YAC threats in college football. He’s twitchy, compact and powerful with the kind of burst and agility that lets him slip through tackles and turn five-yard slants into 50-yard gains. Burden has reliable hands, tracks the deep ball well and competes hard as a blocker. His fiery, dog-like mentality is evident on every rep.
However, his route tree has been limited, and he was often used in schemed touches, screens and gadget roles. He hasn’t consistently shown he can beat press or win outside the numbers. There are also some questions about maturity and effort, along with occasional focus drops and rounded routes.
Still, Burden is a high-upside receiver who can make an early impact — especially in motion-based or RPO-heavy schemes — and develop into a dynamic offensive weapon.
Jayden Higgins (6'4", 214 lbs) is one of the more underrated receivers in this draft. He combines impressive physical traits — 4.47 speed, a 39-inch vertical, 128-inch broad jump — with consistency and polish. Higgins has elite ball tracking and body control, catching nearly everything thrown his way. His wide catch radius and natural hands make him a quarterback’s best friend.
He’s strong in zone coverage, with veteran instincts and a great feel for spacing. He does need to work on getting off press, improving in contested catch situations and refining his blocking technique. But there’s a Brian Thomas Jr.-like vibe to his game — a big-bodied, field-stretching outside receiver with real upside. Expect his stock to rise as teams dig deeper into his tape.
Matthew Golden is one of the most electric athletes in the class. At 5-foot-11 and 191 pounds with 4.29 speed, he’s a weapon after the catch and a burner who can stress defenses vertically. Golden has advanced tempo control, sells his breaks effectively, and flashes elite separation skills. He’s a hands catcher with return game experience and excels in quick-hitting concepts and deep routes alike.
He’s not the biggest receiver, and his effort in blocking is inconsistent. He also has a few medical flags — foot surgery and a rib injury in 2023 — and needs to expand his release package to beat physical defenders. That said, Golden’s explosiveness and polish make him a legitimate WR2 with WR1 upside in the right system.
Emeka Egbuka is a smooth, NFL-ready wideout with the complete package. His route running is advanced, his hands are reliable and he’s dangerous both before and after the catch. He’s fluid, explosive and intelligent with the versatility to play inside or outside and contribute on special teams. Egbuka understands timing, spacing and leverage and plays through contact with toughness.
He’ll need to improve against press coverage and extend his catch radius, and there are minor durability concerns. But his track record of production and polish make him one of the safest picks in the class. Think Jaxon Smith-Njigba with more vertical juice — a high-floor, plug-and-play starter.
Tetairoa McMillan (6’4”, 219 lbs) is a unique blend of size, fluidity and route-running nuance. His ability to sink into cuts, run a full route tree and adjust to the ball in the air is special for a receiver of his build. He’s a matchup nightmare in the red zone and has the tools to line up at all three receiver spots. His ball tracking, hands and feel for space make him an immediate contributor.
The biggest knock is that he lacks top-end speed and elite explosiveness off the line. He can be disrupted by physical corners and sometimes rounds his routes. But his ceiling as a reliable WR1 is undeniable. He’s smooth, polished and built to dominate in the NFL.
Travis Hunter is a unicorn — a two-way player with elite tools, football IQ and positional instincts. If he commits to wide receiver full-time, there’s little doubt he can become one of the best in the NFL. He possesses elite body control, focus through contact and ball tracking skills that make him nearly uncoverable. Hunter has natural separation skills, understands how to manipulate defensive backs with tempo and subtle movements and takes hard hits without losing focus (just three drops in 2024).
What sets him apart is his advanced route feel, despite having a relatively limited tree. He can stop, start and adjust speed mid-route, freezing defenders in place. However, there are some concerns — he doesn't block much, needs to add bulk and has been known to freelance at times. Additionally, the challenge of playing both ways at the NFL level is unprecedented in the modern era. Still, Hunter is an instant-impact WR1 — the kind of playmaker who transforms an offense.
Follow Patriots Wire on Twitter and Facebook.
This article originally appeared on Patriots Wire: 2025 NFL draft: Ranking and evaluating the top-10 wide receivers
Continue reading...
Even after signing Stefon Diggs, the Patriots clearly need a future No. 1 receiver. Whether it's an explosive playmaker, a technician or a physical possession target, this class offers a wide variety of skill sets and upside. If they pick right, they should be able to come away with an immediate contributor on offense.
I've ranked and evaluated the top quarterbacks and running backs in previous pieces. Today, we're going to list and evaluate the 10 best available options at wide receiver in this year's draft.
10. Jalen Royals, Utah State
Jalen Royals is a true field stretcher with twitch, burst and body control that shows up immediately on tape. At six feet and 205 pounds, he plays primarily on the outside but offers some positional flexibility. Royals is a natural hands catcher with a basketball background, which shows in his ability to change direction, attack the ball in the air and work in tight windows.
He’s dangerous after the catch and can create explosive plays on short and intermediate routes alike. He has a good feel for finding soft spots and settling in against zone. The biggest knock on Royals is the competition level. He didn’t consistently face elite corners, and he needs refinement in his route tree, physicality and blocking technique. Still, for teams looking for a high-upside Day 3 developmental receiver, Royals fits the mold. He offers shades of Demario Douglas — an exciting toolsy prospect who will fall because of competition.
9. Elic Ayomanor, Stanford
Elic Ayomanor is a name that’s been gaining steam, and for good reason. The 6-foot-2, 206-pound Stanford product ran a 4.44 forty and combines size, speed and sharp route running with toughness and saviness. Ayomanor is a high-end tactician who works all levels of the field and thrives in the middle of the field using his frame to box defenders out.
He’s a hands catcher with good vertical ability, solid body control and YAC potential. He’s a physical and willing blocker, making him a well-rounded receiver. That said, he has concentration drops and occasionally looks upfield too early. His breaks could be sharper, and his release package needs work. Still, Ayomanor is a rock-solid mid-round receiver who profiles as a possession target with vertical upside — a steady, dependable weapon in the right offense.
8. Jaylin Noel, Iowa State
At 5-foot-11 with 4.39 speed, Jaylin Noel is a slot weapon with quick feet, precise routes and special teams value. He’s a natural separator who thrives in the intermediate game, often manipulating defenders with deceptive stems and sharp cuts. Noel is a versatile alignment player who can move across the formation and find space consistently.
His footwork and suddenness make him a problem for nickel corners, and his YAC ability adds another layer to his game. He does struggle with concentration drops. His 7.2 percent drop rate is a red flag, and physical corners can reroute him. But if deployed properly as a Z/slot receiver, Noel could shine. There’s a little Skyy Moore and Marvin Mims Jr. in his game, and he projects as a productive third or fourth-round pick who can contribute early.
7. Tre Harris, Ole Miss
Tre Harris is one of the better pure X receivers in this class and has been a personal favorite throughout the evaluation process. At 6-foot-3 and 210 pounds, Harris brings excellent size and physicality to the perimeter. He’s elite at the catch point, with great body control, strong hands and a knack for timing his leaps and winning contested throws.
He’s a savvy route-runner who understands leverage, uses subtle shifts to manipulate defenders and brings toughness and clutch playmaking to the table. While he lacks elite play speed (4.54 forty) and can struggle to accelerate off the line, Harris makes up for it with his football IQ and catch radius. He has a limited route tree and may need development against press, but he profiles similarly to a high-ceiling version of DeVante Parker. For a team needing a physical, chain-moving perimeter target — like the Patriots — Harris is a perfect second or third-round option.
6. Luther Burden III, Missouri
Once considered the WR1 in this class, Luther Burden III remains one of the most dangerous YAC threats in college football. He’s twitchy, compact and powerful with the kind of burst and agility that lets him slip through tackles and turn five-yard slants into 50-yard gains. Burden has reliable hands, tracks the deep ball well and competes hard as a blocker. His fiery, dog-like mentality is evident on every rep.
However, his route tree has been limited, and he was often used in schemed touches, screens and gadget roles. He hasn’t consistently shown he can beat press or win outside the numbers. There are also some questions about maturity and effort, along with occasional focus drops and rounded routes.
Still, Burden is a high-upside receiver who can make an early impact — especially in motion-based or RPO-heavy schemes — and develop into a dynamic offensive weapon.
5. Jayden Higgins, Iowa State
Jayden Higgins (6'4", 214 lbs) is one of the more underrated receivers in this draft. He combines impressive physical traits — 4.47 speed, a 39-inch vertical, 128-inch broad jump — with consistency and polish. Higgins has elite ball tracking and body control, catching nearly everything thrown his way. His wide catch radius and natural hands make him a quarterback’s best friend.
He’s strong in zone coverage, with veteran instincts and a great feel for spacing. He does need to work on getting off press, improving in contested catch situations and refining his blocking technique. But there’s a Brian Thomas Jr.-like vibe to his game — a big-bodied, field-stretching outside receiver with real upside. Expect his stock to rise as teams dig deeper into his tape.
4. Matthew Golden, Texas
Matthew Golden is one of the most electric athletes in the class. At 5-foot-11 and 191 pounds with 4.29 speed, he’s a weapon after the catch and a burner who can stress defenses vertically. Golden has advanced tempo control, sells his breaks effectively, and flashes elite separation skills. He’s a hands catcher with return game experience and excels in quick-hitting concepts and deep routes alike.
He’s not the biggest receiver, and his effort in blocking is inconsistent. He also has a few medical flags — foot surgery and a rib injury in 2023 — and needs to expand his release package to beat physical defenders. That said, Golden’s explosiveness and polish make him a legitimate WR2 with WR1 upside in the right system.
3. Emeka Egbuka, Ohio State
Emeka Egbuka is a smooth, NFL-ready wideout with the complete package. His route running is advanced, his hands are reliable and he’s dangerous both before and after the catch. He’s fluid, explosive and intelligent with the versatility to play inside or outside and contribute on special teams. Egbuka understands timing, spacing and leverage and plays through contact with toughness.
He’ll need to improve against press coverage and extend his catch radius, and there are minor durability concerns. But his track record of production and polish make him one of the safest picks in the class. Think Jaxon Smith-Njigba with more vertical juice — a high-floor, plug-and-play starter.
2. Tetairoa McMillan, Arizona
Tetairoa McMillan (6’4”, 219 lbs) is a unique blend of size, fluidity and route-running nuance. His ability to sink into cuts, run a full route tree and adjust to the ball in the air is special for a receiver of his build. He’s a matchup nightmare in the red zone and has the tools to line up at all three receiver spots. His ball tracking, hands and feel for space make him an immediate contributor.
The biggest knock is that he lacks top-end speed and elite explosiveness off the line. He can be disrupted by physical corners and sometimes rounds his routes. But his ceiling as a reliable WR1 is undeniable. He’s smooth, polished and built to dominate in the NFL.
1. Travis Hunter, Colorado
Travis Hunter is a unicorn — a two-way player with elite tools, football IQ and positional instincts. If he commits to wide receiver full-time, there’s little doubt he can become one of the best in the NFL. He possesses elite body control, focus through contact and ball tracking skills that make him nearly uncoverable. Hunter has natural separation skills, understands how to manipulate defensive backs with tempo and subtle movements and takes hard hits without losing focus (just three drops in 2024).
What sets him apart is his advanced route feel, despite having a relatively limited tree. He can stop, start and adjust speed mid-route, freezing defenders in place. However, there are some concerns — he doesn't block much, needs to add bulk and has been known to freelance at times. Additionally, the challenge of playing both ways at the NFL level is unprecedented in the modern era. Still, Hunter is an instant-impact WR1 — the kind of playmaker who transforms an offense.
Follow Patriots Wire on Twitter and Facebook.
This article originally appeared on Patriots Wire: 2025 NFL draft: Ranking and evaluating the top-10 wide receivers
Continue reading...
