Featured Image: Ohio State Buckeyes wide receiver Carnell Tate (17) celebrates a touchdown Saturday, Dec. 6, 2025, during the Big Ten football championship against the Indiana Hoosiers at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis. (Photo Credit / Grace Smith via Imagn Images)

In the NFL, one of the hardest positions to scout and predict a successful transition from college is the wide receiver position. These guys come in all shapes and sizes with nothing directly correlating to success to lean on in this process. 

However, every year people try to predict it before the draft and, if you do, you’ll always be wrong. This is my attempt. 

5. Chris Bell | 6’2″, 220 lbs | Louisville Cardinals

Bell is a tough evaluation due to an unfortunate ACL tear in November of the most recent season, but the tape and measurements tell you that this guy should be a first-round wide receiver. 

At 6’2”, 220 pounds, Bell is two inches taller and 20 pounds heavier than the average NFL wide receiver and shows some of the best after the catch athleticism of anyone in this class. If your team needs explosive plays with a lower draft pick, then Bell is the pick, and it’s not particularly close. He won’t be A.J. Brown after the catch when it comes to breaking tackles, but he can find a seam in the secondary and turn a slant into a 60-yard touchdown. 

The drawback with Bell is the ACL tear, which will keep him off the field for a decent amount of time before he makes his NFL debut and threatens to impact his athleticism—a major part of what makes Bell a potential wide receiver one in the NFL. Without that athleticism, it’s hard to see Bell as the workhorse at the next level that he could be.

Comparison: Allen Robinson 

4. Omar Cooper | 6′, 204 lbs | Indiana Hoosiers

Cooper is the complete package. Watching Cooper makes me wonder why most draft analysts have acted like it’s a solid top three for the receiver position and not a top four. Whether it’s during the route or after the catch, Cooper is as smooth as they come. His hands are solid and make circus catches look easy, making him a quarterback’s best friend. 

With average size for an NFL wide receiver, Cooper doesn’t have much problem dealing with the physicality of corners while also having a level of athleticism to outrun safeties after catching a short pass. Cooper is almost the opposite of Bell after the catch. Instead of force and speed, Cooper is shifty and quick—making quick decisions and taking his time to sift through the defense, not too dissimilar to a patient running back that waits for their blocks.  

When it comes to negatives with Cooper, I struggle to point one out. He doesn’t have elite size or athleticism, but it’s good enough for him to find success in the league and be a wide receiver one for a team that needs one. The one flaw I will say is he won’t be a big jump ball winner, but he doesn’t need to be to find success in the NFL.  

Comparison: Michael Gallup (pre-injuries) 

3. Jordyn Tyson | 6’2″ 200 lbs | Arizona State Sun Devils

Tyson has the best hands, route running, ball tracking, body control and playmaking of this entire class. So, what gives? Why is he number three on the list? 

I hear that and raise you another list. ACL, MCL, PCL, collarbone and hamstring. All injuries suffered by Tyson during his college football career. It’s hard to watch Tyson’s film and not think, “He’d easily be the best receiver in the draft…if not for his injuries.” Whether it’s contested catches or some of the best route running you’ll see, Tyson brings it all to the table with the grace of a ballerina.  

There isn’t much discussion to be had about Tyson. If healthy, he would be a top receiver in the entire league. If injuries continue to linger or even derail his career, he could be a case of wasted potential by no fault of his own.  

Comparison: Devante Adams (if he stays healthy)

2. Makai Lemon| 5’11”, 195 lbs | USC Trojans

Similar to Cooper before, you’d be hard pressed to find a flaw in Makai Lemon’s game. He runs fantastic routes with smooth and strong hands that allow him to be a safety blanket for quarterbacks.  

At 5’11”, Lemon isn’t the largest target on the field, but he’s not the undersized player that people treat him as. He’s the same height as guys like Jarvis Landry, Odell Beckham, Deebo Samuel and Matthew Golden. All guys taken early in the draft or have found success despite their draft position. 

Despite his size, Lemon is likely the second-best contested catch receiver in this class. What he lacks in a size advantage over defensive backs, he makes up for with elite timing, body control and strength at the catch point. These allow Lemon to wait to the very last second to create just a tiny bit of space and catch a ball through contact that a 6’3” receiver couldn’t haul in.  

Add on elite route running and an absolute fearlessness when catching the ball in traffic and Lemon is as safe as they come in a draft full of uncertainties. Whoever takes him will be happy for a long time with that decision. 

Comparison: Emmanuel Sanders

1. Carnell Tate| 6’3″, 195 lbs | Ohio State Buckeyes

Tate is the prototypical wide receiver one of the NFL. Possessing size and speed that you can’t teach to go along with a smoothness to the way he plays that lets you know his confidence is through the roof. Tate put up a perfect season for a wide receiver, and, statistically, it’s one of the most impressive feats you’ll ever see. Tate did not drop a single ball that he got his hands on this season. Whether contested or uncontested, Tate came down with every ball that was within his grasp.  

At 6’3”, Tate is the tallest of the top receiver prospects, and he uses every inch. Similar to Lemon, Tate has excellent timing and body control when it comes to contested catches and difficult catches in general. Late hands and subtle push offs are a staple of Tate’s game, and he’s almost perfected it. Tate also has a knack for the deep ball that made him one of the biggest big play threats in all of college football last season.  

A valid critique of Tate is that he lacks an after-the-catch ability that many of his peers have, and is more of a catch and get up field guy than one that will make a guy miss for an extra 20 yards. It’s a trade-off for having some of the most consistent hands and feet in the world. Tate expands the field for the quarterback, not just vertically but horizontally as well.

His focus and spatial awareness on the sideline widens the field for whichever lucky quarterback gets Tate as a weapon next season. Throw it to your team’s bench and Tate will likely pluck it out of the air with his feet still in bounds. 

Comparison: Jordy Nelson