It didn't seem like an especially great draft class of wide receivers. Yes there were two top-10 picks, but Hunter-McMillan wasn't as exciting as say Chase-Waddle, London-Wilson or Harrison-Nabers. And a couple seemed to be blocked. But those first-rounders sure look good today.
There were four selected in the first round: Travis Hunter, Tetairoa McMillan, Emeka Egbuka and Matthew Golden. Egbuka, most notably, seemed in danger of being the No. 4 in Tampa Bay. But not today.
Chris Godwin (ankle) had a second surgery this offseason and could begin the season on the PUP list, requiring him to miss the first four games. Jalen McMillan (neck) is expected to open the season on IR, and Rick Stroud of the Tampa Bay Times speculates that McMillan will be out through the team's Week 9 bye. Egbuka opening as one of the top 2 receivers in an offense that a year ago was 3rd in passing? At this point, it seems likely.
Hunter and McMillan were already expected to start, the No. 2 and No. 1, respectively, in Jacksonville and Carolina's offenses. And with Golden, who by all account has had a strong preseason, you have Green Bay's other presumed top wideout Jayden Reed in a walking boot with a sprained foot, and he's no lock to be healthy for the start of the season either. Green Bay has several other capable wideouts, but Golden opening as the No. 1 or 2 there would not be surprising.
Hunter and McMillan have been selected earliest to this point, around 28-30th in PPR, according to ADP data. With this news, barring some really positive news on Godwin in the next week, I think I'd draft Egbuka before either of them.
In the last 10 years, there have been 45 first-round wide receivers drafted into the NFL. Only five of those guys have put up top-12 numbers in PPR leagues in their rookie seasons, but two did it last year -- Brian Thomas and Malik Nabers. Six others finished in the top 25, so about 25 percent odds of first-round wideouts being top-25 players in their rookie seasons. Looking at 2025's four first-rounders, I think it's very possible they beat those odds, and put at least 2 players in the top 25. And I think all four might emerge as starters in typical leagues.
Table shows the first-year numbers of those first-round wideouts from the last 10 years, sorted by ranking in PPR leagues.
FIRST-ROUND WIDE RECEIVERS, ROOKIE NUMBERS (2015-2024) | |||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Year | Pk | Player | Tgt | Rec | Yds | TD | Rk |
2024 | 23 | Brian Thomas, Jac. | 133 | 87 | 1282 | 10 | 4 |
2021 | 5 | Ja'Marr Chase, Cin. | 128 | 81 | 1455 | 13 | 5 |
2024 | 6 | Malik Nabers, NYG | 170 | 109 | 1204 | 7 | 6 |
2020 | 22 | Justin Jefferson, Min. | 125 | 88 | 1400 | 7 | 6 |
2021 | 6 | Jaylen Waddle, Mia. | 140 | 104 | 1015 | 7 | 12 |
2018 | 26 | Calvin Ridley, Atl. | 92 | 64 | 821 | 10 | 20 |
2022 | 10 | Garrett Wilson, NYJ | 147 | 83 | 1103 | 4 | 21 |
2015 | 4 | Amari Cooper, Oak. | 130 | 72 | 1070 | 6 | 21 |
2020 | 17 | CeeDee Lamb, Dall. | 111 | 74 | 935 | 7 | 22 |
2023 | 23 | Jordan Addison, Min. | 108 | 70 | 911 | 10 | 23 |
2022 | 11 | Chris Olave, N.O. | 119 | 72 | 1042 | 4 | 24 |
2022 | 8 | Drake London, Atl. | 117 | 72 | 866 | 4 | 28 |
2024 | 4 | Marvin Harrison, Ari. | 116 | 62 | 885 | 8 | 30 |
2021 | 10 | DeVonta Smith, Phil. | 104 | 64 | 916 | 5 | 30 |
2023 | 22 | Zay Flowers, Balt. | 108 | 77 | 858 | 6 | 31 |
2024 | 28 | Xavier Worthy, K.C. | 98 | 59 | 638 | 9 | 33 |
2020 | 25 | Brandon Aiyuk, S.F. | 96 | 60 | 748 | 7 | 35 |
2018 | 24 | DJ Moore, Car. | 82 | 55 | 788 | 2 | 36 |
2020 | 15 | Jerry Jeudy, Den. | 113 | 52 | 856 | 3 | 45 |
2019 | 25 | Marquise Brown, Balt. | 71 | 46 | 584 | 7 | 46 |
2023 | 20 | Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Sea. | 93 | 63 | 628 | 4 | 48 |
2024 | 9 | Rome Odunze, Chi. | 101 | 54 | 734 | 3 | 49 |
2022 | 16 | Jahan Dotson, Was. | 61 | 35 | 523 | 7 | 51 |
2024 | 32 | Xavier Legette, Car. | 84 | 49 | 497 | 4 | 61 |
2016 | 21 | Will Fuller, Hou. | 92 | 47 | 635 | 3 | 61 |
2021 | 27 | Rashod Bateman, Balt. | 68 | 46 | 515 | 1 | 70 |
2023 | 21 | Quentin Johnston, LAC | 67 | 38 | 431 | 2 | 74 |
2022 | 18 | Treylon Burks, Ten. | 54 | 33 | 444 | 2 | 78 |
2015 | 14 | DeVante Parker, Mia. | 50 | 26 | 494 | 3 | 78 |
2024 | 31 | Ricky Pearsall, S.F. | 46 | 31 | 400 | 3 | 82 |
2016 | 15 | Corey Coleman, Cle. | 73 | 33 | 413 | 3 | 83 |
2017 | 5 | Corey Davis, Ten. | 65 | 34 | 375 | 0 | 85 |
2021 | 20 | Kadarius Toney, NYG | 57 | 39 | 420 | 0 | 89 |
2020 | 12 | Henry Ruggs, L.V. | 43 | 26 | 452 | 2 | 89 |
2020 | 21 | Jalen Reagor, Phil. | 54 | 31 | 396 | 2 | 91 |
2015 | 20 | Nelson Agholor, Phil. | 44 | 23 | 283 | 1 | 101 |
2015 | 29 | Phillip Dorsett, Ind. | 39 | 18 | 225 | 1 | 110 |
2019 | 32 | N'Keal Harry, N.E. | 24 | 12 | 105 | 2 | 124 |
2017 | 7 | Mike Williams (Clemson), LAC | 23 | 11 | 95 | 0 | 139 |
2022 | 12 | Jameson Williams, Det. | 9 | 1 | 41 | 1 | 158 |
2016 | 22 | Josh Doctson, Was. | 6 | 2 | 66 | 0 | 170 |
2016 | 23 | Laquon Treadwell, Min. | 3 | 1 | 15 | 0 | 188 |
2017 | 9 | John Ross, Cin. | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 199 |
2015 | 26 | Breshad Perriman, Balt. | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 999 |
2015 | 7 | Kevin White, Chi. | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 999 |
2025 | 2 | Travis Hunter, Jac. | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? |
2025 | 8 | Tetairoa McMillan, Car. | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? |
2025 | 19 | Emeka Egbuka, T.B. | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? |
2025 | 23 | Matthew Golden, G.B. | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? |
--Andy Richardson