2026 NFL Draft: Wide Receiver Big Board

The 2026 NFL Draft is just under a month away from kicking off in Pittsburgh. Who are the top receivers in the annually loaded position group that could feature several first-round selections? Are there any sleepers that could jump into the early rounds who no one saw coming? These are the best of the best receivers on the 2026 WR Big Board.

In case you missed the previous position groups in the big board series, they are listed below:

Quarterback

Running Back

Note: All statistics are courtesy of College Football Reference, and all RAS numbers are courtesy of @MathBomb

1. Carnell Tate | 6’2 192 | Ohio State

Tate waited for his turn to be the latest star receiver from the Ohio State factory and more than lived up to the billing for the 2024 national champions. He’s the best receiver in the class in a close run race, but his overall package of athleticism and route running won out over the others. He has the size and speed to play all three receiver positions on the field. The frame is a concern, but he’s so consistently open that it doesn’t matter at times. If he can bulk up a few pounds without sacrificing the speed and athleticism, he has the route-running specialty to become a dominant WR2.

A smooth operator from anywhere on the field and a metronome for the Buckeyes’ passing attack. Teams will be concerned with the injury that forced him out of action for several games. If he weren’t hurt, he would’ve surpassed 1,000 yards on the season. Physically and stylistically, he compares to former Ohio State receiver Chris Olave. Tate should become the latest top ten selection from Ohio State.

Round Projection: Top Ten

Player Comp: Chris Olave

Statistics: 51 receptions for 875 yards and nine touchdowns

2. Jordan Tyson | 6’2 203 | Arizona State

Tyson has the talent and production (when healthy) to become a top-tier WR1 option for his team, but his extensive medical history hampers his progress. He missed significant time for the Sun Devils in 2025 with hamstring ailments that ruled him out of participating during the Combine. When healthy, he offers a blend of functional athleticism and nuanced route running that makes any defensive back look foolish. The former Sun Devils star doesn’t care about his own health and gives it everything he has on every play. Tyson is a well-put-together prospect with an improving route package that could help him become a utility-type receiver who can play everywhere. If his medical reports check out, he should be a top 15 selection. Stylistically, he resembles Cooper Kupp when he was coming out of college.

Round Projection: Top 15

Player Comp: Cooper Kupp

Statistics: 61 receptions for 711 yards and eight touchdowns

3. Denzel Boston | 6’4 212 | Washington

The last of Kalen DeBoer’s monster-receiver recruits chose to remain in Seattle despite the turmoil that followed the new head coach’s arrival in 2024. Boston has the size and enough athleticism to play as a true “X” at the next level. While not a burner, he possesses immense ball skills and veteran know-how to get open for his quarterback. He exercises every bit of his size advantage on smaller defensive backs, boxing them out for big catches. An underrated athlete who won’t blow anyone with speed, but has enough lateral quickness to function. There’s a good chance that he settles into the middle of Day 2 and becomes a steal for a team. He compares stylistically to Broncos star receiver Courtland Sutton, but another comparison could be pre-big-contract Kenny Golladay.

Round Projection: Early to Middle Day 2

Player Comp: Courtland Sutton / Kenny Golladay

Statistics: 62 receptions for 881 yards and 11 touchdowns

4. Makai Lemon | 5’11 192 | USC

Lemon is the reigning Biletnikoff winner and a likely top-20 selection, given his prodigious talents and production. He’s a bit on the leaner side, but makes up for it with great athleticism after the catch. The former Trojan star took the reins from another USC receiver on this list and ran with it. There’s no reason that he couldn’t play outside, but the slot could be where he makes his biggest contributions due to his size. Proficient in his route running, he knows how to get open for the quarterback. There are subtle nuances in his routes, which is a rare trait among college receivers. The ball skills are top-tier, given his stature. Stylistically and physically, Lemon resembles former Georgia star Ladd McConkey.

Round Projection: First to Second Round

Player Comp: Ladd McConkey

Statistics: 79 receptions for 1,156 yards and 11 touchdowns

5. Omar Cooper, Jr | 6’0 199 | Indiana

Cooper was part of a troika of excellent receivers for the reigning national champions and is a versatile athlete with experience in both the slot and outside positions. He broke out in 2024 but truly got onto the scene in 2025 with over 900 yards and 13 touchdowns. The former Hoosiers star receiver plays bigger than his listed size and is a great athlete with hidden burst. He had an insane highlight reel touchdown catch that preserved Indiana’s perfect season against Penn State. His physical comparison is former Texas receiver Devin Duvernay. There’s a chance Cooper could go early on Day 2, but the floor is late.

Round Projection: Middle to Late Day 2

Player Comp: Devin Duvernay

Statistics: 69 receptions for 937 yards and 13 touchdowns; three attempts for 74 yards and one touchdown

6. Skyler Bell | 6’0 192 | UCONN

Bell began his ascent up the draft boards with a great 2024 season and followed it up with an even better 2025, posting over 1,000 yards and 13 touchdowns. He has the size and speed to feast in the slot, but can play on the outside as well. The former Huskies receiver stretches the field with his deep speed and strikes fear into opposing defensive backs with his athleticism. Bell performed well during the Combine, nearly jumping out of the stadium with a 41″ vertical jump while running a 4.4 flat in the 40. Physically, he compares to Giants receiver Darius Slayton, who has carved out a nice career for the erstwhile rebuilding franchise. Teams should love the two-year production and his physical tools to draft him on Day 2 to be a slot weapon.

Round Projection: Middle to Late Day 2

RAS: 9.67

Player Comp: Darius Slayton

Statistics: 101 receptions for 1,278 yards and 13 touchdowns

7. KC Concepcion | 6’0 196 | Texas A&M

Concepcion entered 2025 with great fanfare after transferring into A&M from NC State and delivered on the hype for the most part. He produced over 900 yards and returned kicks as well, becoming a much-celebrated WR2 to Mario Craver’s WR1 title. He’s a fluid athlete and can burn the defense with over-the-top speed at times. His route running is special in the short and intermediate windows, using his top-end lateral quickness to find the open patches of grass. His 2024 season was marred by injury and quarterback inconsistency in Raleigh, so he transferred to a much better situation in College Station. As it stands, he projects as a Day 2 selection. His physical and stylistic comparison is to former Oklahoma receiver Kenny Stills.

Round Projection: Day 2

Player Comp: Kenny Stills

Statistics: 61 receptions for 919 yards and nine touchdowns

8. Germie Bernard | 6’1 206 | Alabama

Bernard transferred to Alabama before the 2024 season after spending one season at Washington playing for Kalen DeBoer. It was a wise choice as he thrived in Tuscaloosa. Despite the presence of star receiver Ryan Williams, he was Alabama’s leading man in 2025. The former Crimson Tide receiver has experience in all three receiver slots, but could be an excellent big-slot option at the next level. His physical and stylistic profile matches that of longtime veteran and former Clemson legend Sammy Watkins. Early Day 3 is his floor, so he should be a Day 2 selection given his production and skillset.

Round Projection: Day 2 to Early Day 3

RAS: 9.05

Player Comp: Sammy Watkins

Statistics: 64 receptions for 862 yards and seven touchdowns

9. Chris Brazzell II | 6’4 198 | Tennessee

The Volunteers’ talented receiver split his four-year career between two programs, spending the first part of his stay at Tulane. He transferred to Tennessee in 2024. Brazzell is a tall, lanky receiver in the mold of former Tennessee receiver Justin Hunter, who can blow the top off the defense and has the production to back him up. While 2024 was spent trying to acclimate to a bigger program, 2025 is where he blossomed into a 1,000-yard receiver with a new quarterback. He’s an intriguing Day 2 candidate with a smart team, utilizing his speed and physical traits in red-zone opportunities.

Round Projection: Day 2

Player Comp: Mike Wallace

Statistics: 62 receptions for 1,017 yards and nine touchdowns

10. Zachariah Branch | 5’9 177 | Georgia

Branch transferred to Georgia after spending two productive seasons at USC, exploding onto the scene in Athens with over 800 yards in 2025. He’s a dynamic athlete with the ball in his hands and can take any catch or return the distance on any given play. However, his size limits his potential, as offensive coordinators will have to scheme to get him open at times against bigger defenders. He provides special teams versatility as well in the return game, with over 1,400 yards and two touchdowns in his college career. The former Bulldogs receiver physically and stylistically compares to Dri Archer, who had a great run in the NFL as a receiver/returner for several seasons. Middle Day 3 seems like Branch’s floor at this juncture.

Round Projection: Day 2 to Day 3

RAS: 9.11

Player Comp: Dri Archer

Statistics: 81 receptions for 811 yards and six touchdowns; 15 punt returns for 180 yards; 10 kick returns for 205 yards

11. Malachi Fields | 6’4 218 | Notre Dame

Fields transferred to Notre Dame for his final season of eligibility after spending his career at Virginia. He’s a bigger receiver at 6’4 218, and looks the part physically. The Fighting Irish playmaker participated in the Senior Bowl and the Combine, where he showed what he is, an “X” receiver who can outmuscle DBs. If a team is looking for a throwback X receiver who can dominate touches, Fields is that guy. Athletically speaking, he didn’t run the fastest time, so if he can knock the 40 into the 4.5 range, he can go higher than his projected Day 3 stock. He has the potential, ball skills, and frame to become something greater. His physical comparison is to former West Virginia and current Falcons receiver David Sills V.

Round Projection: Day 3

RAS: 7.31

Player Comp: David Sills V

Statistics: 36 receptions for 630 yards and five touchdowns

12. Ted Hurst | 6’4 206 | Georgia State

Hurst earned an invitation to the Senior Bowl, where he shone after a stellar career for Georgia State, where he produced almost 2,000 yards and 15 touchdowns in two seasons. He has the size and speed to become an “X” receiver that teams covet, but can play all three receiver positions in a pinch. The former Panthers star rocketed up the draft boards this offseason, and his Combine effort was great. Hurst’s physical and stylistic profile trends towards former North Dakota State and current Packers receiver Christian Watson. He is solidly in the mix for a middle Day 3 selection with the offseason process unfurling for him.

Round Projection: Day 3

RAS: 9.91

Player Comp: Christian Watson

Statistics: 71 receptions for 1,004 yards and six touchdowns

13. Kevin Coleman, Jr | 5’10 179 | Missouri

Coleman is a former highly touted recruit who took an adventure around college football, playing for different programs each season. He started his journey at HBCU Jackson State with Deion Sanders before transferring to Louisville, Mississippi State, and Missouri, in that order. The size limits him to the slot almost exclusively, but an enterprising offensive coordinator can make him useful in that role. He needed a good offseason and received it at the Senior Bowl, but didn’t follow it up as much at the Combine. There’s some potential there, along with versatility on special teams. A team will take a chance on him in the latter stages of Day 3. Physically, he compares to former Tennessee Volunteers receiver Cedrick Wilson.

Round Projection: Middle to Late Day 3

RAS: 6.44

Player Comp: Cedrick Wilson (Tennessee)

Statistics: 66 receptions for 732 yards and one touchdown

14. Bryce Lance | 6’3 204 | North Dakota State

The younger brother of former NDSU quarterback and first-round selection, Trey, is a great prospect in his own right. He wowed in Indianapolis with an amazing Combine performance. He torched the 40 with a 4.34 40 while nearly jumping higher than the testing jig with a vertical jump of 41.5″ and broad jumped over 11 feet. The production over the past two seasons, albeit at the FCS level, has been great, with over 2,000 yards and 25 touchdowns. He’s a freak vertical athlete who dominated at his level, but questions remain on how he’ll fare against bigger competition. Teams will fall in love with his measurables and take him in the early parts of Day 3. There’s a chance he becomes an on-field talent like Rashee Rice, but the traits and style suggest Josh Doctson.

Round Projection: Early to Middle Day 3

RAS: 9.95

Player Comp: Rashee Rice / Josh Doctson

Statistics: 51 receptions for 1,079 yards and eight touchdowns

15. Ja’Kobi Lane | 6’4 200 | USC

Lane needed a good offseason process to recover some lost stock after a winding 2025 season that saw his production fall off after ceding the WR1 reins to another receiver on this list. He got that in spades after being invited to the Senior Bowl and running faster than expected at the Combine with a sub-4.5 40. The former USC star is a physical receiver with the size and athleticism to box out smaller defenders at the catch point. He gets open in whatever way possible using his frame. If he can prove that he’s faster than expected, he could be an early Day 3 selection, but the receiver class is loaded with talent. Brandon Aiyuk is Lane’s physical and stylistic comparison.

Round Projection: Middle Day 3

RAS: 9.39

Player Comp: Brandon Aiyuk

Statistics: 49 receptions for 745 yards and four touchdowns