Perhaps no other week in the NFL calendar gets me more excited than Combine week. Throughout the city of Indianapolis, NFL scouts, GMs, and coaches will be running around trying to watch and get the skinny on this year’s NFL Draft class.
While quarterbacks generally steal the headlines at the combine, this year will be an exception. The top two quarterbacks in this class are Miami’s Cam Ward and Colorado’s Shedeur Sanders, and both passers will likely not throw at the combine, making the throwing session a bit less exciting. Luckily for us NFL Draft enthusiasts, almost all of the top receivers in this year’s class will be working out and looking to put on a show.
This year’s receiver class is a fun group consisting of players who possess a number of different skillsets. The class is led by Colorado’s superstar Travis Hunter, an explosive playmaker with game-changing ball skills. Unfortunately, Hunter has come out and said he plans to work out as a corner instead of a receiver during the combine, a decision I would have advised against. Nonetheless, the other top receivers in this class all plan to participate in the workout and I expect NFL decision makers to be dialed in.
With Hunter not participating, let’s examine some of the other top receivers to look out for at this year’s NFL Combine.
Top 2025 NFL Combine Wide Receivers
Tetairoa McMillan, Arizona
If there is a receiver outside of Hunter who has the best shot to get drafted in the top 10, it’s without a doubt McMillan. As a matter of fact, if you looked at five separate mock drafts it’s more than likely that you would see McMillan selected in the top 10 in nearly all of them – he’s that highly regarded.
A Drake London-esque prospect, McMillan wins with his size, length and ball skills. He plays the game like a power forward, bullying and out positioning himself between the defenders to win the ball in the air. I think McMillan is being undersold a bit as he is more than just a possession-ball winning type of receiver. When you watch his tape, his suddenness and ability to make defenders miss in space really stand out given his size.
The combine will be a big week for McMillan as one of his most glaring questions is his deep speed. We know he can catch, we know he is long, we know he has amazing ball skills, but just how fast is he? If he runs a sub 4.5 40, look out.
Luther Burden, Missouri
The wide receiver who offers the most entertaining tape is none other than Missouri’s Burden. Burden is a playmaker in every sense of the word and wins in just about any way possible. Whether he is lined up out wide and wins vertically or he is in the slot and gets a quick bubble screen, Burden just knows how to get open and get in the endzone.
He offers outstanding quickness and explosiveness as a route runner and is a nightmare to tackle with the ball in his hands. His hands and ball skills are also very good – allowing him to be a reliable option in Missouri’s offense.
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I fully expect Burden to test off the charts. His 3-cone, vertical jump and 10-yard split should all be near the top in this receiver class as he is so explosive. I’ll be fascinated to see how Burden performs during the route running portion of the workout as he could stand to add more nuance and technique in that area of his game.
Matthew Golden, Texas
While most of the receivers I have listed were all household names entering the season, Golden was a bit under the radar. He played his first two seasons at the University of Houston, before transferring to Texas to play his final season in 2024. A breakout star in college football this season, Golden was a key playmaker in Texas’s high-flying offense.
A smooth and explosive athlete, Golden creates separation with ease at all three levels of the field. He showcases alignment versatility as he can win from outside and inside, while also running a diverse route tree. Golden has the speed to hit big plays down the field and is a legit home run threat.
Golden will undoubtedly excel in the running and jumping portions of the combine. He is a highly explosive mover who should scare a 4.3 number in the 40-yard dash. Where I think Golden can help himself is in the hands showcasing portion of the workout, particularly the gauntlet and when he catches passes from the quarterbacks. He had some issues with concentration drops throughout his collegiate career, so showcasing natural hands will go a long way to help his evaluation.
Emeka Egbuka, Ohio State
Another year, another first round Ohio State wide receiver. Egbuka is one of my personal favorites in this class and is one of the most productive players overall. A four-year starter in a highly explosive offense. Egbuka is as sure of a thing as they come.
Egbuka primarily lined up in the slot for the Buckeyes and that’s where I believe he will be utilized at the next level. A highly instinctual and savvy player, Egbuka knows how to set up defenders and find open spots in zone to create an easy target for the quarterback. He is incredibly tough, reliable and is ultra competitive.
The combine is a perfect opportunity for Egbuka to remind us all of just what kind of athlete he is. People forget that he was one of the top rated overall athletes out of high school and I think his testing will really surprise people. I can see him running a much faster 40 than people expect.
Wide Receivers Invited to the 2024 NFL Combine
- Andrew Armstrong, Arkansas
- Elic Ayomanor, Stanford
- Elijhah Badger, Florida
- Jack Bech, TCU
- Isaiah Bond, Texas
- Ja’Corey Brooks, Louisville
- Sam Brown Jr., Miami
- Pat Bryant, Illinois
- Luther Burden III, Missouri
- Beaux Collins, Notre Dame
- Chimere Dike, Florida
- Emeka Egbuka, Ohio State
- Da’Quan Felton, Virginia Tech
- Tai Felton, Maryland
- Jacolby George, Miami
- Matthew Golden, Texas
- Tre Harris, Mississippi
- Jayden Higgins, Iowa State
- Traeshon Holden, Oregon
- Jimmy Horn Jr., Colorado
- Tory Horton, Colorado State
- Kobe Hudson, UCF
- Daniel Jackson, Minnesota
- Tez Johnson, Oregon
- Josh Kelly, Texas Tech
- KeAndre Lambert-Smith, Auburn
- Jaylin Lane, Virginia Tech
- Dominic Lovett, Georgia
- Bru McCoy, Tennessee
- Tetairoa McMillan, Arizona
- Konata Mumpfield, Pittsburgh
- Nick Nash, San Jose State
- Isaiah Neyor, Nebraska
- Jaylin Noel, Iowa State
- Kaden Prather, Maryland
- Xavier Restrepo, Miami
- Jalen Royals, Utah State
- Arian Smith, Georgia
- Roc Taylor, Memphis
- Isaac TeSlaa, Arkansas
- Dont’e Thornton Jr., Tennessee
- Jordan Watkins, Mississippi
- Theo Wease Jr., Missouri
- Antwane Wells Jr., Mississippi
- LaJohntay Wester, Colorado
- Ricky White III, UNLV
- Kyle Williams, Washington State
- Savion Williams, TCU