It’s that time again. Dynasty rookie fever SZN is here. The 2025 NFL Draft will be here before we know it, and rookie drafts will start flying daily. Before you dive head-first into our fantasy football mock draft simulator and run 3,000 rookie drafts in preparation, please read up on this talented prospect class as I roll through my quarterback, running back, wide receiver and tight end positional primers.

Check out our expert consensus dynasty rookie draft rankings as you prepare for your leagues. Here is our dynasty rookie draft primer for tight ends, including my rankings and tiers, stats, 2025 NFL Draft scouting reports and player comps.

• 2025 NFL Draft Guide
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• 2025 NFL Mock Drafts
• Dynasty Mock Draft Simulator

Dynasty Rookie Draft Primer: Wide Receivers

Tetairoa McMillan is battle tested vs. man coverage

Over the last two collegiate seasons:

10th & 3rd most Man coverage targets among FBS WRs

YPRR finishes:

10th-best
8th-best pic.twitter.com/q76GSUn7xa

— Derek Brown (@DBro_FFB) February 20, 2025

Dynasty Rookie Draft Rankings: Tier 1

1) Tetairoa McMillan (WR – CAR)

Stats:

• 2024 (FBS WRs, minimum 50 targets)
  • Yards per route run: 17th
  • PFF receiving grade: 10th
• 2023 (FBS WRs, minimum 50 targets)
  • Yards per route run: 21st
  • PFF receiving grade: 11th

Scouting Report:

• Wide receivers who are 6-foot-5 should not move the way that McMillan does. When a player of McMillan’s size can run a crisp whip route, I take notice. McMillan can pull this off. His hips are fluid and allow him to uncover quickly at the top of his stem. Add in his footwork, and McMillan moves like a 6-foot-1 receiver. It’s incredibly impressive.
• McMillan has no issues separating early and late in his routes. His start/stop ability and short area burst are exceptional. Yes, you’ll see some routes where McMillan has defenders muddying the catch point, but that doesn’t mean he can’t separate.
• McMillan is an underrated route technician. He adds subtle head fakes, jab steps, pacing variations and more to his routes. McMillan understands leverage, when to sit down versus zone and when to exploit a corner’s blindspot. He also has multiple moments on film where he waits for a corner to flip their hips in the wrong direction before snapping off his route at the top of the stem.
• McMillan has excellent body control in the air to play above the rim and in the red zone. He’s a catch-point bully with vice grips for hands. His catch radius is massive as he also has the flexibility to adjust to ankle biters and scoop them off his shoe laces. Over the last two seasons, McMillan secured 54.6% of his contested targets.
• McMillan is battle-tested against man coverage. He has the upper body strength, play strength, release package and route prowess to get loose from man coverage. Over the last two seasons, McMillan has had the third-most and 10th-most man coverage targets (among FBS wide receivers) while also ranking eighth and 10th in Yards per route run against man coverage.
• McMillan can create yards after the catch (YAC) unlike many wide receivers of his size. His combination of immediate acceleration and tackle-breaking shows up in the metrics. Last year, he ranked second in missed tackles forced and 27th in YAC.

Player Comp: Drake London with better YAC ability

Dynasty Outlook: The Carolina Panthers selected McMillan inside the top ten in the NFL Draft, giving Bryce Young a true WR1. McMillan could be a wonderful volume hog this year in what looks to be an ascending passing offense. Last year, in Weeks 12-18, when Young was hitting his stride, the Panthers ranked 13th in neutral passing rate. We could see that number increase this year with a true number option leading the way. Last year, during that same stretch, Young ranked eighth in CPOE, fifth in-depth throw rate, 12th in highly accurate throw rate, and second in hero throw rate (per Fantasy Points Data). McMillian is in play as high as the 1.02 in dynasty rookie drafts (regardless of format).

Dynasty Rookie Draft Rankings: Tier 2

2) Tre Harris (WR – Ole Miss)

Stats:

• 2024 (FBS WRs, minimum 50 targets)
  • Yards per route run: 1st
  • PFF receiving grade: 4th
  • Yards per route run vs. man coverage (minimum 15 targets): 1st
  • YAC per reception: 19th
• 2023 (FBS WRs, minimum 50 targets)
  • Yards per route run: 9th
  • PFF receiving grade: 6th
  • Yards per route run vs. man coverage (minimum 15 targets): 18th
• Career
  • A groin injury ended his 2024 season

Scouting Report:

• Tre Harris is a nasty route runner. He has a deep release package with pacing variations and a bevy of in-route nuance. Harris plays 4D chess while corners are still playing checkers. He invites indecision into corners’ heads every snap. He gears down well at the top of his stem and can drop his hips easily.
• Harris has numerous moments in his film where he will set up corners for a later move. He will threaten deep or burn them on a double move when the play isn’t designed to come his way. That rep made the defender guard against getting burned deep as Harris snapped off a hitch route with razor-sharp precision.
• Harris isn’t a burner. He likely has 4.5 40-yard dash speed. I worry if he has enough raw speed to stack corners on go routes consistently, but that doesn’t mean he is slow, nor that he can’t get free downfield with his requisite juice and route running. Harris is the “Postmaster General.” He excels at using his big frame, route running and speed to burn corners on posts deep.
• Harris offers YAC upside with his blend of speed and play strength. He has the necessary lower and upper body strength to run through tacklers, stiff-arm them or shed them easily when they aim high.
• The highlight reel catches from Harris where he skies above a defender or adjusts to a back shoulder ball are glorious. Harris is a ball-winner at the catch point with contested catch rates north of 60% in two of his last four collegiate seasons.

Player Comp: Allen Robinson

3) Emeka Egbuka (WR – Ohio State)

Stats:

• 2024 (FBS WRs, minimum 50 targets)
  • Yards per route run: 38th
  • PFF receiving grade: 19th
  • YAC: 16th
• 2023 (FBS WRs, minimum 50 targets)
  • Yards per route run: 113th
  • PFF receiving grade: 90th
• 2022 (FBS WRs, minimum 50 targets)
  • Yards per route run: 11th
  • PFF receiving grade: 12th
  • YAC: 12th
• Career
  • 73.2% slot rate
  • Dealt with an ankle injury in 2023 that required a tightrope procedure in December.

Scouting Report:

• Emeka Egbuka’s 2023 and (early) 2024 seasons were impacted by his ankle injury and subsequent tightrope procedure. Egbuka still produced in 2024, but this has to be mentioned when discussing his analytics and overall performance.
• Egbuka has underrated speed. While he isn’t a burner by any stretch of the imagination, he can get downfield and create YAC with his legs. I don’t foresee Egbuka making a living off of YAC ability in its purest form or his skills as a field stretcher, but he does offer some value in these areas.
• Egbuka isn’t an elite YAC threat or tackle-breaker. Since 2022, he never eclipsed 7.1 yards after the catch per reception or 10 missed tackles in any season. That’s not to say he is a zero in either category, but these traits are more of a thin sliver of icing on the cake of his skillset.
• Egbuka is a route-running wizard. He has the necessary strength, speed, release package and savvy to win from the perimeter, but that’s not where you want him playing from for most of his snaps. Egbuka plays through contact well in his routes while offering the hand fighting and upper body strength to deal with physical corners.
• Egbuka has the quick feet to dice up corners in the short and intermediate areas of the field. His fluid hips, bend and laser-sharp feet allow him to carve up zone coverage with slants, crossers, out routes, deep overs and more.
• Egbuka’s hands are quite good. While he has a 5.5% drop rate in college, I think his 54.3% contested catch rate is more indicative of his trusty mitts.

Player Comp: Rashee Rice

4) Jaylin Noel (WR – Iowa State)

Stats:

• 2024 (FBS WRs, minimum 50 targets)
  • Yards per route run: 29th
  • PFF receiving grade: 26th
• 2023 (FBS WRs, minimum 50 targets)
  • Yards per route run: 36th
  • PFF receiving grade: 84th
  • YAC: 32nd

Scouting Report:

• Jaylin Noel is an impressive route runner. He adds subtle jab steps, pacing shakeups, and head fakes to his routes. Noel was primarily a slot receiver in college (72.7% slot), but he also has the skills to win from the perimeter. Noel can also win downfield and has solid ball tracking.
• Noel attacks defenders with a varied release package. He has smooth, easy acceleration with the raw speed to nail big plays downfield. He can pull away from corners in routes and the open field.
• Noel plays through contact well. He has the upper body strength and the route skills to beat physical corners and press coverage. Noel flashed an increasingly dependable set of hands in college, with a 4.8% drop rate in his final season and a 52% contested catch rate.
• His play strength shows up at the catch point as he has more than a few snags with multiple defenders competing with him for the ball. He attacks the ball outside of his frame with aggressive hands.

Player Comp: Steve Smith

5) Jayden Higgins (WR – Iowa State)

Stats:

• 2024 (FBS WRs, minimum 50 targets)
  • Yards per route run: 27th
  • PFF receiving grade: 1st
• 2023 (FBS WRs, minimum 50 targets)
  • Yards per route run: 16th
  • PFF receiving grade: 18th

Scouting Report:

• Jayden Higgins is a physical X wide receiver. His play strength shows up in his routes and against press coverage. He has no issues playing through contact and dealing with physical corners. It shows up consistently at the catch point, as he had a 2.2% drop rate or lower in each of the last three seasons and a 55.6% contested catch rate in his collegiate career.
• Higgins excels in the short/intermediate areas of the field with surprisingly nimble footwork for his size. He gets open at will on slants and out routes where his footwork shines. Uses his size to box out corners. I wouldn’t be surprised if he were to transition to a big slot role in the NFL. If Sean Payton drafts him, don’t be surprised if he turns him into Michael Thomas 2.0.
• Higgins has a decent second gear, but I question his long speed. I wonder in the NFL if he has the raw speed to stack corners on the perimeter downfield consistently. Higgins has plenty of route nuance in the short and intermediate routes, but he has to continue to add tricks to the bag as a downfield receiver. He struggles to get separation on go routes, but he wasn’t asked to run them much at Iowa State. Higgins also needs to sell the vertical push on comebacks and curls consistently. He’ll get lax here at times, and it leaves corners glued to him after his route break.
• He has nice body control in the air and some nice back-shoulder grabs, especially in the red zone. His strong hands and ability above the rim should help him on the perimeter and in the red zone in the NFL.
• Higgins isn’t a dynamic YAC threat. He looks more like an athletic tight end after the catch. He can provide some YAC, though, with his physicality and tackle-breaking skills.

Player Comp: developmental Michael Thomas

6) Matthew Golden (WR – Texas)

Stats:

• 2024 (FBS WRs, minimum 50 targets)
  • Yards per route run: 94th
  • PFF receiving grade: 69th

Scouting Report:

• Golden is a smooth route runner. His varied release package and crisp moves at the top of his stem allow him to gain consistent, easy separation. Golden can gear down easily and drop his hips.
• With Golden’s route running and fluid ability to change directions, he can carve up defenses in the short and intermediate areas of the field. He can be a high-volume wide receiver in the NFL while also possessing the speed to get downfield.
• When he is utilized downfield, he exhibits strong ball tracking and a quick return to top speed with double moves. Golden can dance in corners blindspots or threaten the outside shoulder before snapping off his routes and leaving them in the dust.
• He isn’t a ball-winner at the catch point or a monster after the catch. His lack of play strength can highlight his shortcomings. Golden had only 5.6 yards after the catch per reception in college and less than a 40% contested catch rate in two of his three seasons.

Player Comp: Tyler Lockett

7) Travis Hunter (WR/CB – Colorado)

Stats:

• 2024 (FBS WRs, minimum 50 targets)
  • Yards per route run: 38th
  • PFF receiving grade: 6th
• 2023 (FBS WRs, minimum 50 targets)
  • Yards per route run: 86th
  • PFF receiving grade: 42nd

Scouting report:

• Hunter is an insanely talented player with a high ceiling as a wide receiver (if a team utilizes him in a full-time receiver role). He’s a fluid lateral mover with strong hands and plus body control.
• During his final season in college, he was heavily utilized on screens, hitches, and go-routes. Colorado also tried to get him moving laterally when possible.
• Hunter still has growth as a route runner, which will have to occur on the job in the NFL. His release package needs to continue to deepen, and his footwork has to become more efficient. Hunter’s snap at the top of his stem can be inefficient. He’ll also attempt to add jukes and extra nuance in his routes, which are simply too much and slow him down, don’t help with separation, and put him off schedule. This doesn’t surprise me with his split focus on both sides of the ball and only so many hours in a day for Hunter to hone his craft.
• If an NFL team drafts Hunter to play full-time wide receiver, I hope that he will not be forced into a “true X” role immediately. While Hunter excels versus zone coverage, he had some serious issues with man/press corners, which were physical and could also run with him. Hunter gave up his chest too easily on plenty of routes and allowed corners in and to hang around in his back pocket. Last year, among 268 qualifying wide receivers, Hunter ranked 40th in yards per route against zone (2.65) but 78th in Yards per route run against man coverage (2.30). Hunter has the play strength and fluidity to improve in this area, but it’s a developmental step that has to occur.
• Hunter can be a liability in the blocking department. That won’t be how he’s cashing his checks weekly but there were plenty of screen plays that were blown apart with Hunter at the forefront of the blocking design.
• Hunter flashes plenty of strength at the catch point with a 63.3% contested catch rate in college. He can offer some YAC with his combination of upper body strength and speed, but his missed tackles forced numbers last year are somewhat flimsy. Last year, he had 24 missed tackles (eighth-best), but seven of those occurred (Texas Tech) against a defense that ranked 131st out of 134 qualifying FBS programs in tackling grade.

Player Comp: Unicorn (Hunter’s ranking is related to his status as a possible part-time wide receiver. If he is a full-time wide receiver in the NFL, he’s a Tier 1 level prospect in the draft class.)

8) Elic Ayomanor (WR – Stanford)

Stats:

• 2024 (FBS WRs, minimum 50 targets)
  • Yards per route run: 137th
  • PFF receiving grade: 84th
  • aDOT: 50th (14.2)
• 2023 (FBS WRs, minimum 50 targets)
  • Yards per route run: 78th
  • PFF receiving grade: 64th
  • aDOT: 59th (14.1)

Scouting Report:

• Elic Ayomanor adds many of the little details to his routes that you look for with strong route runners. He has some variance in his release packages. He has good pacing and bend in his routes against zone coverage. He has a quick first step off the line and at the top of his stem with comebacks and curls.
• He still has some areas in his route running he can improve upon with leverage and timing. Ayomanor will telegraph his breaks at the top of his stem at times. He can also create more late separation with corners by selling his vertical push better or utilizing leverage better with in- and out-breaking routes. Overall, he has a solid down-to-down attack plan against secondaries. The little nuances added to his game could help take it to the next level.
• Ayomanor isn’t a dynamic YAC threat. He can produce some YAC with his physicality and quick feet, but it won’t be a hallmark of his game in the NFL.
• He has solid hands despite an 8.7% drop rate over the last two seasons. Ayomanor does lose some balls in 50/50 situations or after physical hits from corners. With his play strength flashing in other areas of his game, this is something he can improve upon in the NFL.
• Ayomanor separates well late against zone coverage overall. He sinks his hips well and gears down quickly for a receiver of his size. Ayomanor also will flash the occasional special play as he adjusts to targets outside of his frame with some one-handed snags or back shoulder grabs.

Player Comp: Michael Wilson

Dynasty Rookie Draft Rankings: Tier 3

9) Luther Burden III (WR – Missouri)

Stats:

• 2024 (FBS WRs, minimum 50 targets)
  • Yards per route run: 58th
  • PFF receiving grade: 35th
  • YAC per reception: 79th
  • Missed Tackles Forced (MTF): 1st
• 2023 (FBS WRs, minimum 50 targets)
  • Yards per route run: 7th
  • PFF receiving grade: 3rd
  • YAC per reception: 13th
  • MTF: 15th

Scouting Report:

• Luther Burden is a quick-twitch underneath slot weapon for offenses. Over the last two seasons, he ran 81.7-85.3% of his routes from the slot. Burden is a dynamic and fun player to watch with the ball in his hands. He can create YAC and yards for himself without needing perfectly blocked screenplays.
• Burden’s usage at Missouri was somewhat gimmicky. He was utilized in bunch formations, in motion, with handoffs and with rub routes a ton to create easy releases for him. Yes, the aim for Missouri was to get the ball in his hands in every way possible, but that doesn’t explain away the usage profile.
• As a true route runner, Burden is more of a projection than a finished product. With a ton of his usage coming via schemed touches, the reps where Burden was asked to go out there and route guys up were more limited. During his more traditional slot snaps, he was fed a bevy of ins, outs and slot fades. You’ll occasionally see a seam shot in there for good measure.
• While Burden might turn out to be a strong route runner because of his electric movement skills, that is only a projection. Stating he is a strong route runner versus the hope he can become a good route runner is a very different conversation. Entering the NFL, most coordinators should expect to integrate him into the offense with some gadgetry. Maybe he hits the ground running as a route technician, but there’s an equally strong chance he doesn’t, and he has to mature in this area with on-the-job training in the NFL.
• Burden plays larger than his size would suggest at the catch point. He has that “my ball mentality” and that dawg in him. Burden has a 55.8% contested catch rate over the last two seasons. This skill should help him in the red zone and if he experiences more muddy catch points in the NFL as he matures as a route runner.
• Burden is an accomplished punt returner who can offer an NFL team value on special teams. In 2022, he was fifth in the SEC (32nd nationally) in punt return yards and ranked eighth in punt return average (among 66 players with at least 12 punt returns).

Player Comp: Peter Warrick

10) Elijhah Badger (WR – Florida)

Stats:

• 2024 (FBS WRs, minimum 50 targets)
  • Yards per route run: 14th
  • PFF receiving grade: 29th
  • aDOT: 8th
  • PFF receiving grade vs. man coverage: 9th
  • Yards per route run vs. man coverage: 14th
• 2023 (FBS WRs, minimum 50 targets)
  • Yards per route run: 114th
  • PFF receiving grade: 54th
  • YAC/reception: 13th
  • MTF: 7th
• 2022 (FBS WRs, minimum 50 targets)
  • Yards per route run: 76th
  • PFF receiving grade: 61st
  • MTF: 3rd

Career:
Dealt with a significant back injury in 2023.

Scouting report:

• Badger is a multifaceted receiver who has played both the field-stretching role (2024) and operated as an underneath option (2021-2023). Florida shoved him into a downfield role last year with quarterbacks on the roster who didn’t excel at chucking the deep ball, which hurt Badger’s 2024 output.
• In 2021-2023, his aDOT was 7.3-10.2, as he thrived in those final two seasons as an underneath option and tackle-breaking maestro (third and seventh in missed tackles forced). In 2023, he was also 13th in YAC per reception. I imagine any NFL team that will be securing his services in the draft will return him to a RAC-oriented role while also now having proof of concept of him as a deep threat.
• Badger was a competent deep threat in his final season in college, ranking 29th in receiving grade and 14th in Yards per route run. On film, he has enough raw speed to get downfield, but he lacks an elite home run gear to take a 50-yard completion to the house for 60 or 70 yards. Because his speed is very good but not elite, he struggled to consistently stack corners instead of having them live at the catch point with him. He still won at the catch point and on deep routes with body control, strong ball tracking, and arrogant hands. Badger would also toss in some small route nuance (head fakes) necessary to invite indecision into a corner’s headspace.
• Badger’s play strength shows up in a variety of areas of his game. He can manufacture missed tackles, deal with physical corners in route and at the top of his stem, win at the catch point, and handle man/press coverage. Badger looks like a running back after the catch, with flashing physicality and good short-area footwork to weave through traffic in the second level.
• Badger is a good route runner, but he still needs to add to the release toolbelt and continue to work in more mid-route nuance. You’ll see him sell the vertical element of a route before snapping off a hitch. He’s not the twitchest player, but he can subtly change direction without losing much (if any speed). His reacceleration on double moves isn’t great, so I wouldn’t expect him to be utilized in many of these in the NFL.
• Badger has strong body control. He can contort in the air with back shoulder catches and receptions near the sideline. His hands are quite good and have improved in each season in college, with his drop rate dropping from 6.7% to zero drops from 2022 to 2024.

Player Comp: Great Value brand Puka Nacua

11) Jalen Royals (WR – Utah State)

Stats:

• 2024 (FBS/FCS WRs, minimum 50 targets)
  • Yards per route run: 30th
  • PFF receiving grade: 69th
• 2023 (FBS/FCS WRs, minimum 50 targets)
  • Yards per route run: 81st
  • PFF receiving grade: 36th
• Career
  • Averaged 166.5 receiving yards per game across his final four collegiate games.
  • Has a 64.1% collegiate contested catch rate

Scouting Report:

• Jalen Royals is a fluid mover. He makes everything look easy, from his in-route adjustments to his accelerating and deceleration. His run-after-the-catch (RAC) ability jumps out immediately from his film. As soon as he has the ball in his hands, he is off to the races. Royals gets up to top speed almost instantly.
• His physical strength is easy to see in several ways. Royals is a load to bring down. He had 17 missed tackles forced last year with only 55 receptions. He cuts through defenders as a runner, effortlessly shedding tacklers. He plays well through contact with many routes, but he does have some issues with physical corners.
• Royals has a good understanding of using his physical skills to his benefit, especially on slants and other in-breaking routes. With go routes, he didn’t flash a deep-release package tool belt attempting to run by corners. He has the speed to do so, but he’ll need more than that in the NFL, though. In Mobile at the Reese’s Senior Bowl, Royals was less than 100% (dealing with a soft tissue injury). While his speed wasn’t fully on display, his release package and route running were against better competition. He consistently won his reps during the week with route running nuance and his footwork. It was fantastic to see him do this at less than 100% health and against strong corners.
• Royals’ body control and hands are impressive. Utah State’s quarterback play was not stellar, so he had to adjust to plenty of passes outside of his frame. He aggressively attacks the ball away from his frame. He did have a drop rate of 5.2% or higher in each of his final two seasons in college, but I’m not overly concerned about it. Plenty of his drops were of the concentration variety or adjusting to difficult ball placement.

Player Comp: Quincy Enunwa

12) Jack Bech (WR – TCU)

Stats:

• 2024 (FBS WRs, minimum 50 targets)
  • Yards per route run: 46th
  • PFF receiving grade: 17th
  • MTF: 22nd
• Career
  • Transferred from LSU to TCU for his final two seasons of collegiate football.
  • Played 71.8% of his snaps from the perimeter in his final season (66.3-95.7% slot rate the three previous years).
  • 2024: Among 50 wideouts with at least 20 contested targets, he ranked fourth in catch rate.

Scouting Report:

• Jack Bech is a dawg. A tone-setter for a team and locker room. He doesn’t take any plays off. Bech is running full-speed routes even when the play design doesn’t include him. He blocks his butt off every snap. He’ll be a happy addition to any NFL team’s run game.
• As a perimeter wide receiver, Bech’s physical limitations show up immediately. He isn’t the fastest or twitchiest player on the field. He has the strength in the upper and lower halves to beat press coverage, break tackles after the catch and plays through contact.
• Bech’s release package needs tools added to the belt. He has a good feel against zone coverage, finding the soft spots, and is a friendly target for his quarterbacks. Bech will have to rely upon his play strength in-route and at the catch point against press/man. His skills as a route technician and his average burst/speed will leave plenty of NFL corners glued to him. He did show the ability to excel in Mobile at the Senior Bowl as a route runner and at the catch point. His hands were a strong point for him all week. Bech flashed early separation, late separation and the ability to win at the catch point.
• Bech has a wonderfully dependable set of hands. He wins consistently at the catch point with strong hands as he attacks the ball. He has only two drops over the last three seasons and at least a 50% contested catch rate in each collegiate season. Last year, among 50 FBS wide receivers with at least 20 contested targets, he ranked fourth in catch rate.

Player Comp: Jauan Jennings

13) Tory Horton (WR – Colorado State)

Stats:

• 2024 (six games, only 38 targets, season cut short by a knee injury)
  • Yards per route run: 3.45
  • PFF receiving grade: 81.4
• 2023 (FBS/FCS WRs, minimum 50 targets)
  • Yards per route run: 43rd
  • PFF receiving grade: 27th
  • MTF: 16th
• 2022 (FBS/FCS WRs, minimum 50 targets)
  • Yards per route run: 22nd
  • PFF receiving grade: 37th
  • MTF: 38th

Scouting Report:

• Horton is a big, galloping physical wide receiver who exhibits play strength in all facets. He can handle physical corners, create missed tackles, win at the catch point, and move people around in the blocking department. In 2023, Horton ranked 16th in missed tackles forced among wide receivers.
• Horton’s hips are a tad tight. He has quick feet that get him out of jams and allow him to snap off some crisp, short-area routes (whips). In the short and intermediate areas of the field, it’s best to get him moving linearly with crossers, but he can earn separation early and late on ins, outs, and hitches. Don’t be surprised if speedy corners hang with him on these routes, though.
• He has a decent second gear, but it’s not elite. Horton can win down the field, but many times, this is due to his strength at the catch point or route running rather than blinding speed. Horton does have strong ball tracking downfield.
• He can generate YAC, but it won’t be a hallmark of his game. He profiles better as a possession receiver who will move the chains and occasionally stiff-arm a defender or juke them and create something extra with the ball in his hands. His 90th percentile 10-yard split doesn’t emphatically show up as a run-after-the-catch threat.
• Horton is a ball-winner at the catch point. He exhibits some nice body control while snagging balls away from his frame. He owns a 53.3% contested catch rate in college.

Player Comp: Marvin Jones

Dynasty Rookie Draft Rankings: Tier 4

14) Isaiah Bond (WR – Texas)

Stats:

• 2024 (FBS WRs, minimum 50 targets)
  • Yards per route run: 163rd
  • PFF receiving grade: 142nd
  • YAC per reception: 15th
• 2023 (FBS WRs, minimum 50 targets)
  • Yards per route run: 110th
  • PFF receiving grade: 80th

Scouting report:

• Bond has ridiculous and effortless speed. He has “run away from you” type of speed, as he can leave plenty of defenders in his wake while destroying cushions when he turns on the jets. Bond subtly changes directions without losing an ounce of speed. I know his 40-yard dash time wasn’t as good as many hoped (including Bond), but his play speed is insane.
• Bond has lightning-fast feet, allowing him to snap off hitches without an issue. Deep digs requiring him to sink his hips and gear down quickly are more laborious.
• He’s a decent route runner. He’ll deploy head fakes selling vertical push, but he needs to incorporate more pacing variations, jabs, and second-level route nuance. He has a strong feel versus zone of when to sit down and exploit space. Physical corners that can run with him can also give him fits, as they have no problems getting into his body and disrupting the catch point.
• Bond isn’t a ball-winner at the catch point, with a ghastly 31.6% contested catch rate in college. It’s wonderful that he is equipped with otherworldly speed because he needs it. When he is forced to deal with corners at the catch point, he’s losing most of those 50/50 battles.
• Bond can chew up yards quickly with his speed. He can also create yards after the catch with a variety of nifty short-area moves like a running back.

Player Comp: Marvin Mims

15) Jordan Watkins (WR – Ole Miss)

Stats:

• 2024 (FBS WRs, minimum 50 targets)
  • Yards per route run: 36th
  • PFF receiving grade: 55th
  • YAC per reception: 41st

Scouting report:

• Watkins excelled in 2024 after moving from the slot (2022-2023: 79.9-84.2% slot) to the perimeter (68.4%). He has a solid build, a strong lower half, and the upper body strength to contend with physical corners.
• Watkins has a varied release package and some crispiness to his routes. He has a quick first step off the line, can stack corners on go balls, and the ability to drop his hips to run a sharp whip or dig route.
• His play strength shows up more during routes or at the catch point as opposed to after the catch. He can churn out some yards after the catch, but he’s not an elite YAC gawd. His quick-twitch is good, but not to the level where he’ll turn a screen into a highlight reel play.
• Watkins has solid deep ball tracking with some clean downfield catches that Jaxson Dart dropped in the bucket. He might not be the biggest receiver, but he has plus body control with plenty of back-shoulder snags and receptions outside of his frame.

Player Comp: Nelson Agholor

16) Savion Williams (WR – TCU)

Stats:

• 2024 (FBS WRs, minimum 50 targets)
  • Yards per route run: 94th
  • PFF receiving grade: 145th
  • MTF: 22nd
• 2023 (FBS WRs, minimum 50 targets)
  • Yards per route run: 171st
  • PFF receiving grade: 112th
• Career
  • In 2024: 322 rushing yards (six scores, 6.3 YPC)

Scouting Report:

• Savion Williams is a physical specimen. Provides easy, immediate speed from the snap. He isn’t the most twitchy player, but he has a quick first step off the line and smooth footwork when asked to gear down and drop his hips or at the top of his route stem. He has good bend on in-breaking routes.
• Williams was a manufactured touch king at TCU, with screens, handoffs and wildcat quarterback snaps. The TCU coaching staff focused on getting Williams involved in various ways every game.
• Williams has more than a few concentration drops on film, with at least an 11% drop rate in three of his final collegiate seasons. Overall, I’m not worried about his hands, as many of these are of the concentration variety. A better measuring stick for his mitts is his 75% contested catch rate in college.
• He has no issues keeping his focus with 50/50 balls in the air or passes outside of his frame. The ball placement from his quarterbacks at TCU didn’t do him any favors. He was forced to adjust to plenty of inaccurate targets. Williams is a nice red zone threat with the size to box out smaller corners.
• Williams should be eased into a full-time traditional wide receiver role in the NFL. He has the traits to become a needle-moving wide receiver. In the limited snaps where he faced physical coverage at the line, he exhibited good hand fighting and the play strength to fight through it in his routes and earn separation, but it was a small sample.

Player Comp: more refined Cordarrelle Patterson

17) Tai Felton (WR – Maryland)

Stats:

• 2024 (FBS WRs, minimum 50 targets)
  • Yards per route run: 57th
  • PFF receiving grade: 37th
• 2023 (FBS WRs, minimum 50 targets)
  • Yards per route run: 148th
  • PFF receiving grade: 212th

Scouting Report:

• Tai Felton excels against zone coverage as an underneath weapon for a passing attack. He has good bend, fluidity and quick twitch in his routes. He gains separation on slants, outs, comebacks and curls well. His short area quickness serves him well at the top of his stems.
• I wouldn’t be surprised to see Felton move inside to the slot in the NFL (76.8% perimeter in college). When he’s asked to stretch the field, things can go awry. His go routes lack nuance as he struggles to separate. His release package on go balls is limited. He doesn’t have the raw speed to stack corners and struggles at the catch point. Corners don’t have an issue living in his back pocket.
• Felton isn’t a “my ball” winner at the catch point. This is where his play strength limitations can show up, with a 38.5% contested catch rate in college. He has had a 5.9% or higher drop rate in each of the last two seasons. I don’t think he has issues with his catch technique, but he does have lapses in concentration at the catch point at times.

Player Comp: Trey Palmer

18) Kyle Williams (WR – Washington State)

Stats:

• 2024 (FBS WRs, minimum 50 targets)
  • Yards per route run: 23rd
  • PFF receiving grade: 21st
• 2023 (FBS WRs, minimum 50 targets)
  • Yards per route run: 183rd
  • PFF receiving grade: 165th

Scouting Report:

• Williams has easy speed (4.4 40-yard dash) with the ability to run away from people after the catch. Williams uncovers quickly with solid hip fluidity.
• Williams has a decent release package with room to grow. He has to improve the efficiency of his movements at the top of his stem. His footwork can be choppy at times as he attempts to gear down at the top of his routes.
• Williams can stretch the field and has solid deep ball tracking. He’s a versatile piece for an NFL offense that could eat up zone coverage underneath and also take the top off a defense.
• Williams has a dense lower half and offers some tackle-breaking ability and YAC skills. Last year, Williams had the eighth-best YAC per reception and ranked 14th in missed tackles.
• These aren’t massive concerns, but Williams has had some issues with drops and isn’t a consistent ball-winner at the catch point.
• His play strength limitations show up in these areas. Williams has a 7.8% collegiate drop rate and has had a 50% or below contested catch rate in three of his five seasons.

Player Comp: Jayden Reed

19) Dont’e Thornton Jr. (Tennessee)

Stats:

• 2024 (only 34 targets*)
  • Yards per route run: 3.72*
  • PFF receiving grade: 80.6*

Scouting report:

• You know what you’re getting with Thornton Jr. The evaluation is easy. Thornton Jr. is a low-volume field stretching dynamo. His insane build-up speed jumps off the screen immediately. He is an electric linear mover with tight hips.
• Any team drafting Thornton Jr. should have a clear plan for deploying him. Stick him on the boundary and ask him to run clearouts, go routes, crossers, and deep overs. If you get him moving in one direction, he can easily run away from people while offering some tackle-breaking ability.
• Thornton Jr. will endear himself to his teammates and coaches with his 150% effort with every snap. He’s a full speed all the time player who blocks his ass off in the run game. Thornton Jr. is easy to find on film as he is the receiver engaged and tenaciously driving corners out of the play.
• His 9.7% drop rate comes with the territory. When quarterbacks look Thornton Jr.’s way, it is on downfield targets because he can hit homers. The high variance outcomes with Thornton Jr. just come with the game-changing deep target ability. The drop rate isn’t indicative of his ability to track deep balls because he does that well.

Player Comp: Marquez Valdes-Scantling

20) Andrew Armstong (WR – Arkansas)

Stats:

• 2024 (FBS WRs, minimum 50 targets)
  • Yards per route run: 19th
  • PFF receiving grade: 4th
  • MTF: 31st

Scouting report:

• A big-bodied build-up speed X receiver. Armstrong is a dependable target with solid hands. He had a 3.9% drop rate in college.
• His play strength shows up mid-route and at the catch point. Armstrong plays through contact in his routes well. Last year, he had a 62.1% contested catch rate with a whopping 29 contested targets.
• The solid mitts are needed for Armstrong. He can be an inconsistent separator. He utilizes his size and strength well with in and out-breaking routes, but when asked to run routes requiring quick hip sink and gear down, it can be a struggle. He’ll round routes and lack snap at the top of his stems, which will lead to defenders in his kitchen at the catch point.
• He utilizes his size and 88th-percentile wingspan well. Armstrong has an impressive catch radius with the ability to play above the rim and dig out low thrown balls.
  Armstrong has to continue to refine his release package and footwork to help maximize his talents.

Player Comp: Cedric Tillman

Dynasty Rookie Draft Rankings: Tier 5

21) Tez Johnson (WR – Oregon)

Stats:

• 2024 (FBS WRs, minimum 50 targets)
  • Yards per route run: 31st
  • PFF receiving grade: 8th
  • YAC per reception: 25th
• 2023 (FBS WRs, minimum 50 targets)
  • Yards per route run: 4th
  • PFF receiving grade: 10th
  • YAC per reception: 11th
• Career
  • 87% slot
  • 2.85 career Yards per route run (YPRR) — two seasons with 3.45 YPRR or higher

Scouting Report:

• Tez Johnson was a manufactured touch player at Oregon. He was utilized in motion, bunch formations and from the backfield (27 snaps in 2024) to get him free releases. Over the last two seasons, he has ranked 26th and eighth in screen targets among wideouts. Last year, screens comprised 51.7% of his target volume (23rd-highest mark).
• Johnson was tasked with plenty of stop routes, leaks out of the backfield, curls and 5-yard out routes. He faced mostly off-coverage in college. Johnson was able to win with speed and quickness. When corners could run with him and chose to press him at the line, they had little issue hanging in his back pocket through his route.
• Johnson deploys a similar shimmy and shake off the line and at the top of his route breaks when he works to gain separation. This caught some corners off guard in college who lacked the foot speed to hang with him, but I worry it won’t be enough in the NFL. His release package off the line and in-route nuances are limited. Johnson could be deployed in the NFL in a similar manner that Oregon used him, but he will have to grow as a route runner and separator to deal with man, press or playing on the perimeter.
• His lack of size and physicality shows up in his routes and at the catch point. It doesn’t take much for a corner to push him off his route.

Player Comp: Calvin Austin

22) Isaac TeSlaa (WR – Arkansas)

Stats:

• 2024 (only 36 targets)*
  • Yards per route run: 1.99
  • PFF receiving grade: 70.6
• 2023 (FBS WRs, minimum 50 targets)
  • Yards per route run: 277th
  • PFF receiving grade: 262nd

Scouting report:

• TeSlaa is a big-bodied power slot (59.9-79% slot rate). His play strength shows up in his routes and at the catch point. TeSlaa had a 54.2% contested catch rate and zero drops in college.
• He plays well through contact. While he’s an explosive athlete in the gym, those testing metrics don’t necessarily cross over the field, with only 5.0 YAC per reception in college. His buildup speed can limit him when he’s working in close quarters after the catch, but it serves him well after the catch with crossing routes.
• The former Razorback can sink his hips nicely for his size. He still needs to refine his footwork at the top of his stem. He’ll have plenty of routes where he flashes crisp feet, but at times, he’ll try and do too much, or he’ll round off his route break.

Player Comp: Terrace Marshall

23) Xavier Restrepo (WR – Miami)

Stats:

• 2024 (FBS WRs, minimum 50 targets)
  • Yards per route run: 42nd
  • PFF receiving grade: 15th
• 2023 (FBS WRs, minimum 50 targets)
  • Yards per route run: 24th
  • PFF receiving grade: 12th

Scouting Report:

• Xavier Restrepo is a scrappy sparkplug. He can be a tone-setter for an offense with his energy. He’s always willing to stick his nose in a run play and hit a guy. He’ll chip for his quarterback during scramble drills. The edge and energy he plays with can be felt by just watching his film.
• Restrepo has nice body control. He can adjust to plenty of errant throws outside of his frame. He can play above the rim some.
• It’s nothing to see Restrepo make a tough catch in traffic. He plays with no fear in traffic, securing targets with defenders bearing down on him at the catch point. Restrepo had a 61.5% contested catch rate last year.
• Restrepo has a nice second gear in the open field. When he hits the pedal to the metal he can leave corners in the dust. Don’t underrate his short-area quickness, either. He’ll cross guys over off the line, breaking ankles and creating early separation. He’s a solid YAC threat, ranking 28th in YAC per reception and 10th in YAC last season.
• He has solid route pacing and understands where to sit it down against zone coverage.

Player Comp: Amari Rodgers

24) Pat Bryant (WR – Illinois)

Stats:

• 2024 (FBS WRs, minimum 50 targets)
  • Yards per route run: 18th
  • PFF receiving grade: 7th
• Career
  • 80.5% of his collegiate snaps from the perimeter

Scouting Report:

• Pat Bryant is a big-bodied physical receiver. His play strength shows up continually in his film. He fights through contact well in his routes, is a bully after the catch (13 missed tackles forced with only 54 receptions) and is strong at the catch point (69.2% contested catch rate last year).
• Bryant’s raw speed is questionable. He has build-up speed best displayed on posts and deep overs. He looks clunky in his routes at times, running like he has cement in his shoes.
• Bryant displays the ability to stack corners. I worry that against better competition he could lack the raw speed and route nuance to consistently stack corners at the next level. He has to continue to add releases to the tool belt and refine his footwork at the top of his stems. His release package at this juncture is limited.
• He has issues sinking his hips consistently and decelerating quickly to create late separation. He has the play strength and solid hands to win 50/50 balls, but that could be a realm he lives in constantly in the NFL.

Player Comp: Jake Bobo

25) Bru McCoy (WR – Texas)

Stats:

• 2024 (FBS WRs, minimum 50 targets)
  • Yards per route run: 193rd
  • PFF receiving grade: 204th

Scouting Report:

• Bru McCoy is a big-bodied wide receiver with build-up speed but a quick first step off the line. This allows him the ability to uncover quickly on short area routes like slants and drags. He faced a lot of off-coverage in college and had no issues gaining separation against it. His gear down at the top of his routes still needs some work in terms of consistency.
• He ran a ton of curls and in-breaking routes in college. His route tree was more limited and will have to expand in the NFL. When McCoy was tasked with go routes, he would routinely try to win with just speed, but he doesn’t have the raw juice to do so consistently in the NFL. I would have loved to see McCoy utilized more on posts, corners and deep overs, where he could have accessed his build-up speed and utilized his size more.
• McCoy had issues with physical corners who could press him and run with him. He needs to utilize his upper body strength versus press better. He has the footwork and necessary short-area agility to improve in this area.
• McCoy doesn’t offer much in the realm of YAC. His yards after the catch per reception number in college was just 4.9 yards. He’s more of a possession receiver.
• Overall, he has decent hands. When the catch point is clean, he has been solid. He had a 5.1% drop rate in college, which isn’t overly concerning, with plenty of those being concentration-related, but when the catch point is muddy, he does have issues. McCoy isn’t a bully ball receiver, with less than a 43% contested catch rate in each of the last two seasons.

Player Comp: J.J. Arcega-Whiteside

26) Chimere Dike (WR – Florida)

Stats:

• 2024 (FBS WRs, minimum 50 targets)
  • Yards per route run: 62nd
  • PFF receiving grade: 126th

(only 37 targets in 2023)*

• 2022 (FBS WRs, minimum 50 targets)
  • Yards per route run: 73rd
  • PFF receiving grade: 77th

Scouting report:

• Immediate and easy “run away from you” speed. Dike is a linear athlete who excels on routes where he can put his speed to best use (posts, drags, deep overs). He doesn’t have many pacing variations in his routes.
• Dike does deploy head fakes and nuanced footwork in his routes, but it’s almost overkill. His in-route jabs and extra oddities are too much icing on the cake and, many times, don’t help him sell a route further or gain extra separation.
• Dike was a field stretcher in college with a 13.6 career aDOT. That’s likely the role that he will also play in the NFL. He’s a solid deep ball tracker.
• He had issues with drops in college, with a 10.9% career drop rate, and zero seasons with a drop rate below 7.7% (as high as 17.4%).

Player Comp: Henry Ruggs

27) Arian Smith (WR – Georgia)

Stats:

• 2024 (FBS WRs, minimum 50 targets)
  • Yards per route run: 126th
  • PFF receiving grade: 249th

Scouting report:

• Smith is a fluid mover with easy and electric speed. His game revolves around his blinding speed.
• Smith is a downfield weapon with a career 17.0 aDOT. He can destroy a cushion in the blink of an eye. Georgia deployed him with a heavy dose of go balls, seam shots, and with some hitches tossed. It was a very linear route tree. Smith displays strong ball-tracking skills with deep targets.
• He has some play strength concerns. Smith isn’t a tackle breaker and generates YAC with only his speed. He finished his collegiate career with 7.9 yards after the catch per reception but only six total missed tackles.
• Drops are also a big part of Smith’s game. Some came in devastating moments when he made an incredible play diving, etc., only to flub the catch. Smith had a 17.2% or higher drop rate in each of the last two seasons.

Player Comp: Clifford Franklin

28) Kaden Prather (WR – Maryland)

Stats:

• 2024 (FBS WRs, minimum 50 targets)
  • Yards per route run: 240th
  • PFF receiving grade: 222nd
• 2023 (FBS WRs, minimum 50 targets)
  • Yards per route run: 153rd
  • PFF receiving grade: 174th

Scouting report:

• Prather is a big body clasher/possession receiver. He has build-up speed and can look lumbering at times as he’s getting up to top speed. He moves like an athletic tight end at times.
• Prather has surprisingly fluid hips. They help him compensate for heavier feet with laterally breaking routes and hitches.
• He’s not a top-end separator. Prather has solid body control and strength at the catch point. He’s had at least a 50% contested catch rate or higher in two of his last three collegiate seasons.
• Prather isn’t offering much after the catch, as he’s a station-to-station player. He had only 4.5 yards after the catch per reception in college and a total of 24 missed tackles forced (across four seasons).

Player Comp: Josh Malone

29) Beaux Collins (WR – Notre Dame)

Stats:

• 2024 (FBS WRs, minimum 50 targets)
  • Yards per route run: 219th
  • PFF receiving grade: 246th

Scouting report:

• Collins is a big perimeter wide receiver (76.7% out wide in college). He’s a sturdy 6’3”, but he moves like a 6’5” receiver (that’s not a good thing). His burst off the line and change of direction skills are average. He’s a long strider with build-up speed.
• His footwork and fluid hips help to compensate for hips that hinder his ability to gear down at the top of his routes. Collins uncovers decently with hitches. His steps at the route break are exaggerated when running in and out breaking routes. It hinders his ability to transition into a run-after-the-catch weapon.
• His build-up speed serves him well when he’s asked to stretch the field. Collins has good ball tracking on deep targets.
• His hands are suspect, and that’s kind. He finished with a 13.2% drop rate in college and had at least an 11.6% drop rate in every season (as high as 14.6% in his final season).

Player Comp: Lance McCutcheon

30) Nick Nash (WR – San Jose State)

Stats:

• 2024 (FBS/FCS WRs, minimum 50 targets)
  • Yards per route run: 57th
  • PFF receiving grade: 21st
• 2023 (FBS/FCS WRs, minimum 50 targets)
  • Yards per route run: 167th
  • PFF receiving grade: 172nd

Scouting report:

• Nash is a big power slot. He had 91.4% of his routes from the perimeter in 2023 before moving inside for 2024 (93.6% slot). Nash has build up speed with questionable raw speed to stretch the field. When he’s sent up the seam, he continually has defenders in his wheelhouse. He’s best viewed as an underneath zone-beating slot option. Nash does exhibit good route pacing and understanding of how to exploit zone.
• San Jose State helped Nash by scheming him up free releases on many plays. His usage featured many plays with motion, bunch formations, and route concepts designed to tie up corners at the line.
• Nash doesn’t have the play strength to continually win, with defenders muddying the catch point. He has only a 43.9% contested catch rate in his collegiate career. Nash isn’t a strong ball tracker downfield and has had some drop issues in college (8.4% drop rate).
• He can churn out some yards after the catch with his vision, savvy, and upper-body strength. He forced 30 missed tackles in 2024(tied for the most in college football with Luther Burden).

Player Comp: Tyler Johnson

31) Ricky White (WR – UNLV)

Stats:

• 2024 (FBS WRs, minimum 50 targets)
  • Yards per route run: 15th
  • PFF receiving grade: 23rd
• 2023 (FBS WRs, minimum 50 targets)
  • Yards per route run: 2nd
  • PFF receiving grade: 4th

Scouting report:

• White is a solid route runner. He understands route pacing and depth with a good feel versus zone coverage. He sets corners by manipulating leverage. He isn’t a burner by any stretch of the imagination, but he does have a quick first step off the line, which helps him earn quick separation on in-breaking routes.
• White’s physical limitations will limit his upside in the NFL and could force a move inside to the slot. He doesn’t have enough speed to stack defenders on go routes and consistently win vertically in the NFL. White faced a ton of zone coverage in college. He lacks the requisite snap at the top of his stems.
• He has some issues with drops and ball-tracking deep. He has more than a few reps where the ball clangs off his hands in the intermediate and deep portions of the field. He has had an 8.2% or higher drop rate in two of the last three seasons.

Player Comp: Ihmir Smith-Marsette

32) Jimmy Horn Jr. (WR – Colorado)

Stats:

• 2024 (FBS WRs, minimum 50 targets)
  • Yards per route run: 181st
  • PFF receiving grade: 199th

Scouting report:

• Horn Jr. is a slot-only player (93.6.% slot). His size and play strength show up immediately after the catch and at the catch point.
• Horn Jr. has some reps where he is motoring through the second level of a defense after the catch before getting blown out of his cleats by a defender. He needs a clean catch point with only a 25.9% contested catch rate in college.
• Horn Jr. is more quick than fast. He gets to top speed immediately and can make subtle changes of direction mid-route without losing speed. He flashes strong body control, adjusting to back shoulder and underthrown balls easily.
  Colorado utilized him in motion on swing passes to get him free releases. He excels against zone coverage with a good attack plan and feel for route depth and pacing. Physical corners can erase him from any play.

Player Comp: Tyler Scott

33) Jamaal Pritchett (WR – South Alabama)

Stats:

• 2024 (FBS/FCS WRs, minimum 50 targets)
  • Yards per route run: 4th
  • PFF receiving grade: 6th

Scouting Report:

• Prichett is a slot spark plug. He was utilized in a high-volume, manufactured touch role at South Alabama. He had a heavy dose of motioned swing passes and screens with some crossers weaved in.
• His change of direction isn’t great for a player his size. He needs choppy steps to change directions in a phone booth quickly.
• With Prichett’s low center of gravity, he can manufacture missed tackles. He had 54 missed tackles forced over the last two seasons. He looks like a running back in the open field at times.

Player Comp: Xavier Smith

34) Ja’Corey Brooks (WR – Louisville)

Stats:

• 2024 (FBS WRs, minimum 50 targets)
  • Yards per route run: 34th
  • PFF receiving grade: 41st

Scouting report:

• Brooks has a slender build. He can be pressed into oblivion or rerouted. He profiles as an underneath zone beating possession receiver at the next level.
• Brooks needs to continue to add to the release package and his route running bag of tricks. The footwork at the top of his routes can be lacking leading to rounded routes and a lack of suddenness. He’ll struggle to consistently separate in the NFL unless he cleans it up.

Player Comp: John Hightower

35) Jaylin Lane (WR – Virginia Tech)

Stats:

• 2024 (FBS WRs, minimum 50 targets)
  • Yards per route run: 172nd
  • PFF receiving grade: 162nd
• 2023 (FBS WRs, minimum 50 targets)
  • Yards per route run: 152nd
  • PFF receiving grade: 78th
• Career
  • 84.6-90% slot rate at Virginia Tech

Scouting Report:

• At Virginia Tech, Jaylin Lane was fed a constant diet of screens, schemed touches and opportunities in motion. He was gifted volume with free releases. Lane will operate in a similar role in the NFL while running his routes from the slot.
• When operating as a slot receiver, it was primarily slants, deep overs and out routes. He has the short-area quickness and nose for the hole in zone defense to be an effective NFL slot option.
• Lane offers some YAC upside with a running-back mentality in the open field. He has more upside as a YAC option if he can invoke more of the quick twitch he utilizes in his routes into his RAC game. Lane isn’t an elite tackle breaker, but he can run through poor wraps and slip poor angled attempts.

Player Comp: Wan’Dale Robinson

36) Da’Quan Felton (WR – Virginia Tech)

Stats:

• 2024 (FBS WRs, minimum 50 targets)
  • Yards per route run: 217th
  • PFF receiving grade: 255th
• 2023 (FBS WRs, minimum 50 targets)
  • Yards per route run: 114th
  • PFF receiving grade: 202nd

Scouting Report:

• Felton is a big possession wide receiver. He can be lumbering off the line at times. His short-area agility is lacking, and his hips are tight.
• He does have a decisive and decent first step, which, combined with his size, helps him separate and gain easy leverage with in-breaking routes. His play strength allows him to play through contact in his routes and prevent getting rerouted by physical corners.
• With his size and skillset, I wouldn’t be surprised if he transitions into a big slot role in the NFL.
• Felton had drop issues in college, with at least a 13.5% drop rate in three of his four seasons.
  

Player Comp: Preston Williams

37) LaJohntay Wester (WR – Colorado)

Stats:

• 2024 (FBS WRs, minimum 50 targets)
  • Yards per route run: 161st
  • PFF receiving grade: 70th

Scouting report:

• Wester is a quick, slippery slot receiver with the versatility to help a team also return kicks. He averaged a stellar 19.7 yards per punt return in 2023 (FAU). In 2020, he averaged 21.7 yards per kick return.
• Wester is a linear athlete who can excel against zone coverage, but physical corners have zero issues with rerouting him or pressing him into oblivion. For a player his size, his short-area footwork (whip routes) can be disappointing, and it takes too long for him to gear down when he’s running a comeback.
• His lack of size and play strength also shows up at the catch point with only a 49.2% contested catch rate. He can be a productive player in the right role, but he’ll need help with how he’s deployed from the slot with plenty of gadgetry to get him free releases and into space.

Player Comp: Jalen Saunders

38) Roc Taylor (WR – Memphis)

Stats:

• 2024 (FBS WRs, minimum 50 targets)
  • Yards per route run: 61st
  • PFF receiving grade: 88th

Scouting report:

• Taylor is a tightly wound athletic wide receiver. He lacks fluidity in his routes at times. His upper body strength does grant him the ability to deal with physical corners. He plays through contact well and can defend himself from grabby defensive backs.
• He’ll be a solid backup in the NFL that can win against off-coverage. He lacks the explosiveness off the line and at the top of his stem to consistently gain separation in the NFL.
• Taylor is strong at the catch point. He had a 60% or higher contested catch rate in each of the last two seasons. He also adjusts to targets outside of his frame well. His hands have improved over the last three years, with his drop rate dipping from 9.1% to 5.6%.

Player Comp: Laquon Treadwell

39) Kobe Hudson (WR – UCF)

Stats:

• 2024 (FBS WRs, minimum 50 targets)
  • Yards per route run: 25th
  • PFF receiving grade: 84th

Scouting report:

• Hudson is a zone-beating possession receiver. He has a quick first step off the line and can earn early separation with underneath routes, but when he’s in the intermediate and deep areas of the field, his lack of speed catches up with him. He has a good feel for route depth and pacing against zone.
• When corners are beaten by him off the line and early in a route, they can claw back into the action and catch up with him. He doesn’t have enough raw speed to stack corners on nine routes.
• His routes can lack snap and suddenness at the top of his stem. He has to continue to refine his footwork off the line and in routes. There are some TikTok moments in his routes where he’s running in place instead of adding efficient movements to help himself earn separation.

Player Comp: Ronnie Bell

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