We’ve become accustomed to the NFL Draft being loaded at the receiver position, as year after year we’ve had four, five, six, and even as many as seven players at the position selected in the first round. That won’t be the case in 2026 as the wideout spot lacks quality at the top and quantity in the middle rounds. Few, if any, of these prospects project as No. 1 wideouts, and many of them will need time to develop their games. Here’s a ranking of 140 receivers with write-ups on the top eight.

Carnell Tate/Ohio State: The Buckeyes have historically placed a lot of quality receivers into the NFL, and that’s been magnified as of late. The program has had a receiver selected in the first round of the past four drafts, and that streak will continue next April with Tate. Strong and smart, Tate is a consistent hands catcher who does a terrific job reading defenses, finding the open spot on the field, and consistently coming away with both the contested and important reception. Fundamentally sound, Tate may not wow anyone with great workout numbers; rather, he’s polished and NFL-ready.

Jordyn Tyson/Arizona State: Tyson, like Tate, is NFL-ready and developed in all areas of his game. He’s incredibly instinctual and always on the same page as his quarterback. Tyson knows how to get open, tracks the pass in the air, and possesses reliable hands. Some believe he’ll be a top-10 pick in the draft, but I disagree. Tyson is a terrific pass catcher, yet he’s not very big or fast, and he’s missed a lot of playing time with injuries over the past 12 months, which will hurt his draft stock.

Chris Brazzell II/Tennessee: Brazzell’s game has taken off this season, but he’s by no means a one-year wonder. Before transferring to Tennessee in 2024, the big wideout showed a lot of ability at his former school, Tulane. He’s been dominant as a game-breaking and game-controlling receiver this season, consistently coming away with some incredible receptions, and Brazzell has a nose for the end zone. His predraft workouts in the 40, shuttle, and three-cone will be interesting, assuming he takes part in those events, and I fully expect Brazzell to challenge for the top spot at the receiver position.

KC Concepcion/Texas A&M: If there’s a Swiss Army knife at the position, it would be Concepcion. The junior possesses vertical speed, terrific quickness, and consistent hands. He’s very effective running after the catch, and Concepcion is a game-breaking return specialist. The versatility to line up in the slot, as an outside receiver, and impact special teams makes Concepcion attractive to NFL teams.

Makai Lemon/USC: The USC junior is another game-breaking wideout who elevated his play to another level this season. Lemon is super quick, runs outstanding routes, and consistently separates from defenders, coming free for his quarterback. He lacks classic receiver size, but Lemon plays big football and catches everything thrown to him. He’ll be a terrific No. 2 wideout on Sundays.

Denzel Boston/Washington: Opinions are varied on Boston in the scouting community, but if you’re a team needing a long, dependable possession wideout, he’s your man. The junior is tall, fluid, and possesses great focus as well as eye/hand coordination. He uses his frame incredibly well to box out defenders and always wins out for the contested throw. Boston is also a lethal red-zone threat, and the faster he runs before the draft, the earlier he’ll be selected.

Deion Burks/Oklahoma: Underrated outside the scouting community, Burks is another multi-purpose receiver who can also be used on special teams or run a reverse on occasion. He’s a shorter wideout who may not hit 5-foot-10 on the tape measure, yet Burks is a legitimate deep threat who outpaces defenders downfield and is just as lethal catching the ball in underneath coverage. He’s a plug-and-play wideout who offers potential in a variety of offensive schemes.

Chris Bell/Louisville: The senior receiver is in the midst of a career year and continues to show progress in his game. He’s a bigger wideout who measures almost 6-foot-2 and over 220 pounds, yet Bell is by no means slow. He catches the ball extremely well, then has a quick step that enables him to separate from opponents, and Bell is fast, displaying the ability to outrun defenders. At the same time, he uses his large frame when necessary to win out for the contested grab.

2026 NFL Draft Wide Receiver Rankings