Thirteen rookie wide receivers chosen in the top three rounds, yet nobody can agree on who will be great year one. We decipher the mixed messages.
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Last week, we touched on the cavalcade of rookie running backs entering the league, primed to make a splash impact from day one. At the wide receiver position, the story is vastly different. There is a huge need league-wide for receivers, so literally everyone chose one. The problem is, there’s no indication any will be very good this season.
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This year’s crop of rookie wide receivers is not sparse in depth, but it is lacking in elite talent. There was only one player most scouts agreed was a first-round talent, yet three guys ended up being selected on day one because of positional scarcity. Ten more wide receivers were selected in rounds two and three. Excluding the close-to 20 guys who went after that, that gives the league 13 new WRs who expect to be immediate contributors to their new clubs. Yet, don’t be surprised if barely a couple end up being so.
Rookie Wide Receivers Are An Enigma
Todd Salem:
Tet McMillian was the first drafted, going to Carolina. He joins a team lacking a true number one. Though McMillian isn’t explosive or a burner, he is talented enough to become this team’s go-to option Week 1. Oddly, the second receiver off the board went to a team that didn’t need a receiver at all. Tampa Bay selected Emeka Egbuka. He joins an already deep receiving corps, making it hard to imagine he becomes a day one contributor unless Chris Godwin is hurt.
There is a similar story for the third WR off the board, when Green Bay took Matthew Golden. The Packers are swimming in wide receivers, though none of them have been consistent number ones due to either injury or inconsistency. Could Golden leap them all and become that? Maybe, but it’s also possible he is, legitimately, fifth on the depth chart, behind Doubs, Watson, Reed, and Wicks. Not exactly the best use of a first-round pick.
Houston did have a need at receiver and selected two of them out of Iowa State: Jayden Higgins in the second and Jaylin Noel in the third. Both could be important contributors early for a Texans offense lacking depth.
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Between the two Houston selections, Luther Burden went to Chicago, Tre Harris to the Chargers, Jack Bech to Las Vegas, Kyle Williams to New England, Isaac TeSlaa to Detroit, and Pat Bryant to Denver. Of all those names, only TeSlaa is entering a deep receiver room. All the other guys will be counted on to be starters day one. And that is a tall task for someone deemed, for example, the seventh best player at a weak position.
The hope for these guys reminds me of last year, where so many new names were entering exciting opportunities for immediate success. However, the talent level is a full wrung below what it was last year, both at the top and in the middle. Maybe depth will win out for the 2025 class. Multiple teams selected multiple receivers in this class. Interestingly, multiple colleges also saw multiple receivers get drafted. It also felt like the teams didn’t know exactly who would fit their scheme and roster but wanted to add a receiver anyway.
If forced to pick someone to find the most immediate success, I’ll go with Higgins in Houston. I would definitely stay away from the first-round guys in fantasy, but like the upside feel of that second batch, led by Higgins.
Dan Salem:
A wide receiver’s impact as a rookie has basically everything to do with his starting quarterback. Nabers was unexciting last season as a Giants rookie, especially in fantasy football, because he lacked a good quarterback. Ignoring the fact that we have ignored Travis Hunter, who everyone assumes will play defense and little wide receiver, I can’t help but feel like we should pretty much ignore all of these guys except two names.
To be even more blunt, the name of the player is inconsequential because it’s the team and the QB who make or break their rookie season. The number of top-tier passers feels like it’s at an all time low. Just look at the Eagles, who do have a great passer, but don’t need him to throw a lot to win. They’d prefer he doesn’t. So of the 13 WRs worth discussing as rookies, I’m eyeing the two guys catching balls from Baker Mayfield and Justin Herbert.
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Mayfield and Herbert have made “stars” out of almost every receiver who has joined their offense, because both are accurate passers at the top of the league. Egbuka in Tampa Bay will also enjoy the luxury of being ignored, because of the aforementioned Godwin and Mike Evans. He isn’t needed in the Bucs offense, making his breakout potential that much higher. Harris in Los Angeles is equally as intriguing, because the Chargers don’t really have a ‘stud’ wide receiver, yet there is literally nothing to stop Harris from becoming ‘the guy.’ Herbert is a master with the football and yet the team wants to win with defense. This is a no pressure situation for Harris and I expect him to thrive.
Perhaps the other rookie wide receivers will prove me wrong, but I’m scared off by their situations. Carolina is too unpredictable for me to have faith in McMillian doing well in his rookie year. Everyone in the Green Bay receiver room did well at times last year, but also disappeared for long stretches. Golden likely has a few great games, but I fully expect the rotation to continue and no one to truly stand out. Chicago, Las Vegas, New England, Detroit and Denver either feature unproven offenses in the passing game, or a solidified group of receivers that don’t leave much room for newbies. The only exception is Houston, who has a hole to fill and two guys that were added to do it. Which player will be the next man up in the Texans pass-loving offense? I have no idea, so I’m minding my expectations until somebody shows me something on the field.
Meet our Sports Writers:
Dan Salem is Lead Editor and Co-owner of BuzzChomp. He’s an award winning Actor, Director and Producer. Visit M Square Productions for his film work, or get lost in his old-school comedy on Pillow Talk TV. You can follow him on X, TikTok and Instagram. His latest film ‘Alone’ is now on Amazon.
Todd Salem is a Staff Writer and Contributing Editor at BuzzChomp. He’s also a champion of fantasy football and fantasy baseball, dominating leagues for over two decades. Comment below on his unfiltered opinions.
Rookie Wide Receivers Are An Enigma – This Is The End
Photo Credits: bucsreport.com and nbcsports.com; fox10phoenix.com via Getty Images
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