This week we’re back with another 2025 NFL Draft prospect update. After looking at how the running backs performed through two weeks, we’re diving into the wide receiver prospects' performances through three weeks today.
While there are a number of 2025 NFL Draft wide receiver prospects beyond the 10 I’m highlighting today, these are the 10 that I believe have the best chance of making a difference at the next level. It’s difficult to assess wide receivers, particularly in the early season, so I’ll expand the scope of my wide receiver prospect analysis as the season progresses and we have more data to look at.
1. Tetairoa McMillan – Arizona
Entering the season McMillan and fellow wideout Luther Burden were considered neck and neck for the top receiver position in the 2025 NFL Draft. McMillan made a very compelling case for sole position of that top spot with his Week 1 performance. 10 receptions for 304 yards and 4 touchdowns was truly a special performance. In Week 2 the Northern Arizona defense made it a priority to take McMillan out of the game, but in Week 3 McMillan returned with another 11 catches and 138 yards.
We knew entering the season that McMillan could use his size to overwhelm defenders. However, McMillan has shown through 3 weeks that he can get open with effective route running on a variety of routes. Right now, McMillan is firmly in the position of top receiver for the 2025 NFL Draft.
2. Luther Burden – Missouri
Don’t be scared off by Burden’s pedestrian numbers so far this season. The film shows a very different story than the stats – Burden is an explosive offensive weapon.
Quarterback Brady Cook has struggled with accuracy and missed Burden on routes ranging from simple screens to deep shots. There also seems to be no urgency from the coaching staff to get the ball in Burden’s hands. Much of that could be thanks to Missouri’s easy schedule early in the season. They were able to shut out their first two opponents before facing their first real test in Boston College in Week 3. It’s likely not a coincidence that Burden had easily his best game of the season in that Week 3 matchup as his skill on the offensive side of the ball was needed to win the game.
Burden has shown that he can win on routes over the middle, find holes in the zone, and continue to display his athleticism on screen and go routes. I expect to see a lot more of the ball in Burden’s hands now with the schedule entering a much tougher stretch for Missouri.
3. Travis Hunter – Colorado
The media circus around Colorado seems to overshadow just how great Hunter has looked on the offensive side of the ball. Many are convinced that he’s better suited as an NFL cornerback than as a wide receiver, but he’s shown this year just how effective he can be as a receiver.
Through three games Hunter has been the model of consistency. He’s eclipsed 100 yards in each game and has totaled 5 touchdowns so far. We’ve seen Hunter display incredibly strong hands, a knack for finding the hole in zones, great body control, and strong acceleration through his cuts. At this point, the only thing that should keep Hunter out of discussions about the top receiver in this class is the potential for him to declare as a cornerback.
I’ll be watching to see if Hunter can keep up the production as Colorado enters intraconference play starting this week. If he can, he’ll be in a battle with McMillan and Burden for the top receiver in the class – assuming he declares as a receiver.
4. Elic Ayomanor – Stanford
Ayomanor and Stanford have only played 2 games so far this season, making it harder to evaluate his standing than other receivers so far. Ayomanor was very quiet in the 1st half of Week 1, but in the 4th quarter the offense locked on to their star receiver and the results were predictably positive. Ayomanor showed his ability to get open over the middle of the field, showed great body control on a deep back shoulder pass, and generally looked like a dominant number-one wide receiver for the team.
In Week 2 Ayomanor wasn’t required to play a significant role as Stanford easily handled a lesser opponent. Ayomanor has a chance to really skyrocket up draft boards during a much more difficult stretch of games upcoming. If he can win at multiple levels the way he did in Week 1 against top competition then Ayomanor will find himself as a leader of the 2nd tier of 2025 NFL Draft wide receiver prospects, with as much potential as any other prospect.
5. Isaiah Bond – Texas
Bond impressed early in the season with his new team. He’s showing off a more diverse route tree than he previously had while utilizing the speed that makes him so dangerous. I’ve been particularly impressed with his route running on a variety of routes and being able to get separation consistently. Against Michigan he used a double move to break free for a big gain, hauling in the catch through contact. Last week he caught a touchdown pass on a slant in the endzone, a play you may not expect from a perceived burner like Bond.
His play this year has shown that he was miscast at Alabama as a pure burner. He absolutely can beat defenders deep on the outside and when given space on screens uses his speed to break off big plays, but he has the route-running ability to utilize that speed all over the field.
While Bond had a few very good plays in Texas’ game against Michigan, he failed to really leave his mark on that game as a star player. Texas has a few weeks against some lower competition before taking on Oklahoma and then Georgia in the middle of October. That gives Texas quarterback Quinn Ewers time to heal up from an abdominal injury he suffered in Week 3. If Bond can leave his mark on those big games in the middle of the season, his draft stock could soar all the way to 1st round consideration.
6. Emeka Egbuka – Ohio State
Ohio State and Egbuka have only played two games so far, both of which were blowouts. That makes it tough to assess Egbuka at this point. He has certainly done what is needed of him, but without higher competition, it’s hard to say if he’s improved his draft stock.
Based on what we’ve seen to this point I don’t see a high ceiling for Egbuka in the NFL. I think there are quite a few receivers in this class with much higher ceilings. Egbuka has shown good athletic ability combined with good route running, but he hasn’t really excelled in any area. Ohio State’s schedule heats up in October and doesn’t let up from then on. How Egbuka plays through that stretch will have a huge impact on his draft stock.
7. Xavier Restrepo – Miami
With Cameron Ward in Miami, the whole team has benefited, and possibly no one more so than Restrepo. Restrepo has extremely reliable hands and is a strong route runner. What really pops from the film though is his ability to change directions once he gets the ball his acceleration out of those changes in direction.
Starting Week 1, Restrepo showed off impressive moves with the ball in his hands that turned short gains into big ones. The Week 2 and 3 matchups were against lesser opponents, but Restrepo steadily left his mark on those games. The Week 1 performance against Florida was certainly his stiffest competition so far, so it’ll be good to see him face some other ACC teams during the 2nd half of the season.
8. Antwane Wells – Ole Miss
Ole Miss has shown off an impressive passing game early in the season. While he may be overshadowed by his teammate Tre Harris being the leading receiver on the team, Wells has been thriving in his own right.
He’s shown the ability to get behind the defense, and that’s a very notable skill for a 6’1” 207lbs receiver to have. He can change a game with his big plays and he’s shown that multiple times already this season. As the strength of schedule picks up over the 2nd half of the season we’ll see how Wells’ deep ball skills hold up.
I’m still hesitant about Wells as he’s an older prospect and isn’t demanding a very high target share. I’m hesitant with the big athletic deep ball-type receivers that show little diversity in their routes at the NFL level for fantasy. They can be productive receivers for their teams in the NFL, but they rarely perform consistently enough to be valuable in fantasy.
9. Evan Stewart – Oregon
Stewart was seen by some as a candidate to be a top selection in the 2025 NFL draft. After three weeks that potential doesn’t look like it’s going to come to fruition. Stewart has had poor production outside of the Week 2 matchup against Boise State. He was able to get behind defenders for a couple of deep receptions in that game, but outside of those two plays he hasn’t got much going thus far.
Stewart has a very slight build, and while we’ve seen smaller receivers thrive in the NFL recently, Stewart hasn’t shown the same quickness and burst out of his cuts that those other receivers have. If Stewart continues to not produce, his 2025 NFL Draft prospects will likely not be enough to draw him away from another college season.
10. Tre Harris – Ole Miss
Harris has dominated targets so far this season. You can’t blame quarterback Jaxson Dart for continually looking his way either; it seems like Harris is open on every route he runs.
Harris not only generates great separation but he also uses his size advantage to pick up extra yards after the catch. Harris wasn’t expected to be in consideration to be among the top receivers drafted in 2025, but if his play continues as it was there will be a very strong argument for him. I’ll be interested to see how Harris, like many of the receivers on this list, fare against stiffer competition as the season progresses.