Ranking the 7 best wide receivers in the 2024 NFL draft
YouTube: The Rich Eisen ShowThe 2024 NFL Draft begins on April 25 in Detroit, Michigan. However, anticipation is already building toward the fresh batch of prospects as fans hotly debate the best players at each position.
Wide receiver is amongst the most popular positions in the NFL, with the rise of fantasy football playing a crucial role in this boon. Superstars like Tyreek Hill and Justin Jefferson transform the entire offense they are a part of.
The league also shifts more to a pass-happy approach with each ensuing season. Three wide receiver sets have become commonplace in the league, making the importance of having several starting-caliber pass catchers even more paramount.
In recent years, Garrett Wilson and Puka Nacua have burst onto the scene immediately as rookies. Wilson won Offensive Rookie of the Year in 2022, while Nacau narrowly finished as a runner-up to C.J. Stroud this past season.
Marvin Harrison Jr. headlines 2024 NFL Draft WR rankings
With the uptick in passing attacks, teams are always looking to add more pieces to the puzzle at the draft. Lucky for NFL franchises, the 2024 wide receiver class is loaded. These are the seven wideouts with a first-round grade.
WR1: Marvin Harrison Jr. (Ohio State)
Harrison Jr., the son of Hall of Famer Marvin Harrison, mirrors his father in many ways. The Buckeye standout boasts the same stellar route running and vice-grip-like hands.
Where MHJ separates himself is his size. He’s listed as four inches taller and a whopping 25 pounds heavier. He uses this picturesque frame to dominate at the catch point.
Harrison Jr. is touted as a “generational” prospect at wide receiver, which is an overused phrase, but it works here. He should be the first pass catcher off the board in April.
WR2: Rome Odunze (Washington)
The next two wide receivers share identical grades, but Odunze’s size is the tiebreaker in these rankings. The Washington star features the best release package in the class while showing unprecedented body control on tape.
Rome Odunze is the prototypical size for a number-one receiver in the NFL. He is expected to be taken in the top 10 picks at the 2024 NFL Draft.
WR3: Malik Nabers (LSU)
Malik Nabers is the most explosive pass catcher in the class. He is a threat to take any catch to the end zone, thanks to his blazing speed and otherworldly ability to accelerate from 0 to 60 in an instant.
The LSU product is a phenomenal ball tracker downfield with the competitiveness to fight for jump balls. He shouldn’t wait long to hear his name called at the 2024 NFL Draft.
WR4: Brian Thomas Jr. (LSU)
Nabers’ teammate, Brian Thomas Jr., is an exciting prospect in his own right. Thomas Jr. is 6’4” and weighs north of 200 pounds while also boasting the most strength in this wide receiver class.
Thomas Jr. thrives in contested catch situations, as his hands become magnets to secure anything thrown his way. The talented wideout is a bonafide first-round prospect and should come off the board inside the top 20.
WR5: Malachi Corley (Western Kentucky)
Malachi Corley is rising up NFL Draft boards as scouts become more familiar with his game. He owns a stocky, compact frame, which allows him to turn into a running back after the catch.
Corley’s contact balance is exceptional, leading to several broken tackles on tape. The Hilltopper star has ample speed, along with an underrated route tree.
Former NFL wide receiver Steve Smith Sr. has labeled Corley his favorite sleeper. He checks in as a top-five wide receiver in these rankings, well ahead of his rating on the consensus big board.
WR6: Keon Coleman (Florida State)
Keon Coleman opened the college football season with considerable hype. The Florida State superstar is another big-bodied wide receiver capable of winning 50-50 passes downfield.
Coleman is also a gifted runner, with an absurd top gear, leaving defenders in his dust. The former Seminole cannot consistently separate, slightly pushing him down in these rankings.
Still, Coleman should be a hot commodity at the end of the first round. His skillset matches what teams look for in a WR1.
WR7: Troy Franklin (Oregon)
A stacked wide receiver class pushes a few first-round-caliber prospects down the list. Troy Franklin fits that billing, as the Oregon product witnessed a breakout in 2023.
Franklin is difficult to corral off the line of scrimmage, and his deep-ball tracking and reliable hands make him a worthwhile option at the end of round one. If he puts on weight, the sky is the limit.