Less than two weeks away from the 2024 NFL Draft, and we pretty much know what we have in terms of a prospect pool. While the draft will likely be headlined by odds-on favorite Caleb Williams, this year’s draft is sure to include a lot of offensive firepower and surprises.
To help prepare you for April 25-27, we have curated an ongoing positional power ranking series for the major positions, with the wide receiver group up next. Led by an outstanding trio of prospects, just how many could go in Thursday’s first round?
10. Javon Baker – UCF
Kicking off our power rankings is a bit of an unknown prospect, Central Florida’s Javon Baker. The Alabama transfer recorded 50-plus receptions and 800-plus receiving yards in his two seasons with UCF, putting him on the map for the 2024 NFL Draft.
It is probably unexpected to see Baker’s name here, above other household names that you might expect. But Baker is a very well-rounded prospect that not many people are talking about, and betting on his upside makes a ton of sense.
9. Ladd McConkey – Georgia
Speed and agility dominate the game tape for Georgia’s Ladd McConkey, who has seen his draft stock rise pretty quickly over the past month. His explosiveness cannot be missed on tape, and his testing numbers showcase that as well.
Being looked at as a potential first-round selection, McConkey only topped out at 58/762/7 in a season for the Bulldogs, so his numbers don’t exactly line up with his tape. While that may be a concern, teams like the Chiefs, Buccaneers, or Panthers could look to draft McConkey either late on day one or early on day two of the 2024 NFL Draft.
8. Xavier Legette – South Carolina
South Carolina’s Xavier Legette is next up on our NFL Draft power rankings, and the former South Carolina Gamecock has utilized his blazing speed to make a name for himself. A tough-to-predict draft profile may make some NFL teams steer clear, but his athleticism and fluidity will make teams think twice.
A knock of Legette is how he only has one year of solid stats in school – sometimes late-break prospects who didn’t show signs of sustained success aren’t the top choices of teams. Regardless, Legette has an intriguing set of skills that probably make him a second-round prospect.
7. Xavier Worthy – Texas
While the current-day NFL may not take the same approach as late Raiders owner Al Davis does when it comes to speed, it certainly is a driving factor for players to be drafted where they are. With Xavier Worthy setting the new NFL Combine record with a blistering 4.21 40-yard dash, that outcome is a big reason why he is being considered for a first-round selection.
It is no secret that Worthy was a big-time contributor with the Texas Longhorns, but his high participation was even more impressive due to the fact that he had to share the spotlight with his teammate, Adonai Mitchell.
A field stretcher with speed to burn, Worthy will excel in any NFL offense that gives him the flexibility to use the full route tree. While it may take him some time to get up to the speed of the NFL game, Worthy should be able to show why he was drafted here he was, and even why that wasn’t high enough.
6. Troy Franklin – Oregon
Oregon prospect Troy Franklin comes in at number six on our power rankings, and the lanky speedster has kind of flown under the radar a bit. While his collegiate route tree is a bit limited, Franklin displays the kind of traits that you want to see from a prospect joining the NFL.
Gifted with long strides and the easy ability to pull away from his defender, Franklin looks to be a fringe first-round selection in the 2024 NFL Draft. With 4.4 speed and a 39” vertical, the former Duck has the intangibles to thrive in an NFL offense in a role that utilizes his speed.
5. Adonai Mitchell – Texas
There are some questions about Mitchell’s game, especially because he only really showed one year of production in college. Having made stops at both Georgia and Texas, Mitchell got onto the 2024 NFL Draft map during his time with the Longhorns.
His speed (4.34 40-yard dash) showed up far more at the NFL combine than expected, helping increase his draft stock. His hand usage and how he runs his routes make him a prime NFL prospect, and currently he looks like a top-20 pick with the potential to go even higher in the 2024 NFL Draft.
4. Brian Thomas Jr. – LSU
A future stud at WR is written all over Brian Thomas Jr., even though he lived in the shadow of Malik Nabers. While that has tempered a bit of his draft stock, Thomas Jr. is still being seen as a top-20 pick and a top-five receiver prospect.
Thomas utilized a blend of A++ separation skills and athleticism to find the end zone 17 times last season for LSU. He can absolutely be a team’s WR1 moving forward, and a team like the Bills or Jaguars should be doing whatever they can to add him.
3. Rome Odunze – Washington
The first of three big names in our power rankings, Washington’s Rome Odunze is a bonafide receiver built for the NFL. Having produced 1,000+ yards in each of his final two seasons, Odunze utilizes his hands well and easily creates separation when breaking away from his defender.
The forgotten member of the top group of receivers, Odunze is being looked at as a top-10 option and is a lock to be a top-15 selection. WR-needy teams that miss out on the next two prospects on the list likely will be looking towards Odunze, who would more than fill the hole in their receiver room.
2. Malik Nabers – LSU
In most years, Nabers would be the top receiver in the NFL Draft – but he just so happened to be in a draft that also includes Marvin Harrison Jr. in it. Instead, Nabers falls into the second slot, potentially as the 1B for teams that are low on WR talent.
It would not be a surprise to see Harrison Jr. and Nabers go back-to-back in the first round, as both players are being heavily considered as top-five selections. The six-foot, 200-pound vertical threat relies on his speed and route running to be a game changer, and teams like the Giants and Chargers should consider drafting him.
1. Marvin Harrison Jr. – Ohio State
There has been no change at the top of this list, as Harrison Jr. has always been the clear-cut WR1. Questions involving his lack of testing continue to exist, but what he put on tape at Ohio State is the biggest factor in his draft stock.
Football is in his blood, as his father was a star with the Colts. But what Harrison Jr. has done in college and the type of skills he brings to the NFL are matched by few top receiver prospects in the past few draft classes.
Rumored to be a likely selection for the Arizona Cardinals at fourth overall, expect Harrison Jr. to be the highest-drafted wideout in the 2024 NFL Draft.
Honorable Mentions
Keon Coleman (Florida State), Ricky Pearsall (Florida), Devontez Walker (North Carolina), Roman Wilson (Michigan), Malachi Corley (Western Kentucky) & Malik Washington (Virginia)
The wide receiver class in the 2024 NFL Draft is incredibly deep, leaving some viable prospects outside of the top 10.
Keon Coleman figures to factor into the first-round discussion, while Ricky Pearsall, Devontez Walker, and Roman Wilson all will likely be day two selections. Malachi Corley looks to fill the under-the-radar role that Puka Nacua so easily filled last season, and Malik Washington is ready to follow in Dontayvion Wicks’ footsteps as a Virginia prospect entering the league, looking to surprise.
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