Ranking The Top 20 Wide Receivers in The 2024 NFL Draft
The 2024 wide receiver class has every type of wideout you can imagine.
Tremendous wide receiver classes have spoiled us in recent years. Sure, 2023’s group wasn’t awesome, but it produced some solid talent.
Well, 2024’s crop of receivers is awesome. In fact, it’s so awesome I watched 20 of them for this exercise and still missed a few players who could go on Day 3 or late on Day 2. I just had to draw the line at some point, and this is where I ended up.
Still, 20 players is a pretty good look at this year’s group, which pretty much has everything. Traditional Xs? Check. Speed threats? Check. Nasty route runners? Check. YAC gods? Yessir, you got it.
For each player, we’ll list their measurables (taken from Senior Bowl or school site), there counting stats for 2023, and a round grade.
I’ve also broken the players into tiers because that’s a far better way to view these rankings. Players in the same tier have incredibly close scores on my Big Board. I could be talked into pretty much any order among those players.
If you don’t see a player in these rankings, I didn’t watch them.
2024 NFL Draft WR Rankings
The “Hey, Maybe You’re Too Big” Tier
20. Brenden Rice, USC
Height: 6-foot-2
Weight: 212
2023 Stats: 45 catches, 791 yards, 12 TDs
Strengths
Strength, Physicality
Contest Catch Ability
Deep Threat
Ball Tracking
NFL Pedigree
Weaknesses
Route Running
Changing Directions
YAC
Final Word
Brenden Rice, Jerry's son, is a solid late-round deep-threat prospect. He’s got the size and physicality teams look for in outside receivers. Rice can win 50/50 balls on vertical concepts down the field well enough.
Rice has a role in the NFL, but he’s an incredibly stiff mover, which limits his ceiling and usage. He’s just not a good route runner or natural separator on tape. Rice lacks the quickness to create space out of his breaks, and his long speed is only okay.
If he can become a more polished route runner, even on the vertical plane, he could be a solid WR2 option. That’s his absolute ceiling, though, and it would require a lot of growth to get there. He’d have to get more limber and get better attacking leverage downfield.
Round Grade: 5th
19. Johnny Wilson, Florida State
Height: 6-foot-6
Weight: 237
2023 Stats: 41 catches, 617 yards, 2 TDs
Strengths
Size
Overall Movement Skills
Catch Radius
Beating Press
Weaknesses
Ball Skills
Explosiveness
Long Speed
Final Word
Johnny Wilson ending up this low on the list sucks. He’s one of the class’s unique players, and his film is a ton of fun to watch. For someone listed at 6-foot-6, Wilson is quite quick and capable of creating separation in ways most players his size can’t.
That’s the start of an elite profile, but it’s also where things go downhill. Wilson struggles to catch the football, and his wiry frame limits what he can do through contact. Being quick at 6-foot-6 is cool, but you have to be good at the traditional 6-foot-6 things for it to matter.
Ideally, Wilson lands with a team looking to use him like Darren Waller and Mike Gesicki were used at their peaks — a tight end by name but operating as a “big slot.”
Round Grade: 4th
The “Small Gadget-ish Player” Tier
18. Jamari Thrash, Louisville
Height: 5-foot-11
Weight: 185
2023 Stats: 63 catches, 858 yards, 6 TDs
Strengths
Natural Separation (quickness, suddenness)
YAC
Long Speed
Weaknesses
Lack of Size
Contested Catches
Underdeveloped route tree
Final Word
Jamari Thrash is one of many reasons Louisville had such a nice season in 2023. He’s on the small side, but Thrash was a bonafide playmaker. His natural quickness makes him a tough cover for anyone, and he’s a threat to make people miss with the ball in his hands.
Thrash has all the weaknesses you’d expect from a smaller receiver. He struggles in contested situations, doesn’t see a lot of press coverage, and won’t win when blocking.
Thrash is at the bottom of this tier because of his simple route tree. Louisville’s offense kept him running mostly nines, drags, screens, and curls. Thrash even lacks some polish on those concepts.
He’s a fun gadget player with considerable upside, but there are more than a few reasons to be worried about his game translating.
Round Grade: 4th
17. Jacob Cowing, Arizona
Height: 5-foot-8
Weight: 165
2023 Stats: 90 catches, 848 yards, 13 TDs
Strengths
Route Running
Deep Threat Ability
YAC
Natural Separation
Weaknesses
Lack of Size
Contested Catches Above The Rim
Blocking
Beating Press
Final Word
Jacob Cowing was a productive player at UTEP before transferring to Arizona in 2022 and getting even better. Cowing is a separation monster capable of winning with natural traits and route running.
He runs all the easy stuff well, but he can win on horizontal breaking routes. He attacks DB’s leverage well and will find their blindspots downfield. Cowing’s route running is what separates him from Thrash.
However, Cowing is even smaller than Thrash. To be fair, Cowing doesn’t get bullied on tape. Still, natural limitations come with being 5-foot-8 and 165 pounds in the NFL. He won’t win above the rim or against press coverage.
He’ll have to live in the slot and be at the mercy of the offense coordinator liking his prototype. There’s a ton to like with Cowing, but man, he’s just dang small.
Round Grade: High 4th
16. Malachi Corley, Western Kentucky
Height: 5-foot-10
Weight: 215
2023 Stats: 79 catches, 948 yards, 11 TDs
Strengths
YAC
YAC (not a typo; he’s that good)
Natural Separation (explosiveness)
Toughness
Weaknesses
Size
Beating Press
Underdeveloped Route Tree
Final Word
“The Next Deebo Samuel” is a phrase that gets thrown around a lot when people discuss Malachi Corley. That praise is a little too high for me, but I see the vision. Corley is an elite YAC player who blends acceleration, change of direction, and contact balance prowess exceptionally well.
All of those things make him a solid natural separator, too. However, he suffers from a route-running problem similar to Thrash's. Corley’s tree at WKU was wildly limited. It’s all slants, screens, and the occasional vertical.
If Corley becomes a legitimate route runner who can win vs. press coverage, “The Next Deebo” is in his range of outcomes. However, what makes Deebo so special is he was already solid at those things coming out of South Carolina.
Either way, Corely can be a productive slot in an offense that isn’t afraid to feed its playmakers on simple, manufactured concepts.
Round Grade: High 4th
The “More Traditional Slot” Tier
15. Roman Wilson, WR, Michigan
Height: 5-foot-10
Weight: 186
2023 Stats: 48 catches, 789 yards, 12 TDs
Strengths
Speed
Route Running
Body Control
Toughness
Weaknesses
Beating Press
YAC (he’s not bad, just meh)
Lacks Size
Final Word
Whew, boy, Roman Wilson cooked at the Senior Bowl last month. I reviewed his tape following the event, so there’s no need to go too in-depth here.
In summary, Wilson is a speed-slot with legitimate route-running chops. He makes clean breaks and has the natural quickness to generate separation out of them. His above-average speed makes him a nice deep threat, too. Wilson is also impressively tough for his size. He catches through contact better than expected.
Still, Wilson’s lack of size and limited usage against press will likely put him in the slot at the next level. He can be a productive player but probably won’t be a dominant down-to-down receiver.
Round Grade: High 3rd
14. Ricky Pearsall, Florida
Height: 6-foot
Weight: 193
2023 Stats: 65 catches, 965 yards, 4 TDs
Strengths
Route Running
Body Control
Ball Tracking
Natural Separation
Weaknesses
Average Athlete
Slightly Small
YAC
Final Word
Ricky Pearsall is already a member of this year’s All-Hollywood Team, so putting him down here feels a little bit odd. But realism is a part of the deal.
Like Wilson, I covered Pearsall’s tape and Senior Bowl performance already. Simply put, Pearsall already looks like a professional receiver. He can create separation with route running and quickness. He attacks DBs leverage well, and he’s solid making catches outside his frame.
Pearsall is more polished than Wilson, so I gave him a slight edge. However, Pearsall’s athletic ceiling is a little limited. His long speed is solid enough, but he’s not quite a blazer.
Round Grade: High 3rd
The “All-Around Solid” Tier
13. Ja'Lynn Polk, Washington
Height: 6-foot-2
Weight: 204
2023 Stats: 69 catches, 1,159 yards, 9 TDs
Strengths
Contest Catch
Body Control
Ball Tracking
Weaknesses
Average Athlete
Average Speed
Final Word
Ja’Lynn Polk is the first of a few receivers who lack obvious weaknesses. Some of his traits are better than others, but Polk checks most boxes for the NFL level. His calling card is his contest catch prowess.
He made some wildly impressive body control and ball-tracking adjustments on tape, allowing him to consistently win at the catch point through contact. He’s a solid overall route runner with good enough size to play outside.
Polk’s an average route runner and an average athlete. There’s plenty of room to improve the former, but improving the latter will be more difficult. Overall, Polk projects as a high-end WR3 or solid WR2 in a vertical passing offense.
Round Grade: High 3rd
12. Jermaine Burton, Alabama
Height: 6-foot
Weight: 194
2023 Stats: 39 catches, 798 yards, 8 TDs
Strengths
Vertical Route Running
Ball Tracking
Natural Separation
Weaknesses
Size
Beating Press
Limited Catch Radius
Final Word
Like Pearsall, Jermaine Burton is a member of the All-Hollywood Team. Burton’s tape was a gigantic pleasant surprise. His route running is incredibly refined compared to most of the other receivers in this class.
He’s one of the few receivers capable of winning on double moves. He uses head fakes, varies his cadence, and can win at all three levels of the field. He’s got just enough speed and ball tracking to be a solid deep threat, too.
Like Polk, Burton checks most of the boxes, but he’s just average in many areas. His catch radius is limited, and his ability to win against press coverage is inconsistent. Burton isn’t getting much talk, but he’s a baller.
Round Grade: Late 2nd
The “Please Eat a Peanut Butter Sandwich” Tier
11. Xavier Worthy, Texas
Height: 6-foot-1
Weight: 172
2023 Stats: 75 catches, 1,014 yards, 5 TDs
Strengths
Long Speed
Change of Direction Skills
Route Running
Ball Tracking
Weaknesses
Rail Thin Frame
Ball Skills
Contested Catch
Final Word
Xavier Worthy starts a small run on players with some legitimate, impressive speed. This small Longhorn has the speed and downfield ball tracking to be a consistent, explosive playmaker in the NFL. Any team needing a field-stretching presence should consider Worthy.
Worthy pairs his downfield ability with solid route running at the other two areas of the field quite well. He’s a smooth, explosive mover, allowing him to dust CBs with his route running and natural separation ability.
So what’s the issue? The man is built like a string bean. He’s rail thin, and the limitations that come with that show up on his tape. Physical defensive backs will give him trouble, and his durability might not be great.
For reference, Worthy’s listed height is one inch taller than DeVonta Smith, and Worthy is listed just two pounds heavier. Smith was second percentile for wide receiver weight. Make no mistake: Worthy is an outlier, and outliers are scary. Still, he has many valuable skills for any offense.
Round Grade: 2nd
10. Troy Franklin, Oregon
Height: 6-foot-3
Weight: 187
2023 Stats: 81 catches, 1,383 yards, 14 TDs
Strengths
Long Speed
Deep Threat
Ball Tracking
Weaknesses
Wiry Frame
Contested Catch
Limited Route Tree
Final Word
This past season, Troy Franklin was the primary beneficiary of Oregon’s rare vertical passing concepts. His speed and ball tracking make him a potent threat to consistently blow to the top off of defenses. Those traits should translate fairly well at the next level.
This issue is how much more Franklin offers. Oregon’s offense doesn’t allow him to show off his route running, and his wiry frame is a concern for all the same reasons Worthy’s is.
Franklin improved as a route runner this past season, which gives us some hope that his arrow is pointing up. If he goes to a vertical offense and proves he can handle some physicality, he’ll be an impact player for a long time.
Round Grade: 2nd
The “Wow, That Tall Dude Is Fast” Tier
9. Deontez Walker, UNC
Height: 6-foot-1
Weight: 197
2023 Stats: 41 catches, 699 yards, 7 TDs
Strengths
Long Speed
Ball Tracking
Natural Separation
Weaknesses
Route Running (He’s not bad, just inconsistent)
Ball Skills
Beating Press
Final Word
Devontez Walker’s evaluation is a tough one. He only played in eight games this season because one of America’s Evilest corporations, the NCAA, denied his waiver request for a while.
When Walker did get on the field, he showed an excellent deep-threat profile. His speed jumps off the tape, and he can adjust to passes in the air quite well. He and Drake Maye combined for some of the class’s best vertical completions.
Walker isn’t just speed, though. He’s more than capable of winning quickness in short spaces and making the most of his YAC chances.
A few things are holding Walker back, though. His route running is a little too cute at times. He has the movement skills to be a stud in this area but goes through phases where he just isn’t on point.
Also, his ball skills need to improve. The Senior Bowl exposed some of those issues, but they were on tape, too. He wasn’t dropping easy ones like he did in Mobile, but his ability to finish catches through contact consistently is questionable.
Round Grade: 2nd
8. Xavier Legette, South Carolina
Height: 6-foot-1
Weight: 223
2023 Stats: 71 catches, 1,255 yards, 7 TDs
Strengths
Long Speed
Body Control
Ball Tracking
YAC
Weaknesses
Stiffness
Change of Direction Skills
Lacks Route Running Polish
Final Word
Walker and Legette are somewhat similar evaluations. Like Walker, Legette is a bigger deep threat who struggled at the Senior Bowl a few weeks ago.
That said, Legette’s tape from last season is quite good. He’s incredibly fast, which he combines with excellent ball tracking, body control, and contested catch prowess to win downfield. He’s also incredibly strong, allowing him to outmuscle cornerbacks.
Legette spent time as a returner, which shows when he gets the ball in his hands. He only needs a small amount of daylight to turn a short completion into a big gain.
Two problems stick in Legette’s profile. The first is age. Legette didn’t break out until his fifth college season, and it’s fair to question whether he can continue to develop. The second is general separation.
Legette is a bit stiff and doesn’t win on horizontal breaks the way you’d want. He’s just not overly quick in tight spaces, meaning he’s limited to mostly vertical concepts outside of crossers and drags.
Round Grade: 2nd
7. Keon Coleman, Florida State
Height: 6-foot-4
Weight: 210
2023 Stats: 50 catches, 658 yards, 11 TDs
Strengths
Size
Deep Speed (for his size)
Contested Catch
YAC
Weaknesses
Generating Separation
Route Running
Consistency
Final Word
Keon Coleman started the season as a WR2 contender before plummeting down some rankings. However, there’s likely a chance he’ll rocket back up at some point.
Coleman’s highlights are some of the best this class has to offer. He can be a dominant vertical threat with his size, catch radius, and body control. No throw is too inaccurate for him, and most cornerbacks are too small to stop him.
This issue is the last weakness written above — consistency. Coleman’s tape is a maddening experience because he just doesn’t do anything consistently. He has some of the class’s best contested catches, but he’s actually below average when looking at his volume.
His contested catch rate was only 33 percent in 2023, which is well below average. The other problem is the same issue all 6-foot-4 receivers have: he doesn’t change directions well.
Coleman’s speed and YAC ability are well above average for his size, which is why he’s so high on this list. However, he struggles to create separation, making his QB’s life harder than it needs to be.
There’s a dominant WR1 somewhere in Coleman’s profile, but there’s also a total bust in there.
Round Grade: 2nd
The “Oh God, I Will Get Roasted For This” Tier
6. Ladd McConkey, Georgia
Height: 6-foot
Weight: 185
2023 Stats: 30 catches, 478 yards, 2 TDs
Strengths
Route Running
YAC
Natural Separation
Toughness
Weaknesses
Size
2023 Injuries
Contested Catches Above The Rim
Final Word
Seeing Ladd McConkey this high is likely pretty jarring for some, which is understandable. Here’s what it boils down to.
My top traits for receivers are route running and natural separation. Basically, can you get open consistently? McConkey is a top-three route runner in this class and an excellent natural separator.
McConkey’s route tree at Georgia was diverse. He can win on all the easy stuff, but he’s also capable of dusting cornerbacks on double moves and hitting them with head fakes. McConkey’s natural quickness and speed aid him in this area, too. He’s constantly open and doesn’t rely on the offense to do it for him.
The only thing holding McConkey outside the top five is his size. He’s only 6 feet, and it does show up when he’s trying to make catches above the rim. Although he performed well on the outside on tape, some teams will view him as a slot-only player.
Simply put, McConkey is my type.
Round Grade: 2nd
5. AD Micthell, Texas
Height: 6-foot-4
Weight: 190
2023 Stats: 55 catches, 845 yards, 11 TDs
Strengths
Movement Skills
Contest Catch
Size
Route Running (could use some polish)
Weaknesses
Sample Size
Consistency
Blocking
Final Word
AD Mitchell is the other receiver I’m probably much higher than the consensus on. What makes Mitchell so alluring is his ability to change directions at 6-foot-4. He’s wildly quick in tight spaces, allowing him to create easy separation in ways players his size can’t.
Mitchell is pretty fast and an excellent ball tracker, too. That, along with his route running, makes him a three-level threat at 6-foot-4. That’s an NFL WR1 profile. The issue is Mitchell’s lack of consistency.
He just doesn’t show those elite tools at all times. He goes through stretches where he gets sloppy with his routes or looks uninterested in blocking. If he can continue to refine his abilities and stay on top of his play, he could blossom into an elite receiver.
Round Grade: 2nd
The “Not Quite in That Top Group” Tier
4. Brian Thomas Jr., LSU
Height: 6-foot-5
Weight: 198
2023 Stats: 68 catches, 1,177 yards, 17 TDs
Strengths
Long Speed
Ball Tracking
Movement Skills
Contested Catch
Weaknesses
Limited Route Tree
Blocking
Final Word
Brian Thomas Jr.’s profile is quite similar to Micthell’s. Thomas should not be as smooth as he is getting in and of breaks at his size. He just moves unnaturally well for being 6-foot-5 and nearly 200 pounds.
Thomas is also a potent deep threat thanks to his impressive vertical speed, ball tracking, and body control in the air. He had to chase down some errant throws downfield in 2023 and made it look easy.
What’s keeping Thomas outside of this class’s top group? His route tree at LSU leaves a lot to be desired. He wasn’t tasked with working a lot of in-breakers or mult-breaking concepts. His tape is filled with slants and nines.
He’s got the skills to develop into a more complete player, but that might not happen in Year 1. Still, his upside is pretty great, and his floor isn’t too bad, either.
Round Grade: High 2nd
The “You’d Probably Be WR1 in Most Years” Tier
3. Rome Odunze, Washington
Height: 6-foot-3
Weight: 200
2023 Stats: 92 catches, 1,640 yards, 13 TDs
Strengths
Movement Skills
Route Running
Ball Tracking
Contest Catch
Weaknesses
Natural Separation (he’s improved this)
Blocking
Final Word
For my money, Rome Odunze was one of the most improved wide receivers in the country this past season. He had a second-round grade on my board over the summer but got better in every area I wanted him to this past season.
He made much better use of his size and ball tracking in contested situations, checking an important box for his archetype. Then, he got better at things like route running and separation with just his quickness.
At this stage, it’s hard to deny that Odunze has a complete NFL WR1 profile. He can still grow as a route runner and won’t be a separation menace, but he makes up for it with nuance and the ability to battle for the ball in the air.
Odunze should be a top-10 pick after his jump in play this past season.
Round Grade: 1st
2. Malik Nabers, LSU
Height: 6-foot-1
Weight: 188
2023 Stats: 89 catches, 1,569 yards, 14 TDs
Strengths
Natural Separation
YAC
Body Control
Change of Direction Skills
Versatility
Weaknesses
Ball Skills (he body catches a lot, kinda like Jaylen Waddle)
Final Word
Malik Nabers just straight-up rocks. Everything about his film screams he’ll be – at worst – an above-average receiver. Yards after the catch are becoming more valuable every season, and Nabers’ YAC ability might be the best in this class.
He’s quick, tough, and fast, which he pairs with excellent open-field vision. What makes him so much better than someone like Malachi Corley is Nabers’ complete profile.
Nabers is a solid route runner who can win out of his break and vertically with technique and his natural skillset. There’s room to grow his route tree and make him a little more precise, but he’s already quite good.
My only complaint is he tends to body catch sometimes. Jaylen Waddle does the same thing, and it hardly derailed his career. Nabers is pretty much the total package.
Round Grade: 1st
The “Maybe The Best WR I’ve Scouted” Tier
1. Marvin Harrison Jr., Ohio State
Height: 6-foot-3
Weight: 202
2023 Stats: 67 catches, 1,211 yards, 14 TDs
Strengths
Route Running Nuance
Movement Skills
Ball Tracking
Body Control
Beating Press
Physicality
Contest Catch
Weaknesses
Not An Elite Athlete
Average YAC
Final Word
Was there any doubt? Marvin Harrison Jr. legitimately qualifies as the best receiver I’ve ever scouted. I started writing reports during the 2018 cycle, so I guess that’s not saying much, but it’s saying something.
You know how some fictional characters are so satisfying because they always overcome whatever insane obstacle they come across? That’s what it’s like watching Harrison Jr. play football.
He’s just so much better than everyone else; it doesn’t matter what they do.
Harrison Jr. is the class’s best route runner, thanks to his diverse tree and nuance. He understands how to win vertically, on in-breakers, and with physicality if need be. He’s exceptional at separating in any way you can imagine.
He’s also dominant at the catch point with some of the best ball skills and body control I’ve seen in a prospect. There is no throw too far outside of his frame.
What makes all of this impressive is Harrison Jr. isn’t some elite athlete. Don’t get me wrong, he’s plenty athletic, but he won’t tear up the combine next month, either.
Harrison Jr. shouldn’t slip past the Arizona Cardinals at No. 4 and could be an instant top-10 NFL receiver as a rookie.
Round Grade: High 1st
Great list man! I hadn’t watched any Burton film until seeing him on here, but holy smokes, I thought he was good in 2023! It sounds like the biggest hurdle for him will be maturity going forward.